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Choose Your Cleaning Products Carefully
First, look for value. You don't have to spend a lot on cleaning products for quality performance.
Looking to say goodbye to stubborn stains and strong bleach flumes? CLORALEN® Aromas whitens, deep cleans, and deodorizes clothing and surfaces, leaving behind a pleasant long-lasting aroma in your home and closets.
Second, prioritize your health. Ammonia hydroxide is still commonly used in many household cleaners. Being exposed to it directly can burn your eyes or skin. Worse, breathing in ammonia over time can lead to lung related diseases such as asthma.
PINALEN® Glass & Surface Cleaner has a fresh scented, quick-dry formula that eliminates streaks and residue from any glass or marble surface. Best part, it’s ammonia-free.
Third, reduce your carbon footprint. Be consciousness of your impact on the environment by choosing sustainable cleaning products. Too many consumer products heavily depend on non-renewable resources, from the ingredients being used down to the packaging.
Art of Green® cleaning wipes and sprays have a 98% naturally derived and biodegradable formula, with bottles made with 100% post-consumer recycled material. It’s non-toxic and safe for sensitive skin when used as directed – an excellent choice for constant cleaning around kids and pets. Voted a 2020 Product of the Year by more than 40,000 consumers, Art of Green® works on many surfaces.
Disinfect When Needed
It is not necessary to use household disinfectants every time you clean or on every surface.
High-touch areas should be disinfected daily, such as doorknobs, fridge handles, remotes, and countertops, especially after having a visitor. If someone in your home is sick, disinfect everything they touch.
Bleach is one of the best products available to truly disinfect a surface. Use approved products, such as CLORALEN® Disinfectant Bleach, and follow the instructions on the label. CLORALEN® is strong enough to clean your home, but delicate enough to maintain the quality of your clothing. Do not use bleach on porous surfaces, such as wood floors. Never mix cleaning products, especially bleach with ammonia.
Now for Designing That Cleaning Schedule — and Sticking to It!
We recommend first creating a cleaning checklist for every room in your house – bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room, laundry room, patio, and garage. Each area of the house can be split between family members or days in the week. Also, consider dividing your checklists into weekly, monthly, and seasonal chores to remind for a more efficient rotation.
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Daily Cleaning Schedule
Quick daily chores can go a long way to keep your cleaning goals on track. Remember Mom's advice: clean up messes as they happen and put things away after using them. Do a little cleaning each day during the week, and chores won't consume your weekend plans.
Here’s a list of quick and manageable tasks you can do each day:
- Make your bed right after you wake up
- Wipe down the microwave after use
- Load the dishwasher when you’re done using a dish
- Run the dishwasher at night
- Wipe down counters in between or after cooking
- Sweep the kitchen floor of debris and pet hair
- Throw away expired foods from the fridge, freezer, and cupboards
- Help your kids put away their toys after playing
- Place a floor mat by the front door for dirty and muddy shoes
- Collect and empty the trash from every room
Weekly Cleaning Schedule
Now think bigger. These cleaning tasks will require some more effort but will have a huge pay off for your guests and loved ones.
Here’s a list of weekly chores you can tackle by yourself, with your significant other, or with the whole family:
- Scrub your toilets with a toilet bowl cleaner
- Spray and wipe down your shower and bathtubs
- Disinfect your bathroom and kitchen sinks and countertops
- Wipe small appliances, doorknobs, and furniture
- Replace toiletries like toilet paper, soap, and towels
- Run a load of laundry when your hamper is half-way full
- Fold and put away your clean clothes
- Vacuum your floors, carpets, and rugs
- Spot treat carpet and upholstery
- Clean your mirrors and glass surfaces
- Mop your kitchen and bathroom floors
- Dust your TVs, ceiling fans, blinds, and bookshelves
Monthly Cleaning Schedule
Some chores don’t require as much attention as others. You can think of them more as upkeep. Add them to your calendar, so you don’t overlook them.
Here’s a list of chores that be tackled once a month:
- Declutter and organize cabinets and shelves
- Replace lightbulbs throughout the house
- Donate unused clothing, furniture, and appliances
- Check that your smoke alarms are working properly
- Inspect and change your air filters
- Clean your car interior and exterior
Seasonal Cleaning Schedule
Seasonal cleaning chores are often the most daunting. Make an action plan to tackle these tasks over a weekend or two. Read more for our spring cleaning tips.
Examples of summer, spring, fall, and winter chores include:
- Inspect and sweep your chimney
- Clean gutters of leaves, branches, and debris
- Mow lawn and use homemade herbicides to kill weeds
- Rake fallen leaves
- Wash and clean windows from outside
- Swap out seasonal clothes
- Organize holiday decorations
Find Your Motivation to Clean
Make sure to always wash your hands before cleaning – a great habit for getting yourself into a cleaning mindset. Put on some inspiring music, like The Ultimate Cleaning Playlist on Spotify, to get into the rhythm.
Motivate yourself with your favorite scents. Nearly 80 percent of survey respondents said they prefer scented products. Art of Green® cleaning products are available in Lavender Eucalyptus and Citrus and White Flowers. You'll enjoy the pleasant aroma while you work and leave the room smelling fresh.
The cleaning process happens at home, but it doesn’t end there. Look for sustainable and eco-friendly cleaning products that use non-toxic ingredients, recycled materials, and responsible packaging. Learn more about Community of Clean®, an AlEn USA initiative to create a cleaner and more sustainable world.
Finally, embrace the joys of cleaning! Use your cleaning time as an opportunity to clear your mind. Choose scents that inspire, and tackle jobs that help you destress and re-center. Finish cleaning by washing your hands and applying your favorite hand lotion. Celebrate your job well done!