If your New Year’s resolution is to take better care of your home and create a warm and welcoming space for your family, keeping on top of a cleaning schedule is a must. But if you don’t quite know where to start, this ultimate 2024 cleaning calendar has got your back.
While we understand that most people don’t have a huge amount of time in their schedule to follow all of the cleaning tips and tricks, cleaning your house doesn’t have to be a time-consuming chore. If you're armed with the best vacuum cleaner and by spreading big cleaning jobs out throughout the year, you can keep your house ship shape without it taking over your life.
Not only will this benefit your family time and mental health, but certain household jobs are actually best done at certain points in the year. So, this cleaning calendar will benefit your house, too.
The ultimate 2024 cleaning calendar
'As a cleaning expert with decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that there are certain tasks that are best suited for certain times of the year', says Carly Campbell, Cleaning Expert, Mommy on Purpose. 'I recommend breaking it down into manageable chunks and tackling one area at a time.' Luckily for you, that’s exactly what we’ve done below.
Yes, we've created the ultimate 2024 cleaning calendar to break it down month by month. All you need to do is bookmark this page and come back to it to see which job you're best off tackling next.
January – Declutter the house
'Chances are you’ll be clearing away a lot of the items from the festive period during January. It’s also the time when most people put down their Christmas decorations', says Sarah Dempsey, Cleaning Expert, MyJobQuote. 'This makes it the perfect time to examine the home for any other areas of clutter that can be tackled.'
Use January wisely and learn how to declutter for a stress-free happy home. Whether that is tidying the kid's room or decluttering the bathroom, a tidy house is good for your mind, happiness and well-being, so why not start the year as you mean to go on and get rid of anything your home no longer needs? It's a guaranteed way to set yourself up for a positive year.
It's a perfect time to tackle the kids' rooms. Make space for the new toys and clothes they were lucky enough to receive at Christmas by taking anything they don't wear or play with anymore and donating it to charity.
February – Clean those hard-to-reach spaces
When was the last time you cleaned under the bed or behind the sofa? Exactly! Now's the time to do just that.
Clean behind radiators and along difficult-to-reach ledges, picture rails, door frames and shelves with a flexible dusting tool like JML’s RadiClean, £9.99 at Amazon. Simply rub it with your hand to build up static, then bend it as required so you can reach even the highest and inaccessible spots without much effort. It’s also useful for dusting slatted blinds and shutters, for reaching cobwebs from high ceilings and for cleaning between stair bannisters.
Other areas to target include wardrobes and cabinets, shelves, frames, bannisters and skirting boards. Getting behind, under and around will ensure every area of your home is spick and span.
March – Freshen up fabrics
Spring is almost here which means the temperature is hopefully starting to get a little warmer, making it a good time to tackle how to clean upholstery and rugs, blinds and curtains. They're often neglected but it's important to clean them as research shows they can pose health risks if dust mites are allowed to form carrying bacteria and mould.
Vacuum fabric blinds and curtains, then plump up any loose cushions and throws and leave them in the sunshine to air. Hoover floor rugs and take them outside to beat and shake them, getting rid of any loose dirt.
April – Clean the windows
With spring well and truly sprung, sunlight should hopefully be streaming through your homes. The downside? It will show up even the tiniest of smudges on the glass, which is why it's a good month to learn how to clean the windows.
'Cold weather can leave behind remnants that refuse to leave so spring is the perfect time to get your windows clean and get rid of all the winter stains,' says Sarah Dempsey. 'Clean windows will also make your home more aesthetically pleasing which is perfect for when you start planning to host garden parties.'
May – Spruce up the garden
Here come the Bank Holidays, and with them, barbecue season. From the garage to the greenhouse, it’s all too easy to neglect outdoor cleaning when our focus has been on interior spaces for so long. But a little hard work in May will reward you for months to come.
Start by having a good sweep up – rake dead leaves off gravel and turf, brush up debris from decking, paths and paved areas. You’ll be amazed at what a difference this makes to the overall appearance of your garden. Don’t forget to lift plant pots and sweep up loose earth that gets washed out and gathers beneath them.
Next, break down spring cleaning your outside area into small, achievable jobs that you can do whenever the sun shines. It’s better to focus on one area – clearing out the garage, for example, or cleaning the gutters – than trying to do lots of things at once.
Consider giving the shed ideas some TLC too. 'Sheds can often turn from a place where you store garden tools and equipment into a dumping ground for things you no longer use or want in the house,' says Jack Sutcliffe, Co-Founder, Power Sheds.
Jack recommends decluttering the shed first before giving it a deep clean. 'Dust any surface, sweep the floors, maybe even repaint parts of the shed that need it.'
June – Tackle the DIY
'Summer is all about maintenance,' says cleaning guru Carly. 'In addition to continuing your regular indoor and outdoor cleaning routine, this is the time to focus on smaller tasks that will help keep your home in tip-top shape.'
This makes June the perfect month to tackle DIY. Help your house to thrive by fixing any leaky taps, or learn how to fix squeaky floorboards to finally rid yourself of irritating noises. You'd be surprised at the number of home repairs you can DIY; with the help of our guides and a few basic tools, you'll be able to tackle many jobs round the house yourself, saving you a pretty penny.
July – Aim high
Zone in on higher-placed areas during summer, such as on top of bookcases, kitchen cupboards, wardrobes and bathroom cabinets. Clutter in these areas not only looks unsightly, but also causes enormous amounts of dust to gather, so you may need to give them a good clean.
'Depending on how long it’s been since your last deep clean, you will first need to remove any loose particles before applying a wet cleaning product,' says Sue Caldwell, Clean Living International. 'The easiest way to remove dust and crumbs is by using a handheld vacuum or the hose on your normal hoover, as this will prevent you from making more mess on the worktops below!'
August – Make floors fabulous
With the whole household traipsing in and out, your floors can be a breeding ground for germs. Steam kills 99 per cent of bacteria and viruses, so use one of the best steam cleaner to clean your carpets, hard floors, upholstery and surfaces with minimum elbow grease.
Choose a model with a large water tank so you won’t have to stop to refill it too often and opt for a design with a 360-degree rotating head and a hand-held optional function, to get the job done more quickly and easily.
September – Love your sofa
Peak summer is over which means now is the time to get ready for long nights in front of the telly. The seating areas of the living room can gather fluff, biscuit crumbs and greasy marks over time, so focus on these areas when cleaning a sofa so you can relax in a clean setting.
Start by vacuuming all textile surfaces thoroughly, using a brush attachment to remove loose dust and hairs. Get inside nooks and crannies with your vacuum cleaner using a narrow nozzle – you'll be surprised at the dirt that accumulates behind cushions.
If your covers are machine-washable, follow the washing instructions and launder the covers yourself. If you have fixed covers or non-washable upholstery, use a steam cleaner (check with your manufacturer first for suitability) to kill bacteria and freshen up fabrics.
October – Head to bed
Brrrr. It's getting chilly, and it's time to swap your summer duvet for one with a bigger tog count. So why not give your bedroom a good clean at the same time.
Launder all your bed linen including spare sets and follow washing or dry-cleaning instructions to clean your bedding. Learn how to wash pillows and duvets as well as the bedding itself, as these can harbour dust mites and sweat and are often forgotten.
Vacuum and turn your mattress, vacuum your bed base (and wipe it if it is not an upholstered design) and ensure you clean under your bed thoroughly as this is a key area where fluff and dead skin cells can build up over time.
November – Scrub up any appliances
Your appliances are likely to see serious action at Christmas, so November is the time to get them ready. Set aside one afternoon and learn how to clean a fridge-freezer, and you'll thank yourself once the grocery loads start to increase.
Tackle the cooking space next. Cleaning the oven and hob is never a pleasant job, but they'll be more hygienic to use and they won't belch out acrid smoke whenever you turn them on.
Now's the perfect time to give your washing machine some attention too. Though it's not as visible as other areas of the kitchen, limescale, dirt and detergent can build up inside the drum and lead to mildew and bacteria growth.
'Clean around the inside rubber door seal of the washing machine, as this is an area that will see a build-up of bacteria and bad odours,' says Ben Peach, Laundry Product Manager, Haier Europe. 'Also, leftover detergent remains encrusted in the drawer and transforms into mould. To effectively clean it and get rid of the bacteria, remove the drawer, then soak it for half an hour in hot water; to remove the mould from hard- to-reach corners you can use a toothbrush.'
You can also flush out any nasties in the washing machine or dishwasher with a specialist product (we like Dr Beckmann's Service-It range), which will help your appliances live longer and carry on performing effectively.
December – Do one final detox
The final clean of the year should be focused on getting your house prepped for Christmas and New Year. Do a deep clean of the bathroom and kitchen – our guide to how to clean grout will help you get every nook and cranny gleaming.
Getting your bath, loo, shower and sink sparkling in time for the festive season is easy with our guide on how to clean a bathroom. Also, if you have a porch area for coats and shoes, make sure this is organised and smelling fresh, as this is the first place that guests will see when they arrive.
FAQs
How do I plan a cleaning schedule?
'Planning a cleaning schedule should take into account your working and personal schedule as well,' says Zornitsa Stoyanova, Regional Director for Cleaning Services, Fantastic Services. 'What time do you go out for work and get back home? 'How much time do you spend preparing food? Doing such a thorough organisation of your schedule will help you have more free time and do your tasks more effectively.'
It might help to divide your cleaning chores into daily, weekly, and monthly categories. That way you can plan a long-term schedule that plans ahead for the different types of tasks.
'Ultimately, the key to staying on top of your cleaning schedule is to stay organized and take a methodical approach,' says cleaning expert Carly. 'By breaking tasks down into manageable chunks and tackling them one at a time, you'll be able to keep your home looking and feeling its best all year round.'
We said it last year but we mean it this time – in 2024, we're finally getting our houses in order. We're going to keep on top of the dust and the disorder at all times - no excuses!
What is a good schedule for house cleaning?
While it’s important to keep up with daily tasks such as making the bed, washing up, and giving your floors a vacuum or a mop, that doesn’t mean that you have to do everything every day or week. In fact, one of the best schedules for house cleaning is splitting big household chores across the whole year.
For example, January is a great month to get rid of any clutter you don’t want to take into the New Year, while May is the perfect month to spruce up the garden so you can enjoy it in all its glory during the summer.
Cutting your cleaning schedule into chunks will not only make cleaning more manageable but will also ensure that every single inch of your house gets the attention it deserves.
What are the daily 6 cleaning list?
The daily 6 cleaning list focuses on six important cleaning jobs that can be done every day without taking up too much of your time. These include: making the bed, vacuuming the house, doing a load of laundry, washing the dishes, wiping down the kitchen counters, and cleaning the sink.
Of course, you can chop and change these tasks to suit your own schedule. For example, you might not need to put on a load of washing every day, so you want to ditch that completely or swap it for mopping the kitchen floor instead.
By sticking to a daily 6 schedule, you can ensure that you keep the main areas of your house clean without feeling overwhelmed or overpowered by the cleaning tasks on your to-do list.
How do I keep track of my cleaning schedule?
A cleaning calendar is the easiest way to keep track of your cleaning schedule, as you can refer back to it every time you tick something off your list and before you move on to the next task. Of course, there are so many ways to enjoy a cleaning calendar.
You could write your own cleaning calendar on a piece of paper, you could use an app, or you could even make a spreadsheet if you’re more technologically inclined.
Ultimately, you need to find a way that works for you, to ensure that you get the most out of your cleaning calendar.
Happy cleaning!
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