A tidy home is a pleasant and hygienic environment. Homeowners may wonder how often they should clean specific areas of the home. Some household components require scrubbing daily, while others need attention less seldom. Here’s a handy timetable for household cleaning.

Daily Attention

As soon as homeowners get out of bed each day, they should straighten out the sheets. Making the bed jumpstarts one’s day and even leads to improved productivity. A bed that has been made is an encouragement toward keeping the rest of the bedroom tidy.

Since the bathroom gets use every day, surfaces should be cleaned daily. Maintain the bathroom by wiping down surfaces. Squeegee the shower walls. Disinfect the sink by first scrubbing it with baking soda, rinsing with water and then allowing one to two cups of vinegar to sit for 20 minutes.

The kitchen counters and table should likewise be wiped down every day, especially since they come in direct contact with food. Use an antibacterial spray cleaner on granite and laminate. Marble surfaces may be wiped down with a sudsy soap solution. Sweep the kitchen floors daily.

Weekly Attention

Bedding should be washed weekly. Dead skin cells, dust mites and fecal matter can accumulate in bedsheets. Washing bedding more frequently is advised when homeowners have asthma or an infection, allow pets to sleep in the bed or go to bed without showering.

The carpeting and furniture should also be vacuumed on a weekly basis. The upholstery and drapes may be cleaned with a vacuum attachment. Dusting, too, is important. Bacterial chemicals known as endotoxins are found in dust and can cause asthma or trigger asthma-like symptoms.

Rather than push around dust, use a microfiber electrostatic cloth to attract dust particles and remove them from surfaces. If using a duster, opt for a lamb’s wool duster for best results. When dusting, work from the top of the room toward the bottom to catch dust as it falls.

On a weekly basis, examine the expiration dates of food in the fridge. Toss out expired food. Wipe down the kitchen appliances. Experts recommend replacing the kitchen sponge weekly rather than attempting to sanitize it in the microwave. Clean the inside of the microwave once every week, too.

Monthly Attention

Vacuum the vents each month to ensure the air inside the home stays clean and to save on energy costs. Allergens, like dust particles, hair, dirt, pollen and spider webs gather inside the ducts. Homeowners need tools, like a heavy-duty vacuum and cleaning brush, to do the job.

A standard vacuum cleaner fails to be powerful enough to provide a deep clean inside the vents. Rent a heavy-duty vacuum for maximum efficiency. A vacuum with a long hose reaches inside the ducts to remove growing mold and mildew. Wear a dust mask as protection against falling dust.

Clean the dishwasher monthly to prolong its lifespan. First remove food particles stuck to the dishwasher drain. Fill a cup with vinegar, place it in the empty dishwasher and run a hot water cycle for an effective clean. Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom and run a second cycle.

Front-loading washing machines should also be cleaned to preserve their cleaning power. Clean the gasket with vinegar. To clean the drum, add two cups of vinegar to the detergent dispenser. Run a cycle at the highest temperature and capacity settings. Wipe down the drum with a cloth to finish.

Quarterly Attention

Every three to six months, wash the shower curtain liner with detergent and a cup of baking soda at the highest hot water setting. Ensure a hygienic night’s rest by washing the pillows and comforter every few months. Also be sure to vacuum the mattress.

Clean out the freezer by first turning it off and placing frozen food into the cooler. Remove detachable shelving; wash with dish soap once they come to room temperature (to avoid cracking). Using a vinegar and water solution, wipe the insides of the freezer and door. Dry the interior completely.

Yearly Attention

Scrub the fireplace on an annual basis to remove soot. Ashes and debris should also be shoveled out. Deep cleaning certain parts of the home, like the windows, should be done once a year. While addressing the windows, also wash the drapes and curtains.

The exterior of the home requires effort. Once in spring and once in fall, clean out the gutters. Twigs, dead leaves and natural debris can block the gutter system, leading to gutter overflows and leaks inside the home. If necessary, hire a professional to clean the gutters twice each year.

Clogged dryer vents are a fire hazard, making it critical to clear out the vents annually. After disconnecting the dryer, vacuum the vent with a hose attachment. The exterior vent cover should also be vacuumed from the outside. Dryer vent cleaning kits are an alternative option.

Professional Carpet Cleaning

While you are vacuuming the carpets on a weekly basis, consider hiring a professional carpet cleaning services for a deep clean and to fully restore your carpeting’s aesthetics. The professionals will return the natural sheen to your carpeting and enhance its appearance and cleanliness.

Foot traffic will inevitably embed dirt, dander and debris into the carpet fibers. Stains, too, from pets, wine or ink, can destroy the look of a carpet or rug. Reinvigorate your carpeting with professional deep clean techniques that incorporate a hot water extraction method, spot stain removal and final inspection.

Give your carpeting the extra care it deserves by consulting the professionals for carpet cleaning. Trained technicians use commercial-grade equipment to deep clean all types of rugs and carpeting installed in both commercial and residential properties.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.