Survival Cleaning Schedule

Ever feel like screaming because you’re house is a total mess?

Yep, me too.

Not all the time, I have a simple weekly cleaning schedule that I stick to most of the time.

But sometimes that slips. 

You know the times… 

When you’re child is home sick or when you’re home sick…

When there’s a work deadline that’s eating up all your brain bandwidth…

Some actual downtime away to refresh and rebalance – always leaves me a little too lackadaisical for stuff like cleaning! 

Christmas… Easter, big birthday celebrations... 

Yes, there are times when we all get overwhelmed and the basics go out of the window. 

But the thing is, when we let them go out of the window, we can end up feeling a bit down about ourselves…

…not to mention, down about the state our homes are in!!

So that’s why I took a little time to put together what I’m calling my Survival Cleaning Schedule. 

It’s a very basic schedule that can be done at super speed and on auto-pilot at times when there just aren’t enough hours in the day. 

Of course, the reality is that if you don’t dust properly and shine stuff and clean floors and windows for weeks and weeks months at a time it’s not great, but knowing you’re covering off the basics in times of overwhelm will help you feel a whole lot better about it. 

For a start you won’t have that horrible ‘waaaah’ out of control feeling of panic!

The Ultimate Survival Cleaning Schedule

1. Run dishwasher last thing, empty first thing

If all else fails I at least do this, there is nothing worse than coming down at the start of a new day to a pile of dirty dishes, no matter how neatly they’ve been stacked near the dishwasher!!

2. Wipe kitchen tops

I always simple use microfibre cloths because that just need water to kill germs, no other products to reach for. Saves cash as well, how’s that for a double whammy!

3. Basket tidy up

Every night shove anything lying around into a basket … it doesn’t matter what a mess the basket is, as long as the stuff is not on the floor.

Then, once a week, sort the basket by room for 10 minutes and put away for 5 minutes.

You won’t empty the basket but you’ll stay on top of it.

4. Make beds

I am talking quickly straighten sheet, pull up duvet and plump up the pillows.

This isn’t bed making hotel style, but psychologically … well it makes a difference. Trust me!

5. Laundry load

Every other day do a single load of laundry from start to finish, which includes putting it away.

6. Flick duster around

Just focus on the most obvious surfaces … microfibre dusters with handles on are great and even the kids love helping out with them 🙂

7. Super fast vacuum clean

Go as fast as you can … go for coverage rather than quality as otherwise everyone will just tread dirt from mucky rooms over clean ones.

8. Quick toilet clean and wipe basin

Just squirt the toilet with cleaner and wipe the seat with toilet paper.

Wipe around the basin with a microfibre cloth no cleaning spray needed. 

9. Empty trash

Do this before the bin / trash can gets full  and avoid at all costs stuff piling up by bin!!!

10. Just get some more sleep

Because you know you need it!!

Don’t forget that once you’re out of survival mode it’s good to get into a regular simple weekly cleaning schedule. It really does help – I know, I’ve been there, done it and am a lot less overwhelmed by household chores – most of the time – as a result. 

We’ve also got a stack of other super useful household hacks to help you spend less time and energy running the household and more time doing the things you love. 

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