How Often Should I Clean: A Room-by-Room Guide
When it comes to cleanliness, we often focus on the floors, countertops, and other highly visible areas in our homes. However, many household items escape our attention and can become magnets for germs and dust if not cleaned regularly. The question “How often should I clean…” is not only common but also extremely important. Understanding the frequency of cleaning for different items can lead to a healthier and more pleasant living environment.
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Why Does Cleaning Frequency Matter?
It’s more than just aesthetics; regular cleaning is an essential part of maintaining a healthy home. Items left unclean can become breeding grounds for bacteria, viruses, and allergens. Conversely, over-cleaning can be a waste of your precious time and resources. Striking the right balance is key.
General Guidelines for Cleaning Frequency
Here are some standard suggestions for “How often should I clean…” various household rooms:
Kitchen
Countertops: Daily
Wipe down daily to remove spills, food particles, and bacteria. A simple damp cloth and a mild cleaner should do the trick.
Microwave: Weekly
To remove accumulated grime, heat a bowl of water and lemon slices for a few minutes, then wipe the interior.
Refrigerator: Monthly
Take out all the items and wipe down the shelves with water and vinegar.
Oven: Yearly (but it depends)
Oven interior should be cleaned yearly for maintenance. Run the self-clean then vacuum, then wipe. If you have a big mess clean immediately once cooled as it is gonna burn and be smelly and turn your walls grey over time.
Hood Fan: Annual (possibly more)
Cleaning out the hood fans is a good idea as oil builds up the more you use it which can lead to attracting pests. If you deep fry a lot, you may need to clean with more frequency.
Bedroom
Pillows: Every 3-6 Months
Pillowcases are laundered regularly, but the pillows themselves need cleaning too. Check care labels for washing instructions.
Mattress: Twice a Year
Vacuum the surface and spot-clean stains. Many mattresses come with washable covers for easier cleaning.
Curtains/Blinds: Annually / Every 6 months
These can often be machine washed or vacuumed, depending on the fabric. Dust is a combination of dead skin and oil and can build up over time. Cleaning regularly can make life cleaner and easier.
Sheets/Pillow Cases: Weekly or Biweekly
Clean sheets on the bed are important to keep yourself sleeping well and fresh, removing dust mites, and removing dead skin.
Living Room
Remote Controls: Weekly
These frequently-touched items can harbor germs. A quick wipe with a damp cloth and a mild cleaning solution is sufficient.
Couch: Monthly
Vacuum fabric couches and spot-clean as needed. For leather, a damp cloth works well. Annually, get it upholstery cleaned with your carpets.
Carpets: Every 6-12 Months
Foot traffic and pets can make professional cleaning necessary every 6 to 12 months.
Bathroom
Toothbrush Holder: Weekly
Rinse and wipe to get rid of toothpaste splatters and accumulated germs.
Shower Curtain: Monthly
A machine wash or hand wash will remove soap scum and mildew.
Shower Glass: Weekly
A build-up of soap scum/hard water can make your shower glass look cloudy. Use a mixture of water and vinegar to clean it weekly. If this builds up it can take hours to remove. Using a squeegee afer every shower can help maintain it as well. It it builds up too much it can become permanently etched.
Bathroom Mats: Every 2 Weeks
These can quickly become soggy and dirty, so regular washing is advised.
Behind the Toilet: Weekly
Cleaning behind the toilet is a challenge so clean behind it when you are already cleaning it as you are likely gonna have to hug it to get behind it. Also a mop alone doesn’t clean it well enough.
Additional Items
Doorknobs/Light Switches: Weekly
High-contact areas like doorknobs should be wiped weekly.
Cell Phones: Daily
Given how often we touch our phones, a daily wipe-down is a good habit. Getting pimples on your face? Possibly a reason why.
Computer Keyboards: Weekly
A soft cloth can clean the surface, while compressed air can remove debris from between the keys.
Baseboards: Monthly
Monthly is likely good enough. The longer your take the more oils build up and the harder it gets. Make sure no water sits on or near them as they swell very quickly and then need to be replaced.
The question of “How often should I clean…” is pivotal for maintaining a healthy home. The guidelines above provide a good starting point. Of course, these are general recommendations; feel free to adjust them based on your individual needs and living conditions. Setting a cleaning schedule that considers these guidelines can help you manage your time better and keep your home in excellent shape.
Will
Will is the COO of Home Spritz and helped to hire, manage, and support our cleaners in all steps of their journey.