Are You Cleaning Your Home Enough? How Often You Should Clean Common Household Items

It’s important to keep your home tidy, but how frequently should you be cleaning the items in your household?

How often is enough to maintain your space and prevent the buildup of dirt, bacteria, and allergens?

Regular cleaning is an important step in any homeowner’s routine, but you may not know the right schedule to maintain. You may not know what’s too much or too little. Or, you might think that you’re cleaning enough only to be leaving hidden grime and germs behind.

Don’t worry. Our cleaning experts are here to help. Here’s a comprehensive guide to how often you should clean common items within your household.

Floors, Carpets, And Rugs

Your floors hold more dirt than you think. With foot traffic in and out, they trap dirt, mud, and bacteria.

Cleaning your floors and carpets regularly is essential, not only to keep things tidy but also for protecting your hygiene and health.

Benefits of cleaning floors often include:

Maintains aesthetics by keeping up your home’s appearance
Removes allergens like dust, pollen, pet dander, and mold
Prevents illness by removing germs
Extends the life of your floor by getting rid of hidden dirt that may cause wear and tear
Prevents pests, like dust mites, carpet beetles, ants, and rodents, that may be attracted to unclean carpets

Depending on the type of flooring you have, how you clean it may differ:

If you have carpet: Vacuum 1-2 times per week, or even more frequently for high-traffic areas. Do a deep clean with a carpet cleaner (like shampoo) every 6 months. For spills, stains, and other messes, spot clean immediately using a solution designed for stain removal.
If you have rugs: Vacuum weekly to keep things tidy. Shake out rugs once a month to release embedded dirt. Deep clean annually to restore appearance and remove deep-seated contaminants.
If you have wood, tile, or laminate flooring: Sweep or vacuum regularly to keep spaces clean. Tidying every other day is recommended to prevent dull finishes. Mop weekly to remove stuck-on grime and deep clean every 3-6 months. For tile, make sure to get in the grout to remove trapped dirt and irritants.

Windows

No one wants dirty windows. If you fail to clean your home’s windows regularly, they’ll block out light and visibility.

Dirt, mold, and mildew build up on windows, creating visible grime. Not only is this obstruction unpleasant to look at, but it can also actively cause damage to your windows.

Maintaining your windows is important to prevent wear and tear, like seal deterioration, which can make them less effective at insulating your space. Moreover, clean windows allow for natural light, which can have many positive effects. Overall, keeping your windows pristine is crucial for aesthetic, practical, and health purposes.

Some potential benefits of maintaining clean windows include:

Removal of dirt, dust, and pollutants
Prevention of damage to seals, glass, and frames that can lead to costly repairs
Improved air quality and reduced respiratory triggers
More natural light and improved mental health
Energy savings and reduced bills from artificial lighting and better insulation
Increased curb appeal and value from maintaining your home’s appearance

For interior cleaning, make sure to wipe down windows every 1-2 months. For homes with pets, small children, or other factors that make them prone to getting dirty quicker, weekly cleaning may be needed.

Wipe down windows with a mild glass cleaner and use a microfiber towel to remove smudges and streaks. Also make sure to remove dust and dirt from the window sill and any surrounding nooks and crannies where grime might get lodged.

Exterior cleaning will involve a more elaborate process, so it’s recommended that you do a deep clean seasonally. Consider environmental factors, like surrounding trees and weather, that may require more frequent cleaning. Humid climates are more prone to mold and mildew growth, while dry environments need more dusting.

Kitchen Counters & Appliances

Keeping your kitchen clean is essential for food safety. Kitchens can accumulate messes quickly with spilled food, built-up grease, and increased risk of bacteria.

To keep your kitchen hygienic and mess-free:

Wipe down counters and sinks daily and disinfect weekly (or immediately after coming into contact with contaminants like raw poultry).
Clean off stovetop splatters after each use.
Lightly clean appliance exteriors monthly and give them a deeper clean every 3-6 months.
Wipe down interior fridge and freezer shelving monthly.
Clean out microwave interiors as soon as messes occur.
Run the dishwasher regularly and don’t let dishes pile up.
Wipe down cabinet exteriors weekly.

The frequency with which you need to clean your kitchen will also depend on its use. For large families, cooks, or people who entertain, spaces will need to be cleaned more often.

Tackling small messes sooner can prevent big ones from building up. Make cleaning your kitchen a regular part of your routine or schedule a recurring cleaning service to keep your space spotless.

Bathroom Surfaces

Likewise, maintaining a clean bathroom is essential for a healthy household.

Bathrooms are warm, moist environments, making them perfect spaces for bacteria, mold, and mildew to thrive. Neglecting bathroom cleaning can lead to potential health risks like infections and allergies.

Bathrooms also contain many high-touch surfaces like handles and faucets where germs can accumulate. Regular disinfection is crucial for preventing illness.

Soap scum, residues, and mineral deposits are also common.

To keep bathrooms clean:

Wipe down bathroom counters daily to prevent messes from building up and disinfect them weekly.
Disinfect bathroom sinks weekly to reduce bacteria and germs.
Thoroughly clean your toilet once a week or more often depending on use. Scrub the bowl, seat, tank, lid, and base with disinfectant to eliminate germs.
Squeegee your shower after each use to wipe away water, preventing mildew and soap scum. Deep clean weekly for more in-depth removal of grime.
Clean mirrors weekly to remove dust, water, and other stains.
Sweep frequently and mop weekly to remove spills, hair, and dirt.
Deep clean tile grout monthly to prevent mineral buildup.

Hire A Professional Cleaning Service

If you have trouble cleaning your home regularly, it may be a good idea to hire a professional housekeeping service.

Maybe you don’t have time to clean. Or maybe you just forget to. It’s okay. Whatever the reason, expert professionals are here to help. By scheduling a cleaning service, you ensure that your home gets the care and attention to detail it needs on a regular basis.

Some signs you should set up recurring cleaning appointments include:

Can’t find time to clean
Have work, school, or family obligations that keep you busy
Tend to procrastinate
Struggle with mental health
Have physical limitations
Feel overwhelmed by cleaning
Have pets or small children
Have allergies, asthma, or other health issues
You don’t know how to clean properly

If you struggle with maintaining your home, allow Too Clean Homes to help. Our expert Nassau County housekeepers are experts in keeping homes clean.

We’ll help build a cleaning schedule that accommodates your needs so that you can enjoy the tidy space you deserve. Get a cleaning quote today to see how our professional cleaners can help you.