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Cleaning Schedule Architecture: Building One that Works for You

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Having a clean house is refreshing and pleasant. Unfortunately, getting to a clean house can sometimes be taxing and unpleasant.

Building a Cleaning Schedule that Works for You

Cleaning schedules can streamline housecleaning and help you keep up with various tasks. I absolutely love lists and schedules, so soon after I got married I began looking for a suitable cleaning schedule. Though I found numerous schedules, none of them worked for me.

As is true with most routines and schedules, one size does not fit all. Thus, I developed my own schedule—one that suits the context of my life. If you haven’t found a cleaning schedule that works for you or you haven’t considered having one, the following may be of help.

Questions to ask when making a cleaning schedule

  • Do I prefer cleaning in frequent, short segments or in infrequent, long segments? If you prefer the former, you may want to design a schedule that assigns just a few cleaning tasks to each day of the week. If you prefer the latter, you may favor a schedule that assigns all of your cleaning to just one or two days of each week.
  • How consistent is my schedule? If you have a consistent schedule it may make sense to have particular tasks assigned to each day of the week. However, if your schedule isn’t consistent, it may be better to have a rotating schedule that dictates the order in which you complete cleaning tasks without dictating the specific days on which you complete them.
  • How often does each cleaning task need completed? Some things require more frequent cleaning than others. For example, your bathrooms may need to be cleaned more frequently than your home office. You’ll want to consider which tasks require more frequent cleaning so you can accommodate this in your schedule.
  • Do I want to take care of deep cleaning tasks once a year or throughout the year? If you don’t want to set aside all of your deep cleaning tasks for a concentrated period of cleaning (i.e., spring cleaning), you’ll want to determine how to integrate these tasks into your regular schedule.

How I created my cleaning schedule

I used my answers to the above questions to develop a cleaning schedule that works for me.

  • I prefer cleaning in frequent, short segments, so I’ve scheduled my cleaning tasks in such a way that I only spend about 30 minutes each day cleaning.
  • Occasionally things come up (e.g., a medical appointment, errands, delays while grocery shopping) that encroach upon the time I have available to clean. Because of this, I haven’t strictly assigned cleaning tasks to specific days—I don’t want to get “off schedule” when I have a busy day and don’t get around to cleaning. Consequently, I’ve developed a revolving schedule that isn’t tied to specific days.
  • I’ve determined which rooms require frequent cleaning (in my house these are the bathrooms and kitchen) and I’ve designed my schedule accordingly.
  • I prefer to take care of “spring cleaning” tasks throughout the year, so I’ve created a separate schedule for these.

Here’s the schedule I developed for my everyday cleaning tasks:

Rotating Daily Cleaning Schedule | When it comes to cleaning schedules, one size does not fit all. Here are some questions to ask yourself to help you develop a schedule that works for you.

(You can see a printable version of the schedule by clicking on the above image.)

Here’s the schedule I developed for deep cleaning tasks:

Monthly Deep Cleaning Schedule | When it comes to cleaning schedules, one size does not fit all. Here are some questions to ask yourself to help you develop a schedule that works for you.

(You can see a printable version of the schedule by clicking on the above image.)

What helpful tips can you share from your experience? Do you have a cleaning schedule? If so, do you stick with it? What features make it useful?

2015 Update: I’m so pleased that others have found this schedule to be so helpful. In order to make it easier for you to customize this schedule to your needs, I’ve made editable versions available here:

Please let me know if you have any trouble with the files or if you have questions. I still welcome your comments on how you’ve customized the schedule or how it is helping you.

2016 Update: I’ve moved and my family has grown, so I’ve made some revisions to my schedules. Click here to see these revisions and to see some examples of customized versions shared by readers like you!

Shared on the following link-ups:

Empty Your Archive, Living Well Wednesday, Thrive @ Home, Hearts for Home, Wise Woman, Works for Me Wednesday, Titus 2 Tuesday, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Teach Me Tuesday, Titus 2sday, Making Your Home Sing & Living Proverbs 31.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. could you please send me editable versions of the daily cleaning and deep cleaning charts? They are amazing and would make my life so much easier. Thanks!

  2. Hi Shannon I love love love your site . I would love to get your daily and monthly charts in the editable style . I printed your daily and I feel I am ahead when I check off the ones I can not use .😂 thank you . I will be checking back often😁😁😁😁

  3. I love you cleaning schedule. It seems perfect for my crazy life. I would love editable copies please. Thanks for sharing.

  4. Shannon,
    please send me the edible version of your cleaning schedules. I would appreciate that very much. thanks!
    lindy

  5. Hi,
    Could you please send me an editable cleaning schedule. I would so appreciate it. Thank you for the great ideas for those of us in need!

    • Hi Priscilla,
      No, there is not. I just wanted the chart to be colorful and I like purple and green together. I’ve been fond of this combination since my husband and I got married (they were our wedding colors). 🙂
      I can email you an editable version if you’d like to change them.

  7. I was wondering if you could please send me the editable version?
    This chart is absolutely fantastic!

  8. Hello, This looks like something I could manage, would you please send me a editable copy as well?
    Thanks so much for the inspiration!

  9. Hi Shannon! I have looked high and low and you have the best cleaning schedule, hands down! 😉 Good work.

    I would love to have an editable copy!

    • Hi Christie,
      I’m so glad you’ve found mine and that you think it will benefit you! I’ll gladly send you a copy.

  10. I love the idea of the arrows. Could you also send me the editable version so I can tweak it for our house?

  12. This is awesome! I also have tried a cleaning “schedule” and always seem to get off a day. I love this rotating schedule approach so much more! I would love an editable version as well. Thank you!

    • Hi Amanda,
      The fact that you can’t get behind is one of the best things about this method. I’ll gladly send you an editable copy.

  13. Your forms are perfect. Can you please send the editable versions to me as well. Thank you very much. The struggle is real trying to keep on top of everything.

  14. I am disabled and am about to hire someone to clean my house — probably bi-weekly, but possibly weekly. I think I could restructure your advice for my situation — do you have any suggestions? Thanks in advance and thanks for this great article.

    • Hi Brenda,
      I don’t know the specifics of your situation, but I’ll share what comes to mind immediately. If there are some cleaning tasks that you can complete, then you could modify this schedule to contain those. You could then have the individual you hire take care of the tasks you aren’t able to complete. Does that sound helpful at all? I hope so!
      If anything else comes to mind I’ll let you know!

  16. I just found this and it looks AMAZING, so excited to get started. I know you have sent some people an editable version and was hoping you may be able to send me one as well? I have a 10 month old and have been really struggling with getting everything done! I would really appreciate it. Thank you for this great idea! It’s like a board game!

    • Hi Jessica,
      Yes, I’d love to share it with you. It’s hard to keep up with housework with a baby! Hopefully this will help. 🙂

  17. Hi,

    I’ve never seen any rotating schedule such as this one and would love to try it as well. I am extremely busy and trying to stick to a rigid cleaning list imposed by someone else is so hard and discouraging. Could you please send me an editable copy as well? That would be really appreciated. Thanks! K.

  19. Hey There! I am not sure if you received my message or not…I was hoping for the editable version as well? Thanks!

    • Yes, I saw the earlier message. My family moved into a new home this weekend, so we were without internet for a few days. Now that things are settling down, I’ll be able to get you an editable version.

  20. What a bright idea! I love this simplified cleaning system.
    I would appreciate the editable version of your file as well.
    Thank you so much!

  21. Hi Shannon! I love your cleaning schedule!! It reminds me of a game board, which just makes cleaning so much more fun! 🙂 Would you please send me the editable version?

    Thank you so much! And congrats on your new house!
    Abby

  22. Shannon, Could you please send me an edible copy of your cleaning schedule. I believe this is about the best cleaning schedule I have seen and I have looked at a lot. Thank you so very much for sharing and Happy Thanksgiving this week.

    • It’s my pleasure to share it, Gail. I’ll send you a copy and I hope it benefits you!
      Happy Thanksgiving to you, as well.

  25. Could you please send me an editable version. I misplaced my original and I can’t survive without it. Best cleaning schedule ever.
    Thank you.

    • Of course, Tammy. I’ll send you a new one right away. I’m glad this approach has worked for you.

  26. Omg with a newborn I go crazy catching up and these are awesome!! Can I get an email of editable please!! Thanks a bunch

  27. As I am retired and responsible for my house cleaning, I would appreciate copies of your 2 cleaning schedules. They look awesome! Jan

  29. Could I have an editable version too?
    Also wondering how you incorporate LAUNDRY into your schedule? I don’t see it on your rotation…thanks.

    • Hi Jo,
      I’d be pleased to send you editable copies!
      I pretty much do laundry every day! We use cloth diapers, so I need to wash those every other day. On the days in between diaper loads I do the rest of our laundry (jeans, towels, etc.). I start a load first thing in the morning, put it in the dryer around lunch, and usually get it out and fold it in the evening when my husband is home.

  31. Your cleaning schedules look wonderful. Please email me a copy! With my husband and 4 little ones 7 and under, there’s always lots of cleaning to do!

    • Hi Ethel,
      I’m pleased to share them with you! Sounds like you have your hands full. Hopefully these will help!

  32. Help! My house has taken over and I need to beat it into submission!
    Will you please send me an editable version of your cleaning schedule?
    Thank you so much!

  33. This looks like it would help me a lot. Would you please send me the editable version. THANKS 🙂

  34. Please send me the editable version of this as well. I really need help!! I can’t keep this up!

  35. Shannon,
    I have never been an avid housekeeper. I have worked full time all my life while raising two daughters; so they were more of a priority than the house. Now that they are grown and I am retired, I want to change that behavior. I love the thought of small increments but I would dearly love to have a copy of both The “What To Clean Today” and “What To Clean This Month” in editable form.
    Ruth

    • Hi Ruth,
      I’d say that your priority was in the right place! 🙂
      I’ll send you copies this afternoon.

  36. Shannon,
    please send me the edible version of your cleaning schedules and rewards charts. I would appreciate that very much. thanks!
    Leonita

    • Keep an eye on your email, Leonita, because I’ve sent it. I hope it helps you!

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