Most online cleaning schedules assume you have unlimited time. Here is one written for real families with school runs, work and weekend football. The trick is doing little and often, and not letting the weekend disappear into chores.

Daily (15 to 20 minutes)

Make beds in the morning
Wipe kitchen counters after dinner
Run the dishwasher overnight
One load of laundry from start to put-away
Quick tidy of the living room before bed

Weekly (one focused hour)

Pick one evening or one weekend morning. Stick the kettle on, put music on, and work through the list once a week:

Hoover all carpeted rooms and the stairs
Mop hard floors
Clean the toilet, sink and shower in each bathroom
Wipe down the kitchen including hob and microwave
Empty the bins and replace liners

Fortnightly

Change bed linen
Dust skirting boards and door frames
Wipe inside the microwave and fridge shelves
Clean mirrors and glass surfaces

Monthly

Wipe inside kitchen cupboards and drawers
Descale taps and shower heads
Vacuum sofas and chair cushions
Wash bins inside and out

Seasonal (every 3 to 4 months)

Oven deep clean
Wash curtains, blinds and cushion covers
Behind and under large appliances
Inside windows and tracks

What to do when life gets in the way

Some weeks you will not get to the weekly hour. That is normal. The system works because the daily 15 minutes stops mess from building up, so a missed week is a soft inconvenience instead of a disaster.

If juggling work, kids and the house is getting too much, a fortnightly cleaner takes the bigger jobs off your plate. Most of our family customers in Derby book a 2 to 3 hour fortnightly slot. See our regular cleaning service or read our weekly vs fortnightly guide if you are deciding which suits you.

A Realistic Cleaning Schedule for Busy Families