If social media is anything to go by, some people seem to wake up every morning and enthusiastically deep clean their entire house before breakfast. Meanwhile, the rest of us are wondering where that mysterious pile of crumbs came from when nobody even remembers eating toast...
The truth is, your home doesn't need to be spotless every single day.
Keeping your house clean is all about building small habits that stop little jobs from turning into weekend-long cleaning marathons. Here's our guide to how often you should clean each part of your home.
every day
Not everything needs daily attention, but there are a few jobs that are worth doing regularly. Spending just ten minutes each day can save you hours later.
- Kitchen benches: Wipe your benches after preparing food and after dinner to prevent grease, crumbs and bacteria from building up. A quick spray with pro multi-purpose concentrate (window & glass), diluted as directed, makes this job quick and easy.
- Dishes: This one probably isn't anyone's favourite job. Unfortunately, dirty dishes are just like rabbits and have an annoying habit of multiplying. Loading up the dishwasher to run overnight and handwashing after dinner means you keep your kitchen easily under control.
- Kitchen sink: Food scraps and grime always seem to find their way here. A quick once-over each day stops stains, odours, and an interesting blend of food from building up.
every few days
Some things don't require constant attention, but it's super important to keep on top of them.
- Empty the bins: Even if they're not completely full, emptying your bins a few times a week helps prevent lingering smells and unwanted house guests (AKA flies).
- Wipe down the bathroom vanity: Soap scum, toothpaste, hair, and general muck can quickly accumulate over a couple days in high traffic areas like your bathroom sink. A quick wipe down every few days with pro bathroom & toilet concentrate (diluted as directed) means you're not having to scrape off months' worth of build-up with a chisel just to find your sink again.
once a week
This is where your regular cleaning routine really comes together.
- Vacuum: Vacuum carpets and hard floors at least once a week. If you have pets, children or particularly messy family members, you may find yourself doing this a little more often.
- Mop: For everyday mopping, pro harmony concentrate (diluted as directed) leaves floors clean while helping neutralise unpleasant odours. A quick whip around with the mop once a week means your guests won't be sticking to the floor when walking through the kitchen.
- Clean the bathroom: Unfortunately, soap scum and toothpaste don't politely clean themselves. Give your shower, vanity, toilet and mirrors a weekly clean to stop grime building up. Pro tip: For a sparkling shower, be sure to use pro shower concentrate (diluted as directed).
- Wipe high-touch areas: Light switches, door handles, fridge handles, and remote controls are all examples of high-touch areas that are often overlooked when cleaning.
- Dust: Ah, the silent guest that never goes away. A quick dust once a week not only means your house feels fresher, but limits the amount of dust that accumulates. Dusting away a week's worth is a whole lot easier than having to open a dust-bunny petting zoo.
- Change towels: Washing and refreshing your bathroom and kitchen tea towels once a week minimises the chance of smelly, dirty towels.
- Clean the fridge: Nobody wants to find a sandwich that's growing legs and is about to go for a lovely little stroll down the road. It's best to make a habit of throwing out expired food before it needs to start paying rent.
every fortnight
Some jobs don't need weekly attention but shouldn't be forgotten altogether.
- Wash your sheets: Fresh sheets aren't just one of life's greatest pleasures. They also remove sweat, skin cells and dust that naturally build up over time so it's best to give them a wash every week or two.
- Clean mirrors: Fingerprints and mystery marks always seem to find mirrors. Be sure to give your bedroom and feature mirrors a once-over every couple of weeks with pro multi-purpose concentrate (window & glass), diluted as directed, to keep them looking shiny.
once a month
These jobs take a little longer but make a huge difference.
- Clean inside your microwave: We've all done it: heated leftovers a little too enthusiastically and now your microwave looks like it's played a round of paintball. Give your microwave a monthly clean before yesterday's spaghetti becomes tomorrow's archaeological discovery.
- Wipe inside cupboards: Remove crumbs, wipe shelves and check expiry dates while you're there. Your pantry will thank you.
- Clean behind appliances: Move your toaster, slide out the kettle, and lift the air fryer. You'll probably discover enough crumbs to bake another loaf of bread.
- Clean your washing machine: It spends its life cleaning your clothes. It deserves a clean too. A clean washing machine helps keep your clothes smelling fresher and performing at their best.
- Wipe skirting boards: Dust loves to hang out where nobody's really looking: the skirting boards. Make sure to wipe down your skirting boards once a month before they begin looking like they belong in the Upside Down...
every few months
Some cleaning jobs only need attention a handful of times each year.
- Clean windows: Every few months, clean the inside and outside of your windows (if you can - we'd really advise against pulling a Mission Impossible and scaling the side of a building). Cleaner windows let in more natural light and instantly make your home feel brighter.
- Deep clean the oven: Nobody enjoys cleaning the oven but tackling it every few months is much easier than waiting until burnt-on grease has earned its own name. Nobody wants Gerald to stay.
- Give the fridge a makeover: Remove everything and give the fridge the makeover it deserves. Throw out any expired food you may have missed (including the half-open can of Coke that's been sitting there, mocking you, for three weeks now), wipe down the shelves, clean the door seals, and fill up the ice tray.
- Wash cushions and throws: Nobody wants to smell your cushions from across the house. Chuck 'em in the washing machine to freshen up your lounge room and keep guests coming back.
a few times a year
These are the jobs we all conveniently forget.
- Clean behind large furniture: Yes, we're talking about behind the couch. You never know what you'll find back there - hopefully it's only dust.
- Clean ceiling fans: If you've ever turned on a dusty ceiling fan, you'll know exactly why this makes the list.
- Wipe down window and door tracks: Dirt, dust, and bugs love to chill out in the window and door tracks. It's one place that is easy to forget about but when you notice beady little eyes staring back at you, you remember why it's important to clean these spots.
what if you fall behind?
Life happens, we get it. From holidays to busy work weeks and kids, sometimes cleaning simply slips down the priority list - and that's perfectly okay! The trick isn't trying to catch up by spending an entire Saturday cleaning every room in the house.
Instead, pick one room. Finish it, then move on to the next when you have time.
Small wins are much easier to maintain than marathon cleaning sessions.
💡 pro tip from kate & jack
The best cleaning routine is the one you'll actually stick to. There's no point creating a colour-coded schedule with seventeen daily tasks if life gets in the way by Tuesday.
Keep it realistic. Ten minutes most days will almost always beat three exhausting hours once a month.
the bottom line
A clean home isn't about perfection. It's about consistency.
Doing a little cleaning regularly keeps your home healthier, makes every job easier and means you're never faced with that overwhelming "where do I even start?" feeling.
And remember, if a few dust bunnies appear before you've had a chance to vacuum, don't stress. They've probably just gathered for another one of their secret meetings.
