The Busy Mom’s Guide to a Clean, Organized Home
Every year, I dream of a house where every closet, cabinet and corner is clean and free of clutter. Yet every year, finding the time to deep clean the house is impossible. This year, I decided to break the list down into more manageable daily tasks.
By the end of the month, I had a house so clean that even my mother would approve! Here is what I did:
Day 1: The Bathroom
Wipe everything down and throw out old medicines and cosmetics. Pull the hair out of the drain.
Day 2: The Linen Closet
Remove or repair old linens. Wipe down shelves and baseboards. Vacuum.
Day 3: The Bedroom Closets
Donate clothes and shoes that you don’t use. Shed the dry cleaning bags and hangers. Make a list of new things needed. Repeat for all bedrooms.
Day 4: The Bedroom
Clean under the bed. Clean out the nightstand. Wipe drawers and vacuum under the bed. Repeat for all bedrooms.
Day 5: Hallways and Coat Closets
Remove all items that you no longer use. Wipe down shelves and baseboards. Vacuum.
Day 6: Family Room
Wipe down shelves and vacuum. Refill batteries in game controllers and remotes.
Day 7: KnickKnacks
Go through the house and take down the things that you are tired of. Make note of any family pictures that need to be updated.
Day 8: Dining Room
Remove any “projects” from the table. Clean out the china cabinet.
Day 9: Kitchen Part 1
Clean out all cabinets. Dump damaged utensils and broken appliances. Wipe down shelves.
Day 10: Kitchen Part 2
Clean the outside of the cabinets. Tighten any loose knobs or handles.
Day 11: Kitchen Part 3
The pantry. Go through all food and check for expired dates. Wipe down shelves and sweep the floor.
Day 12: Kitchen Part 4
The refrigerator. Check for dates, wipe shelves and change filters. Repeat for a garage or basement refrigerator.
Day 13: Kitchen Part 5
What’s left? Run a cleaning agent in the dishwasher, clean out the oven, scrub the cooking grates, wipe down the microwave.
Day 14: The Office Part 1
Purge old documents and shred them. Clean out the desk drawers and refill supplies.
Day 15: The Office Part 2
Back up the computer, update anti-virus software, change passwords, run maintenance software, purge cookies and internet files.
Day 16: The Playroom
Gather old toys for donation or sale. Toss broken toys. Purchase stackable bins and fill them with existing toys for better access.
Day 17: Books and Magazines
Gather all old books and magazines from around the house. Donate, sell or share with friends.
Day 18: Clean the Baseboards
Vacuum all with a hand tool, then wipe down with a wet cloth.
Day 19: Windows
Clean the insides of all windows and wipe down the frames.
Day 20: The Bedding
Wash all bedding items including bed skirts and pillow shams. Make note of anything that needs replacing or repair.
Day 21: Window Treatments
Take down all window treatments to be cleaned. Wipe down all rods and window blinds.
Day 22: Cobwebs
Wipe down all corners of the house to clear them of any cobwebs and dust.
Day 23: Blankets
Wash any blankets that are used for day-to-day lounging.
Day 24: Laundry Room
Wipe down all shelves and appliances, dust walls and vacuum behind the appliances.
Day 25: HVAC Vents
Remove covers and vacuum inside. Wipe down vent covers.
Day 26: Inside Doors
Wipe down both sides of the door with a damp rag. Tighten knobs and hinges that may be loose.
Day 27: Light Bulbs
Change all the bulbs that have burned out and refill the batteries in the flashlights.
Day 28: Garbage Cans
Scrub the garbage cans from every room to remove spills and stuck on items.
Day 29: Pet Items
Wash all bowls and bedding. Remove broken toys.
Day 30: Final Day!
Take today to do the regular cleaning: dust, vacuum, wash the floors and clean the bathrooms and kitchen.
-Pam Mohnar
