How to Clean Your House In One Hour a Week

​Total Home Makeover offers a simple system for mom to keep her home neat & tidy with delicious meals on the table, and have time to spare.  A great place to start is Step 1: A Daily Routine {with free printable} and the Quick Start Kit. ​

Want a simple 3-step cleaning method? This method makes it easy to train your children.  Here's how to clean your house in one hour a week with family helping!

How to Clean Your House In one hour

I like a clean house, but I also like simple systems that get things done efficiently.  So, today I'm sharing how I clean my house in one hour a week (with family helping) using a simple 3-step cleaning method.   This is weekly cleaning, not monthly detail cleaning.

BEfore YOu Begin

Here are a few things to do before you begin:

1. Prepare your 3-step cleaning kit.
2. Print and customize a cleaning checklist.
3. Set the timer for 60 minutes.
4. Family tidies the whole house (15 minutes).
5. Take out the trash (5 minutes).

Step #1 (25 Minutes)

Family member #1 (assign or volunteer) grabs a microfiber cleaning cloth and  bottle #1 (I use diy all purpose spray recipe.) and cleans the following:

• Shine glass & mirrors if smudged or dusty (5 minutes)
• Dust furniture (10 minutes)
• Shine bathroom counters (5 minutes)
• Shine toilet exterior (5 minutes)

​For little children, you might assign only one task, such as "clean all the dirty mirrors."  For older children, you might assign all the tasks listed above, and they can complete the tasks in one sweeping motion as they move through the house. 

Tip!  They should start upstairs and go room-by-room finishing downstairs.  This is a simplified version of the wave cleaning method in my book.

Step #2 (25 Minutes)

Family member #2 grabs a microfiber cleaning cloth and bottle #2 (I use diy soft cleaning paste) and cleans the following:

• scrub toilet interior (5 minutes)
• scrub bathroom sink (5 minutes)
• scrub kitchen sink (5 minutes)
• scrub tub (10 minutes)

Tip!  Take time to train children by modeling how to clean each task.  This takes time, but is essential.

Step #3 (25 Minutes)

Family member #3 grabs microfiber mop and bottle #3 (I use diy all-surface floor spray) and cleans the following:

• mop bathroom floor (5 minutes)
• mop kitchen floor (5 minutes)
• mop wood floors (15 minutes)

This diy floor spray recipe also works on all surfaces; not just floors.  However, recipe 1 (above) has the advantage of a disinfectant.

Meanwhile ... Vacuum

Meanwhile ... you (or another family member) can vacuum all floors starting with bathroom & kitchen so they can be mopped.

I rarely offer recommendations, however I do love my:

• Electrolux Vacuum (for thorough vacuuming)- mine is very old, but works great!
• Robot Vacuum (for everyday pick-up).

Why It Works

• One bottle get's many tasks done saving time getting the right cleaning solution.
• One sweeping movement through the house (from top to bottom) for all like-tasks saves steps, time, and energy.
• All family members completing tasks at the same time makes light & quick work.
• Timer and suggested times keeps cleaners on task.

Additional Resources:

• DIY All-Natural Cleaning Kit
• ​Cleaning Checklist Free Printable​