14 Days To A Cleaner House
Article By | Lizzie West
It looks like we are going to be stuck at home for the majority of our time for the next few weeks at least. Who’s to say that time has to be spent feeling mopey and down about our inconveniences? This could be a great time to work on all those tasks you typically don’t have time for, like getting your home clean and organized. It will feel great to see something positive you’ve accomplished each day, too! Keep reading to see how to get your house in tip-top shape in the next two weeks!
Day 1 – Bathrooms
Start by taking all the towels, rugs, and cloth shower curtain to be washed. While those are cycling, take some time to really scrub the counters, cabinets, sinks, shower/tub – and yes – even the dreaded toilet.
Be sure not to neglect cleaning the doorknobs and light switches in here and in all other rooms you work on.
Days 2 & 3 – Kitchen
Focus on decluttering things like the pantry and fridge/freezer of things that are just taking up space or have expired. This is a great way to also know what you need for your next curbside order from the store. Finish up the first day of kitchen housework by cleaning the entire microwave and disinfecting the trash can. On the second day sanitize the oven, small appliances, counters, cabinets/drawers, and dishwasher. It may feel like a big undertaking, but many ovens have a self-cleaning mode.
Day 4 – Laundry Room
Clean off any shelves you have, then clean the washer and dryer, inside and out. There are dryer kits you can order online, and you can run a little white vinegar through your empty washer to get rid of any gunk and buildup. Then wipe them down and sweep/mop the floor.
Day 5 – Living Room
Lots of vacuuming today – couches, chairs, and flooring (even curtains if they can’t be laundered at home). You can do all that after laundering the rugs, blankets and pillows, then wiping down and sanitizing things like coffee/side tables, remotes, tv stand, blinds, cabinet handles, and dusting any electronics. TV screens get dustier than you might imagine!
Day 6 – Bedrooms
Get the kids involved, too – they probably need a break from Minecraft or TikTok anyway. *wink wink* Wash all the sheets, pillows, and rugs. This is a great time to flip your mattresses as well. Wipe down surfaces, dust window sills and blinds, then finish up by cleaning the floors. Working top to bottom is a pretty good method for most spaces to avoid having to “reclean” certain surfaces
Day 7 – Office/Desk
Sort through all the paper that has piled up and shred/recycle/toss anything you can. Clean out drawers, including wiping out all the bits of nasty that get stuck in there (what in the HECK is all of that, anyway?!). Disinfect your keyboard, computer mouse, tower case, and even your computer screen / buttons. File the remaining paperwork, wipe down surfaces, and clean the flooring in that area.
Day 8 – Closets
Declutter or create a donation pile. Wipe down shelves, clean shoes (some can go in the washing machine and sit out to dry), and clean flooring.
Day 9 – Vents
All this cleaning may have kicked up a bit of dust so replace your air filters after you vacuum out the vents and the vent covers; you may have to use a damp cloth. 70% or higher isopropyl alcohol is good for sanitizing. Finish up by opening up and cleaning out your vacuum cleaner. It probably really needs a refresh right about now!
Day 10 – Doors/Baseboards
I know you’re already cleaning the doorknobs and light switches every day, but today you’ll want to clean the inside and outside of each door in your home as well as cleaning that pesky layer of dust that settles right on top of the baseboards. This is also a great task to get the kids to do. They’ll eventually have to do it in their own home, so they’ll need to learn how sometime, right?
Day 11 – Ceiling/Walls
You’d be surprised how dirty walls get, especially around light switches and door frames. If you have kids, you already know this. Clean these with a mild cleaner, especially on flat paint or use a magic eraser, they are amazing. Take this time to also clean any picture frames you have.
Day 12 – Garage
If you don’t have one, maybe you have a storage shed that could use a good tidying up. I bet you’re one of those folks that already have everything organized and that’s amazing. Feel free to load up donations for the next time you can go, then sweep the floor, clean any stains on the concrete, and finish up by cleaning the trash cans. We all know they can get pretty gnarly.
Day 13 – Outdoor Areas
Organize all the outdoor toys and activities you have, as well as wiping down the patio furniture. Any planters may need some love by pruning or weeding and end the day by sweeping and hosing down the flooring/deck.
Day 14 – Floors
Let’s give all the floors one more pass. It’s been a while since you mopped the bathroom and kitchen anyway. This is also a great time to pull furniture away from the walls and get behind them. You might find that stuffed animal that got lost a couple of months ago. Or maybe some spare change – woohoo!
Step back and look at all you’ve accomplished. You’re doing great and you’re not going crazy being cooped up. On top of that – you’re increasing the chances of your family staying healthy and safe, too. Go you! Now, light a candle and sit back and enjoy your clean and disinfected space – ahhh!
