After House Cleaning: What's the Best Way to Keep Your House Clean Longer?

Organizing household chores makes them easier and prevents things from getting out-of-control and overwhelming. Addressing the issues of personal belongings and laundry is important, and establishing some easy-to-follow rules for the family further facilitates the plan.

A suggested framework, plan for belongings, plan for laundry, set of basic rules, and suggested schedule for tasks follows. Don't be intimidated, and don't jump to the conclusion that this plan means I'm an uptight cleaning and scheduling freak. Believe it or not, my home is a very family-friendly, living-friendly, relaxed, environment. In fact, it is precisely a good organization plan that helps make chores seem like less work and life be more relaxed.

THE BASIC FRAMEWORK:

Establish a list of daily tasks.

Establish a list of weekly tasks.

Establish a list of tasks that can be done every two, three, or four Saturdays/Sundays.

(For example, indoor window washing can be done every third Saturday, cabinet polishing can be done every third Saturday, woodwork polishing can be done every third Saturday.

If you alternate the Saturdays for each of these jobs each one can be completed fairly quickly, with the others being left until their Saturday comes around.)

Establish one Saturday every two months for big projects, like cleaning the refrigerator or cleaning the garage.

Establish a "when-the-mood-strikes" list.

BELONGINGS:

Belongings usually include: toys, books, clothes, shoes, and miscellaneous

Have a bin or bag for toys.

Have a shelf or table for books.

Put belongings away each night

For clothes have three options:

1. Dirty clothes go into dirty clothes bin, hamper, or bag.

2. Clean clothes should be put away, but if that's not possible they should be stacked in

one designated place.

3. If there are clothes that have been worn but will be worn again have something like an

over-the-door hanger, which keeps them separated from clean clothes but neatly hung.

Each person should have a place for shoes.

Miscellaneous items that are around on a work night are usually fairly limited in number,

so putting them back where they belong can be done immediately after use.

THE RULES:

Put belongings away each night.

If children are very young, parents have to clean up after them.

If children are old enough, they must put their own things away before going to bed.

Aim to do each of the daily tasks daily, but if some of the not-so-crucial tasks get left until the next day just pick up the daily schedule then.

Have children who are old enough wash their own snack dishes.

Use paper plates and cups for snacks for younger children.

Require each family member to keep their bath products in their room (or in a closet in the bathroom), rather than leaving them around the bathroom. When the bathroom doesn't have shampoos and conditioners left around cleaning is easier.

Do at least one load of a laundry an evening. Throwing laundry in during dinner and getting it out of the dryer after dinner makes doing it almost effortless. If doing a second load is possible do that.

A NOTE ABOUT LAUNDRY:

Break down laundry into the usual clothing categories. Do towels in one load. The bedclothes for each bed will make one load for one evening. Curtains should be put on the "every two months" list. Tablecloths, shower curtains, toilet seat covers, and throw rugs all make individual loads.

Washing everyone's permanent press clothes together during dinner helps you keep on top of the laundry without letting it mount up. Doing something like towels in the second load (if you do one) helps get a lot of laundry done in one evening.

SUGGESTED DAILY TASKS:

Damp mop the bathroom and kitchen floors each night or alternate which floor is mopped each night.

Sweep wood floors daily if possible. If you miss a day that's fine. Do it the next day.

Vacuum when needed and when there is time. Otherwise add vacuuming to Saturday's list.

Use a daily shower spray on showers, tubs, and sinks. That keeps them clean.

It doesn't take long to wipe bathroom fixtures. Give them a once-over daily.

Add bathroom tiles to the list of weekly chores. They can be wiped clean either when the mood strikes during the week or on Saturday.

Wipe kitchen surfaces as crumbs or spills occur. Wipe the stove as you cook.

Wipe again after the meal is finished.

Put away everything used in meal preparations.

Wash dishes immediately. If they aren't washed immediately, at least don't go to bed with dishes in the sink or dishwasher.

Give appliances a once-over with spray cleaner (if not daily, at least three days out of the week).

Give the inside of the refrigerator frequent wipes, but put the major cleaning job on one of the "when-the-mood-strikes" or "at least every two months" lists.

Empty trash containers daily. Washing them is a task for the "every two months" list.

Self-cleaning ovens can be cleaned as needed. Non-self-cleaning ovens can be kept cleaner by using a liner at the bottom of the oven. Oven cleaning can be placed on the "every two months" list, although cleaning spills when they happen helps make that job easier.

SUGGESTED WEEKLY TASKS: (One person can do them all quickly, but more than one person will get them done even more quickly.)

If one or two of the daily tasks were missed during the week use Saturday to do them. None of them takes much time. Depending on the size of the house and the number of people doing chores, these tasks could take an hour or less to complete.

Clean mirrors.

Polish wood cabinets and furniture. This doesn't take long.

Dust vases, pictures, and any knick-knacks around the house. It doesn't take long.

Run a feather dust around corners, ceilings, mantels, woodwork, etc.

Wipe the top of the refrigerator.

Make it a point to vacuum. It doesn't take long. If someone in the house can do it ask them to. Vacuuming on Saturday morning makes the weekend that much nicer.

SUGGESTED ALTERNATING THIRD SATURDAYS LIST:

If one of these is done every third Saturdays they will all be completed over the course of 12 weeks. If more than one person does chores they will be completed sooner. Substituting one task for another may work better for you.

Polish woodwork

Wash windows inside.

Consider washing curtains for one room.

Give bathroom tiles and kitchen tiles a cleaning.

SUGGESTED EVERY TWO MONTHS (OR WHEN THE MOOD STRIKES) LIST:

Over a period of three months these tasks would all be done. If more than one person is doing them they could, of course, be done more often. Also, there are occasional days off from work.

Clean the oven if necessary.

Clean the inside of the refrigerator.

Curtains for all rooms on one floor can be washed, ironed, and re-hung.

Blinds and shades can be cleaned.

Washing out trash containers.

Wipe down any walls that need it.

Of course, the suggested plan can be altered and improved upon, depending on your preferences, cleaning standards, and general circumstances.