Keep your shit clean

Cleaning can feel endless, especially when you’ve got a house and a yard, housemates, family, pets, a life… Over the years I’ve learned that a simple, consistent routine beats the occasional frantic deep clean every time. The trick is to break tasks into small, manageable chunks and focus on what really matters. Here’s a framework I use — adaptable to any home or lifestyle.

Practical, not perfect

Daily cleaning isn’t about spotless perfection — it’s about keeping the house functional and comfortable. I like a clean house, but keeping it perfectly clean is pretty impossible. Keeping it practically clean is usually pretty easy with a bit of forethought.

Make beds and tidy bedrooms: A made bed immediately makes the room feel calmer. Admiral William H. McRaven had it right when he talked about this.
Kitchen reset: Wash dishes, wipe counters, and put things away. I prefer doing this before bed, but sometimes it waits til first thing in the morning, and I do it while I boil the kettle and get ready for the day.
Quick floor check: Sweep or vacuum high‑traffic areas if needed. A broom with a dustpan, a stick vacuum, or a robot vacuum – any of these can make a huge difference to my willingness to have a daily floor check.
Laundry touch-up: A load every day or two keeps it from piling up when you’re not a huge household. It’s never completely done, but not having a full day of washing to do on the weekend is worth it to me. I put a load on of an evening, because I like going outside then to hang it out. I then bring in my load the next day.
Mail & clutter check: Sort the day’s paperwork and incoming items, a quick walk around dumping shit back where it belongs means it doesn’t build up to giant piles. I try to do this in my inbox too.

Tip: Aim for 15–20 minutes daily — any effort makes a difference.

Weekly Tasks: A Little More Attention

Once or twice a week, I tackle tasks that need a bit more time.

Bathrooms: Wipe surfaces, clean toilets, and refresh towels.
Floors: Vacuum & mop the whole house.
Dusting & surfaces: Quick dusting/wipe down of visible surfaces.
Trash & recycling: Collect and take out all bins the night before bin day.
Yard check: Sweep/blow paths, water garden beds and check plants.

Tip: Pick a consistent day for each major task — it turns the routine into a habit.

Monthly Chores: Deeper clean but manageable

Monthly cleaning gives you a sense of completion without being overwhelming.

Windows & mirrors: Clean inside (and outside if possible). I use a vinegar/water mix in a spray bottle, and an extendable cloth squeegee.
Kitchen appliances: Wipe down fridge, microwave, oven, and dishwasher thoroughly.
Furniture & upholstery: Vacuum sofas, chairs, and cushions. (Hello, favourites wrappers ).
Yard maintenance: Trim shrubs, hedges, edges, and check fences or gates.
Declutter zones: Go through one “catch-all” area (cupboard, shelf, or drawer). Chuck empty packets, broken items, out of date things.

Tip: Spread these tasks through the month — you don’t have to do them all in one day.

Tip 2: I wipe out and chuck expired items from my fridge the day I do my grocery shop – that way my fridge is always clean and no new ecosystems develop. It also helps me notice what I need to add to my list.

Seasonal Cleaning: Big Picture, Big Wins

Each season brings its own rhythm. These are larger jobs that keep your home and yard in decent shape year-round. If you’re renting like me, time them to fall the month before your next expected inspection, and you’ll save yourself a mad clean up beforehand. I also add in things like pressure cleaning driveways, house exterior if needed, apply or refresh pest control etc. It helps me pay attention to the home I’m in.

Spring: Deep-clean carpets (I have dogs, so I do this minimum 2 times a year), wash curtains, prep garden beds with mulch and fertiliser, and check your fences. Oil any timber things you have outside now, before it gets hot.
Summer: Maintain outdoor furniture, clean gutters out, mow & edge lawn regularly. If you get lawn beetles, spring and summer are a good time to get on top of them. I also use a hose on weed and feed to keep the bindies down.
Autumn: Store hot weather items, check heating systems/clean reverse cycle, mulch garden beds, and prepare for leaves.
Winter: Focus on decluttering indoor spaces, check insulation, and tidy storage areas. Start prepping garden beds if you’re in a warmer region.

Tip: Seasonal cleaning is about rhythm, not pressure — aim for progress, not perfection.

Making It Work for You

Combine tasks with enjoyment: Listen to music, audiobooks, or podcasts while cleaning. Kick everyone out and blast your favourite thing to listen to.
Set realistic expectations: Not everything needs to be perfect.
Use small pockets of time: 10‑minute sessions are surprisingly effective.
Involve others: Family or housemates can share the routines. In our house, we have a weekly rotation, so each week the general clean of all common areas is only one of our responsibility, giving everyone a break regularly – this is super helpful when it can feel endless, and means we can all do it how we like to match our schedules that week.

In a nutshell: Cleaning doesn’t have to be all-consuming. By splitting tasks into daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal routines, your home stays cared for — and you keep your sanity, too. Good luck!

Horizon Homestead