#cleaning routine

Hey Girlie Pops,

Between TikTok and Tumblr, I’m seeing way too much bedrotting and overwhelm about what actually needs to happen to clean a room or maintain a home. There’s a real gap in basic home-training skills; and the people filling that gap are often alt-right tradwife influencers and crunchy pseudoscience.

So!

I am here, as your big sister who’s been living alone and maintaining clean, functional spaces in both surgical/clinical and cozy domestic settings for 6 years now, to teach you the basic tools, how they work, and how to keep your home clean cheaply and effectively.

This is homemaking for Competent Women not patriarchal nonsense. I'll cover pet care and pet cleaning routines and supplies in a follow up post, and these are all going to be tagged as #Big Sister Chats

≽^•⩊•^≼ Tools and Supplies ≽^•⩊•^≼

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The Perpetual Tools ♡ Basics You Actually Need

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ᵔᴥᵔ An upright canister or Euro canister vacuum

- not a stick vac. If you’re only going to have ONE vacuum, it should be a canister with real suction power and attachments. Supplement with a stick vac later if you want.

ᵔᴥᵔ A Bucket

ᵔᴥᵔ A Mop

- Cuban, Spin, Microfiber, Sponge, Deck Brush… I don’t care, just get a good mop head.

ᵔᴥᵔ A Broom

ᵔᴥᵔ A Dustpan & Brush

ᵔᴥᵔ If you have carpet: A handheld carpet cleaner/spot cleaner, and know where your local rentable wall-to-wall cleaner is (grocery stores, Lowe’s, Home Depot).

ᵔᴥᵔ Rubber or heavy nitrile gloves

ᵔᴥᵔ Rags

ᵔᴥᵔ A Scrub Brush

ᵔᴥᵔ A Plastic Razor Blade

ᵔᴥᵔ A Garment Steamer or Iron (I am begging you and I promise it's worth it)

ᵔᴥᵔ A lint brush, lint stone, or lint comb

ᵔᴥᵔ A clothing drying rack or clothes line

ᵔᴥᵔ A dish drying rack with mat

ᵔᴥᵔ A Toilet Brush & Plunger Set

ᵔᴥᵔ Two Laundry Hampers or Laundry Bags

ᵔᴥᵔ A sponge with a non-scratch scrub side (Scrub Daddy, Scotch-Brite, whatever)

ᵔᴥᵔ Plastic Drain Snake

ᵔᴥᵔ An old toothbrush (For detail bits)

ᵔᴥᵔ An Ironing pad

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Nice To Haves ♡ Upgrades That Make Life Easier

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ᵔᴥᵔ A Hand & Stick Combo Vacuum (Bissell Featherweight, Dyson stick vacs, etc.)

ᵔᴥᵔ Your own wall-to-wall carpet cleaner (if you have carpet)

ᵔᴥᵔ A Spin or Steam Mop

ᵔᴥᵔ A Swiffer-type Quick Mop dusty and mist/damp mop system (O-Cedar Microfiber, Swiffer, etc.)

ᵔᴥᵔ A Wet/Dry Vac (there are very cool all-in-one mop/vac combos now)

ᵔᴥᵔ A Steam Cleaner

ᵔᴥᵔ 1–2 divided cleaning caddies

ᵔᴥᵔ Scouring Pads / Steel Wool

ᵔᴥᵔ A Dish Brush

ᵔᴥᵔ Dryer Balls

ᵔᴥᵔ A Mini Bucket (for mixing small solutions)

ᵔᴥᵔ A Duster (instead of just using dry rags)

ᵔᴥᵔ Spray Bottles (Labeled with what's in them)

ᵔᴥᵔ Dedicated sink plunger

ᵔᴥᵔ Pumice stone for hard water and rust lines

ᵔᴥᵔ A floor and a hand squeegee (Wet messes, pet hair if you do the rubber brush + squeegee thing)

ᵔᴥᵔ Ironing Board/ Arm boards/ Tailor's Hams

ᵔᴥᵔ Disposable Exam gloves

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The Barest of Cleaning Supplies ♡ The Minimum Effective Arsenal

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ᵔᴥᵔ Bleach or an ammonia-based cleaner

- Something with actual documented pathogen-killing power (Clorox, Lysol)

ᵔᴥᵔ Distilled White Vinegar

ᵔᴥᵔ Scouring Powder

- Bar Keepers Friend, Comet Bleach Powder, Baking Soda, pick one

ᵔᴥᵔ Oxygen Bleach / OxiClean / OxyPowder

ᵔᴥᵔ Castile Soap

ᵔᴥᵔ Laundry Detergent

- powder, liquid, pods, doesn’t matter just something effective

ᵔᴥᵔ Carpet cleaning solution (if you have carpet + a portable carpet cleaner)

ᵔᴥᵔ 90% Rubbing Alcohol

ᵔᴥᵔ Hydrogen Peroxide

ᵔᴥᵔ Enzyme Cleaner (if you have pets or a period)

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Nice To Have Cleaning Supplies

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ᵔᴥᵔ Cleaning solutions for any “Nice to Have” machines

- (steam mop, carpet cleaner, wet/dry vac)

ᵔᴥᵔ Dish Soap

ᵔᴥᵔ Surface-specific cleansers

- (stone-safe, wood-safe, bathroom-safe, etc.)

ᵔᴥᵔ Mirror & Glass Cleaner

- (Though 50:50 vinegar + water does this very well)

ᵔᴥᵔ Canned Air for electronics

ᵔᴥᵔ Screen Wipes / Screen Cleaner

ᵔᴥᵔ Metal Polish

ᵔᴥᵔ Leather Cleaners

ᵔᴥᵔ Beeswax Block

ᵔᴥᵔ Lemon Oil

ᵔᴥᵔ Essential or Fragrance Oils

- These do not CLEAN they're to make things smell nice, and be sure to check which ones are compatible with YOUR pets

ᵔᴥᵔ Fabric Softener

ᵔᴥᵔ Fabric Scent things (sprays, rinses, beads, etc)

ᵔᴥᵔ Spray Starch

ᵔᴥᵔ Wrinkle Releaser

ᵔᴥᵔ Ironing Spray

ᵔᴥᵔ Color Safe Fabric Sanitizer

ᵔᴥᵔ Dryer Sheets

ᵔᴥᵔ Dishwasher detergents & Rinse additives (if you've got one)

ᵔᴥᵔ Washing Machine Cleaners

- If your machine works with these AND you have them in home, but honestly, hot water + a baking soda scrub + rinse + vinegar will do this too

ᵔᴥᵔ Laundry Stain Remover Pre-treatment (tide pens work pretty well here tbh)

ᵔᴥᵔ Niche fabric detergents (woolite, delicates detergent, etc)

ᵔᴥᵔ Drain Cleaner/Liquid plunger

ᵔᴥᵔ Citric Acid or other hardwater problem solver if you have hardwater issues

ᵔᴥᵔ Carpet Powder

≽^•⩊•^≼ The Routines ≽^•⩊•^≼

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Daily Maintenance ♡ Because it's easier to keep clean than get clean

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Mornings:

ᵔᴥᵔ Make the bed

- Your mom and that navy admiral guy on all of the inspirational vertical shorts accounts were correct. It starts your day off correctly with an accomplishment and it makes your room look better

ᵔᴥᵔ If you have in unit laundry and a load, start it before class/work/etc

ᵔᴥᵔ Do dishes as you cook or right after eating

ᵔᴥᵔ Quick Trash check

- if it's full, smelly, wet, etc, take it out on your way out of the house

Evenings:

ᵔᴥᵔ Switch your load from the morning into the dryer or onto a drying rack

ᵔᴥᵔ Quick sweep of clutter and things where they don't belong back into their rightful places

ᵔᴥᵔ Quick run through with a broom/dust mop/swiffer/stick vac (your surface level quick cleaning method for hair, crumbs, dust, and dirt)

ᵔᴥᵔ Dishes, get that sink cleared nightly and wipe it down and a quick pass over your prep surfaces (you can literally take your wet sponge from doing dishes, wring it out, and take a hand towel after it)

- it's the same concept as making the bed in the morning, so that you start and end your day with an accomplishment

ᵔᴥᵔ Put away any laundry you did that day, pull out and prep your outfit for the next day (iron/steam out wrinkles, hit it with a lint roller doesn't have to be perfect, doesn't even have to be starched, just presentable and not looking like you grabbed it out of the laundry pile and slept in it)

ᵔᴥᵔ As Part of your evening hygiene routine, wipe down the bathroom sink for toothpaste worms, makeup dust, etc. Grime will build up quick in bathrooms

Keep In Mind: These are all 2–10 minute tasks, totaling about 30 minutes to an hour of maintenance per day.

Doing these small resets cuts your deeper weekly cleaning from 6–8 exhausting hours down to 2–3 manageable hours.

This isn’t about perfection.

This isn’t about being a Stepford wife.

This is about saving time, energy, and effort for Future You, so she’s not stuck doing disaster recovery every Saturday.

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The "Adulting" Midi Cleans (1-2x weekly) ♡ for a little more heft (1 hour max in addition to above daily)

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ᵔᴥᵔ Run the Vacuum, just... hit the open floors, should take you maybe 10 minutes per room assuming fairly large rooms, my entire apartment takes me about 20 minutes and 30 minutes if I'm wrestling with the stairs, and I only do stairs once a week

ᵔᴥᵔ Quick scrub the toilet, just a quick inside the bowl with the toilet brush, swirl (not even 90 seconds)

ᵔᴥᵔ Hit all the kitchen and bathroom countertops with a quick wipe without moving your knife block, spice rack, etc. (3-5 minutes a room)

These are your touch up cleans, Not your deep cleans, not your maintenance cleans

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The Weekly Reset ♡ 2-3 Hours Active Time

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Bedroom:

ᵔᴥᵔ Sweep under the bed

ᵔᴥᵔ Strip the bed and throw the linens in the wash (Pillowcases, sheets, duvet covers, mattress pad/protector)

- Blankets and comforters that don't have a cover should be laundered monthly, covers and sheets should be laundered weekly, and inserts should be laundered every 3-6 months

ᵔᴥᵔ Gather any dishes that didn't get caught in the daily sweeps

ᵔᴥᵔ Vacuum

ᵔᴥᵔ If you have hard floors: Mop and dry with a towel (a towel under the feet works great for this and you can use your dirty towel from the bathroom)

ᵔᴥᵔ If you have carpet: use carpet powder or baking soda on freshly vacuumed carpets and let it set while you clean the rest of the house, then vacuum again at the end

ᵔᴥᵔ Remake the bed with clean linens (either the ones you just stripped, or a secondary set)

ᵔᴥᵔ Wipe mirrors and surfaces

ᵔᴥᵔ Dust frames and bookshelves

ᵔᴥᵔ Tidy Nightstands, put books away, etc

ᵔᴥᵔ Straighten Drawers and closet

Bathroom:

ᵔᴥᵔ Clean Makeup and Skincare Brushes/Sponges

ᵔᴥᵔ Launder towels, washcloths, and bathmats

ᵔᴥᵔ wipe down toilet exterior, toilet seat, sink, and tub with lysol or bleach solution

ᵔᴥᵔ Scrub any necessary stains away

ᵔᴥᵔ wipe mirrors

ᵔᴥᵔ Chemically clean toilet bowl (lysol or bleach into the bowl, then scrub with toilet brush)

Living Space/Office:

ᵔᴥᵔ Vacuum and mop

ᵔᴥᵔ Wipe Down Surfaces

ᵔᴥᵔ Straighten throw blankets and throw pillows

ᵔᴥᵔ Sort Mail into shred, address, and file

ᵔᴥᵔ Clear your junk mail tab in your email

ᵔᴥᵔ Empty digital and real recycle bins

ᵔᴥᵔ Hit upholstery with a lint roller

Kitchen:

ᵔᴥᵔ Vaccuum and Mop

ᵔᴥᵔ Wipe Down surfaces, cooktop, and oven; move knife blocks,spice racks, and small appliances as needed

ᵔᴥᵔ Thoroughly clean any small appliances like toasters, coffee makers, or air fryers

ᵔᴥᵔ Wipe down sink

ᵔᴥᵔ Check fridge for expired goods, wipe down one shelf (rotate which shelf you wipe down through the month)

ᵔᴥᵔ Check freezer and scrape frost if necessary

ᵔᴥᵔ Wipe the microwave out with a damp cloth if you have a microwave

Outside and Entryway:

ᵔᴥᵔ Sweep leaves, dirt, and gravel from front step, shake out welcome mats and entry rugs

ᵔᴥᵔ Tidy your shoe rack if you have one

ᵔᴥᵔ If you have dogs, now is the time to clean up poop in a back yard.

ᵔᴥᵔ Straighten up outerwear, "dump tray", and purse/bag

ᵔᴥᵔ Check the car for random fast food trash or general clutter

Closing Words:

Monday: living room

Wipe down tables

Dust surfaces

Tidy up shelves and tables

Wipe windows and windowsills

Dust heaters

Vacuum + mop

Tuesday: kitchen and dining room

Wipe down appliances

Spot clean fridge + throw out anything that might have spoiled

Clean sink, counters and dining table

Reorganize and spot clean pantry

Clean microwave

Vacuum + mop

Wednesday: bathroom

Wash towels and bath mat

Wipe counters and mirrors

Disinfect toilet, shower and tub

Tidy cabinets

Empty trash cans

Vacuum + mop



Thursday: bedroom

Dust + declutter nightstand

Dust cabinets, windowsills and fans

Change sheets

Vacuum + mop

Friday: wrap up

Go over anything you couldn’t finish this week

Declutter counters

Clean desks

Clean out car, bag and phone

Schedule appointments

Go over mail 

Vacuum and wet mop throughout entire house

Weekend: reset and relax

Write out to do lists

Meal prep and make grocery list

Review calendar

@𝐌𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐄

desk

⬚ remove clutter from the surface (surface space isn’t storage🙅‍♀️)

⬚ wipe down desk surface

⬚ put things that don’t belong on your desk back in their homes

⬚ reorganize/redecorate surface space

⬚ remove any and all trash from desk drawers

⬚ assign each desk drawer with a purpose if your desk has multiple drawers (one drawer for school supplies, one for stationery, etc)

⬚ reorganize drawers

closet

⬚ pick up anything off your closet floor

⬚ decide what to keep and what to get rid of

⬚ organize; make sure clothes are hung and folded properly, organize by color, season, clothing type, etc.

dresser

⬚ clean the surface

⬚ go through and see what clothes to keep and discard

⬚ have a designated drawer for each article of clothing

⬚ properly fold and put away clothes

⬚ reorganize/redecorate surface

bed

⬚ wash sheets, blankets, & pillow cases

⬚ re-make bed

nightstand

⬚ clear surface and clean

⬚ decorate it in an intentional way (your night stand is right next to your bed, think about what you do and don’t want near you first thing in the morning and right before you end your day)

⬚ clean out drawer(s)

other

⬚ pick things up off the floor

⬚ remove all trash

⬚ empty out your trash bin

⬚ clean your windows

⬚ reassess what you want on your walls (do you need to put up or take down any posters? do you have a pegboard you need to redecorate?)

-@sudsyscrubber

Your question was slightly confusing, but thanks for the compliment.

Skin-care wise, it's usually dish soap, water, and moisturizer. It doesn't take much to keep literal silver clean, it depends on the material you're made of.

For things like cleaning in general, it's kind of the usual. I'd rather look at the ingredients in what I get for cleaning if it's a brand I don't know about to verify if it'll work perfectly or not.

Perfect men shall always be perfect!

Introduction

Cleaning is essential to maintaining a tidy and hygienic home, but not all cleaning tasks are created equal. While some tasks are necessary for maintaining a clean living space, others may be wasting your time and energy without providing significant benefits. In this article, we'll explore common cleaning tasks that may be inefficient or unnecessary, helping you streamline your cleaning routine and make the most of your time.

Identifying Time-Wasting Cleaning Tasks:

Excessive Dusting

Dusting surfaces throughout your home is important for removing allergens and keeping your space looking clean, but excessive dusting can be a waste of time. Instead of dusting every surface daily, focus on high-traffic areas and frequently touched surfaces such as countertops, tabletops, and electronics. Dustless frequently used areas weekly or bi-weekly to save time without compromising cleanliness.

Over-Organising

While keeping your home organised is essential for maintaining a tidy environment, excessive time organising items can be counterproductive. Avoid getting caught up in overly detailed organising projects and focus on a functional organisation that makes it easy to find and access items when needed—Prioritise decluttering and simplifying your belongings to reduce the need for constant reorganisation.

Cleaning Unused Spaces

It's easy to fall into the trap of cleaning spaces in your home that rarely see any use, such as guest bedrooms or storage closets. While these areas should be cleaned periodically, spending excessive time deep cleaning them regularly may not be necessary. Instead, focus on cleaning and maintaining the areas of your home that receive the most traffic and use your time more efficiently.

Obsessive Floor Cleaning

While clean floors are important for maintaining a hygienic home, obsessively cleaning and mopping floors multiple times a day may be unnecessary. Unless you have young children or pets who frequently track dirt and spills throughout the house, a thorough weekly cleaning should be sufficient for most households. Spot clean spills and messes as they occur to maintain cleanliness without wasting time on excessive floor cleaning.

Overlooking Maintenance Tasks

Neglecting regular maintenance tasks such as changing air filters, cleaning vents, and inspecting appliances can lead to bigger cleaning problems down the line. While these tasks may not seem urgent, they play a crucial role in preventing dirt, dust, and allergens from accumulating in your home. Schedule regular maintenance tasks monthly or quarterly to ensure your home stays clean and well-maintained.

Streamlining Your Cleaning Routine:

Cleaning doesn't always have to be a time-consuming chore. By incorporating clever cleaning hacks and shortcuts into your routine, you can save time and effort while maintaining a clean and tidy home.

One effective cleaning hack is to use multipurpose cleaning products. Instead of cluttering your cleaning cupboard with numerous specialised cleaners for different surfaces, opt for versatile cleaning solutions that tackle multiple tasks. Products like vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide can effectively clean various surfaces, from countertops to bathroom fixtures, saving time and money.

Investing in the right cleaning tools can also make a big difference in the efficiency of your cleaning routine. Microfibre cloths are excellent for capturing dust and dirt without chemical cleaners, while extendable dusters can help you easily reach high-up and hard-to-reach areas. Consider purchasing a quality vacuum cleaner with attachments for cleaning upholstery, curtains, and crevices, and don't forget to maintain your cleaning tools to ensure optimal performance.

Another time-saving technique is implementing the "two-minute tidy" method into your daily routine. Dedicate a few minutes daily to quickly tidying up high-traffic areas such as the living room, kitchen, and bathroom. Focus on tasks like putting away clutter, wiping surfaces, and straightening cushions and throws. By regularly staying on top of these small tasks, you can prevent clutter from accumulating and maintain a cleaner home between deep cleaning sessions.

Additionally, consider enlisting the help of household members to share the cleaning responsibilities. Assign age-appropriate tasks to family members and establish a cleaning schedule that works for everyone. Not only does this lighten the cleaning load for you, but it also teaches valuable life skills and encourages teamwork and responsibility within the household.

By incorporating these cleaning hacks and shortcuts into your routine, you can streamline your cleaning process and make it more manageable. Remember, the goal is not perfection but maintaining a clean and comfortable living environment for you and your family.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions):

How can I determine if a cleaning task wastes my time?

To determine if a cleaning task is wasting your time, consider its impact on the cleanliness and functionality of your home. Suppose a task requires significant time and effort but doesn't noticeably improve the cleanliness or comfort of your living space. In that case, it may be worth reevaluating its importance in your cleaning routine.

Are there any cleaning tasks that I should prioritise over others?

Prioritising cleaning tasks depends on your household's specific needs and preferences. Focus on tasks that have the most significant impact on maintaining a clean and hygienic environment, such as cleaning high-touch surfaces, decluttering regularly, and addressing spills and messes promptly.

How can I streamline my cleaning routine to save time?

Streamlining your cleaning routine involves identifying time-wasting tasks and finding more efficient ways to accomplish them. Focus on cleaning tasks that provide the most significant benefits and consider outsourcing or automating repetitive tasks to save time and energy.

To gain further insights about Cleaning Tasks, we encourage you to browse through the All Services in One website.

Self-Care Routine: Cleaning Motivation #cleaningmotivation #deepcleaning #selfcareroutine #mentalhealth

When my house gets dark, I know it is time to clean. It is hard to describe but the place may not be necessarily dirty, but the aura is heavy, so I clean. I don’t know about you but when I get stressed or frustrated, I clean. When I say clean, I mean I strip down everything, rearrange throw out clean. It is a form of therapy for me which is a huge form of self-care. Sometimes I get lost in my…