Tag: daily cleaning schedule

What You Should be Cleaning in Your Home Every Single Day

Post author By Trisha Lake, Owner of TLC Cleaning
Post date September 25, 2019
No Comments on What You Should be Cleaning in Your Home Every Single Day

exhausted sleeping dad wearing unicorn costume in a messy house

When it comes to things you love to do, it’s highly likely that cleaning your house is not on the list. However much you may dislike, put-off, or avoid it altogether, we all know it has to happen. If you struggle with making time to keep your house clean, a daily cleaning schedule might be just the ticket to keep you accountable.

From disinfecting toilets to cleaning up after your little wild ones, keeping the house clean can be a challenge. With the busy pace of life, it’s hard to make time to buckle down on household chores. You’d rather spend your time with your friends and family, or on your favorite hobby. With a daily cleaning schedule, you can spread out the chores throughout your week, account for your busier days, and assign tasks to all household members.

While a daily cleaning schedule may alleviate some of your cleaning woes, what if there was an even better solution? Hiring a professional cleaning service can be a complete game-changer.

empty open notebook surrounded by cleaning supplies

At TLC Cleaning, we won’t just clean your home until it’s immaculate, we will also be giving you the gift of time. Your time is precious and is better spent on the things and people you love. With professional cleaning services, your time is freed up, allowing you to focus on the things that matter the most.

Our experienced staff will clean your home with expertise. We strive to exceed our clients’ expectations in all aspects. From the prompt and efficient way we clean your house to the detailed and thorough job we perform, you will be more than happy with our results.

While you consider the benefits of TLC Cleaning and wait for your services to start, why not take a look at the things you should be cleaning every day to stay sane. These handy little tips will help you stay afloat in between professional cleanings.

Tackle Your Household Chores Room by Room

The best way to tackle your daily cleaning schedule is room by room. Cleaning just a few things in each room of the house can be quick and easy, but will go a long way toward keeping your home from becoming a place where you need to wear a hazmat suit.

Focus on these quick and simple tasks, and you’ll be able to stay ahead of the cleaning game all week long.

Kitchen

woman in orange cleaning gloves cleaning white cabinets

There are just a few things you can do in your kitchen each day to keep it looking its best. Accomplishing these chores will help you get by in between professional cleanings, and keep you from getting overwhelmed.

-Kitchen counters. Your kitchen counters can be one of your messiest surfaces, at no fault of their own. Due to the nature of what goes on in the kitchen, the counters can collect a lot of yuckiness. Wipe down your counters daily to keep them clean and sanitary. It won’t take but a minute.

-Don’t forget the sink. The kitchen sink can also be a problem area. Clean it daily and even consider sanitizing it with some bleach to keep it from becoming a cesspool of nastiness.

-Dirty dishes. Try not to leave your dinner dishes for the next day. Waking up to a clean kitchen instead of a stack of dirty dishes is a much better feeling.

Bathroom

man having a difficult time cleaning a toilet

Your bathroom can be one of your least favorite rooms to clean. However, if you take some time to clean just a little bit of it every day, you’ll make life a lot easier.

-Just like in the kitchen, take time to wipe down your bathroom counters. From makeup to toothpaste (especially if you have children brushing their teeth), cleaning the counters will make you feel oh-so-much better.

-Wipe down your mirror. Your bathroom mirror is often under attack by toothpaste, fingerprints, and streaks. Keeping your mirror wiped down makes the whole bathroom look cleaner.

Living Room

The living room is one of the main common areas in your home. Between kids’ toys, personal belongings, and the daily ins and outs, it can become a mess fast. The living room is an excellent way to enlist help from all of the members of the household.

-Pick up personal belongings. Before bedtime, have everyone ensure their own belongings are picked up and put away properly.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms can quickly become untidy, especially if you have children. When it comes to the bedrooms, here are some tips to staying on top:

-Make beds every morning. Even the littlest kiddos can handle this chore (sometimes with a little help). A made bed gives a clean appearance to the entire bedroom and sets your day off to a great start.

-Make sure all family members have laundry hampers or a designated place for dirty clothes. Nothing messes up a bedroom faster than clothes strewn all about.

Daily Cleaning Schedule

tabby cat next to a basket of cleaning supplies, an alarm clock and a cell phone

As you can see, these chores are quick and painless. They will keep you from losing your mind and make you feel like you can accomplish something. A daily cleaning schedule that includes these chores can easily be divvied up between family members.

Everyone can pitch in, making the time it takes to tackle these tasks minimal. If you are the only one in your household, divide the chores up by evening and morning. Check a few off your list before work, and finish the last few after work.

When it comes to your daily cleaning schedule, be sure set it up in a way that works for you and your household. Choose chores that can be done daily in the shortest amount of time, and choose a time to work on them that’s convenient. This way, you won’t set yourself up for failure.

TLC Cleaning Can Change Your Life

While a daily cleaning schedule can help keep you on track, at TLC Cleaning, we know how valuable your time is to you and your family. With professional cleaning services, you can relax more, stress less, and find time for the things you love.

You’ll love having the peace of mind that comes with a tidy home, as well as your new-found free time. Contact us today and set up house cleaning services for your home. We look forward to working with you and giving you back your time.

Tags daily cleaning schedule, general cleaning, home cleaning

How Using a Cleaning Schedule Can Keep Your Home at its Best

Post author By Trisha Lake, Owner of TLC Cleaning
Post date June 18, 2019
No Comments on How Using a Cleaning Schedule Can Keep Your Home at its Best

Cleaning your home can feel a lot like therapy. Cleaning is named as one of the top active stress relievers.

So, if you put the task that way, putting together a busy cleaning schedule could be your therapy session If you’re running short on timing, always feel free to call TLC Cleaning for your home cleaning needs. That’s what we call, “thinking positively!”

However, personal health and well being isn’t the only reason for putting together a cleaning schedule for your home is essential! Keeping things tidy also helps maintain your home; keep it at its best.

And if you keep an honest program, you can work your way down the list, stay true to your day, and get things done feeling truly accomplished.

Quick note: This article may or may not have you scribbling down a cleaning schedule and jumping off the couch to get cleaning! Or, it might encourage you to crave a snack and a nap. Either way, win/win!

How Often Should You Clean?

By the time spring cleaning rolls around, it’s easy to wonder “when was the last time I cleaned this house?” The winter feels long gone, and you don’t remember when you dusted behind the television.

So, how much should you be getting out the cleaning supplies? Once a week? A few times a month? Here and there once a day?

First of all, if spring comes around and you haven’t cleaned since Christmas, that might be a bit of a problem. Harmful bacteria can fester around your home if you’re not cleaning on the regular.

Need another reason to get that cleaning schedule tip-top shape for a routine cleaning? We don’t think so!

To make it easy, please see the below list covering how often you should clean each of the core items in your home:

Bedding: Try to wash your bedding once a week. You spend a good chunk of your life in your bed, so think about all dandruff and sweat and grossness that is happening there. You can air dry your duvet (fresh spring air dry sheets are the best).

But, we recommend drying your pillowcase to kill the most harmful bacteria.

Lampshades, other various accessories: Clean/dust accessories on your shelves and lampshades every three months. Using a lint roller for the lampshades and a simple duster for the rest will work great.

Dishwasher: Clean out your dishwasher once a month. Take out the racks and soak them in soapy water. White vinegar is an excellent cleaner for this, so place on the top shelf and run the machine at the hottest cycle.

Every other cycle or so, it’s essential to rinse off the detergent drawers as well. Upkeep is important!

Refrigerator: Clean your fridge once every six months with a fresh cloth and soapy water.

Appliances (i.e., washing machine, microwave, oven): A toaster or a microwave should get cleaned once a week. It’s vital to clean places foods are cooked often. A stove should be cleaned every six months using a deep-cleaning spray.

Curtains: Curtains are an interesting one, they aren’t always on top of the cleaning list. But, they’re still relevant! Every three months will do for a quick washing machine rinse.

Laptop keyboard: This one might surprise you. Tend to clean this once a week. Use compressed air to get the dust out of the tight spots. A sanitizing wipe will take care of the rest. Laptops are like cell phones; they’re used all the time and need to get clean.

Toilet: Clean your bathroom once a week. Fun fact: toilets seem like the grimiest thing in the house, but they’re not. Harmful bacteria are hanging out on dish clothes and chopping boards (yuck).

Be sure to clean those once a week too! A good once over toilet wipe with a sanitizing cloth and bowl cleaning will do just fine.

Put Together Your Cleaning Schedule

Now, it’s time to put together a little cleaning schedule action! We’ve put together a mock cleaning schedule for the week of our own below, and we hope this helps you fill in your own!

Monday (Simplify): Start with decluttering. Spend an hour putting things in garbage bags. Go through the fridge and rid of leftovers. Clean out your closet with a few items for the Goodwill or go through the mail that’s been waiting for your attention.

Tuesday (Tidy Up): This is the day for dusting! Now that you’ve decluttered slightly take this time to dust the surfaces and wipe things with fresh soap and water.

Wednesday (Deep Clean the Tough Stuff): Wednesday is the day for toilets and sinks and the not-so-fun-stuff. Get the white vinegar out and take care of the dishwasher, microwave, and bathroom.

Thursday (Bedding and Curtains): We’re getting closer to the weekend, so what better time to freshen up the sheets!

Friday (Organize): Take this time to organize anything that has been stressing you out. Maybe it’s the linen closet. Perhaps it’s the sock drawer. Organizing on a Friday is a lovely way to release some clutter stress before going into the weekend quickly.

Saturday (Final Touches): You have the afternoon to put some final touches on your cleaning schedule. Think to vacuum and mop the kitchen floors.

Sunday: rest. Enjoy the clean home. Make a tasty dinner. Take a nap randomly. Invite friends over for the game night. Your home is clean, and you deserve it!

Remember, this cleaning schedule should stay true to whatever works best for your routine and home. So, feel free to move some days or chores around!

Call TLC Cleaning Today

Let the Professionals at TLC Cleaning Keep Your Home Clean

We understand that cleaning your home takes time and effort, and time is one of our most significant values. That’s why cleaning schedules are so ideal! TLC Cleaning is always here to help with your cleaning schedule needs.

If you need to free up some time on that cleaning schedule, too crucial on the valuable things in life, call TLC Cleaning today.

That way, you can spend more time with your family, sipping wine on the patio with good friends, or cooking some new, fresh meals in your clean and spacious kitchen. That’s on us!

Tags cleaning schedule, daily cleaning schedule

Chores

A Weekly Cleaning Schedule That’s Quick and Easy

Post author By Trisha Lake, Owner of TLC Cleaning
Post date June 15, 2018
No Comments on A Weekly Cleaning Schedule That’s Quick and Easy

A weekly cleaning schedule is the best investment of time you can make to manage all your overwhelming tasks and chores. If you can organize the cleaning process, the messes will feel more manageable.

Ready to get started? Here are some helpful tips for creating a cleaning schedule. Get ready for increased productivity and a clean home!

Clean Isn’t Perfect

Sometimes, you need to take a step back and accept that clean is clean enough. Not every item on your to-do list should be done so thoroughly that you can’t manage to get the other ones done the day you had them planned.

You can choose to set a time limit if that will help. Try setting a kitchen timer for 10-15 minutes for each chore. Set the timer and start and remain in one room until you finish that specific task. Remember that some of these will be weekly chores, so don’t think if you missed the deep-down dirt that it won’t get done. It will.

What About Supplies?

The most strategic thing you can do is keep house cleaning tools you need in the room that calls for them. Obviously, if you have small children, you want to keep cleaning supplies locked up and away from small hands.

However, having all that you need within reach will enhance how much you can get done in the time you have allotted. It’s so easy to get distracted by going into another room for a supply item and have a squirrel moment and start another cleaning project. Avoid this as much as possible.

Plan Your Cleaning Moves

Even though we suggest staying in one room, there are cleaning tasks that usually cross boundaries on your weekly cleaning schedule, such as vacuuming. With these types of tasks, you may want to put them on specific days. I don’t believe there are too many people that like to haul a vacuum around every day for each individual room.

How Do I Stay on Cleaning Task Each Day?

A cleaning checklist on a clipboard. A cleaning checklist can be a useful tool when you develop your weekly cleaning schedule.

How can you hold yourself accountable? Print out your chore list and laminate it. (You can find a self-laminating packet at your local Walmart for just a few bucks.) Trust us when we say you want to laminate it because you can mark off what has been done.

Now for our thrifty and high-tech-loving house cleaners, we suggest some cleaning schedule apps. One of my favorites because it a broad app is TODO found in the Google Play store. This app is amazing for overhauling and organizing your whole life––not just your cleaning schedule.

What Does a Successful Weekly Cleaning Schedule Look Like?

Below is a sample of my cleaning schedule broken down from daily tasks to each day of the week for the larger tasks.

Daily tasks should consist of wiping down the counters, doing the dishes, a load of laundry, and making the beds. Remember: if it looks dirty you should probably just add it to your quick clean list for the day and get it done and over with.

Mop It Monday

Mondays should include the floors. Everyone knows that the weekends are dangerous to your floors. From company and kids to food spills and muddy paws, the weekend has terrorized your floors.

If you can’t do all of them, you should consider looking at your high traffic areas such as foyers and living rooms. Don’t forget to tackle that kitchen and dining area as well as the high trafficked bathroom floor. If there are areas you can’t get to, don’t worry: you can make it up later on a day that doesn’t have a lot of tasks at hand.

Toilet Tuesday

Tuesdays should be the day your grab the gloves and toilet bowl cleaner. Tuesdays can be a drag, because who really likes cleaning toilets anyways? But if done early enough in the week, there is nothing to ruin your weekend with later.

You will want to focus on disinfecting and scrubbing all bathroom-related surfaces. From scrubbing showers and tubs to shaking bath mats outside, you can also use this day to check up on any toiletries that are low to put on the list for your shopping day.

Wipe It Down Wednesday

If it has a surface, wipe and dust. Here is where you can get a lot of the grime and dirt off those microwave or stove surfaces. Start from the top and go to the floor, especially if you’re dusting. This will help to gather all the stuff that comes off the high ledges of the home. You also want to consider non-permanent items such as toys and telephones to wipe down and disinfect.

Throw Out Thursday

Thursday can be far the greatest day of all. This is the day your declutter everything! You want to throw out old newspapers and any leftover food that has gone past its expiration date. (And don’t worry––we all have that unintended science project in the back of the fridge.)

You may also want to consider Thursday donation day as well. If it’s in the right condition, donate it. Throw out the old clothes with holes or donate those that are still usable but don’t fit.

Fold It Friday

is the day to tackle the laundry chair. You know the one I am talking about: the chair where the clean clothes migrate. Friday is a great day to sit and watch a show while folding everybody’s clothes. This is also the best day to maintain clean bedding. Once a month, clean the bed skirt.

Slow It Down Saturday

So now everyone is home and you want to relax. Slow down and enjoy it! Just have everyone help pitch in today for about 20 mins to straighten up things and voila––you are done for the weekend.

Sleeping On Sunday

Family Time Watching TV. Rest time should bea part of your weekly cleaning schedule.

Sunday is a day of rest and so should the cleaning tasks! Enjoy the day and go have some fun with the family.

Instead of Developing a Weekly Cleaning Schedule, You Can Give us a Call

You could always just contact us at TLC Cleaning for recurring cleaning services and have us do these daily cleaning tasks for you so that everyday can feel like “Sleeping On Sunday”.

Tags cleanign schedule, daily chores, daily cleaning schedule, weekly cleaning schedule

Chores General Cleaning Spring Cleaning

Here is Your Spring Cleaning Checklist from TLC

Post author By Trisha Lake, Owner of TLC Cleaning
Post date May 1, 2018
No Comments on Here is Your Spring Cleaning Checklist from TLC

Hooray! Spring has sprung, and sideways snow isn’t an everyday thing.

You can now open up your windows without fear of a blizzard avalanching into your home. This scenario is thought to be one of the reasons there is such a thing as “spring cleaning.” Of course, everyone still cleans at all times of the year, but spring cleaning means deep cleaning, and inspiring weather to match your mood.

Are you sure you’re getting all those dust bunnies? TLC Cleaning knows what areas can get neglected because we see what remains after a move-out. Coming into a dwelling after all the furniture and belongings are gone can reveal the areas that needed more love. We’ve created a checklist to help remind you of some of those forgotten areas in homes. How could you know unless you take a look under the hood?

TLC Cleaning is here to help you help you take pride and be at peace knowing all is well above and below the surface. Nobody likes to be embarrassed when you’re replacing your washer and dryer, and all the missing undies are alive and well and breeding socks. I’m sure it’s not the appliance guy’s first rodeo, but just the same, it’s still mortifying.

You don’t know what else is lurking in those hidden places. Best solution: check them once a year to be sure you’re not cultivating some funk.

Besides making sure you’re aren’t creating an environment for the next superbug, use the opportunity of peeking at less traveled places in your home to check structural integrity.

Benefits of Spring Cleaning

In general, spring cleaning is a type of deep cleaning or annual cleaning. These are the items you don’t have to do every week or even monthly. Decluttering is best to do with your cleaning regimen.

It is even more necessary with everyone getting the newest widgets or thingamabob for Christmas. While you are doing the deep cleaning, set three boxes out; label them donate, sell, and trash. Take advantage of the purge and make some money from your spring cleaning and have a garage sale.

A yard sale isn’t the only advantage to spring cleaning. You can get a good pulse of future maintenance and how to prioritize remodels and renovations. While you are behind the appliances, check for leaks and mold. While you are deep cleaning the bathroom, check the grout in tile and caulking in the tub. It’s always better to touch up than to replace and repair. While you are being thorough, take notice of pipes and make sure there are no leak or condensation.

At TLC Cleaning, we can help you with most of the items listed below. One thing we can’t do is tell you what belongings to remove. We aren’t in the practice of putting a value on your belongings. We are in the business of giving you back your time, by helping you get the chore of cleaning done.

Declutter

Clear out the closet of stuff you haven’t worn in the last year.
Get rid of the books you meant to read (but you know it isn’t happening). Add it to your garage sale pile.
Take out the stuff that doesn’t belong in your closet.

Dusting

Baseboards
Bookshelves
All the cracks and crevices you don’t get to year round

Line dry ONLY; save it for warmer weather

Linen drapes
High-chair covers
Patio furniture
Large comforters

Curtains and Blinds

Curtains don’t need cleaning often, and you might even get away with just vacuuming the dust off of them. Be sure to follow the care instructions; some drapes need to be dry cleaned.

One of the significant advantages of blinds is they can be cleaned with a quick wipe down. Depending on how dusty your home is, you might be able to use a vacuum.

Vacuum Everything

While you have the vacuum out, you should get beneath and behind:

Fridge
Washer/dryer
Beds/dressers
Bed mattress

Clean The Carpets and Area Rugs

Back in the day, spring was an opportunity to take the rugs outside and shake them out.

Nowadays, you can schedule a carpet cleaning, or do it yourself. It’s simpler to dry the rugs when you can use natural ventilation and open doors and windows to prevent mildew. Otherwise, you will need ventilation fans and dryers. In fact, at TLC Cleaning, we even do area rugs.

Seal Granite

It’s important to seal your granite annually to prevent staining. Don’t get overwhelmed; it’s like putting wax on a car.

Stainless Steel

Next thing you want to tackle is all the stainless steel. A Shark steamer wand can make it an easy task. Pay particular attention to the hood over the stove.

Windows

Take the window off the track and get up in those tracks. Then, suds up the windows and make them sparkle.

Treat Wood Floors and Cabinets

The finish will make all the difference in how involved it is to treat your cabinets.

If they have a laminate finish and a good coat of paint, you can wipe them down. Stained wood will require you to get the right oil and find an excellent podcast to listen to. It will take some extra love, but it will be well worth the effort with the beautifully finished grain.

Wipe Down and Sanitize

Inside of fridge
Kitchen and bathroom tile
Patio furniture

Deep Clean your Appliances and Change Filters

Nowadays it’s essential to do an annual cleaning of appliances to keep them running efficiently. Many have cleaning cycles. Check each manual.

Dishwasher
Stove
Washing machine
Change water filter on fridge
Replace air filters
Clean A/C units

We hope these ideas are helpful to get you started on your spring cleaning journey. The feeling of a clean home can reduce stress and free you up your mind to focus on your family or career. TLC cleaning is here to help you get started with a deep clean or regular upkeep. An immeasurable gift you can give is a complimentary service for an overwhelmed friend or family member. We can help you spring clean. Contact us for a quote.

Tags cleaning schedule, daily chores, daily cleaning schedule, seasonal cleaning, spring cleaning