You should aim to do a quick clean of your shower weekly and a deeper clean monthly, but daily habits like squeegeeing or spraying down surfaces after each use can stretch the time between deep cleans to every couple of weeks. The key is preventing buildup, so wiping down walls, doors, and shelves weekly (or after each use) and washing the shower curtain monthly helps keep mold, mildew, and soap scum at bay.
The 20/10 cleaning method (or rule) is a time-management technique for tidying and organizing, involving focused work for 20 minutes, followed by a mandatory 10-minute break, and then repeating the cycle, inspired by the Pomodoro Technique. It breaks overwhelming tasks into manageable chunks, preventing burnout by building in rest, making cleaning more approachable and sustainable by focusing on consistency rather than marathon sessions, and encouraging completion by finishing tasks like putting laundry away during breaks.
From a science based perspective, you should be disinfecting your toilet and sink at least 2-4 times a month and your bathtub and/or shower 2 times a month. If you flush with the toilet lid down, 1-2 times a month is probably fine for cleaning the floors/walls/mirror/etc.
Most people find that scheduling their house cleaning on a biweekly schedule is the perfect frequency and it takes a huge weight off their shoulders. Less Upkeep Between Cleanings - Scheduling your cleanings biweekly will mean less upkeep on your end in between visits.
Bye-Bye Bacteria and Mold
If your shower isn't cleaned regularly, you're basically giving those nasty microbes a free pass to move in and multiply. Not only can mold smell bad and look gross, but in some cases, it can cause respiratory issues and skin irritation—especially for people with allergies or asthma.
Showers are considered more hygienic, since they don't involve your skin remaining in contact with everything you wash off of it like a bath does, and showering is more environmentally friendly, too – according to the Environmental Protection Agency, a full bathtub can require up to 70 gallons of water to fill, while a ...
Plumbers advise against using chemical drain cleaners because they corrode pipes (especially older metal ones), pose serious health risks (burns, fumes), harm the environment, and are often ineffective on tough clogs, potentially making the problem worse by sitting in the pipe and creating hazardous situations for plumbers who then have to clear it.
The premise is simple but so effective: dedicate 30 minutes to cleaning, three times a day. That's an hour and a half total, spread out over your busy schedule, to get ahead of the mess before it takes over.
The 6/10 cleaning method is a helpful approach to household cleaning that organizes common chores into six daily tasks and 10 weekly tasks. It also includes a monthly list, five tasks, as well as a quarterly list, six tasks.
If the 5x5 method is as new to you as it was to me, allow me to explain. Coined by Steph of The Secret Slob, this technique requires nothing but a timer and twenty-five free minutes. Pick five rooms or zones and dedicate five minutes per area. In twenty-five minutes, Steph promises a cleaner, less cluttered home.
Toilets that are used daily should be wiped down every day, or every other day at most. This includes the entire exterior of the bowl, top of the tank, pedestal, and handle. "Speed up cleaning the outside of the toilet bowl by wiping away any debris, hair, or condensation with a dry cleaning cloth," Taylor says.
Here's what I was doing wrong.
Hotels keep glass shower doors clean using a multi-pronged approach: daily squeegeeing after each use, applying protective hydrophobic coatings, using water softeners to combat hard water, employing commercial cleaners with microfiber cloths or paper towels, and ensuring strict housekeeping routines with post-guest deep cleans. The key is consistent maintenance, not just occasional scrubbing, to prevent soap scum and mineral buildup.
Non-food-contact surfaces
The 2017 FDA Food Code has many recommendations for cleaning such surfaces. For example, iced tea dispensers and consumer self-service utensils that do not come into contact with TCS foods (tongs, scoops, ladles, etc.) should be cleaned at least every 24 hours.
The 12-12-12 decluttering method, created by Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist, is a simple, manageable system where you find 12 items to throw away, 12 items to donate, and 12 items to return to their proper place in a room, totaling 36 items, which helps to quickly reduce clutter without overwhelm and build momentum. It's a quick, repeatable process for any area, focusing on immediate results by tackling trash, donations, and misplaced items in small, achievable steps.
How Often Does the Average Person Clean Their House? Research by the American Cleaning Institute found that many Americans spend nearly 6 hours every week cleaning, while a third wonder if they are cleaning enough and correctly. Most homeowners clean the floor, vacuum, clean the bathroom and dust furniture once a week.
For many of us, the overwhelming part of cleaning comes from looking at the house—or, let's be honest, the room, or even the pile of dirty laundry—as a whole, rather than smaller, more manageable parts.
How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen: A Step-by-Step Guide
So, what is the 10-20-30 method? Alex explains it best: "Basically what you do is, when you put your baby down for a nap, you do 10 minutes of cleaning, 20 minutes of self-care. The self-care can be anything from journaling, reading, eating." And then do 30 minutes of work/productivity.
The Core 4 Method was created by professional organiser Kayleen Kelly. It's designed to keep things simple and strip decluttering right back to the basics. The four steps — Clear Out, Categorise, Cut Out and Contain — give you a structured plan that says exactly what it does on the tin.
Daily Cleaning Checklist
✨ I'm so thrilled you're here and ready to take the first step toward lightening the mental load and making housework work for you. 🎉 Here's the deal: The Organised Mum Method (or TOM, as we call it) is all about ditching the overwhelm, keeping it simple, and getting your home sorted without it taking over your life.
You should never flush wet wipes (even "flushable" ones) and sanitary products (like tampons/pads) because they don't break down, causing serious blockages in pipes and sewage systems. Other items to avoid include paper towels, tissues, cotton buds, dental floss, hair, and cooking oils/fats, as they all contribute to clogs and environmental issues.
Plumbers recommend regular cleaning with a good toilet brush and a cleaner (like vinegar/baking soda or commercial products), using pumice stones for tough stains, disinfecting with antibacterial sprays on the exterior, and occasionally deep-cleaning the tank with vinegar, always letting cleaners sit to work, and avoiding mixing chemicals like bleach with other cleaners.
Unlike surface clogs, which affect individual fixtures, a deep blockage impacts multiple drains at once, leading to more serious plumbing problems. If you notice slow drains, unusual backups, or foul odors, these could be signs of a deep blockage that requires immediate attention.