Cleaning Schedule to Easily Deep Clean Your House + FREE Printable!

Mar 28, 2022 | Cleaning Tips and Tricks, Organization

Deep clean your house with ONE TASK per day! We've created a printable cleaning schedule to help you stay ahead of the mess. 

Woman holding cleaning supplies to stay on her cleaning schedule from Fun Cheap or Free

Confession… I'm a messy person.

Don't get me wrong, I love having a clean house. Like, LOVE it. And I certainly try my best. But I have to really concentrate on staying on top of my messes (yes, MY messes). Not to mention, I have eight kids (yes, EIGHT!!!), plus a dog, and my house isn't exactly bite-sized. Between those excuses, the fact that I don't like cleaning, and the million and one other things I need to do each day, keeping my house deep-cleaned can be a challenge!

*Note: When you click the links in this post, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.


DAILY CLEANING SCHEDULE

Years ago I came up with a (fairly unconventional) system for being able to deep clean your house (and keep it deep-cleaned!) with 30 minutes or less of cleaning per day!

I tried doing a cleaning schedule that focused on cleaning specific ROOMS each day, but it just didn't work very well for me. I found that certain rooms were getting super clean, and other rooms would never get touched! Or I would run out of time before getting past the surface-cleaning.

Once I started choosing a single TASK (zone, chore…whatever you want to call it) per day to focus on, everything changed. I now decide which room needs that TASK the most that day, and voila! Each month my house somehow gets magically deep-cleaned, and it feels less overwhelming and much more manageable!

This system has gone viral on Pinterest and has worked for thousands of people. I thought it was time to update and re-post these amazing and super simple tips on how to clean your house! PLUS…I'm sharing a FREE PRINTABLE cleaning schedule to help you stay on track with this system.

You're welcome!

Let's get to it, shall we?


DEEP CLEAN YOUR HOUSE WITH ONE TASK PER DAY

You ready to see how I keep my house cleaned? I'm about to share how this cleaning method works. But first…

DEEP CLEANING TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND

This system focuses on DEEP CLEANING, so you will do this in addition to typical daily chores (dishes, taking garbage out, picking up your floors, wiping up spills, etc.).

Sure, it may take some time at first to complete daily tasks. But as you stick to the list, each week you'll see the task going quicker and quicker because it becomes maintenance cleaning. Before you know it your house will be deep-cleaned REGULARLY, with little effort! Can you imagine keeping your house deep-cleaned with just 30 minutes per day or less??


USE THE PRINTABLE CLEANING SCHEDULE TO STAY ON TRACK

Printable cleaning schedule on a counter from Fun Cheap or Free

DON'T CLEAN ON THE WEEKEND IF YOU DON'T WANT TO

Saturday and Sunday are DAYS OFF for so many people! We use the weekend to clean, work on the yard, and organize (or heck, just play!) as a family. So make your list only focuses on the days that make the most sense for you. You can also use the weekend to catch up on additional deep-cleaning needs, use it to organize, or use it to have fun with your family!

As with everything I share, you can always adapt this cleaning schedule to work for you! (obvs.)

Ok, here's the cleaning schedule!


MONDAY CLEANING TASKS

Monday is technically three tasks…but they are smaller, more intermittent chores so you can squeeze in more.

LAUNDRY DAY

Always keep your machines running. Start first thing in the morning and consciously keep loads going throughout the day (or whenever you're home). Set an alarm on your phone if you need to. Fold laundry at night watching TV or enlist the kids. Whatever you do, make sure all clothes are put away before you go to bed. That way they don't haunt you all week. Don't worry, we all have those weeks where things don't go according to plan. Give yourself grace and keep at it!

Note: Yes, you'll probably need to do laundry throughout the week as well. I usually start one load every morning (it's just a part of my routine) But this is your day to FOCUS on laundry! Switch out towels and linens, and use the day to make sure everyone in the family gets you their dirty clothes.

Pro Tip: Use a quality detergent like Tide so your clothes get as clean as possible. Laundry detergent is ONE product where I'm picky with brands.


TIDY THE HOUSE

Go through every room in your house and put everything away.

Never leave a room empty-handed! As you walk throughout the house ALWAYS pick at least one thing up as you come/go. Keep a laundry basket handy to put things in and carry them to and from each room. Your house will be picked up before you know it.


VACUUM MAIN ROOMS

Woman vacuuming carpet, from Fun Cheap or Free

Don't worry about the bedrooms or stairs today! As you walk through the house picking things up, drag a vacuum behind you. We're OBSESSED with our Dyson. **NOTE: I vacuum a lot because I have a lot of kids, and we have a dog that sheds, which created the habit in me. You may not need to vacuum as much as I choose to do, but it does prolong the life of your carpet and makes you feel SO GOOD to see those gorgeous vacuum lines on the floor. 😉

Sometimes instead of formally vacuuming, I'll make it a point to run my Roomba in different areas of the house throughout the day. (I got my Roomba from Costco for Christmas one year, but Amazon has several options as well.)


TUESDAY CLEANING TASKS

This may be my least favorite day of the week… but it's gotta be done!

DEEP CLEAN BATHROOMS

Hand with gloves cleaning faucet handle, from Fun Cheap or Free

Do it all! Clean the tub or shower (while you're showering – super efficient), toilet, replace towels and washcloths, sink, floors, wipe out drawers and cabinets, clean the mirror, re-stock toilet paper, add fresh towels. Spray some good-smelling stuff in there when you are done, the satisfaction is amazing.

Pro Tip: Take your cleaner in with you while you shower, and give it a good scrub while you're already in there! If you are wary about bathing with cleaners, make your own homemade cleaner that's safe and non-toxic.


WEDNESDAY CLEANING TASKS

Anything that can be dusted, mopped, swept, wiped, etc. For me, this is the biggest chore of the week.

CLEAN THOSE SURFACES!

I love using Ecloth disinfecting microfiber cloths (use code JORDAN for 10% off!). They are basically a cheaper version of Norwex but clean just as well! All you need is water and you can clean/disinfect just about every surface in your house without chemicals or cleaners. I just keep one slung over my shoulder and wipe EVERYTHING down as I walk around!

Yes, you will probably need to clean surfaces throughout the week. So remember that you are using this day to DEEP CLEAN. Focus on those surfaces that you normally don't get to, or use it to give your surfaces a good, hard, disinfecting scrub.

Pro Tip: Make the list work for you. For me this includes disinfecting countertops, cleaning windows, banisters, mopping the floors, cleaning out the microwave, kitchen sink, wiping down kitchen chairs, dusting and wiping all mantels, shelves, dressers, nightstands, the top of the fridge, etc.


THURSDAY CLEANING TASKS

Choose ONE thing to organize – This can be a closet, your car, your child's toy box, your makeup drawer, pick one thing, and don't stop until it's clean/organized! Get a good list of ideas HERE.

Productivity Boot Camp Tip: Break it down into J.O.B's, or “Just One Bite” at a time. Instead of saying “I'm going to organize my entire master closet,” break it down to Just One Bite (or just one J.O.B) at a time, and say “I'm going to do this one drawer…or shelf…or clothing rack” instead. It will ensure you don't make more messes as you go, and actually complete things. Keep in mind, you will be doing this every Thursday so small J.O.B.'s really add up!


FRIDAY CLEANING TASKS

Finish the week how you started it! In order to keep your house clean over the weekend, just do a quick run-through.

TIDY THE HOUSE

Go through every room in your house and put everything away.

Pro Tip: Never leave a room empty-handed! As you walk throughout the house ALWAYS pick at least one thing up as you come/go. Your house will be picked up before you know it.


DRAG THE VACUUM BEHIND YOU

Again, you may not need to do this, but if you love vacuum lines as much as I do and you're tidying up anyway, you might as well!

Woot woot! Don't you love Fridays!? Stick to this list, my friend! That way you can tackle other house cleaning jobs over the weekend that are hard to get to! Or you can always just enjoy a fresh, clean house and your family instead of stressing about cleaning the house. Saturdays and Sundays are meant for a little fun and relaxation!


ADDITIONAL DEEP CLEANING TIPS

The cleaning schedule may take a week or two to really take effect! Especially if you have a large home or a lot of kids…

DIVIDE UP LEVELS IN YOUR HOME

I made this list when we lived in our two-bedroom townhome. My house is much larger now. An option is to divide up the chores and levels of your home to make it manageable.

  • Week 1 of the Month – Conquer the main floor by following the same schedule (Monday, vacuum. Tuesday, bathrooms, etc.).
  • Week 2 of the Month – Focus on the top floor by following the same schedule.
  • Week 3 of the Month – Time to deep clean the main floor again, it is the most used, after all.
  • Week 4 of the Month – Follow the same schedule to deep clean the basement.

That way you're staying on top of the floor you most likely use the most, but making the task and list realistic. Make your cleaning schedule work for you!


DAY OR NIGHT, DOESN'T MATTER

Hand spraying glass cleaner onto window, from Fun Cheap or Free

I'm a stay-at-home-work-at-home-mom (yes, there is such a thing). Yet, it's rare that I complete my chore during the day, I usually do it at night once the kids are in bed. So whether you work full-time or stay home full-time, just find the time of day that works for you!


STAY CONSISTENT, OR IT MIGHT NOT WORK

It's more important for you to do these cleaning tasks every day and only complete PART of the list, than it is to complete the chore in full, but not do the list every day. 

Keep the purpose of this system in mind: By doing A LITTLE EACH DAY, you conquer big tasks bit by bit and stay on top of the mess. If you do it one week, then not the next, then kind of do it the following week… Yes, it's going to take you a long time to complete the chore when you finally get to it, making the system unrealistic, harder to do. Stick with it and you'll get to the point where you can bang it out in 20-30 minutes…or less!


GET YOUR FAMILY INVOLVED

Deep cleaning schedule printable from Fun Cheap or Free

Who says YOU have to be the one to keep your house deep-cleaned? Get everyone involved on the chore each night before dinner, before school, or whenever it works for you, and it will be done in no time.


So there you go! Not too tricky, right? Give it a try and it might just work as well for you as it does for me!

Give the cleaning schedule a try and let me know what you think! I'd love to hear how you adapted it to work for your home, or if my schedule works for you!

Woman holding bucket of cleaning supplies, from Fun Cheap or Free!

Also! Want more time-management and productivity system ideas? 

Then make sure to check out my productivity program, Productivity Boot Camp. It's a really fun online video program that teaches you how to be more productive with your day, helping you to free up time to do things that you want to do.

Use the code FCFBLOG for 10% off!


Click around for more of my awesome cleaning tips!

Happy cleaning, Freebs 😉

Jordan F Page signature from Fun Cheap or Free =

24 Comments

  1. JWarfield

    I love this, thank you! I look forward to becoming more organized and clean this way

    Reply
  2. Carol Chidlow

    I’ve just downsized and moved from a larger home. Now looking to move into a small one bedroom apartment. This system will soooooooooooooo help me get started right to keeping my new home deep cleaned. Thanks so much.

    Reply
  3. Rosemary Harper

    We are looking for the best vacuum we can find to help keep our house clean, so I’m glad I found your post. Thanks a lot for sharing this amazing article!

    Reply
  4. Annette Vance

    Besides the fact that this blog is brilliant and the tips are awesome, I have to say that this text is so positive, helpful, full of joy. I just love reading blogs like this one. And thank you very much for sharing these tips with us.

    Reply
  5. Airbnb Clean

    Thanks for this printable cleaning schedule. Very useful and helpful.

    Reply
  6. Tammy Cramer

    I use those magic erasers in the shower I just tuck one into my fake flower arrangement and when I’m all done cleaning me I just wipe and rinse everything and conker the hair and corners ,squeeze the sponge put back in flowers, dry and I’m outa there…. thanks Jordan I was a stay at home mom of four and used a lot of your cleaning tips but forgot them and now that we’re empty nesters I never seem to be able to get stuff done but have been following some of your new and my old tricks they work especially the set the timer power cleaning….keep going momma your doing great God bless!

    Reply
  7. Rachael

    I am completely clueless when it comes to cleaning and I just don’t end up doing it because it seems like such a big task with little payoff. I’m on day 3 of your weekly schedule and it has made such a difference around here! My kids and my husband are ooohing and aaahing at the cleanliness lol, and it feels so nice to be making headway in our chaos. Thank-you for this great resource!

    Reply
    • FunCheapOrFree

      Awww so glad it is helping!

      Reply
  8. James

    This is a great idea, we are a family of 6 and there just doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day to clean and declutter! I’m going to make a plan up for our house, I’m sure I can find 30 mins per day to stay on top of it.

    Reply
    • FunCheapOrFree

      Woohoo! So glad to hear!

      Reply
    • FunCheapOrFree

      Love hearing that! You’ve got this! 🙂

      Reply
  9. rachael strode

    Hi there! Thanks for this! It says vacuum main rooms…When do you mop and do the rest of the rooms? Thanks!

    Reply
  10. Aljada

    I need to do each day, keeping my house deep-cleaned is a challenge!

    Reply
    • FunCheapOrFree

      It really is a challenge if you don’t stay on top of it! Good luck doing a little bit each day!

      Reply
  11. Kristine

    Hi Jordan!! This looks amazing!! I would absolutely love a video of you explaining your weekly schedule. This Would help me understand it even more. ❤️

    Reply
    • Fun Cheap or Free

      There’s not a video of that yet, but it’s going on the list of possible future videos! Have you watched THIS ONE yet?

      Reply
  12. Liv Chapé

    OMG! This article came to me at the right time! I’ve been considering doing 1 deep cleaning item every day!

    I’m currently working on my own habit tracker, and the to-do lists feel endless! I love how you shared your weekly and bi-weekly routine to give an idea.

    I don’t have a big house with multiple floors, but by living in a small space I do have to be more mindful and intentional of where I put everything. Speaking of which, my husband & I just went to IKEA yesterday! Yay!

    Your article has motivated me to get up and clean the fans and water bottles. A task I hate, but needs to be done! Thanks Jordan!!!!

    Reply
    • Fun Cheap or Free

      You can do it!!! 🙂

      Reply
  13. Henry Baker

    Yet another amazing article from Jordan. Love your daily breakdown of cleaning tasks, and dividing the tasks among the different levels of the house is a game-changer. This is will definitely help out those who can be a bit scatterbrained when it comes to cleaning (like me). Can’t wait to couple this schedule with your laundry basket trick…I’m definitely sharing your blog with my clients. Thanks a ton!

    Reply
  14. Linda

    My tub/shower stalls are one piece fiberglass with a tile pattern stamped in it. After a while the mineral build up looked awful so instead of using harsh chemicals I used a green doby scrubber and plenty of elbow grease. It took me a week to deep clean the tub and shower walls doing a section at a time til it sparkled. Now all I do is squeegee it and wipe it all down after I shower with one of those miracle shammys that I’d bought at the fair (“Chamois-Tex German Towel”) until it’s completely dry. No more tub cleaning now! I do a final wipe of the counter and dust the toilet top & sweep the floor every day before I go to bed since we have a cat who leaves cat hair everywhere. The toilet & floor are deep cleaned once a week… that takes me all of 15 minutes.

    Reply
  15. Site

    Very interesting and it is so helpful. I printed out the deep cleaning challenge. Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Fun Cheap or Free

      Yay! we are so glad to hear it has been helpful!

      Reply
  16. Betsy Cline

    I enjoy how manageable this is for working moms. Breaking the levels down into weeks makes it way less overwhelming. I am a visual learner so the free printable is a life saver for someone who is like-minded! Awesome add.

    Reply
  17. Willaims Smith

    Keeping a clean house can be a daunting task, especially when you have a busy schedule. It’s easy to let things pile up until it becomes overwhelming. But with a good cleaning schedule in place, deep cleaning your house can be a breeze. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the benefits of having a cleaning schedule and provide you with a FREE printable to help you get started. You’ll be surprised at how much easier it is to maintain a clean home once you have a plan in place. So, let’s dive in and see how a cleaning schedule can transform your home!

    Reply

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