How to Clean Your Home: A Rotational Home Cleaning Guide

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Rotational Cleaning Guide

As a busy stay at home mom, I found it difficult to stay on top of all of the cleaning and cooking and laundry and whatever else life threw at me. I knew I had to figure out a way to clean my home without spending hours each day doing it. I wanted to focus my time on my son and husband, not scrubbing toilets.

Which is why I decided to create a realistic cleaning schedule that worked for me. This rotational cleaning guide will take you through the entire house, top to bottom, to ensure every area is being cleaned without overwhelming your to do list. Once instituting this rotational cleaning schedule, I found that I spent less time overall cleaning and was able to spend more focused time with my son.

Before we get started, be sure to save this post so you can come back to it. There is a ton of meaty information here, and you’re going to want to have it handy!

update

Rotational Cleaning Guide

I am so excited to announce that you can now purchase my Rotational Cleaning Guide in my printables shop!

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So How Does it Work?

My rotational cleaning schedule is set on a six week rotation. Each week is dedicated to certain areas in the house, grouped by either task or function. The goal is to focus on deep cleaning one area, rather than trying to clean individual things like all the doors in the house or every single light socket.

With a baby and now a toddler, I found myself unable to complete tasks if it meant scrambling around the entire house to do them. By working in one area at a time, I can bring my son with me and I no longer have to worry about stopping to check on him or make sure he’s not getting into something he’s not supposed to. So let’s break it down:

Six Week Rotation

Week 1: master suite

Week 2: kids rooms and bathroom, guest room and bathroom, linen closet

Week 3: entry, Mudroom, laundry (all rooms that bring in dirt or deal with it) and playroom

Week 4: living, dining, stairs, half bath

Week 5: kitchen and pantry

Week 6: garage, porches, outdoor

You’ll see a lot of things repeated for each room. This is because this rotational cleaning schedule works by room instead of by task. What that means is instead of wiping down every baseboard in the house at one time (which can be overwhelming and is likely to not be completed), you’ll only wipe down the baseboards in the master suite during week one and so forth.

Week 1

I like to work top to bottom when cleaning. Because we live in a two story home, this applies to the order that I clean rooms. Week one of my rotational cleaning guide is devoted solely to the master suite. This includes the master bedroom, master bathroom, master closet, and a linen closet, if applicable. Our current home does not have a linen closet, a mistake we won’t be making in any future homes!

During this week, focus on the deep cleaning necessary to keep your home well maintained.

Master Bedroom

clean under the bed
wipe baseboards
dust
wipe down and polish furniture
clear any cobwebs
empty the trash
clean windows
wipe down light switches and doorknobs
wipe down the walls
clear off clutter from flat surfaces
straighten the drawers in nightstands or dressers

Master Bathroom

Because you are freshening the bathrooms each week, the bathroom is less labor intensive than if you hadn’t touched it for a month.

wipe down the walls
wash area rugs
wipe down baseboards
wipe down light switches and door knobs
restock toiletries, toilet paper and towels
clean the shower and tub
sweep and mop
dust the exhaust fans
straighten under the cabinets
scrub the toilet with a cleaner

Master Closet

This takes no time at all, even with a large closet.

wipe down light switches and doorknobs
straighten the shelves
arrange any items that have fallen or been misplaced
dust

These tasks can be done in any order you like. I usually clean the bathroom all at once, so that I don’t have to take chemicals out multiple times during this week. The rest can be done when you have a few minutes to spare, or you can knock them all out in an hour.

Week 2

This week in the rotational cleaning guide is all about the bedrooms and bathrooms, excluding the master suite. All our rooms are on the second floor, so I can clean the entirety of the upstairs in two weeks.

Kids Bedrooms

I find my toddlers room to be the easiest bedroom to clean because we pick up each night and we don’t store any extras in his room as a safety precaution. Whereas my bedroom can become a dumping ground for items that don’t have a home if I am not careful.

wipe down baseboards
wipe down and polish furniture
wipe down the walls and doors
wipe down light switches and doorknobs
straighten drawers and closets
sanitize toys
clean windows
wash curtains
straighten toy shelves
clean under the bed
sort out-grown clothing
swap out any toys if you rotate your kids toys

Kids Bathrooms

This list is similar to the master bath list in that it is not as labor intensive because of the weekly refresh it receives.

wash area rugs
sweep and mop the floor
dust the exhaust fans
wipe down light switches and doorknobs
straighten drawers and cabinets
clean the shower and/or tub
soak and/or scrubbing bath toys
scrub the toilet with cleaner
empty the garbage
wipe down baseboards, walls, and doors

Guest Bedroom

This room is fairly easy, and only a little more difficult if you’ve recently had or are expecting guests.

put away any stray items
wipe down baseboards, walls and doors
straighten the closet and drawer,
wipe down light switches and doorknobs
wipe down and polish furniture
wash the curtains
clean the windows

Guest Bathroom

Yep, you guessed it, this is similar to the other bathrooms I’ve mentioned.

clean the area rugs
dust the exhaust fan
sweep and mop the floor
straighten drawers and cabinets
clean the shower and tub
scrub the toilet with cleaner
empty the garbage
wipe down light switches and doorknobs
wipe down baseboards, walls, and doors

Linen Closet

I change the sheets each week in my house, I have a good idea of what is in my linen closet. By keeping only necessities and discarding the rest, you will be able to locate needed items quicker and easier.

discard mismatched or damaged linens and towels
restock toiletries and toilet paper
take inventory of anything you need to shop for
match bed sets together
straighten the shelves

I also store my vacuum in here, so I wipe it down as well. This keeps dust from accumulating in the closet.

Week 3

This week entails the major entry points of your home, and a very high traffic area: the playroom. These are the places most likely to track in mud or other messes or have to deal with it. These are the entryway, mudroom, and laundry room. This rotational cleaning guide works so well because it takes into consideration what areas are going to be used heavily and tackles them all.

Entryway

clean the windows
wipe down the baseboards, walls, and doors
wipe down light switches and doorknobs
straighten the coat closet

Mudroom

In our next house, I dream of a dedicated mudroom with lockers, but we are working with a small coat closet by the garage right now. Nevertheless, keeping it tidy is important as it is one of the hardest working areas in the house.

wipe down light switches and door knobs
sweep and mop the floor
wipe down or polish furniture or benches
remove and put away out of season clothes
wipe down baseboards, walls and doors
straighten any belongings in your closet or lockers

If you have a pet, you will clean their area this week as well.

clean their food and water dishes
wash their bedding
sweep out their sleeping area
restock their food and other supplies

Laundry Room

This is a frequently used room so it is important that it is clean and functional.

wipe down the outsides of the washer and dryer
clean the yucky buildup inside the washer lid
throw out empty bottles or trash
take note of supplies that need replacing for your grocery list
sweep and mop the floor
wipe down the walls and doors
look behind the appliances for lost clothing
put away any lingering clothing
wipe down light switches and knobs

Playroom

I group the playroom with the entryway because in our house, they are right next to each other. This also happens to be where a lot of outside things come in be used my toddler likes to bring in leaves and rocks he finds outside.

sweep and mop the floor
wipe down or polish furniture
clean the windows
sanitize the toys
organize the toys
swap out toys if you rotate your kids toys
wipe down walls and doors
wipe down light switches and door knobs

This week of cleaning deals with a lot of dirt and grime, so it is important to stay on top of your weekly cleaning so that it never becomes overwhelming.

Week 4

Week 4 of the rotational cleaning guide addresses the high traffic areas: the living room, dining room, stairwell, and half bath.

Living Room

wipe down walls and doors
clean the windows
tidy any shelves, cabinets, or drawers
wipe down décor
wipe down or polish furniture
clean under the couch cushions
move the furniture and vacuum
steam clean the carpet and couch
clean out the fireplace
wash any blankets or throws
wipe down light switches and knobs
wipe down the baseboards

Dining Room

wipe down the walls and doors
clean the windows
tidy the China cabinet or buffet
wipe down or polish furniture
clean off the dining table and wipe down or polish
wipe the baseboards
wipe the light switches and door knobs

Stairs

The stairwell is used everyday but rarely gets much attention. It can get dirty without you even noticing, so be sure to thoroughly clean this area.

vacuum or sweep the stairs and landing
wipe down the banister and balusters
dust the light fixture
wipe down light switches and door knobs
steam clean the stairs and landing

Half Bath

wash area rugs
sweep and mop the floor
tidy drawers and/or cabinets
empty the trash
wipe down the vanity
dust the exhaust fan
wipe down light switches and door knobs
wipe down walls and doors

Week 5

Week five is dedicated to arguably the most used area of the house: the kitchen and pantry. This area can get dirty fast, so staying on top of my daily and weekly cleaning tasks make it much easier to manage. Although it is only two rooms or areas, there are quite a few tasks to complete.

Kitchen

wipe down all large appliances
empty and deep clean the fridge
clean the inside of the microwave
clean the oven and stove top
wash canisters
tidy drawers and sweep away any crumbs
tidy cupboards and sweep away any crumbs
wipe down walls and doors
clean windows
clean fan/vent and filters
wipe down cabinets
dust and clean light fixtures
clean and organize under sink
make note of under sink supplies needed for grocery list
clean coffee maker
wipe down the trash can
wipe down baseboards and toe kicks
wipe down small appliances
wipe down light switches and door knobs

Pantry

take everything out and wipe down shelves
check expiration dates and discard anything out of date
return items to pantry with labels facing out, and the oldest items in front to be used first
tidy the floor and sweep
wipe down light switches and door knobs
wipe down baseboards, walls and doors

Week 6

The final week in our rotational cleaning schedule is all about the outdoors. This includes the porches, garage, and outdoor spaces

Front Porch

sweep the porch
sweep away any cobwebs
brush off any furniture
throw away any dead plants
trim any landscaping as needed
refill bird feeders
wipe off tables, banisters, and light fixtures
get rid of any unwanted items
change out holiday décor

Back Porch

sweep the porch
sweep away any cobwebs
brush off any furniture
throw away any dead plants
trim any landscaping as needed
refill bird feeders
wipe off tables, banisters, and light fixtures
get rid of any unwanted items
change out holiday décor

Garage

sweep out the garage
sweep away any cobwebs
clean the inside of vehicles
wash and wax vehicles
remove any clutter and put in the appropriate place or get rid of it
throw out any broken items
dust cabinets and shelves
and wipe down light switches and door knobs

Outdoor Areas

This is really specific to each home, but there are a few tasks that apply to most everyone. These include cleaning patio furniture, power washing walkways or patios, power washing the exterior of your home, and cleaning yard work tools and appliances. This can be wiping down gardening tools, or cleaning the underside of your lawnmower, and everything in between. This may also be an area you only access during the warmer month. If that is the case, check out my yearly cleaning guide to figure out what needs cleaning when. Assess your outdoor spaces and decide what works best for you.

Because your home is being touched weekly with dusting, sweeping, mopping, and freshening your bathrooms, the house stays tidy and each week can be devoted to thoroughly deep cleaning a certain area. By implementing this rotational cleaning guide, I have been able to cut down on the amount of time I spend cleaning overall, because every six weeks, the entire house has been cleaned.

I am so pumped to share that you can now purchase my Rotational Cleaning Guide in my printables shop! I have created a beautiful, reusable checklist for this six week rotation. Check it out now!

This realistic rotational cleaning guide works for busy moms like you. By setting your household on a regular schedule, you can focus on what truly matters: your family.