Does it seem like cleaning your home, and keeping it clean, takes more time than you want?
The secret to fast and easy cleaning rests in your hands – literally. When you create a systematic, step by step cleaning checklist, the cleaning gets done in no time.
Most plans are effective when they feel like they’re achievable.
That means breaking a large scale project or goal up into smaller, bite size, pieces. This twelve month organizing plan can help you have a completely organized home in a year.
Of course, if you’re feeling motivated you can push through the plan as fast as you’re able to.
3 Steps to Creating your own cleaning checklist
Checklists offer great benefits. In addition to providing structure to an often overwhelming task, a checklist helps other people (ahem, children and spouses are you listening?) clean effectively and efficiently too.
Below is my three step process to creating a cleaning checklist.
Step 1: Make a List
List what needs to be done for each job or room. For example, if one task is to take out the recycling then the list might look like this.
- Remove bag from recycling container Monday morning.
- Empty bag into large recycling bin
- Take bin to the curb for pickup
- Replace bag in recycling container
- Return recycling bin to garage after pickup
Go through each task and room that needs to be cleaned and make a simple list of what needs to be accomplished.
Step 2: Assess & Prioritize
In most cases there is a logical order to the cleaning process.
For example, when you’re cleaning the bathroom you don’t clean the toilet and then turn around and use the same cleaning rag on your counter tops. Yuck.
Likewise, if you’re cleaning the kitchen it saves time if you wash down the countertops and the kitchen table and appliances all at the same time.
If you stop in between each of the steps and wash dishes or sweep then it breaks up the flow. We’re talking about creating the most efficient cleaning process possible.
Take a look at your list of tasks and steps for each cleaning job and reorder the steps to make the most of your time and energy.
Step 3: Make it a Download
Turn on your computer and open a word processing program.
Most programs provide you with the ability to make bulleted lists. Those bullets can be changed which means you can choose empty check boxes to place before each step on your list.
Create a new document for each task or cleaning job. Print them out.
You can now either laminate them or slid the list into a sheet protector. Using a dry erase marker you, or anyone else, can quickly work through your checklist.
Consider hanging the checklists on a peg by your family chore chart so they’re always handy.
12 Month Plan to Organize your Home
Sometimes organizing your home feels too overwhelming.
The closets are jam packed. There’s no room in the garage for another box. And the clutter just keeps piling up. Step back from the chaos and create a plan.
Here is a simple plan to follow in order to get your entire home organized a little at a time throughout the year.
Month 1: Your bedroom
Why start with the bedroom?
Well, often the bedroom is the most personal room in your home. It’s where you spend a significant portion of your life.
It’s also where you reconnect with your significant other. But perhaps most importantly, organizing your bedroom is a manageable way to start your year of organizing.
Divide your bedroom belongings into three main piles – keep, donate, toss.
If you cannot manage your entire bedroom in one day or weekend then break it down by space.
For example, each day clean out the closet, dresser, under the bed and so on.
Month 2: Primary Bathroom
It’s amazing what collects in medicine cabinets and under the bathroom sink.
Grab a garbage can and throw the junk out. Reorganize what you keep by using labels and storage containers.
Month 3: Kitchen
The kitchen can be a big job.
Often there are a lot of extra dishes and small appliances. For example, you might have two blenders. Repeat the keep, donate, toss process this month in your kitchen.
Reorganize and remember there must be a space for everything you keep.
Month 4: Analyze & Fix
Take it off and reassess your organizing systems in your bedroom, bathroom and kitchen.
Fix what isn’t working.
There’s nothing worse than continuing new projects while feeling like you didn’t really complete the last one. Take some time to make sure it’s actually functioning for your family.
Month 5: Guest Bedroom/ Home Office
Month 6: Children’s Bedroom
Get them involved in the keep, donate, toss process.
If you’re willing, consider holding a garage sale.
Children’s items sell quickly and your children might be motivated by the money they can earn by getting rid of some of their stuff.
Month 7: Additional Bathrooms
Month 8: Analyze & Fix
Take this month off.
If you haven’t held the garage sale yet then now is the time.
Additionally, evaluate the organizing systems you created in your guest bedroom or home office and your children’s rooms.
Fix anything that isn’t working.
Month 9: Garage
Honestly the garage is usually the worst place in most people’s homes.
They like to shove things in there and forget about them. You may need to focus on your garage the entire month using all your weekends to get the job done.
Month 10: Family/Living Room
Month 11: Dining Room & Extra Rooms
Month 12: Basement or Attic
With each room try to keep the three tier system in mind when returning items into the space.
Your keep items need to have a proper place to be appreciated and used.
In most cases one weekend a month is all it takes to overhaul the room. Over the course of a year you’ll transform your entire home into an efficiently organized and clutter free space.
Ready to get your home in better shape?
Tell me in the comments if this resource has helped you – I’d love to hear from you! Don’t forget to grab your FREE Download.
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