The following grid lays out a typical cleaning schedule for a family with a couple of school-aged children once again, with one parent around for an hour or two during the day and able to do some cleaning.
| Monday |
| 1. Remove bedclothes and put clean ones on |
| 2. Wash bedclothes (take them out of the tumble drier as soon as they are ready, and fold them, to reduce ironing time)
- wash whites at 60C with whites washing powder and fabric conditioner - wash light coloureds at 40C with coloureds washing powder and fabric conditioner - wash dark coloureds at 30C with coloureds washing powder and fabric conditioner Note: All laundry can be done at 30C if there are no stains, to be more environmentally friendly. |
| 3. Put away bedclothes neatly in airing cupboard |
| 4. Dust and vacuum bedrooms, including underneath and behind beds |
| 5. Vacuum mattresses once every month or two to prevent dust mite building up |
| 6. Launder duvets and pillows at least once a year, preferably on a hot summer’s day when you can get it all outside to dry easily |
| 7. Empty bedroom bins |
| Tuesday |
| 1. Dust and vacuum living room (including windowsills, sofas, tables, TV unit, and tops of cupboards) |
| 2. Throw away any dead flowers and water plants |
| 3. Tidy toys, bookshelves and insides of cupboards as necessary |
| Wednesday |
| Big clean of family bathroom and downstairs WC |
| - clean bath, toilet, sinks |
| - clean shower, shower screen and mirrors |
| - clean taps (using descaler if necessary) |
| - make sure there is spare toilet roll and soap |
| - change towels and flannels and launder old ones |
| - dust tops of cabinets |
| - hoover and mop floors |
| - empty bins |
| Thursday |
| 1. Wash your clothes – to prevent a washing mountain, only get as much washing going in one day as you can wash, dry, fold/iron and put away that day, or at the very latest the next. |
| 2. Take everything out of the tumble drier as soon as it is ready, and fold it all, straightaway to reduce ironing time to practically zero)
- wash whites at 60C with whites washing powder and fabric conditioner - wash light coloureds at 40C with coloureds washing powder and fabric conditioner, Consider using colour catcher sheets for mixed washes. - wash dark coloureds at 30C with coloureds washing powder and fabric conditioner Note: All laundry can be done at 30C if there are no stains, to be more environmentally friendly. |
| 3. Big clean of kitchen |
| - clean oven using cream cleanser on washing up sponge (if reasonable) or oven cleaning gel (if bad) |
| - clean hob with cream cleanser, or use a special blade if it is ceramic |
| - wipe extractor fan with cream cleanser on washing up sponge, and rinse off |
| - Wipe worktops and tiles, including behind toaster, microwave, kettle, etc. |
| - Hoover bits off floor and then mop |
| - Polish sink and taps, using descaler if necessary |
| - Empty bin, wipe down outside and put in new bin bag |
| - clean tops of cupboard and light switches at least twice a year |
| Friday |
| 1. Wash, dry and put away children’s clothes |
| 2. Do any mending that’s needed |
| 3. Iron some of the children’s clothes if necessary and make sure there is enough uniform ready for next week. |
