Daily, and it takes ten minutes
- Kitchen benches and sink wiped after the last meal.
- Stovetop wiped while it is still slightly warm, which is when it comes off easily.
- Dishes cleared, bins closed.
- Bathroom basin and mirror given a quick wipe.
Weekly
- Floors vacuumed throughout and mopped in wet areas.
- Bathrooms cleaned properly: shower, toilet, basin, tiles.
- Bed linen changed.
- Surfaces dusted in living areas and bedrooms.
- Bins emptied and washed out.
Fortnightly
- Skirtings, door frames and light switches wiped.
- Inside the microwave and the fridge shelves.
- Mirrors and interior glass.
- Under furniture that moves easily.
Monthly
- Oven interior, before it becomes a two-hour job.
- Rangehood filters through the dishwasher.
- Ceiling fans, light fittings and vents.
- Washing machine and dishwasher filters.
- Shower screen de-scaled.
Twice a year
- Windows inside and out, including tracks and flyscreens.
- Carpets steam cleaned.
- Cupboard and wardrobe interiors emptied and wiped.
- Behind and under the fridge, oven and washing machine.
- Curtains washed or professionally cleaned.
- Gutters and outdoor areas.
The honest version
Almost nobody hits this schedule, and that is fine. The two that genuinely matter are the oven and the shower, because both get exponentially harder the longer you leave them. A monthly oven wipe takes fifteen minutes. A twelve-month oven takes an afternoon and a caustic degreaser.
If you use a fortnightly cleaner, the weekly and fortnightly lists are what they hold. The daily list is still yours, and the twice-yearly jobs are worth booking as a separate deep clean rather than squeezing into a normal visit.