Joseph D. Federico's Blog

Wait, when was the last time you cleaned that ? And how often are you supposed to wash that? Never have to ask yourself these questions again by creating a monthly chore calendar. Creating a chore calendar may seem like you’re taking your house cleaning duties a little too seriously, but by creating a regular cleaning schedule you will set yourself up for success. And you’ll have a guaranteed cleaner home, and who doesn’t want that? Monthly

• Scrub grout in the kitchen and bathroom.
• Wash pillow and mattress protectors as well as duvet covers.
• Discard any food in the freezer that has become freezer burnt or is past its time.
• Wax any wood floors your home may have.
• Dust fans you have throughout your home. Don’t forget to do this in the winter when they are not in use to avoid build-up.
• Wipe down and disinfect light switch plates and door knobs.
• Wipe down and disinfect your home phones and your family’s cell phones.
• Flush drains. Try a natural solution by pouring baking soda down drains and allowing to sit overnight to deodorize. In the morning pour hot water down the drain to rinse the baking soda out and flush the drain.
• Wipe down walls, doors and baseboards.
• Check the fire alarms throughout your home and replace any batteries when necessary.

Weekly

• Dust each room in your home.
• Empty all trash bins throughout your home. Don’t forget smaller, less used baskets like in your child’s room or in the office.
• Clean sinks, toilets, and bath of any soap scum or buildup.
• Vacuum and mop the floors throughout your home.
• Wipe down surfaces like tables and counters.
• Clean mirrors and windows.
• Wash sheets and pillowcases.
• Sort through your mail and email inbox. Pay any upcoming bill and file paperwork as necessary.
• Clean fridge out of any food that has gone past its expiration.
• Wipe down appliances in the kitchen such as the microwave, stove, and toaster.
• Wipe down and deodorize trashcans and recycling bins.
• Put out fresh towels in your bathrooms and kitchen

Daily

• Tidy up. Keep on top of clutter by putting items away when they are no longer in use.
• Make the beds and if your children are old enough encourage them to make theirs.
• Sort out mail. File and discard as necessary.
• Clean up as you prepare meals to leave time to relax after dinner time instead of spending another hour in the kitchen.
• Wipe up any spills as they happen to avoid having to use elbow grease to clean up later.
• Sweep the kitchen floor and any other high traffic areas.
• Throw in a load of laundry. If you have a large family make laundry more manageable by doing a load a day.

Keeping your home clean is hard work, there is no doubt about that, especially if you have a family. However, by creating a monthly chore calendar you can create a more manageable workload for yourself. With a little planning up front you can have a neat and tidy home you can sit back and truly enjoy!