This New Weekly Housekeeping Routine Will Save You Time
If you find that keeping on top of chores in your home can get a little overwhelming, check out these simple tips to ease your week
When life gets hectic, sometimes it seems easier to let housekeeping chores slide. Unfortunately, little birds do not come in to take care of the piled-up washing or vacuum the floors, and the build-up of postponed housework only ends up being more stressful. This is where a simple, efficient weekly routine that fits your lifestyle and schedule can help. Consider this day-by-day plan to get the essentials done, so you can get on with your life.
Sunday: Do laundry, change bedding
There’s something comforting about starting the week with fresh laundry and clean sheets on the bed. There will be another washing day worked into the weekly plan (on Tuesday), so you don’t have to do it all today.
It’s better to do two loads (one of sheets and one of clothes) and get everything folded and put away, than to do four loads and leave it all in a heap. And when you change the bedding on the same day as laundry day, you can skip folding the sheets, which go right back onto the bed.
There’s something comforting about starting the week with fresh laundry and clean sheets on the bed. There will be another washing day worked into the weekly plan (on Tuesday), so you don’t have to do it all today.
It’s better to do two loads (one of sheets and one of clothes) and get everything folded and put away, than to do four loads and leave it all in a heap. And when you change the bedding on the same day as laundry day, you can skip folding the sheets, which go right back onto the bed.
Mood boost To shift chore time into something positive, try listening to music, an audiobook or a favourite podcast while folding laundry, making the beds or working on any of your weekly jobs.
Monday: Shop, prep weeknight meals, clean the kitchen
We all know Mondays can be a drag. I find it helps to just roll with it: if you can get a few bigger tasks done today, you’ll go to bed feeling productive and energised for the week ahead.
If you can find time to go to the supermarket on a Monday, it tends to be less crowded than on Sundays – and if your schedule has some flexibility, shopping in the morning before work or mid-afternoon is easier than during the dinner rush.
We all know Mondays can be a drag. I find it helps to just roll with it: if you can get a few bigger tasks done today, you’ll go to bed feeling productive and energised for the week ahead.
If you can find time to go to the supermarket on a Monday, it tends to be less crowded than on Sundays – and if your schedule has some flexibility, shopping in the morning before work or mid-afternoon is easier than during the dinner rush.
When you bring the groceries home, take a moment to clean out the fridge before putting them away. Then prep some food for weekday meals – this could be as simple as washing and chopping fresh veggies or making a pot of grains, or as involved as cooking a big-batch dinner and freezing some for later in the week.
After the shopping and cooking (i.e. mess-making) is done is a good time to clean the kitchen: clean small appliances, wipe worktops and mop the floor.
After the shopping and cooking (i.e. mess-making) is done is a good time to clean the kitchen: clean small appliances, wipe worktops and mop the floor.
Tuesday: clean bathrooms, finish the laundry, change towels
Cleaning the bathroom is no one’s favourite chore, so I say get it done as quickly as possible. Set a timer if that helps (can you do it in 15 minutes? 10?) and have all of your cleaning tools and products stored somewhere in the room so you don’t have to hunt them down.
Clean the bath, basin, mirrors and toilet, and give the floor a quick mop. Remove old towels and put out fresh, fluffy ones.
Cleaning the bathroom is no one’s favourite chore, so I say get it done as quickly as possible. Set a timer if that helps (can you do it in 15 minutes? 10?) and have all of your cleaning tools and products stored somewhere in the room so you don’t have to hunt them down.
Clean the bath, basin, mirrors and toilet, and give the floor a quick mop. Remove old towels and put out fresh, fluffy ones.
If you have a lot of laundry to do in your house every week, you’ll probably have a few loads to do by now, even if you did some on Sunday. Try putting a load of delicate items into the washing machine before work, and lay them flat on a drying rack before you leave. Throw another load in as soon as you get home in the evening, and another after dinner.
Mood boost This evening, savour the fruits of your labour by indulging in a soak in your freshly cleaned bath with your favourite bath products.
Browse 11 lessons minimalists can teach the untidy
Mood boost This evening, savour the fruits of your labour by indulging in a soak in your freshly cleaned bath with your favourite bath products.
Browse 11 lessons minimalists can teach the untidy
Wednesday: Handle paperwork, pay bills, declutter
The only thing more annoying than paperwork is a giant pile of paperwork. By having a set day and time to regularly go through your post, bills and other papers, you can keep things from getting out of hand.
Walk around the house and collect all the paper – post, magazines, bills, school handouts – and sit down with the pile within reach of your filing cabinet, with a recycling bin and your calendar (or phone) at your side. I find a strong cup of tea and classical music help with the sorting.
The only thing more annoying than paperwork is a giant pile of paperwork. By having a set day and time to regularly go through your post, bills and other papers, you can keep things from getting out of hand.
Walk around the house and collect all the paper – post, magazines, bills, school handouts – and sit down with the pile within reach of your filing cabinet, with a recycling bin and your calendar (or phone) at your side. I find a strong cup of tea and classical music help with the sorting.
- Recycle junk mail and envelopes.
- Enter events and appointments into your calendar, then then throw away the paper.
- Pay bills; put bills to be paid later in a folder.
- File important documents.
While you’re in a sorting and editing mindset, turn your attention to the rest of your home: can you find a few items to put in a bag to take to a charity shop? Decluttering a little bit every week is an excellent habit to cultivate for long-term clutter-free living.
Check your wardrobe for worn-out items and pieces you’re not loving. Scan bookshelves for books you didn’t enjoy. Check kids’ rooms and surfaces for random junk (freebies, impulse purchases) you don’t really need or want. Throw away pens that have run out of ink. Pack up the still-good items in a bag or box and put it in your car to take to a charity shop.
Check your wardrobe for worn-out items and pieces you’re not loving. Scan bookshelves for books you didn’t enjoy. Check kids’ rooms and surfaces for random junk (freebies, impulse purchases) you don’t really need or want. Throw away pens that have run out of ink. Pack up the still-good items in a bag or box and put it in your car to take to a charity shop.
Thursday: straighten the living room, freshen cut flowers, water plants
By Thursday, the weekend is around the corner, so whether you’re hosting a gathering at your home or just planning to hang out and watch a film, this is a great day to get the living room presentable. Put away items that belong in other spaces, recycle old newspapers and magazines and clean the coffee table.
Having a regular day of the week to water and check on houseplants can help keep them healthy and happy. Be sure to look up the care instructions for your plants, as they might need to be watered more or less often. You can also snip off dead leaves and dust the leaves of large-leaf specimens, such as rubber plants and philodendron.
By Thursday, the weekend is around the corner, so whether you’re hosting a gathering at your home or just planning to hang out and watch a film, this is a great day to get the living room presentable. Put away items that belong in other spaces, recycle old newspapers and magazines and clean the coffee table.
Having a regular day of the week to water and check on houseplants can help keep them healthy and happy. Be sure to look up the care instructions for your plants, as they might need to be watered more or less often. You can also snip off dead leaves and dust the leaves of large-leaf specimens, such as rubber plants and philodendron.
If you bought a bouquet at the market on Monday, giving the stems a trim and replacing the water can help them last an extra day or two.
Mood boost After you’ve finished tidying the living room, get yourself something good to drink and sit down with a book or magazine you’ve been wanting to read.
Mood boost After you’ve finished tidying the living room, get yourself something good to drink and sit down with a book or magazine you’ve been wanting to read.
Friday: Clean the floors, unplug and relax
There’s something about clean floors that makes your entire house feel fresher. Vacuum or sweep and mop floors (if you mopped the kitchen and bathroom earlier in the week, skip them) to start the weekend on a bright note.
Mood boost No matter what your plans are for the weekend, consider kicking things off with a bit of unplugged downtime to rest and recharge. Put down the laptop and phone and open a book, practice a craft or just sit and relax for a few minutes.
If you practice yoga or meditation, savour your freshly cleaned floors by doing a little home yoga or meditation practice!
See 10 lifestyle tips to improve your life
There’s something about clean floors that makes your entire house feel fresher. Vacuum or sweep and mop floors (if you mopped the kitchen and bathroom earlier in the week, skip them) to start the weekend on a bright note.
Mood boost No matter what your plans are for the weekend, consider kicking things off with a bit of unplugged downtime to rest and recharge. Put down the laptop and phone and open a book, practice a craft or just sit and relax for a few minutes.
If you practice yoga or meditation, savour your freshly cleaned floors by doing a little home yoga or meditation practice!
See 10 lifestyle tips to improve your life
Think about your lifestyle, commitments and schedule when planning your weekly routine. Make sure it fits your life – not the other way around! This plan runs from Sunday through Friday, with no chores at all on Saturday (although if you garden, that might be when you get that done).
If you prefer to keep your weekends entirely free, you could add a chore to one of the weekdays. Likewise, if you would rather do more on the weekends because you’re exhausted during the week, move more chores to the weekend days.
It doesn’t matter whether the chores get done perfectly or not, or if you sometimes skip a day here and there. The important thing is to have a routine that becomes so second nature, you don’t have to think about it much anymore, you just do it.