Are you stuck in an organizational rut? Are there household jobs you never have time to do? You’re not alone. So join my ‘Do More Monday’ revolution. Dedicate an hour a week to those neglected jobs and forgotten corners to be more productive and transform small jobs into BIG results. (And grab the free printable 52 week cleaning challenge, too!)
As Moms, we are always so busy. Working, parenting, sorting the house, trying to have a social life… So often it feels like there just aren’t enough hours in the day. We build routines and schedules to cover the basics, and then get stuck.
Never is that more true than with housework. You wash your bedsheets on Monday, clean the bathroom on Tuesday, vacuum the floors on Wednesday and, over time, other areas get neglected. Especially the ones that are out of sight, out of mind (I’m talking about you, top closet shelf).
And after a busy week of spinning all the plates, it’s so easy to sit on the couch and binge watch Netflix, or just quietly read a book. You don’t want to spend your down time organizing the pantry.
But because my house is getting a bit out of hand, I’m changing up my mindset. I’ve made a promise to ‘do more’ every Monday and be more productive with my time. I’m giving one hour, just one hour, every Monday to a small household job. A forgotten corner. A dusty drawer. Because I’ve realized that taking one small step is better than nothing. And completing one little task every week can add up to big changes in your home.
Why I’m Challenging Myself to Do More At Home
A lot of women, myself included, are juggling so much that it causes overwhelm. And if you’re paralyzed by a long to-do list, you just never start. Cleaning and organizing one area at a time makes things so much easier because you know what they say: ‘There’s only one way to eat an elephant – one bite at a time.’
1. Clutter causes stress. A recent study found that women living in cluttered homes had higher levels of the stress hormone Cortisol, and symptoms of depression. That’s a scary thought. So, compared to that, one hour every Monday doesn’t seem so bad.
2. Save money. Several times in the last few months, I’ve bought random supplies or household items that I already have – I just didn’t know that I had them because they weren’t organized or easy to find.
3. General overall cleanliness. Our house is fine, but there are lots of different cleaning jobs that I literally NEVER do, like cleaning the window sills or baseboards. And those little jobs all add up. I want to get on top of the forgotten household tasks that will make our environment cleaner, safer, and happier for everyone.
My Biggest Tip:
- Divide the home into smaller areas – This concept is called “zone cleaning” and it really works! Any area that you feel like is too large or complex to finish in one hour, split into separate jobs. For instance, instead of trying to declutter and organize the entire master closet, start with hanging clothes, then do shoes on a different day. That’s what I’ve done for you with this 52 week cleaning challenge!
52 Weeks of Household Jobs to Clean, Organize, and Declutter Your Home
Household Cleaning Jobs in the Bedroom
There’s so much ‘stuff’ in the bedroom, that it can feel like a daunting place to start cleaning and decluttering. But, if you take a one step at a time approach, you’ll be amazed at how much you can achieve. Here are my suggestions for dividing your master bedroom sanctuary into smaller areas that are more manageable:
- Under the master bed – There are no monsters under my bed, but there is a heck of a lot of junk and dust..! So pull everything out from underneath. Old Christmas sweaters, loose socks, odd shoes, that toy you promised to fix for the kids last summer… If you haven’t used it in more than a year, let’s face it – you forgot it was there, so you can get rid of it. Then vacuum or give it a really good mop under there.
- Nightstand drawers – The holding spaces for items that should be somewhere else! Moisturizer I can’t be bothered to put back in the medicine cabinet? In the drawer! Novel I finished reading, and should really go back on the bookshelf? In the drawer! Take the time to tidy your nightstand drawers – dust inside, organize, put things back in their rightful places, and only put items back in the drawers that should actually live there.
- Underwear drawer – Ladies, we’re all ashamed of the state of our underwear drawer, right?! There are granny pants lurking, bras in five different sizes, holey hosiery… It’s time to show your underwear drawer, and yourself, some love. Get rid of all the worn out undergarments, organize the drawer with neat underwear storage boxes, and then go out and treat yourself to some fresh new lingerie. This is the decluttering job that will have you feeling like a million dollars afterwards.
- Sock drawer – No, you’re not going to wear that holey sock – throw it out! No, you’re not going to find that spotty sock’s matching pair – throw it out! It’s time to be ruthless. Sort through your sock drawer, throw out all holey, mis-matched socks, ball up the matching ones, and deposit neatly into cute sock drawer organizers. So satisfying.
- Hanging clothes in the closet – Because the master closet is probably the largest closet in your home (and the most cluttered!), I recommend breaking it up into smaller jobs… unless you’re feeling extra ambitious and you think you can clean and organize the master closet in just an hour or two. Start by sorting through and decluttering clothes that are hanging in the closet.
- Shoe racks in the closet – If you’re like me, you’ll still have a pair of heels that you keep around for nostalgia, even though you haven’t worn them in about 10 years. Be brutal! Declutter, wipe down the shelves, and only put the shoes you actually wear back on that rack.
- Sweaters and long sleeve shirts – Sort through all sweaters and long sleeve tops, getting rid of any worn out items and making a pile of good quality ones to donate to charity. *TIP – Look for any clothing items that can be added to your kids’ dress-up boxes. I had an old blouse lurking in my closet that my daughter was able to wear to school on pirate day!
- Short sleeve shirts and tank tops – Just like your other clothing categories, sort through these summer and spring tops, making piles for trash or donations.
- Pants and shorts
- Top shelf of the closet – Not sure if I want to keep it? Top shelf of the closet. I’m sure it will fit me in two months? Top shelf. Gift I bought someone and then forgot about? You get the picture. Honestly, my top shelf is a dumping ground of doom. It needs dusting, organizing, and then a sign making saying ‘stop dumping your stuff here’.
- Vacuum the mattress – We know we need to wash the sheets, but how often do you vacuum the mattress? This is especially important if you have a pesky husband who likes to eat cookies in bed, even though you’ve told him not to..!
- BONUS JOB – Turn the mattress – Some mattresses should be rotated and turned over to extend their lifespan. It helps distribute weight better and prevent sagging. You’ll need an extra pair of hands for this one! *NOTE – We have a latex mattress, and it doesn’t have to be flipped. Check with your mattress manufacturer for instructions.
In the Laundry Room
I know, I know. We already spend far too much time doing laundry as it is. But there are some essential, but often neglected, chores to be done in this area of the house.
- Clean washing machine – Your washing machine cleans your laundry, so you really need the washing machine itself to be clean! Wipe down the outside and sanitize the buttons. Then run a hot cycle with a pack of washing machine cleaner or just some white vinegar or bleach. If your machine has a dispenser drawer, take that out and give it a good clean – they get very gunked up over time. Wipe inside the drum and, if you have a front-loader, give the rubber seals a really good clean – they’re a haven for mold, detergent deposits, and items your kids/husband haven’t removed from their pants pockets!
- Clean dryer – After you’ve cleaned your washer, it’s time to turn your attention to the dryer. Again, wipe down the outside and sanitize the buttons and handle. Remove the lint filter, clear away loose lint and gently wash the filter. Clean inside the drum and pay attention again to the door seal. Gently pull it back and really get your cloth in there to reach all the nooks and crannies.
- Organize laundry supplies – Throw out things like broken hangers, and dust/clean plastic laundry baskets – they do get grimy over time, so you don’t want to put your nice clean clothes in grubby baskets! And if you’re one of those people who spends far more time than they should watching TikTok videos of people organizing things (!), why not embrace the trend and decant your laundry pods, dryer sheets, or scent boosters into neat, labeled bins, jars and tubs.
- Coats/winter accessories – PSA: You don’t need seven winter coats. Choose your favorite two, and donate the rest.
- Wash the kitchen and bath linens – Since you probably have a ton of linens in your home, especially if you have kids that go through 5 fresh bath towels every single week, then I recommend breaking the linens up into categories: bath and kitchen items this week, and bed linens next week. Sort through them, throw away any worn out or holey linens, and donate any good quality linens to a charity or animal shelter. Then fold neatly to save space and pack away.
- Wash the bed linens – Launder the bed sheets, pillow cases, and comforters. Go ahead and fluff up duvet covers, if you have them, and spot clean any bed pillows or bedding that can’t be put in the washing machine.
In the Kitchen
The kitchen is like the home’s engine room. You need to keep it ship shape if you want everything to run smoothly.
- Kitchen utensil drawers – If you’re like me, your utensil drawers are likely to have more than a sprinkling of crumbs inside. So take everything out, and give the drawers a good clean. If you don’t have them already, buy some cutlery drawer organizers to slide inside and keep everything tidy; if you already have them, make sure you take them out and wash them too. And, if you’re really like me, and always seem to have a broken can opener lurking in a drawer, throw it out now!!
- Spices – I was listening to a podcast recently, and one of the hosts was cleaning out his kitchen cupboard and found an old spice jar lurking in the back. So, for fun, he asked people to write in and tell him the oldest spices they’d thrown out, and someone said their Grandma still had herbs in there from the 60’s. And THAT is why we need to organize our spice racks! They do lose their potency over time (even if yours aren’t 60 years old!), so go through your racks, throw out anything that’s past its expiration date, and write a list for any new herbs and spices you need to buy. Then take the opportunity to organize everything – I like to decant my herbs and spices into matching glass jars, because I’m cute like that.
- Fronts of kitchen cabinets/drawers – Kids hands, spilled sauces, cooking grease – the fronts of my kitchen cabinets and drawers always seem to end up with unidentified sticky substances smeared on the fronts, no matter how meticulous I am with cleaning up after dinner. Wipe them down (use a cleaner with a good de-greasing agent), and don’t forget to sanitize the handles.
- Junk drawer – Everyone has one, but it’s time to declutter the junk drawer!
- Clean out refrigerator – No matter how much we try to eat healthily, we always seem to end up with a sad-looking zucchini or some moldy salad leaves in the bottom of the refrigerator. Take everything out, throw out any expired food (pay attention to the jars and condiments lurking at the back!), and wipe down all the shelves and drawers. The best time to do this is just before you’re about to do a big shop – the less you have in the refrigerator, the quicker and easier it is to clean.
- Clean out freezer – And that advice is the same for the freezer. When you’re down to your last bag of frozen fries and that portion of batch-cooked chili you should probably throw out, take everything out and clean and organize your freezer. You can even do a freezer inventory!
- Clean out pantry – Then it’s time for the pantry. Wipe down shelves, throw out any expired foods, and donate anything that’s in date but you know very well you’re not going to eat (I see you, canned vegetables.) Once everything is tidy, spend some time organizing, like making sure all cereals are together, all canned goods are together, etc. to make the pantry easier to navigate and grab the things you need, when you need them.
- Clean out under kitchen sink – Does anybody else use under the sink as a bit of a dumping ground?I started out with a neat basket under there but, over time, stuff has just been thrown in. Garbage bags, cleaning sprays, a random funnel (I think that’s for the dishwasher salt?!) Under the sink is a forgotten area that demands some extra attention.
Watch me clean out under my kitchen sink in the YouTube video below:
- Descale your coffee maker– A job we should definitely do more often. Buy a packet of descaler, or use that magic vinegar or lemon and water mix, and give it a good clean. Your morning cup of coffee will thank you for it.
- On top of your kitchen cupboards – If you get a step ladder and look on top of your cupboards, I’m sure you’ll be shocked. Mine had a lot of pans I forgot were there, old snack boxes – and dust. Take everything down, give the tops a really good clean, and try not to put too much back up there. It WILL be forgotten.
- Polish the silverware – If you’re like me and have a set of good silverware you only get out for special occasions, like Thanksgiving or Christmas, give it some love. Dig it out, give it a good polish, and get it looking its best for its rare public appearances.
- Clean the trash can – You empty the kitchen trash can, maybe even throw in some freshener – but how often do you actually clean it? It’s good to take it outside, hose it down with water, and give it a really good scrub with antibacterial cleaner, before bringing it back in.
In the Bathroom
Of course you’ve got the toilet, sink, shower and bath covered. But don’t forget these often overlooked tasks.
- Medicine cabinet – A neat and organized medicine cabinet in six easy steps? I’ve got you covered.
- Makeup drawer – Makeup does have a shelf life, so it’s worth sorting through your drawer or bag every six months to a year, throwing out any old items and making sure you’re replacing them with new – especially important for any makeup that goes near your eyes.
- Clean makeup brushes – I’m terrible at this – I never clean my brushes as often as I should. So this is your reminder to make cleaning your makeup brushes a priority!
- Shower curtain or glass – I have a shower with a curtain, and one with a glass enclosure – so I’ve learned some top tips for cleaning both! You can check out my YouTube video for cleaning the shower here!
- Clean the drains – The shower drain, otherwise known as the place my hair lives (according to my husband). It’s a gross job but, every now and then, you need to put on the rubber gloves and do the dirty work. My shower drain has a cap, so I take that off, remove any hair, pour a drain cleaner down and let it settle, before rinsing through with hot water and replacing the cap.
- Scrub the grout – Bathroom moisture can cause grout between tiles to discolor or gather mold. Treat grout with a de-mold solution and give it a gentle scrub with an old toothbrush.
In the Living Room
This is the place you go to relax, so it’s really important this room stays neat, tidy, and calming.
- Organize and dust shelves – My books shelves get busier and busier – I add to them, but never seem to get rid of any! Take all the books off, wipe down the shelves and then turn your attention to the books themselves. Tackle your ‘to be read’ pile, and donate any old books (including that copy of War and Peace you’re NEVER actually going to read).
- Clean the sofas – I don’t do this as often as I should because I feel like someone’s always sitting on them! But it’s good to take off all the cushions and, if you can, take off the covers and wash them. If your sofa doesn’t have removable covers, spot clean as best you can. Then vacuum around all the nooks and crannies, collect any coins you’re sure to find (!), and put everything back neatly.
- Clean under the furniture – I vacuum our living room carpet regularly, but I never have time to move the sofas and clean underneath. Anything could be hiding under there. Snack packets, Lego, a spider family… Best bring some reinforcements to this job.
- Wash couch blankets – I’m ashamed to admit that I don’t do this nearly as often as I should… especially considering that we often use our blankets as tablecloths and “blanket bibs” when we’re eating dessert in bed! Throw your blankets in the wash for an instant refresh!
- Spot clean couch pillows – You can use a damp rag and a bit of stain remover if needed to gently rub stains and dirt out of your couch pillows. Just check the care instructions for your fabric pillows first.
- Declutter those ‘bits and pieces’ – We all have a vase from an Aunt that we don’t really like, a souvenir from a long-forgotten vacation, an ornament that looked better in the store. Take some time to sort through your homeware and donate or throw out anything old, that no longer matches your décor, or that you just don’t like.
Outdoor Cleaning Jobs
The outside of the home is probably getting neglected, especially if it’s winter or Fall. So we’re tackling these outdoor cleaning jobs for the next few weeks:
- Clean outdoor light fixtures – You can use glass cleaner to clean any outdoor sconces, or dust other outdoor light fixtures with an old rag. Go ahead and replace any burnt out lightbulbs while you’re at it.
- Clean outdoor furniture – Wipe down metal or wicker furniture frames, or you can power wash your seat cushions if you have them.
- Sweep porches and remove cobwebs – While I’ve got the broom out sweeping off the front porch and back deck, I like to go ahead and swing it up in the corners of the outside of the house to remove those pesky cobwebs, too.
- Declutter items in garage – Okay, so this is probably a bigger job than just one hour allows. But if you just set a timer and declutter the trash and junk that you haven’t used in years until the timer goes off, you’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish!
Whole House Cleaning Jobs
We’ve gone room-to-room, but there are some jobs that are lurking in ALL of them – sorry!
- Window sills/inside of windows – When my husband washes the outside windows, to me that’s windows done. So I’m sorry to admit that the inside of mine often feature added dust, dirt, and random dead flies. Make this forgotten job your top priority, now!
- Dust fan blades and light fixtures – Fan blades, lamp shades, and sconce glass are absolute dust traps. Gently wipe them all down with a cloth and warm water, so your cool air is fresh once more!
- Clean/dust baseboards – Does anyone actually do this?! I can’t remember the last time I cleaned the baseboards in our house – no one ever looks down there! But, I’ll admit, they do get DUSTY. So put on some music, grab a big bowl of warm, soapy water and a clean rag and gently dust and clean those forgotten boards. It’s not a fun job, but you’ll thank yourself later.
- Dust pictures/artwork – Picture frames and glass fronts are dust havens. Give your family photos and pieces of art a new lease on life, all with a damp cloth or a duster!
- Clean carpets – We vacuum and mop regularly, but giving the carpet a really good clean – now that’s a different story. You can hire a carpet cleaner or hire somebody to come clean them for you, but we actually bought our own. It’s only a little bigger than a normal vacuum and, with kids and pets, it felt like a good investment.
- Clean handles and switches – Any time somebody in my house gets sick, I think to myself ‘I should clean the handles we all touch’ – then I promptly forget. Spraying antibacterial cleaner on all door handles and light switches is such an easy win for cleanliness, and health.
- Clean the curtains/blinds – Curtains and blinds get so dusty. Take them down and wash them if you can. If you can’t, a vacuum and then a gentle wipe with a clean damp cloth will do the trick.
Phew. There you have it. 52 weeks of cleaning, organization, and decluttering… and I even turned it into a free printable cleaning challenge for you to keep track of your progress!
Free 52 Week Cleaning Challenge Printable
It’s one thing to read a blog post on the internet about cleaning your house… but then you click off the page and the guide just goes by the wayside. But I created a cute PDF and turned it into a 52 week cleaning challenge for you!
Just click the link below to print off the list of 52 weekly cleaning jobs, hang it on your fridge, and complete one of these household cleaning tasks each week. At the end of the year, just imagine how neat and tidy your home will look!
You don’t have to do them in order, pick and choose what works for you, when. But trust me – embracing ‘Do More Monday’ is going to change your life, and transform your home.
Click HERE for the FREE 52 Week Cleaning Challenge PDF
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