Work From Home Cleaning Routines to Keep You Sane
Work From Home Cleaning Routines to Keep You Sane
Balancing the demands of work, home life, and possibly caregiving while maintaining a clean living space can feel overwhelming. If you’ve struggled with keeping your home tidy while working from home, trust me, you’re not alone! It’s a challenge faced by many who juggle both professional and personal responsibilities under one roof.
Imagine this: you’ve just clocked out after a long day of Zoom meetings and emails. You’re mentally exhausted, but you’ve still got to make dinner. After that, all you want is to collapse on the couch. Sound familiar? The last thing on your mind is scrubbing the floors or tidying up clutter.
The problem with giving in to that exhaustion is that it becomes a vicious cycle. The more you put off cleaning, the more overwhelming the task becomes. And let's be honest, a cluttered space equals a cluttered mind. We all deserve to live in a peaceful, organized environment, but the truth is, it takes effort. Unfortunately, not all of us have the luxury of weekly cleaning services, so we have to make it work.
Here’s the hard truth: there’s no magic hack that will make cleaning easier or more fun. It requires commitment, persistence, and the ability to push through that initial feeling of resistance. The good news? Once you establish a routine, it gets easier and, eventually, it’ll become second nature. The key is consistency.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you maintain a clean home without losing your mind—because let's face it, no one wants to spend their weekends deep-cleaning after a long workweek. These tips are designed to make cleaning part of your everyday schedule, so you can enjoy a tidy space and focus on more important things. Additionally, we compiled checklists you can use as a foundation to start your habit.
Step 1: Start Small, but Start Now
The biggest hurdle is often just getting started. You don’t need to tackle everything at once. Start with just one small area—a counter, a desk, or even one room. Clean and declutter for 10-15 minutes, and watch how the space transforms. Once you’ve seen a bit of progress, you’ll feel more motivated to move on to other areas.
Pro Tip: Use a timer. Set it for 15 minutes and clean as much as you can. You’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish in that time, and it’ll prevent the task from feeling too overwhelming.
Step 2: Set a Daily Cleaning Routine
Establishing a daily routine is crucial to maintaining a tidy home. Break down cleaning tasks into manageable chunks that can be done throughout the day without disrupting your work-from-home schedule.
Here’s a simple cleaning routine you can follow daily:
- Morning: Make your bed, wipe down kitchen counters, and start a load of laundry (if needed).
- Midday break: Use your lunch break to tidy up your workspace or fold laundry. This is also a great time to clean up any messes from breakfast or lunch.
- Evening: After dinner, take 10 minutes to load the dishwasher, wipe down the table, and quickly tidy up the living room.
Pro Tip: Keep a cleaning caddy with essential supplies nearby, so you can grab and go as needed.
Step 3: Declutter One Space at a Time
Clutter is often the root cause of feeling overwhelmed. The more stuff you have lying around, the harder it is to keep things clean. Declutter one area of your home each day. This doesn’t mean you have to get rid of everything, but try to minimize excess items that don’t serve a purpose.
Areas to focus on:
- Desk or workspace: A clutter-free workspace leads to better focus and productivity.
- Kitchen countertops: The less stuff on your counters, the easier it is to keep clean.
- Living room: Make sure remote controls, books, and other items are neatly stored.
Pro Tip: Adopt the “one in, one out” rule. For every new item you bring into your home, get rid of something old or unused.
Step 4: Use the Power of Habit Stacking
Habit stacking is a technique where you pair a new habit (like cleaning) with an already established habit. For example, while waiting for your coffee to brew in the morning, you can wipe down the kitchen counters or empty the dishwasher. By linking cleaning tasks to your daily routine, you’ll make them a seamless part of your day.
Pro Tip: If you enjoy listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks, use cleaning time as an opportunity to indulge in your favorite tunes or learn something new. This can make the process feel less like a chore.
Step 5: Focus on High-Traffic Areas
High-traffic areas like the kitchen, bathroom, and living room tend to get messy quickly. Focus your efforts on keeping these areas clean throughout the day, so they don’t pile up into a bigger job later on. Wipe down surfaces, sweep, or vacuum high-traffic floors, and keep clutter in check in these areas.
Pro Tip: Keep cleaning supplies in the bathroom and kitchen for quick touch-ups. A microfiber cloth and all-purpose cleaner can work wonders in just a few minutes.
Step 6: Involve Others
If you have family members or roommates, get them involved! Cleaning shouldn’t fall solely on your shoulders. Create a chore chart or assign specific tasks to each person. When everyone chips in, the workload becomes much lighter and quicker to manage.
Pro Tip: Turn cleaning into a family activity. Set a timer for 15 minutes, play some music, and see how much everyone can clean in that time. It’s a fun way to get the whole family involved.
Step 7: Give Yourself Grace
Lastly, remember to be kind to yourself. Life gets busy, and it’s okay if your house isn’t spotless all the time. The goal is progress, not perfection. A little bit of effort each day can prevent things from spiraling out of control, and you’ll feel more in control of your space.
Pro Tip: Celebrate small wins. Did you manage to tidy up the living room before bed? Give yourself a pat on the back! It’s the small steps that lead to a consistently clean home.
Conclusion: Commit to the Process
Keeping your home clean while balancing the demands of working from home may feel like an uphill battle, but with a consistent routine, you can make it happen. The key is to start small, stay organized, and integrate cleaning into your daily habits. Over time, your space will transform, and so will your mindset. You deserve a peaceful, clutter-free home—now go make it happen!
Print the checklist below, stick it on your fridge, and refer to it daily to stay on track. You've got this!
Daily List
__ Laundry (one load per day)
__ Dishes (tidy and clean as you go to avoid a build up at the end of the day)
__ Clear clutter and organize items in disarray
__ File papers and tidy/clean work area
__ Tend to pet sanitary needs (if any)
__ Clean up floors as needed
Notes:
1. Commit to sticking to this daily list, every day, no matter what happens.
2. Identify your cleaning style and frequency to help you stick to your routine:
- Do it all in 1 day
- Timed sessions - clean until the timer is up
- A room a day
3. How often you clean (frequency) depends on how fast you/others muddy the home.
4. Engage everyone in your household to contribute by making it a fun competition.
5. Put away the clothes you wore that day.
6. Keep cleaning wipes or towels handy in bathroom(s) or kitchen for easy access.
7. Clean the kitchen while you cook.
8. Some find it more efficient to do a load of laundry per day compared to a ‘laundry day’.
Weekly List
__ Laundry (bed sheets, throws, towels)
__ Dust electronic equipment, furniture, and shelves
__ Clean bathroom(s)
__ Vacuum
__ Mop floors
__ Clean kitchen appliances
__ Take out garbage
__ Check refrigerator for spoiled food
__ Water plants (if applicable)
__ Clear clutter and organize items in disarray
Notes:
1. Begin with your the kitchen.
2. Eliminate dust to protect furniture and improve air quality.
3. Take note of care labels on pillows, rugs, or throws.
4. Don’t forget entryways. Clean and tidy up as needed.
5. Upkeep: take a day to note the condition of appliances, utility systems, and overall condition of the home. Keep track of anomalies.
6. Set a day to plan out and prep weekly meals.
7. Invest in a cleaning caddy to centralize supplies.
8. Keep a cleaner and sponge in your tub/shower to quickly clean every other day after you shower.
9. Remember to sanitize kitchen sinks, door handles, bathroom sinks, and toilets.
Monthly List
__ Dust ceiling fans
__ Dust ceiling and wall corners
__ Store winter/summer clothes, bedding, decor, etc
__ Clean grill and/or patio furniture (if applicable)
__ Clean exterior door(s)
__ Clean fireplace and chimney (if applicable)
__ Clean refrigerator and throw away any old food
__ Clean and organize closets and drawers
__ Check smoke detectors; replace batteries (if needed)
__ Clean dryer vent system (if applicable)
__ Clean gutters and organize garage (if applicable)
__ Sort and organize papers, finances, and/or mail
Notes:
1. The monthly routine will be easier if you maintain a daily and weekly cleaning schedule.
2. Monthly items consist of hard to reach and/or difficult chores.
3. Consider your personal situation and move weekly tasks to monthly if you find weekly is too frequent.
4. Group the tasks by category (like outdoor or utilities) and feel free to break those up to tackle them bit by bit. Example - outdoor on the second weekend of the month and utilities on the third weekend.
Seasonal List
__ Wipe down walls and touch up paint on walls (if needed)
__ Clean outside of windows and window screens
__ Store winter/summer clothes, bedding, decor, etc
__ Clean grill and/or patio furniture (if applicable)
__ Clean exterior door(s) and wipe down interior doors
__ Inspect air conditioner and furnace; replace filters; clean vents
__ Clean fireplace and chimney (if applicable)
__ Clean refrigerator coils and vent
__ Clean and organize closets and drawers
__ Check smoke detectors; replace batteries (if needed)
__ Clean washer and clear up dryer vent system (if applicable)
__ Clean gutters and organize garage (if applicable)
__ Sort and organize papers, finances, and/or mail
Notes:
1. Organize seasonal cleaning tasks by seasons like spring or winter.
2. Have fun with seasonal cleaning tasks by also incorporating decor changes to your space.
3. Leverage this time to inspect any outdoor items.
4. Use this time to analyze problem areas around the home and implement remedies.
5. Consider donating items that you have not used in over 6 months.
6. Use this time to implement new organization systems where needed (example: purchasing baskets for mail or pantry).