...

How often should you clean your apartment?


How often should you clean your apartment

Being constantly busy with work, school or children often leaves many people too exhausted to properly clean their apartment. With all these responsibilities, it is often difficult to tell exactly how many times you should engage in all those household chores that contribute to the cleanliness of your apartment. However, it is of utmost importance to keep your living space clean, and setting aside some time in your busy schedule to do it is essential.

How often should you clean your apartment? In general, thorough cleaning of certain areas of the kitchen and the bathroom on a daily basis is recommended. With other parts of the house such as bedrooms and the living room, cleaning several times a week should do.

Different rooms and items in the house require varying degrees of cleaning. For example, in the kitchen, you will find that you wash the dishes way more often than you clean the refrigerator. Cleaning of the bathroom is similarly done more often than tidying up the bedrooms. If you want a more detailed breakdown of exactly how many times you should clean, then this is the article for you.


Cleaning the kitchen

How often should you clean your apartment 2
KitchenClean Frequency
Dishwasher1/Month
Sink1/Use
Kitchen Counters1/Day
Stove/Oven1/Use
The Fridge1/Month
Microwave1/Week
Toaster1/Week
Kitchen FloorSweep – 1/Day, Mop – 1/Week

Keeping your kitchen spotless is essential since this is the area where you prepare your meals. No one wants to create a breeding ground for germs in a food-related area.

  • Washing dishes – Dirty dishes are never a pleasant sight. As a result, washing dishes contributes greatly to the kitchen cleaning process. You can opt to rinse dirty dishes and cups and put them in a dishwasher, or handwash them in the sink. Clean the dishwasher at least once a month with warm soapy water followed by a cup of white vinegar to remove odors or grease. This should be done on a daily basis, or at least several times a week. On average, handwashing uses more water than a dishwasher, so try to be mindful of being wasteful.
  • Cleaning the sink – After washing the dishes, do not forget to clean the sink as well. Wash the sink basin with warm soapy water and a clean sponge, and clean the faucet with a dry rag to remove any water spots. Rinse the rag and hang it to dry overnight, and once a week, throw it in a washing machine for a more thorough clean. You can use white vinegar to get rid of any mineral deposits in the sink.
  • Kitchen counters – Wipe down the kitchen counters on a daily basis using disinfectant wipes or washcloths and warm soapy water. If you use washcloths, try to swap them out every week to avoid contamination. Cleaning the kitchen counter gets rid of any leftover food crumbs that may lead to pest infestations in your kitchen.
  • Stove/Oven – The stove top and oven should be cleaned after every use using a washcloth and warm soapy water. Deep clean these appliances once a month using a mild disinfectant.
  • The Fridge – The fridge should be cleaned once every month using soapy water and a soft cloth to wipe down the compartments.
  • Microwave – Clean the surface of your microwave by wiping it down at least once a week. Consider doing a deep clean as well at least twice a month. For a DIY concoction, use a mixture of water and white vinegar.
  • Toaster – Clean the toaster once a week by first emptying the crumb drawer before wiping it down with a damp dishcloth.
    If you need to take an appliance apart as you clean it, consult the appliance manual if you are not too sure about where each part goes.
  • The kitchen floor – Sweep the kitchen floor on a daily basis to remove any food crumbs or garbage. Mop the floor at least once every few days for deep cleaning. Remember to take into consideration what type of flooring you have in the kitchen in order to determine the appropriate cleaner to use.


Cleaning the bathroom

How often should you clean your apartment 3
BathroomCleaning Frequency
The Toilet1/Week
The Bathtub1/Four Days
The Shower1/Week
Bath Towels1/Three Uses
Hand Towels1/Three Days
Bathroom Floor1/Day

The bathroom is prone to getting dirty due to frequent use within a day. Bacterial build up may easily occur if this area is not properly cleaned.

  • The toilet – Daily flushing isn’t essentially cleaning the toilet. Once a week, thoroughly scrub the toilet bowl using your toilet brush and a toilet bowl cleaner. Wipe down the toilet seat and handle using sanitized wipes or a washcloth dipped in disinfectant. Clean and disinfect the toilet brush at least once a month to avoid accumulation of bacteria.
  • The bathtub – This is one area of the bathroom that should not be overlooked when cleaning. Clean it daily or at least once every few days using a tub and tile cleaner to avoid the buildup of scum and bacteria.
  • The shower – Wipe down the walls of the shower daily to remove water droplets and soap scum. Clean the shower head once a week as well, especially if the water has high mineral content.
  • Bath towels – Wash your bath towel every few days, ideally after every three uses. This is essential in removing the dead skin cells that accumulate over time.
  • Hand towels – Remember to wash hand towels every three days to eliminate undesirable odor and bacteria.
  • Bathroom floor – Clean the bathroom floor on a daily basis.


Cleaning your bedroom

BedroomCleaning Frequency
Bedding1/Two Weeks
Pillow1/Two Weeks
Mattress1/Three Months
Dressers and Nightstands1/Three Weeks

The bedroom is a room that is often overlooked when it comes to cleaning yet a considerable amount of time is spent there.

  • Bedding – Opt to wash your bed linens every one or two weeks to reduce the buildup of dust which attracts dust mites. Airing your bed should be done on a daily basis.
  • Pillow – Pillowcases should be washed every two weeks, while the pillow itself can be washed every three months.
  • Mattress – Vacuum your mattress and sprinkle it with baking soda to absorb odor every three months. Cleaning the mattress reduces dust accumulation.
  • Dressers and nightstands – Wipe the surfaces of dressers and nightstands every few weeks with a damp cloth. This removes the dust and dirt that tends to accumulate on these surfaces.


Cleaning the living room/ dining room

Living/Dining RoomCleaning Frequency
The Living and Dining Room Floor1/Week
Hard Surfaces1/Two Weeks
Removing Food Spots1/Day
Couches1/Week

This is the area of the apartment where you are most likely to entertain guests, so it is in your best interest to keep it clean.

  • Floor – Vacuum carpets and rugs every weeks, or even more frequently if you have pets since the hair they shed accumulates quickly. Don’t neglect to vacuum under couches or any other hidden areas.
  • Hard Surfaces – Use a soft rag to dust hard surfaces such as coffee tables and TV stands in the living room.
  • Removing food spots – After eating in the dining room or living room, remove any crumbs that you might leave behind using a hand vacuum. Ensure to do this daily.
  • Couches – Couches are often neglected in the cleaning process, but they are just as important, especially if you have pets or you like to eat on the couch. Use a hand vacuum once a week, and if the couch fabric is removable, throw it in the washing machine at least every two weeks.


Cleaning your home office

Home OfficeCleaning Frequency
Computers1/Month
Home Office Floor1/Week

A clean environment as you work may effectively increase your productivity.

  • Computers – Neglecting to clean computer leaves you vulnerable to the bacteria often found on keyboards and the mouse since you are constantly touching them. Use a can of compressed air to spray between the keys and a cotton swab dipped in disinfectant to wipe down the mouse every month.
  • Home Office Floor – Vacuum the floor of your office every week.


Benefits of cleaning your apartment frequently

There are many benefits of keeping your apartment clean, including:

1. Reduce allergy symptoms – Allergy symptoms tend to flare up when you are exposed to dust mites, mildew, mold, or pet dander. These allergen-containing sources accumulate when cleaning is not done as often as it should.

2. Reduce germs – Germs such as bacteria flourish in unclean settings. This results in health hazards and potentially life-threatening illnesses.

3. Prevention of pest infestations – An unclean environment invites pests such as cockroaches and rats. They are attracted to food crumbs and cluttered spaces, things that can be avoided with frequent cleaning.

4. Peace of mind – Cleaning up as often as you can means that you have more time to relax. Piling up chores will only leave you feeling stressed out.

5. You can comfortably have people over – You’ll feel more at ease inviting people to your apartment if you take the time to clean it frequently.


Related questions

  • How do I avoid cluttering in my apartment? Cluttering leads to an untidy space and potential tripping hazards. It also makes your cleaning process difficult. To avoid this, try to get rid of what you don’t need as often as possible. Also, avoid buying things that you have no use for.
  • Should I clean more often if I have young children? Yes, you should. Children are more susceptible to illnesses that may result from living in an untidy environment, as well as falling over in a cluttered space.
  • How do I keep my allergies from acting up as I clean? Avoid harsh or scented cleaning products that may potentially irritate you. Wear a mask while you are cleaning and cut down on the clutter. Alternatively, you could also call your local cleaning services.


Melanie Asiba

Melanie is an author, and she enjoys traveling, reading, and trying out new things. In addition to writing for Apartment ABC.

Recent Posts