Give me a cleaning routine please?

[newname2021]

Apologies that this is somewhat similar to the previous thread but I have just moved in to a new home and I am embarrassed to say, I don't really know how to keep it clean

Growing up, my childhood home wasn't clean. Not horrendous but bad enough that I was embarrassed whenever friends came round. I swore that I would be better when I had my own home but I've just never been taught what needs to be done and when/how often. My last home got to a point where I felt I had to hire a cleaning company before I left to make sure it was ok to pass on to somebody new.

I feel so stupid for saying this but it's only from hearing things from friends and reading on here that it's occurred to me that things like skirting boards, blinds and washing machines need cleaning... Not something I ever witnessed growing up!

Would anybody be so kind as to share their cleaning routine with me and teach me the ways of those with clean houses? I really want to get into a routine to keep on top of things before I let my nice new home get into any kind of state where it seems too much.

A lot of people on here swear by the Organised Mum Method. I’ve never tried it, mainly because I’ve not yet done enough decluttering to make it work, but it sounds really good in theory.

@Rainallnight

A lot of people on here swear by the Organised Mum Method. I’ve never tried it, mainly because I’ve not yet done enough decluttering to make it work, but it sounds really good in theory.

Ooo thanks for the reply, I haven't heard of that but will go and Google now.

TOMM! 💯

I was going to recommend the organised mum method; try not to compare yourself to mumsnet though as some people are at a whole new level of cleaning

The most important thing is to avoid clutter. It's pretty much impossible to keep things tidy when your home is overrun by useless tat and things everywhere. Next, get in the habit of always putting things away after you use them. It just takes a second and makes a big difference.

Personally, I always make sure my kitchen is 100% picked up at the end of every day, no exceptions. I find it very depressing to wake up to a manky kitchen and an awful way to start the day. Again, it only takes a few minutes to get the kitchen cleaned and very worth it.

I don't leave clean laundry laying about. I get it folded and/or hung right away when it comes out of the dryer. I hate dealing with laundry, but I hate piles of clothes more.

I have a robot vac that has been life changing. I needed to drag the hoover out every day because of my cats, and now I don't. Love it!

As for dusting and skirting boards, I quickly dust around every couple of days and do the skirting boards about once a week.

Bathrooms get a quick daily wipe down and a full clean every few days.

Thank you so much for the helpful replies! I've been looking at the organised mum method and it looks great, exactly what I need.

Can I ask how people keep on top of dust? I feel like things are always dusty no matter how hard I try. I dusted the items on the bedside tables on Saturday and now they look dusty again. Is that normal? Should I expect to have to dust every day?!

Definitely the organised mum
I don't follow it strictly but picked up a few things
If you see it's dirty, clean it there and then so wiping up spills etc or noticing a cobweb
I try and do 30 mins a day, that's plenty for me as I live alone
If I go to the loo, then I often wipe the sink at the same time and clean the shower while I'm in it
Let your products work so don't spray and wipe, let it sit and do its job especially on grease/dirt
I've never cleaned my washing machine except for the dispenser bit, and I run a hot wash with no additions and towels in every so often
Skirting boards done when I Hoover with the attachment

TOMM and get the app. One room a day and general tidy up. once you're in your routine it takes no time at all. The app is good as you tick off as you go. Without it I added to much to the to do list and never felt like I was finishing anything or I felt I had to much to do at once.

TOMM. You’ll be on top of the dusting and vacuuming in no time! I end up vacuuming more because I figure while I’ve got it out, I may as well continue. That keeps the dust down massively.

Thank you everyone! I will follow the organised mum and live in cleanliness for the first time ever!

Things I do every day which make a massive difference:-
One load of washing
Previous days washing put away
Tidy house
Very quick hoover
Wipe cat flap/cat food mat/lounge windowsill/coasters
Put rubbish/recycling out
Open post/file/shred paper

On dusting, DH dusts by just sort of waving a duster at surfaces. I find that using an actual surface cleaner keeps the dust off for just that bit longer. It's not foolproof. And frankly, after Covid I plan to get a cleaner every fortnight with main task being dusting/ surfaces cleaning because it is RELENTLESS and I don't have time to do it.

Regular vacuuming (and i totally second the robot vacuum cleaner suggestion) makes a huge difference. I'm always amazed how much better everything looks after Harvey has done his thing while I'm doing something else.

My other thing is the realisation that a lot of the time if things don't look obviously dirty, doesn't mean they aren't. The fronts of all the cupboards in the kitchen is a great example. I only wipe those down about once every 2 weeks but I'm always amazed at how suddenly everything looks brighter when I do.

I’m a recovering slattern who learned housekeeping as an adult.

On the way downstairs in the morning:
Make bed, tidy bedroom, pull curtains, open window. Pull other curtains, flush toilets, straighten bathroom.

One day each - hoovering/ mop and wet clean/ bathrooms/ laundry/ shopping & food prep.

Everyday - empty bins, clean cat litter, air house, clean dishes, clean kitchen, tidy the house for ten minutes.

When I hoover, I hoover everything - walls, surfaces, lampshades, skirting boards, curtains, cushions and even floors. I don’t mix dry cleaning and wet cleaning (mops, sprays) - dry always gets done before wet. Work top to bottom.

When I wet clean I spray every surface in a room, give it time to actually work, then clean everything off. It helps to work left to right and top to bottom (except bathrooms where you work from the cleanest surfaces to the dirtiest).

I do bigger jobs, as and when they make sense/I feel like it, which works for me. There are great checklists online if you prefer a schedule.

I put more effort into not making a mess in the first place (eg covering bowls in the microwave). Don’t put things down, put them away. I use liners in the bins and change them daily before they have a chance to split and spill so I only have to clean them down every six weeks or so. With Laundry, get clothes out of the machine/drier ASAP. Fold/smooth/hang while warm to minimise ironing. Throw a cup of vinegar into the rinse with towels and it keeps the machine running well.

Keep on top of clutter - if something doesn’t have a home address that. The more stuff that accumulates the harder everything becomes. Keep a donation box handy and keep moving things out of your house.

@newname2021 with dusting definitely damp dusting helps remove it rather than just moving it around but also by doing it every week you really reduce it (and the effort involved). The key is not to skip it because it doesn’t look that bad-by keeping on top of it it never becomes a massive job

I have always followed very strict rules:

1. If it looks clean then it is.
2. If it looks dirty then clean it.
3. Enjoy life.

I can only reiterate damp dusting and vacuuming/ mopping weekly for bedrooms and bathrooms. Other rooms fortnightly seems ok.

I've found a spray of water and detergent taken round the house and used with for damp dusting, wiping down mirrors and quick cleaning sinks, helps speed me up. Later in the kitchen I'll use it to do counters and hob that evening.

Mischance I did it that way until I ran out of stamina! Now it's little and often.

I don't have a routine. We used to have a cleaner who did 3 hours per week, so now I dole out 3 hours worth of housework between me and dh as when I think about it. Probably less than that to tell the truth. We certainly don't clean the bath every week now.

Dishes, laundry, rubbish and recycling don't get counted within that 3 hours though and I do way more laundry and (occasional) putting away than him.

If we have people coming over (obviously hasn't been an issue this year) we'll make a bit more effort.

Thanks so much everyone, some really great suggestions here for which I am very grateful!