The Definitive Guide on How Often You Should Clean Everything

Every day

Wanting to keep a clean house doesn’t mean you have time to polish your silver every week. (If you are pressed for time, here are some house chores you can do in 5 minutes or less We spoke with cleaning experts who have both feet solidly planted in the real world and asked them how often specific cleaning tasks really need to be done.

Here’s what they suggested you do every day:

every day

• Put things away when you finish using them.

• Wash dishes, wipe kitchen counters, clean up stove spills, and empty trash as needed.

• Squeegee showers after use to prevent mineral deposits and mildew.

• Wipe sinks.

• Make beds and straighten rooms. Here are the 10 things that people with clutter-free homes do every day

Twice a week

• Dust-mop hardwood floors to prevent scratching from dirt.

• Put away clutter.

• Vacuum if you live in a dusty region or have children and pets that track in lots of dirt. Otherwise, weekly vacuuming should suffice.

Once a month

• Wipe or vacuum baseboards and blinds.

• Sweep the garage, patio, and walkways.

• Vacuum upholstered furniture with the brush attachment.

• Clean ceiling fixtures in one room per month (rotate).

• Wash throw rugs.

• Dust ceiling fans.

Every three months

• Polish wood furniture.

• Remove cobwebs from ceiling corners, stairwells, and such.

• Change or clean furnace and air-conditioner filters (less frequently in low-use seasons).

• Clean the oven (monthly if grunge builds up quickly).

Every six months

• Wash windows inside and out. Do this quarterly for windows near work spaces (the kitchen sink or a desk, for instance).

• Vacuum, flip, and rotate mattresses.

• Polish silver.

• Air out pillows.

Once a year

• Move heavy furniture to clean behind and underneath.

• Vacuum rug pads and the backs of area rugs.

• Clean drapes and carpets.

• Turn area rugs 180 degrees to even out wear.

• Wash walls.

• Clean chandeliers.