While cleaning your home isn’t the funnest task, it is a wonderful way to feel more relaxed. Also, chores just really aren’t something you can avoid; they need to be done.
And if you’re feeling a bit intimidated about starting, then I think this 30 day cleaning challenge will help make you feel a lot less stressed. It’s a great way to achieve a clean home by breaking down all of the necessary chores into smaller tasks.
This whole-home cleaning routine will make your life a lot easier and your home a lot more relaxing.
So start this 30-day cleaning schedule today if you want a sparkling home and to give your space a nice refresh.
For the Entire Home
Day 1 – Get rid of all the trash: Sometimes we pile stuff up without even realizing it. So quickly grab a large trash bag, go through all of the rooms, and gather up any trash you find.
Day 2 – Vacuum: The carpets in your home gather up so much dirt and it’s easy to fall behind on keeping it clean (and especially if there are pets involved). So try sprinkling some carpet freshener, and vacuum it away.
Day 3 – Dust: After vacuuming, all of the dirt and dust mentioned above will end up clinging to other surfaces. So if you want your home to look and feel fresh, then wipe everything down and get rid of the dust.
Day 4 – Spray your furniture with fabric freshener: Smells start to cling onto fabrics, and sometimes they’re not very pleasant. So get your home smelling a whole lot better by simply spraying down your furniture with a natural non-toxic spray.
Day 5 – Scrub all cupboards: It’s insane how much dirt and residue can build up on the cupboards! So make sure you’re cleaning them from the inside out.
Day 6 – Clean your door handles: Yes, your door handles definitely need it (think of all the bacteria that might be building up on them). And if you want to have a squeaky clean house, then don’t overlook this cleaning task.
Day 7 – Clean out any containers: This includes toothbrush holders, q-tip containers, spatula holders, knife holders, etc. Also, 64% of toothbrush holders have yeast and mold (according to this NSF study), so make sure you never leave this task out of your cleaning schedule.
Day 8 – Clean the windows: Windows get rained on, hit with things, and smudged. So first clean them on the inside, and then go outside and spray your windows down. Also, clean the windowsill while you’re at it! When guests come over, you want them to see that your house is well taken care of from the inside out.
Day 9 – Sweep your porch or patio: As mentioned before, it’s good to keep the outside of the house looking nice for visitors. So get a broom and sweep away all dirt, leaves, and grass.
Day 10 – Wipe down plastic, wood, or metal chairs inside and outside: So much dirt builds up on your chairs overtime, and especially outside. It can be easy to overlook, so take some time today to wipe them down.
Day 11 – Dust the ceiling for cobwebs or dust buildup: Sometimes it’s easy to overlook how much dust and cobwebs build up on the ceiling. So get a broom, cover it in a microfiber cloth, keep it in place with a big rubber band, and get rid of all that dust and dirt up there.
Day 12 – Take off cushions and clean all couches and chairs: Everyone knows how many random things you find whenever you clean under the cushions. Also, so much dirt builds up underneath the cushions and crevices, so grab that loose change and start vacuuming.
Day 13 – Clean out and organize all closets: It’s so easy to just toss things into your closets without even thinking about it. And if there’s clutter on the floors and shelves, then find a place for each item so your closets stays organized. It makes everything easier to locate and keeps things tidy!
Day 14 – Sweep and mop the floors: It’s good to give your floors a deep cleaning at least once a month for the stuff you may have overlooked. So get underneath that couch or side table and make sure nothing goes missed.
Day 15 – Clean out under the sinks: Most sinks have an underneath cupboard which makes them a great place for storing things like cleaners and tools. So take everything out, wipe it all down, and reorganize each item.
Day 16 – Clean out all drawers: A much larger task than the others since there’s usually plenty of drawers all over the home. But just like with everything else, dirt builds up in them too. So take everything out of your drawers, clean them out, and reorganize (or toss) all of the items in those drawers.
Day 17 – Disinfect any remotes: Random? Yes. It’s worth it though. Like the door handles, remotes get touched by so many hands. So it’s not a bad idea to clean them up and get rid of those germs!
Day 18 – Wash all curtains: Some curtains aren’t washable, but for the ones in the house that are, just carefully read the instructions and freshen up the room with a nice set of clean curtains.
Laundry Room
Day 19 – Fold all the laundry and put it away: You might as well throw away any mismatched socks while you’re at it to avoid any unnecessary clutter.
Day 20 – Clean out the washer and dryer: The washer and dryer collect so much dirt and debris. So it goes a long way to clean them every once in awhile. Then you can make sure you’re not throwing your dirty clothes into an even dirtier machine.
Kitchen
Day 21 – Clean out the refrigerator: Take everything out and wipe it down. Then throw away any food that’s gone bad and put everything back. Fridges can start to accumulate bacteria, and since that’s where you keep your food, so it’s important to keep it clean on a regular basis.
Day 22 – Clean the dishwasher: You’d think the dishwasher would clean itself, right? Well after awhile, the dirty water accumulates and leaves plenty of residue on the inside of the dishwasher. But all it takes is some vinegar to get it clean. Just make sure to follow this quick guide for cleaning your dishwasher with vinegar to make sure you’re doing it right.
Day 23 – Clean the burners, grates, and the inside of your oven: So much gunk and burned on food builds up on your stove and inside the oven. So make sure to scrub down the grates and burners and clean out your oven (according to your oven’s manual).
Day 24 – Organize the kitchen table: Some people don’t keep anything on their tables. And if that’s the case for you, wipe it down! However, a lot of us are guilty of leaving random things on our kitchen table. So if you’re one of those people, remove everything that doesn’t belong, and then wipe it down!
Day 25 – Scrub down the microwave: Microwaves get pretty gross; food spills and splatters everywhere. But all you need is a wet rag, and your microwave will be clean in no time.
Day 26 – Clean underneath the toaster and/or other appliances: The toaster accumulates a lot of crumbs underneath it, and so do most of the other kitchen appliances. So take the time to remove them from the counter and clean it all up (and clean the appliances while you’re at it too).
Bedroom
Day 27 – Wash pillows: While washing your sheets and pillowcases is a weekly task, you should also make sure you’re washing your pillows. Even with a case on, they can still accumulate sweat and dirt.
Day 28 – Clean under the bed: Some people don’t put anything under their bed, or their bed doesn’t even have a frame. But if you’re guilty (like the majority of people) of stashing random things in this space, then dive under there and get rid of all unnecessary items. Then vacuum up all dust and dirt.
Bathroom
Day 29 – Scrub the toilet, bathtub, and sinks: While not the funnest task in the world, it is necessary. So just take some time today to grab you cleaning products, some gloves, and scrubbers, and clean it all up.
Day 30 – Wipe down the mirror: You wanna be able to see yourself clearly! Also, those toothpaste, water splatters, and hand prints just don’t look nice. So get a cleaner and a cloth and wipe down all mirrors in the home.
If you find it hard to keep up with your home, then I hope this easy to follow 30-day cleaning checklist helps you out! It’s a great way to start new cleaning habits, and make sure your home stays nice and tidy throughout the year.
Grace Moser is the author and founder of Chasing Foxes, where she writes articles to help women create a life they love in big and small ways. She's been a full-time traveler since 2016 and loves sharing her experiences and exploring the world with her husband, Silas. Her lifestyle and travel advice can also be seen on sites such as Business Insider, Glamour, Newsweek, Huffpost, & Apartment Therapy.