The Ultimate Household Cleaning Schedule: How + When to Clean Everything

Having a really clean home is the ultimate dream — but how can you achieve it? Between finding the best cleaning products and discovering the right cleaning techniques for all the different surfaces in your home, it can be tough to know where to start. If you need easy tips to keep your home feeling fresh, HGTV's cleaning experts are here to share the most important spots to shine up daily, weekly, monthly and beyond, so you can create a manageable household cleaning schedule that works for you.

Clutter is the number one enemy of a clean house since it quickly gets out of control. What could have been a 10-minute daily task turns into an hours-long chore during your weekend reset. Stay on top of the chaos by doing a quick walkthrough at the end of the day. Put any misplaced items back in their spots, organize shoes and coats by the door and sort through the mail.

If you find it arduous to perfectly place decorative pillows on a completely made bed, we're going to give you a little out. (And if you don't, by all means, embrace the pillows!) Be your own turn-down service. When you get out of bed, straighten the sheets, comforter and blankets, plump your pillows and then turn down the covers. Coming home to a bed that's tidy and ready for sleep is a relaxing end to any day. Plus, you don't even have to remove the extra pillows.

No matter how neat you are at meal prep, the kitchen floor needs frequent sweeping to keep it crumb free. Be sure to also take a broom to the entryway since dirt and grass is easily tracked into the rest of the house from the outdoors.

Our tried-and-true method: Empty the dishwasher in the morning so it's ready to take in all the dishes and cups used throughout the day. Before heading to bed, make sure all the dishes are loaded and press start.

After you've loaded the dirty dishes or finished your bedtime routine, do a quick wipe down of the kitchen and bathroom countertops. It'll keep water stains at bay, sweep away any crumbs and guarantee sparkling surfaces in the morning.

To keep your laundry piles manageable, we suggest throwing in at least one load a day, including the dreaded last step of putting the clean clothes away in drawers and closets.

Grab a microfiber cloth and work from the top down, dusting wood furniture, televisions and other electronics in each room of the house.

Vacuum carpeting and rugs throughout the house, as well as hardwood and tile floors. Use attachments to get into dust-collecting corners and seams. Mop the hard surfaces, starting from the back corner of each room and working your way out.

Pour toilet cleaner in the bowl and spray all-purpose cleaner in the bathtub and on the shower walls, allowing them to work while you clean the rest of the bathroom. Clean the countertops, sinks and outer surface of the toilet, wipe down mirrors, and then finish up the shower, bathtub and toilet bowl. Change out hand and bath towels, and empty the trash.

Strip the beds and wash all the sheets once a week. Make the beds back up with fresh linens for a delightfully refreshing bedtime.

Go through your refrigerator, getting rid of anything that's expired. Also, wipe down grime and food from all appliances. Don't forget to clean inside your microwave. Pour a cup of water and white vinegar in a microwave-safe bowl, cook for 10 minutes and then wipe down the interior.

Once a month, tackle all those random dusty places: blinds, moldings, vents, ceiling fans, light fixtures and the top of the refrigerator. Look for pesky cobwebs and get rid of them, too.

Vacuum upholstery, making sure to remove cushions and get to all the hidden crumbs. Clean and condition leather and wooden furniture.

Throw your shower liner in the washing machine to remove any dirt or mold. If doesn't come clean in the wash or is starting to look dingy, go ahead and replace it.

Revive your hard-working appliances by giving them a thorough interior cleaning. Clean inside your refrigerator and freezer. Remove the racks from your oven and wash by hand, while you set the oven to self-clean.

Wash windows inside and out. Your best bet is to use a squeegee. Whether you opt for store-bought glass cleaner or a homemade solution (equal parts white vinegar and hot water), wet the panes using a sponge or washcloth and then squeegee down from the top in straight strokes. Use a wet cloth to also wipe down the sill and in between the panes.

Wash your comforters and pillow covers. Follow your care label instructions, but most pillows are able to be washed in your washing machine. It's also smart to refresh your pillows by hanging them outside to air out in the sun.

Move heavy pieces of furniture and appliances so you're able to clean underneath and behind them. Clean out the dryer duct, which can be a major fire hazard.

Check the labels, as you may be able to put them in your washing machine for a quick at-home clean. If they require special care, drop them off at the dry cleaners.