No Time to Clean? Try This 15 Minutes a Day Cleaning Schedule

Here, we’ll explore the benefits of a 15-minute daily cleaning routine and practical tips to help you keep your home in top shape.

Breaking down your weekly cleaning tasks into day-by-day to-dos is a great way to streamline the cleaning process. However, we want to start by saying this: The 15-minute-a-day clean is a general rule. If you have a big home, cleaning will naturally take longer.

Additionally, being able to clean your house in 15-minute chunks spread over the week depends on your keeping it tidy in the meantime. It also doesn’t allow for monthly cleaning tasks, such as deep cleaning your washing machine or oven.

In other words, it lets you split your weekly cleaning checklist into more manageable pieces, but your daily and monthly to-dos are separate.

 

Sample 15-Minute Daily Cleaning Schedule

We recommend formulating your own 15-minute-a-day cleaning schedule. You know your routine and lifestyle best and can match your cleaning routine accordingly. For example, you might want to save vacuuming from the weekend if the noise will bother people working from home during the week.

However, if you’re in need of some inspiration, here’s a sample 15-minute cleaning routine. We’ve broken down the cleaning tasks day by day, and you can repeat this same schedule every week.

 

Must-Do Daily Cleaning Tasks

On top of this schedule, there are a few tasks you need to make time for every day. These daily tasks keep your home tidy and decluttered, allowing you to quickly bash out the cleaning in 15 minutes or less. Feel free to amend this list, but the daily tasks we recommend are as follows:

• Make beds each morning to start the day with a sense of order.
• Stay on top of dishes, either by loading the dishwasher or washing them promptly.
• Pick up clutter and organise items to prevent accumulation.
• Take out the rubbish to maintain a fresh and clean environment.

 

Top Tips for Cleaning Your House in 15 Minutes Per Day

1. Create a checklist

Start by creating a checklist of all the cleaning tasks you do every week. This might include vacuuming, dusting, mopping, cleaning the toilets, etc.

Next, dedicate specific tasks for each day of the week. For example, Monday could be focused on vacuuming, Tuesday on dusting, and so on.

Write down your daily checklist to remember what tasks you’re supposed to be doing on which days, and stick with the plan.

Having a checklist ensures you stay organised and cover all areas of your home. Plus, ticking items off a to-do list is great motivation for even the worst procrastinators.

 

2. Set a timer

Use a timer to stay on track during your cleaning sessions. This will help you maintain focus and prevent the cleaning process from becoming overwhelming.

It also turns the cleaning process into somewhat of a game—can you complete all of today’s cleaning tasks before the timer buzzes?

However, when the timer buzzes, you shouldn’t necessarily stop cleaning. When first trying this cleaning practice, the timer gives you a better understanding of whether your schedule works or if it needs revisiting. Eventually, you will finetune the checklist and complete tasks before the time is up.

 

3. Delegate tasks

If you have family members or housemates, why not involve them in the cleaning routine? Assign weekly tasks to each person, making the process more efficient and creating a shared responsibility for maintaining a clean home. Another option is to give them daily or monthly cleaning tasks.

Delegation is an excellent idea if you have a larger home or consistently run over your 15-minute timers.

Remember, 15 minutes is a general guideline based on the fact it takes most people about 1 and a half hours to clean their homes in one sitting. So, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

 

4. Invest in storage solutions

You will never complete your 15 minutes of cleaning on time if your home is messy before you start. Therefore, keeping on top of general tidying and organisation is essential.

One option is to ensure the house is tidy before bed and do your 15 minutes of cleaning first thing in the morning.

You can also help to reduce clutter by investing in storage solutions. Organisational tools such as baskets, shelves, and storage bins can help keep items in their designated places, making it easier to maintain a tidy home—even if you’re super busy!

 

6. Build cleaning habits

Cleaning will eventually become a habit, making it easier to stay on top of tasks without feeling overwhelmed.

However, forming habits takes time and requires consistency. Therefore, it is a great idea to dedicate specific times of the day to cleaning based on your existing habits.

For example, you might want to clean the toilets when your baby has an afternoon nap or mop the floors immediately after dropping the kids at school before carrying on with your day.

Whatever you do, stick to the plan! Eventually, you’ll find you’re cleaning without even thinking about it.