Small Spaces: Weekly Cleaning Routine!

Last updated: March 20, 2022

One of the most requested articles we get at Clean My Space is cleaning routines. Large spaces and small spaces warrant totally different cleaning routines. And then, there are differences between daily cleaning routines, weekly cleaning routines, and monthly cleaning routines. 

Today we’re getting into the ultimate guide to cleaning routines for small spaces. So if you live in a condo or apartment, this is for you. If you want specific cleaning routines for different rooms of your house, be sure to read My Easy Daily Bathroom Cleaning Routine! and 10 Minute Kitchen Cleaning Routine: 5 Cleaning Tips. But for a full run-down of a weekly cleaning routine for small spaces, keep reading. 

With small spaces, there isn’t a lot of wiggle room. You don’t have the luxury to throw a bunch of stuff into another room, close the door, and deal with it later. You can’t let your laundry pile up in a corner, or dirty clothes will quickly take over the whole room. Keeping your small space clean is paramount to keeping it functional. 

Some of the ideas in this article are great new habits you can establish. So don’t think of it as cleaning; think of it as changing the way you do things to incorporate cleaning into your routine. This will save you so much time and keep your small space looking great. Plus, I’m going to give you some bonus daily cleaning tips, so you can have a clean space every day! Let’s get into it!

The Kitchen 

When it comes to kitchen cleaning, you’re going to focus on the floors once a week. All our floors get dirty, but the kitchen bears the brunt of all those crumbs and spills that end up on the floor. So sweep and mop the floors once a week (and check out the Maker’s Mop for the best mop you’ll ever use!)

To keep everything spic and span, do your dishes and wipe your counters daily. I like to do this as I wait for my kettle to boil, so I feel like I’m multitasking. By the time I’m done, I have a cup of tea and clean counters. 

Bathroom 

Once a week, do a load of bathroom laundry. That means all your dirty bathroom towels plus your bath mat and anything else you can chuck in the laundry. Then, before you go to bed, dump a cup of borax into the toilet bowl. This will work as you sleep, so you just have to give your bowl a quick scrub and flush in the morning when you wake up. Then wipe your toilet seats and sides with a disposable wipe. Finally, use your Maker’s Mop to give your bathroom floors a quick mop every week. 

To keep your bathroom clean in between weekly cleanings, squeegee your shower after each use. This will prevent you from having to scrub your shower walls. Always keep a microfiber cloth and spray bottle under your bathroom sink, so you can clean up counter and sink messes as they happen. This will lessen your cleaning load later. 

Bedroom 

The bedroom can become a cluttered mess if you don’t stay on top of it. At least once a week, organize all the surfaces in your bedroom. Throw out anything you don’t need, and relocate items to their proper places. Launder your linens every other week (that’s only twice a month, score!). 

Every day, make your bed! It might seem like a hassle, but your bedroom will look so much better with a freshly made bed. And put clothing away as soon as it comes off your body, either in a hamper or in its proper storage space. Not throwing clothing on the floor is a habit we all need to break, and it’s (almost) effortless to just put items away instead.

General Living Spaces

Give yourself 10 minutes a week to dust and vacuum. I like to do this while I wait for dinner to cook. Sometimes I can’t get it all done at once, but over the course of a day, I’ll squeeze it in. Focus on horizontal surfaces and carry a spray bottle with all-purpose cleaner to wipe any prints, spills, or marks.

And every day, while I wait for my microwave popcorn to pop or my zoom call to start, I’ll do a quick sweep of each room and relocate items that are out of place. 

Weekly Cleaning Routine for Small Spaces

Of course, this quick routine is not exhaustive. And if you do only this, your home will eventually get dirty. But establishing these great cleaning habits means that your small space will feel clean and cozy, not disheveled and dirty. The important part of a cleaning routine is to be smart and efficient. So putting things back where they belong each time you use them and being considerate of your future self means that a quick clean-up each week will make for a much easier small space maintenance routine. Then, when it comes time to do a full, thorough cleaning, read My Secret System to Cleaning Fast and Effectively!