It can get pretty tiring and tedious managing the cooking, cleaning and caring in the home… I have been a nag in my home but the push back from my husband has been that there is no clear schedule in the home for cleaning and there is no communication as to what the cleaning needs are; so we embarked on a cleaning journey.

Read on for some tips on how order was restored in our home:

The tasks in our home had to be broken down into daily, weekly and monthly events. This is abnormal for me. I clean (and perhaps spring clean too) when I see dirt, but I had to realise that I was creating unnecessary stress and anxiety.

Put these tips and tasks into your family calendar and allocate a task to yourself and your partner (and perhaps even your children if they are able to do them).

 Daily tasks include the day to day include the tidying up and the surface are cleaning.

Everyone in the house is allocated age-appropriate cleaning tasks and hubby also understand now where he has not been enforcing the cleaning.

Daily Tasks:

Morning:

• Make beds
• Take out dishes from dishwasher
• Take your clothes/pyjamas put them in the laundry basket by the washing machine

Afternoon:

• Hang washing on the line/move to dryer
• Take dustbin out
• Check ice trays and refill
• Sterilize Malik’s bottles and sippy cups
• Defrost whatever is frozen for dinner
• Tidy up kitchen sink
• Refill dishwasher
• Wipe kitchen counter tops
• Tidy up lounge and living area
• Sweep the floor & Mop

Weekly tasks include the aspects of the house that need thorough cleaning and attention. In the age of COVID19, this includes thorough disinfecting high touch surfaces as well.

Weekly Schedule:

Sunday:

• Wash shower and baths and disinfect
• Grocery Shopping
• Clean Fridge, sinks and disinfect
• Water Plants and tend to the garden

Monday:

• Wash Light items and Baby clothing
• Wash Sheets
• Vacuum Whole house

Tuesday:

• Clean Windows and Mirrors
• Sweep And Mop floors
• Dust corners
• Tidy up study areas and Children’s homeschool class

Wednesday:

• Water all Plants
• Clean Malik’s Bottle sterilizer
• Wash all bath towels and bathroom mats
• Wash Dark Colours and Malik’s Clothes
• [Try sneak in some vacuuming again]

Thursday:

• Wash shower and baths and disinfect
• Clean Fridge, sinks and disinfect
• Tidy up study areas and Children’s homeschool class

Friday:

• Grocery Shopping
• General tidying and cleaning up any messes
• Disinfect all remotes, keyboards, phones and devices
• Clean Microwave

We’ve moved some time intensive tasks to Monthly. The problem, I realized, was that I was doing a lot of the time intensive monthly tasks almost daily… insisting the house was dirty if not done. This just caused frustration for everyone. 

Monthly Schedule:

Week 1:

• Take dry cleaning to the dry cleaner
• Tidy up wardrobes
• Clean carpets
• Clean and disinfect washing machines and dishwashers
• Vacuum Sofas

Week 2:

• Disinfect all dustbins
• Refill all air fresheners
• Clean mattresses
• Wash duvet inners and pillows

Week 3:

• Reorganize Kitchen Cupboards & Pantry
• Clean out fridge & remove frost/stuck ice and thoroughly clean
• Wipe down all blinds and window frames

Week 4:

• Clean Oven
• Clean any aircon filters & rinse and clean humidifiers
• Wipe down all kitchen appliances
• During this time, I have learnt the importance of creating and maintaining a schedule in the home. One that everyone can play their part in, especially your partner. They need to get involved. I particularly don’t like being ask ‘So what can I do?’ I prefer when my husband can look around and try get on with the next thing whilst I am busy with the other.

This schedule has helped keep and manage the peace and allow me to also free up some time to tend to my garden more, peacefully and get some me time in.

I’ve also learnt to keep a day a week clear to allow my mind to ease up and just relax… the kids are going to undo all the cleaning anyway, right? (As long as the kitchen stays clean… that’s all!)