• One ( or Two ) and Done : Clean everything in one day . Alternatively , if one very long block of cleaning feels like too much , split your list in half and tackle it over two days .
• Timed Sessions : Decide which days you ' ll clean and for how long , such as 30 minutes . Set a timer , and start at the top of your list . Clean until the timer dings . On your next scheduled cleaning day , pick up where you left off . Repeat .
• A Room ( or Two ) a Day : Decide how many days you ' ll clean . Then , assign specific areas to specific days . For example , Monday : Clean the kitchen , entry , and laundry room ; Tuesday : living room and dining room and ; Wednesday : bathrooms ; and Thursday : hallway and bedrooms .
Step-7 Practice Your Cleaning Schedule :
Schedule and start your first month ' s cleaning . Consider the monthly cleaning schedule a trial run . To avoid overwhelming yourself , limit time spent in each room and plan to simply pick up where you left off next time . Keep in mind that it will get easier . Like anything , it takes practice before a new home cleaning schedule will function smoothly .
Step-8 Stay on Track :
Especially during your practice month , use Garvey ' s expert cleaning schedule tips to help set you up for success :
• Print out your task list . Put it in a plastic sheet protector and stick it in your cleaning bucket so you always know exactly which tasks to tackle .
• Schedule cleaning appointments . Mark them on your calendar until they become an automatic part of your routine .
• Cut yourself slack . If you find you can ' t finish your cleaning tasks on a scheduled day , don ' t stress . Either complete an abbreviated , prioritized cleaning session or reschedule for a different day .
Step-9 Re-evaluate Your Schedule :
After your practice month is over , analyze how things went . Identify what worked and what didn ' t . If your cleaning schedule didn ' t quite work out the first time , make this your mantra : " I did not fail the schedule ; the schedule failed me ." Replace the tactics that didn ' t work with new ones for the following month . Continue reevaluating monthly until you hit upon a cleaning schedule you can keep .