How Often Should You Clean Everything? A Room-by-Room Guide

 

Nobody cleans everything on a perfect schedule, and you don't need to. What helps is knowing which jobs actually matter for health and safety, like the kitchen sponge, the toilet and the dryer vent, and which can wait a season.

 

 

Every day

• Wash dishes or run the dishwasher, and wipe the kitchen counters and stovetop
• Wipe up spills when they happen, especially on wood floors and stone counters
• Sweep or spot-vacuum the kitchen and entryway if they get heavy traffic
• Hang up bath towels so they dry
• Empty the dryer lint screen after every load. It's a fire safety issue, not just efficiency

 

Every week

• Clean toilets, bathroom sinks, counters and mirrors
• Vacuum carpets and rugs, and mop hard floors
• Change sheets (every one to two weeks; see how often to wash bedding)
• Wash bath mats and kitchen towels
• Replace the kitchen sponge every week or two, sooner if it smells
• Dust surfaces you can reach easily
• Throw out old food from the fridge and wipe the shelves where something spilled
• Empty all trash cans and wipe any that smell

 

Every two weeks

• Wipe the microwave inside
• Clean the shower or tub fully, not just a rinse
• Wipe cabinet fronts and light switches in the kitchen

 

Every month

• Vacuum upholstered furniture and under cushions
• Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures, blinds and baseboards (our blinds and fans guide has the shortcuts)
• Clean the dishwasher filter and run an empty cycle with vinegar
• Run a cleaning cycle on the washing machine. See cleaning a washing machine
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
• Clean the garbage disposal

 

Every three months

• Deep clean the refrigerator, inside and out
• Clean the oven, or sooner if there are spills. See oven cleaning
• Wash pillows and comforters (or every six months)
• Rotate the mattress and vacuum it
• Change or check HVAC filters (every one to three months, depending on the filter and whether you have pets)
• Wipe down walls and doors in high-traffic areas

 

Twice a year

• Wash windows inside and out (cleaning high windows)
• Clean the gutters, in late fall and again in spring (gutter guide)
• Deep clean the mattress
• Clean behind and under large appliances and furniture
• Wash curtains and clean window tracks

 

Once a year

• Have carpets professionally cleaned (every 12 to 18 months)
• Clean the dryer vent duct all the way to the outside. Lint buildup in dryer vents is a leading cause of home dryer fires
• Clean the deck, fence and outdoor surfaces (deck guide)
• Have the roof inspected (roof guide)
• Empty and wipe out kitchen cabinets and closets, and donate what you don't use

 

Adjust for your home

Pets, kids, allergies, a dirt driveway or a busy kitchen all mean shortening the intervals for floors, bedding and surfaces. A small apartment with one person can stretch most of them. If you'd rather work from a set routine, our weekly cleaning schedule turns the weekly list into a day-by-day plan.