Cleaning Schedules & To-Do Lists

I feel as though I have been a bit negative lately, or perhaps just a bit whiny. So, I’m gonna switch up things a little bit and discuss my extreme, and selective, particularity. I really like lists, and schedules, and anything that allows me to cross something off. Yeah, there are days when I don’t get to my lists; but, when I get back on track, it’s there just waiting for me and reminding me of all the things I still need to do/cook/plan/mail/buy/budget/etc. These days (I am referring to the days of being in my 30s with three kids in school), I cannot rely on my memory for anything. I make more lists now than I ever have. And, well, I love it. I can certainly get by without lists; but, boy, things sure are easier with them.

 One particular topic that I recently discussed with a few moms was a “cleaning schedule.”

I want to preface this with killing any preconceived notions that I have a tip-top-tidy home. I don’t. For instance, I didn’t vacuum the stairs yesterday, because it seemed like too much work. I didn’t clean that glob of toothpaste out of the sink after brushing my teeth. I just gave the console table a quick blow, when I walked by and saw that it was dusty. And, I am avoiding the kids’ bathroom like the plague; it’s going on weeks (shudder).

But, I believe it is all much less overwhelming when I have lists. I can split my chores up, and not wait until someone’s coming over and spend the whole day cleaning! Or, put things off and then regret it later, when it becomes a mounding issue (like the kids’ bathroom! I am waiting Heath out.). If I create a list that allows me to chip away at stuff daily, then it is so incredibly manageable. Plus, it is written down; so, if the family wants to help out in any way, they can see what you were planning to do for the day. :)

With all that being said, I thought I would share information about my cleaning schedule. I had one in the house we lived in before. I even had one when I was working, it was just a bit different than the one I use staying home. Here is the “old one.”

 

I used that schedule every day and loved it. Then, we moved into the house we are renovating. Renovation and “cleaning schedule” do not go together. So, I temporary lost my cleaning path… That was, until my recent conversation brought me back to the right track! And, I hate to say it; but, I’m excited about my new and improved cleaning schedule!

It’s a sad, sad day when that is your excitement.

My new schedule is incredibly detailed with not only cleaning tasks, but with daily, weekly, and monthly to-dos. I thought it would serve me best that way. Plus, with spending over a year in this house, I have gotten a really great idea of what chores I need to do and what I share with Heath (which isn’t much, actually – that’s not a cut to Heath, just an odd flex for me). 

 

 While I share my schedule with you, you must understand, yours will not look the same. No two cleaning schedules, and/or to-do lists, will look the same (not likely, anyway). Thus, I have decided to help you create your own! I have broken it down into steps, as to not overwhelm you.

1)      Make a list of chores that you do.

You may decide to make just a cleaning schedule, like my old one, or a "to-do" schedule like my newer one. Nevertheless, the list needs to be very comprehensive for the particular focus. Anything that you complete within a month’s time needs to be on this list. I used Pinterest to remind me of some of the mundane cleaning tasks I might be forgetting. But, since I wanna help you out directly, I have compiled a list of tasks and to-dos for you! Not all tasks will apply to you, or to me for that matter. It is just to help you compile your own list.

•  Do the Dishes
• Wipe Down Kitchen Counters
• Pick up
• Wipe out the fridge
• Make Beds
• Collect, Sort, Wash, Fold, & Put Away Laundry
  (You can break it up, into multiple days, if you want. For instance, I collect, sort, wash, and fold in one day; I put it away the next day.)
• Vacuum
• Sweep
• Mop
• Dust (this could be split into multiple days by rooms)
• Clean sinks, vanities, and showers
• Clean toilets
• Clean mirrors
• Clean windows
• Complete Correspondence (e.g. pay bills, send birthday cards, etc.)
• Budget or Update Budget
• Mow the lawn
• Pull weeds
• Weed eat
• Trim bushes or trees
• Work in the garden
• Water flowers outside
• Water indoor plants
• Clean windows from the outside
• Clear expired food or leftovers from the fridge
• Plan &/or Prep Supper
• Pick up your kids’ rooms and/or toyroom
  OR, a personal favorite, make your kids clean their own rooms and/or toy room
• Set out kids’ clothes for the next day
  OR, set out the kids’ clothes for the whole week
• Wash the bathroom rugs
• Clean the dishwasher
• Clean the Clothing Washer
• Clean out the dryer tube
• Clean the microwave
• Clean the oven
• Clean your shower and sink drains
• Take out the trash
• Make a grocery list or meal plan
• Go grocery shopping
• Declutter certain rooms
• Go through your kids’ clothes to check for items that are too small or ruined
• Clean out your car
• Detail your car
• Wash your car
• Vacuum out your car
• Update your calendar/planner
• Go through mail
• Go through kids’ backpacks
• Sweep out the garage
• Go through or file important papers
• Disinfect door knobs and light switches
• Clean out light fixtures
• Clean ceiling fans
• Wipe down heavy traffic-area walls and doors (grimy hands!)
• Wash your bedding
• Wipe down walls, or collect spider webs in the corner of rooms (it happens!)
• Feed and Water the Pets
• Empty the Litter Box
• Clean your pet’s bed
• Clean your pet’s kennel
• Put your pet’s bowls through the dishwasher
• Set aside time to work on your side gig (mine is for my classes I teach online)
• Sweep off the porch
• Dust off items on the porch
• Hose down outdoor toys/furniture/etc.
• Back up your phone
• Go through the junk drawer
• Vacuum under the couch cushions
• Vacuum your mattress
• Move furniture and vacuum
• Go through your magazine pile and purge
• Dust the inside of your china hutch
• Clean the refrigerator water tray
• Clean the tiny parts on the coffee pot
• Wash winter jackets, gloves, and hats
• Prep Breakfast for the week
• Prep lunches for the week
• Prep dinners for the week
• Make baby food
• Clean/organize drawers
• Clean/organize closets

 And, I’m sure there are hundreds more. But, that is all that I could come up with. Hope it helped you come up with a good list that applies to you, your family, and your home. The good news is, if something else comes up, you can just add it on!

Some items that you may spy on my list that could require explanation include: changing out holiday décor, washing blankets, switching out hand towels, replenish TP supplies, clean “sort boxes,” and go through “sort papers.” Let’s take it one at a time.

• Changing out holiday décor is something that I have always wanted to do and try to do regularly. So, about once a month, I switch mine out for the new, approaching season. 
• Washing blankets is included because we are a blanket family! We have special “living room blankets” that we use nightly. The kids all have an extra blankey on their beds, and there are several just around the house. I try to wash them regularly, to keep them from getting funky.
• I sometimes lose track of how long the hand towels have been hanging in the bathroom...so, I put it on my weekly schedule to switch them out. It’s kinda gross not to, right?
• Replenishing TP supplies means that I will go to our “garage pantry” and get extra toilet paper rolls to put in the designated baskets in each bathroom. If I don’t have this written down, I end up in the bathroom with nothing but Vapor Lotion Kleenexes. Have you been there? Not pleasant.
• And, the last two are cleaning my “sort boxes” and “sort papers.”
  In my craft closet, and in my desk area, I have spots that are my “throw zones.” I don’t always want to take the time to file a specific paper or put the twine back in the bag/box I have it in. So, I have a throw area. I allow myself to fill up that spot/box/tote, and usually about once a month, I go through it and file or organize it. While I LOVE organization, I am also realistic. We don’t always have the time or energy to put things away exactly where they go, especially when you are in a hurry. So, I would recommend that you also have a “throw zone.” BUT, make sure you come back at least once a month to organize it, or more often depending on what is being put there.
  
  Also, at my desk, I have two areas, a “to-do” and a “throw zone.” Once I’ve completed something, I put it into the “throw zone.” I never put anything in that zone that I will want access to in the short term. So, don’t just throw your bills or other action items into that spot!

 Let’s move on to the next step of our cleaning schedule creation.

2)      Next to each item on your list, write down how often you do it.

This may change over time. You may see the need to do something more often, or less often. But, again, you can adjust your schedule as time goes on. Some examples of this step are below:

Feed and Water the dogs – every day

Dishes – every day, but Saturday

Dust – once a week

Mop – every two weeks

Wash your car – once a month

Do this with each task before moving forward. If you look at my schedule very closely, please don’t judge me for barely ever washing our bedding. I hate making beds!

3)      Either draw out, or create in MS Word, a calendar.

As you can see with mine, I just did a table with seven columns (days of the week) and five rows (four weeks in a month, with a day header). You may decide, depending on the schedule you want, to only include Monday through Friday. Or, to lump Saturday and Sunday together, to allow for some flexibility. Or, if you really like your Wednesday mornings, you could omit Wednesdays! You can create whatever schedule works best for you. Just make sure you include the header to clarify what day, and four weeks total.

 

The reason that you don’t want numbers on there is to be able to reuse the schedule over and over again, not just following along with the calendar. You certainly post specific dates, if you want. But, you will have to edit your schedule every month, and I just thought that was too much work – for me.

Now that you have your list of tasks, your frequency of completion, and a blank calendar…

4)      …Start making your schedule!

Do this by putting all of your daily activities in first, then your weekly, then bi-weekly, and so on. You will likely have to move things around a bit, to make sure you aren’t overloading certain days. For example, I mow in the summer time. It is a time-consuming chore; so, on that day, I try not to do too much other stuff. Or, on the day I go to get groceries, I don’t want to also mop the floors! You get the idea.

You may also just have personal preferences. If you are a go-getter on Mondays, load that day up! If you hate Mondays, give yourself a slow start. You will soon figure out what works best for you. Mine probably changed thirty times!

Here is my first draft...written by hand and then typed and changed some more!

I also included little boxes in my table (in the upper, right-hand corner of each day), to allow for me to write the date. It keeps me from getting lost on my sheet. But, this is not required. As long as you are crossing things off, you should know where you are at in the month.

5)      Finalize and print your new “cleaning schedule.”

Once you feel like all of your days are balanced, you may print your schedule out (or re-write it). You could keep an electronic file to check-off each day too; it is entirely up to you. I prefer having something I can scratch off with a nice, cheap BIC pen. I find it very satisfying. Haha.

If you decide to print it, you now have two options:

1. Laminate it. 
2. Print a new schedule each month.

At first, and in the other house, I laminated the sheet. In the other house, I actually covered it entirely in clear tape, and stuck it to the back of the cleaning closet door. This time, I used my laminator (nerd-alert!). 

I tried to use an ultra-fine point, dry erase marker to write the days and to check things off. It wouldn’t write on it…ugh. So, I had to use a regular fine point, dry erase marker, and well…it was fairly sloppy.

Plus, I decided to leave the sheet in the front of my planner, on my desk, rather than hanging it up. I was afraid the marker would smear. So, I decided just to print one each month instead, and not laminate it. (I started this list yesterday.)

It’s so pretty and neat. 

But, Heath’s is laminated and he will probably use his like that – if he uses it at all. You see, I took the liberty of making Heath one too. He sure is lucky to have me…hehe. I’m going to hang his up.

6)      Now, use the schedule!

Once you have it completed, printed, maybe laminated or taped, and you have decided where to put it, you can use it! Each day, you can cross off your tasks. And, whatever you don’t get done, you can work on the next day. So, if things come up, don’t fret. You will know what you didn’t get done and fit it in when you have time. And, if you get really far behind, it’s like taking medication. 

“Take the dose as soon as you realize that you missed it. If it is close to the time of your next dose, wait and take it at that time.” 

What I'm getting at is - if you dust once a week and miss it four days in a row, well, you might as well put the two together and split the difference. Or, just wait until the next time it is on your schedule. What I don’t want to happen, is that you get so far behind that you are carrying over several tasks each day. Give yourself some slack. Some things, like washing bedding, will just wait. Grossly…but, it will wait!

OR, if you get really far behind one month, because it happens, ask for help. It is easier, because you know exactly what needs to be done to relieve you. :)

I hope that this helped you a bit! I truly believe it helps me from getting too overwhelmed with things; even though, my schedule is kinda overwhelming in of itself. I just chose to be very inclusive. This is a process that you may consider completing for or with your spouse too, or for your kids (with their involvement). It may help them with simplifying their schedule as well!

And, on a final note, I must disclose that we do not make our beds every day, even if it is on the schedule. I thought maybe writing it down would motivate me….uh-huh….