Your Ultimate Daily Cleaning Checklist

Daily Laundry

One way to boost your daily cleaning schedule is by habit stacking, also called task stacking. By linking one task with another, you build the habit of doing them both together. Laundry is a perfect task to stack with another chore. Completing one daily load of laundry gets the work done without making you feel overwhelmed.

Start Your Day with Sparkle

It’s energizing to start the day with a feeling of accomplishment. Are you hounded by an inner voice that endlessly criticizes you? A great way to smother it is by knocking a few tasks off your daily cleaning checklist early. Every home cleaning schedule will be a little different, so be flexible in finding what works best for you.

• Start a load of laundry.
• Do a quick walk-through to declutter.
• Make the bed.
• Sanitize the bathroom.
• Sanitize phones and remote controls.
• Open windows to exchange stale air for fresh air.

Bedroom Cleaning

Regular quality sleep is a necessity for good health, not a luxury. “Sleep hygiene” is the medical term describing healthful sleep practices in a safe, sanitary, welcoming environment.

• Tidy the bed.
• Declutter to eliminate anything that reminds you of things you have to do.
• Dust bedside tables and dresser tops.
• Hang up previously worn clothes to air out, or put them in the laundry hamper.
• Sweep and vacuum as needed.
• Empty trash.

Kitchen Maintenance

Your health depends on a consistently sanitary kitchen. Not only do you and others spend time there, but you often touch your hands to your mouth. Pests are attracted to the scent of leftover food in the trash, on the countertops, and scattered around the floor. The heat and humidity promote the growth of different kinds of mold and bacteria. Gas appliances leak toxic fumes into the air you breathe unless you allow fresh air to enter.

• Wash the dishes.
• Wipe down appliances.
• Sanitize countertops.
• Sanitize knobs, handles, faucets, and other high-touch areas.
• Empty the garbage daily, definitely before bedtime to discourage unwanted critters.

Active Living Spaces

Your daily house cleaning schedule includes your living room, den, office, and any other commonly used living spaces.

• Do a declutter walk-through.
• Dust drapes, blinds, windows, wall hangings, and furniture as needed.
• Neaten tables and desks.
• Sanitize remote controls and landline phones.
• Tidy couches, pillows, and chairs.
• Sweep and vacuum floors as needed.

Bathroom Sanitation

Like the kitchen, the bathroom can spread disease because of moisture and germ-laden aerosols. Vinegar is an inexpensive, environmentally safe acidic cleaner that controls most kinds of fungus and bacteria.

• Dust cobwebs, windows, and shelving.
• Sanitize bathtub/shower walls, faucets, handles, and knobs.
• Wipe down the mirror.
• Scrub the toilet inside and out.
• Replace washcloths and towels every few days.
• Sweep and mop the floor.

Bedtime Cleaning Routine

You’ve heard the phrase, “A place for everything and everything in its place.” From a mental health standpoint, preserving order in your life is relaxing because you know what to expect. Whether you’re a night owl, an early bird, or some of both, developing a calming routine in a clutter-free environment will benefit your mental and physical health.

• Put away anything that reminds you of obligations and worrisome subjects. Let it all go while you sleep.
• Spot clean as needed.
• Empty trash.
• Provide yourself with some transition time to breathe free.