I really, really hate cleaning but I love a clean home. Go figure, right?
I think one of my biggest issues with cleaning is that I let things get so bad that it often seems overwhelming to even try to start somewhere.
So, as my Mom always said, just focus on one small thing and go from there.
I figured that can apply to cleaning as well so why not just break down a whole house-cleaning into smaller tasks? Even better, why don’t I break those tasks down into days and make it a cool challenge that all my friends will want to do?
The 30-Day Cleaning Challenge
Of course, depending on the size of your home, you might not need 30 days. You might just need 30 minutes.
The goal of this challenge isn’t to spread out your cleaning chores throughout so many days that you end up with messy home all over again by the end of the month.
The goal is to help you not feel overwhelmed with having to do 100 different cleaning tasks.
So I’ve broken things down into different sections of the home. If you want to speed up or start elsewhere then, by all means, go for it!
The Right Tools for the Job
One thing I have finally learned after years of struggling to get a nice clean house is that the right tools for cleaning are going to make a huge difference.
For years I used an improvised mop that was a Swiffer mop fitted with a micro-fiber cloth. I finally broke down and bought a real mop and a bucket and suddenly I didn’t hate cleaning the floors!
The job became simple and the results were way better which meant I didn’t mind cleaning the floors so much.
These are some of my favorite tools for cleaning that I think you’ll not love, but you might almost look forward to using them!
Cleaning Tools for a Seriously Clean Home
- O’Cedar Mop and Bucket System – The genius part of this system is the spinner that drains soapy water off of the mop. You can decide just how wet you need the mop to be depending on the floor and how dirty it is. I use diluted All Purpose cleaner (like Lysol or Mrs. Meyers) on my non-wood floors and Murphy Oil Soap on the wood floors.
- Microfiber Cloths – You can grab a dozen of these from Amazon and they are great for pretty much anything, but especially for cleaning your appliances and windows. No streaks! Use them wet for cleaning and dry for dusting.
- Cordless Vacuum for Hard Floors and Thin Rugs– I’ve used this cordless vacuum in my rug free home for YEARS and I love it. It’s quiet, the charge lasts more than long enough for me to do all my floors and it picks up nearly everything (except kitty litter, but if you just pop off the extension, you can get it!). This also works PERFECTLY on my new Ruggable rug.
- Vacuum for Plush Rugs & Carpet – When I did have plush rugs and carpet in my previous home I used and loved a canister vacuum made by Shark that you can’t buy anymore. This one is very similar and has excellent reviews. It’s pricey, but you do not want to skimp on keeping your rugs clean.
- Reusable Spray Bottles – I always buy multi-purpose cleaners that need to be diluted with water. I love Lysol Multi-Purpose cleaner or I’ve also used Mrs. Meyers (I love the Geranium scent!).
- Magic Erasers – You can’t beat a Magic Eraser for cleaning the tub. Sorry, but you just can’t. And there are a million other things you can use these for, too.
- Murphy Oil Soap – I use this, diluted, on a microfiber cloth on wood furniture.
Kitchen
- Day 1: Clean microwave and oven.
- Day 2: Clean dishwasher and appliances.
- Day 3: Wipe down pantry.
- Day 4: Scrub down fridge.
- Day 5: Organize and toss expired foods.
- Day 6: Clean kitchen sink and under the sink.
- Day 7: Wipe down walls, and wash garbage cans.
- Day 8: Clean stove top, kitchen surface areas, and floor.
Bathroom
- Day 9: Clean medicine cabinet and storage.
- Day 10: Trash expired items, and declutter.
- Day 11: Clean shower, tub, shower curtains, and walls.
- Day 12: Clean toilet, bathroom surface areas, mirror, and floor.
Bedroom
- Day 13: Clean mirrors, windows, blinds, and curtains.
- Day 14: Organize closet and drawers, and declutter.
- Day 15: Deep-clean mattress, and wash pillows, linens, and comforter.
- Day 16: Vacuum, mop, or sweep floor; clean under furniture.
- Day 17: Clean furniture, walls, and fixtures.
Living room
- Day 18: Wash cushions, seat, and sofa covers.
- Day 19: Clean throws, rugs, chairs, and tables.
- Day 20: Clean TV and electronics
- Day 21: Declutter, and toss unwanted items.
- Day 22: Vacuum, mop, or sweep floor; clean under furniture.
- Day 23: Clean walls and fixtures.
- Day 24: Clean windows, blinds, and curtains.
Office
- Day 25: Clean desk, chair, and walls, and declutter.
- Day 26: Wipe down bookshelves, and toss unwanted books.
Other
- Day 27: Clean washing machine and dryer.
- Day 28: Clean patio and outdoor equipment.
- Day 29: Clean car and car seat.
- Day 30: Clean vacuum and cleaning supplies.
Don’t Forget You Still Need A Cleaning Routine!
This is a fun challenge that will help you tackle things you might forget to, but it doesn’t take the place of a regular daily and weekly cleaning routine!
If cleaning is part of your routine, then your home is so much more inviting and cozy!