How to Set Up a Weekly Housekeeping Schedule

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I love this old housekeeper’s rhyme, but it doesn’t quite fit my lifestyle. I don’t have any cows, so I’m not churning cream on Thursdays.

However, the concept of each day having its own task appeals to me. It’s simple and easy to remember. It makes each day a little different, and interesting. It sets a rhythm to a homemaker’s life, so that the days slip along quietly and home life is orderly.

Are you ready to set up your own housekeeping schedule? It’s easier than you might think! Just grab a pen and paper, or scroll down to download my pretty housekeeping templates. They’re free!

Not quite convinced? Read this article on the benefits of a weekly housekeeping routine!

How to divide your housekeeping schedule

You will want to divide your housekeeping schedule into three categories: for daily, weekly, and occasional tasks. I like to make two schedules: my basic housekeeping schedule has daily and weekly tasks. It’s short and simple, and I pretty much follow it every week.

The other schedule lists tasks that don’t need to be done as often: things like cleaning the washing machine or window screens. Some of these should be done more frequently than others, so I divide that schedule into monthly, seasonal, and annual tasks.

I put the most thought into the weekly schedule, as you will see. The daily chores are already habitual, so I don’t really need a reminder. The occasional chores can always be done later if necessary. But the weekly chores need to be done every single week, and if they’re forgotten or postponed, I really get behind.

That’s why this housekeeping schedule is so helpful to me: it fits my life and reminds me what I need to focus on each day in order to keep my home clean and running smoothly.

Daily tasks

Let’s start with the daily tasks. I keep my list short and sweet: wash the dishes, cook the meals, sweep the floor, and tidy. You could also list other chores like making beds and wiping down kitchen counters if you like.

Weekly tasks

Weekly tasks include laundry, ironing, vacuuming, meal planning, grocery shopping, baking bread, cleaning the kitchen, cleaning the bathrooms, mopping the floors, going through papers, and paying bills.

You might have other chores to add to this list, or do some of the listed chores more than once; I wash diapers twice a week in addition to the previous list.

You might need to clean bathrooms or vacuum more than once per week if your house gets a lot of traffic! I tend to vacuum as needed during the week, but keeping it on my schedule helps me to remember it when things get busy.

Planning your weekly schedule

How do you know which tasks to do on which days? Ah, that is the most important part of a weekly housekeeping routine! This is the deciding factor for whether or not you’ll stick to a schedule.

What works for me won’t necessarily work well for you, and vice versa. You really just have to keep trying until you find a schedule that makes sense to you and works with your life.

I’ve seen some schedules that tell you to clean one room per day. Well, that would be pretty silly for me to adopt, since our cabin has one main living space plus a bathroom!

Other routines break the housekeeping down into 5 or 10 tasks for each day. That’s fine for some people, but I would rather pick one large task and get it done, rather than rush around from one thing to the next all day.

Also, my days are not all the same. I plan one day per week to run errands and grocery shop, so I make that day intentionally light on housework. If your family is home more on the weekends, you might wish to make Saturday light on housework — or schedule chores for other people to help with.

Keep your schedule flexible, and be ready to amend it if the first attempt doesn’t quite work out. Trial and error will help you determine which tasks suit your Monday mood, and which ones are better for Fridays! 

Expect changes and stay flexible!

One important point to remember is that your schedule will likely change over the years. You don’t have to find a routine that will stay the same for the rest of your life! I’ve had a weekly housekeeping schedule posted in my kitchen for about three years, and I’ve already changed it twice. Things change. Just stay flexible!

One interesting tip I’ve heard is to save your favorite task for your least favorite day. That’s a curious concept to me, since I don’t have a least favorite day! But you can try that if you like.

I do save baking (which is my favorite task) until Saturdays, but that’s for practical purposes: I don’t want to bake on Sundays, and I don’t want to run out of bread by Monday morning when I’m packing my husband’s lunch!

This is what I mean when I say trial and error is the best way to learn. For years, I baked bread and washed the laundry on Mondays. But then my Mondays were too full, I rarely finished the laundry by suppertime, and I was stressed and grumpy by the end of the day.

If at first you don’t succeed, sit back and think about what’s not working. Then change things slightly, and try again.

Monthly Tasks

Which tasks should be done once a month? Ovens, refrigerators, and vacuum cleaner filters should be cleaned every month. In addition to those, I balance the checkbook, review the budget and expenditures, and tackle any mending that’s waiting for me. Some people recommend cleaning your washing machine every month. I clean mine about every three months, so it goes on my seasonal list.

Seasonal Tasks

These chores need to be done every three to six months: clean washing machine, wash windows, rotate mattress, clean pantry, organize cupboards, clean light fixtures, organize closet, and switch out seasonal clothing. If you have children, you will also need to switch out clothing sizes as they grow.

Annual Tasks

Spring cleaning is when I tackle such chores as cleaning window screens, washing walls, and cleaning carpets. You may prefer to do them at a different time, but they should happen once a year!

Housekeeping Schedule Templates

You made it to the templates! I had fun creating these pretty printables, and I hope you will enjoy them. There are two copies of the Weekly Housekeeping Schedule: one is blank, and the other is filled in with my own schedule as an example.

The third template is for occasional housekeeping tasks. I keep this posted to remind me what needs to happen each month or season. As you can see on my weekly schedule, I try to complete one rotating task each week on Thursdays, since that day tends to be light on housework.

My weekly schedule isn’t exactly the same as the old rhyme at the beginning of the article, but it’s pretty close! Here’s my amended routine: 

Have fun filling out your own housekeeping schedule! I hope these templates help you to organize your household tasks and feel more confident in your housekeeping!

Happy homemaking!

~Kimberly