How to Use the ‘6/10’ Cleaning Rule to Keep Your Home Clean

Inside: Follow these steps to use the ‘6/10’ cleaning rule to keep your home clean.

Are you tired of feeling like your home isn’t as clean as you want it to be?

Do you struggle to create a realistic cleaning schedule that you can actually keep up with?

If so, you’re not alone. Finding the time and motivation to clean can be a challenge.

Thankfully there are some tricks that can help and a great one I learned about recently is the ‘6/10’ cleaning rule.

If you haven’t heard of it, no problem. I’ve got you covered. Read on to learn what the ‘6/10’ cleaning rule is and how you can easily implement it to keep your house clean.

What is the ‘6/10’ Cleaning Rule?

The ‘6/10’ cleaning rule originated from Organized Chaos who created a list of 6 cleaning tasks to be done daily and 10 cleaning tasks to be done weekly. She also added 4 monthly tasks and 6 quarterly tasks to do as well.

The ‘6/10’ cleaning rule is a straightforward concept that helps you prioritize and efficiently manage your cleaning tasks without feeling overwhelmed.

Here’s how it works:

1. Focus on 6 High Priority Areas to Clean Daily

Identify and prioritize the six most frequently used areas in your home. These spaces tend to get messier quickly due to daily use.

By focusing your cleaning efforts on these high-priority areas each day, you can maintain a cleaner home without taking up a lot of your time and energy.

Examples of High-Priority Areas to Clean Daily:

• Make bed
• Wash dishes
• Wipe down the table and counters
• Vacuum or sweep floors
• Clean sink
• Do a load of laundry
• Declutter flat surfaces
• Run the dishwasher

Your 6 high-priority areas may include 6 of the ones on that list or different ones depending on your home. Your goal will be to create your own customized ‘6/10’ cleaning rule based on how you use your space and what’s important to you.

Your quick cleaning tasks in these prioritized areas shouldn’t take too long when you do them daily. These tasks allow you to stay on top of maintenance without dedicating entire weekends to deep cleaning sessions.

2. Create a List of 10 Tasks That Should Be Done Weekly

Once you have your daily tasks decided on, it’s time to figure out which jobs you want to accomplish weekly.

Here are some examples of weekly tasks to consider including in your ‘6/10’ cleaning rule.

Examples of Tasks to be Done Weekly:

• Clean microwave
• Wipe down refrigerator
• Mop floors
• Clean bathrooms
• Wash sheets & towels
• Clean out car
• Dust furniture
• Tidy pantry
• Clean pet dishes
• Scrub stove

Your goal is to stay on top of your cleaning tasks to make them easier to do and so that nothing gets out of hand.

3. Decide Which Tasks to Tackle Monthly

There are some cleaning tasks that are important to do, but don’t need to be done as regularly as the daily and monthly cleaning tasks.

Think through which cleaning tasks you’d like to complete on a monthly basis and add them to your cleaning rule.

Monthly Tasks to Consider:

• Clean windows
• Deep clean appliances
• Scrub showers & tub
• Clean out garage
• Vacuum and dust cars
• Declutter unnecessary paperwork

4. Determine What Needs to Be Done Quarterly

The last category to add to your cleaning rule is the cleaning jobs that need to be done quarterly. At the beginning of each season it can be helpful to accomplish these tasks to keep your home clean and maintain your space.

Quarterly Tasks Examples:

• Change air filters
• Clean light fixtures and fans
• Wipe down baseboards and doors
• Clean furniture
• Wipe down cabinets
• Declutter clothes & seasonal items

Now that you know the general idea of how the ‘6/10’ cleaning rule works, you can use the following steps to implement it in your home.

How to Use the ‘6/10’ Cleaning Rule to Keep Your Home Clean

Follow these steps to create your own ‘6/10’ cleaning rule for your home.

Step 1: Decide Which Areas You Want to Include

Take a moment to assess your home and identify the areas you want to include in your daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly task lists.

Limiting yourself to six daily areas and ten weekly ones is a good start to help prevent feeling overwhelmed. Focus on the areas that get the most use and that are a high priority for you.

Step 2: Determine When You’ll Do Your Cleaning

Choose a convenient time each day to devote to tackling your cleaning tasks. Whether it’s before breakfast, during a lunch break, or after dinner, consistency is key to successfully implementing the 6/10 cleaning rule.

Also consider when you will do your weekly, monthly, and quarterly cleaning tasks. Establishing a cleaning routine will make it easier to keep up with. Set reminders on your phone or note them in your calendar so that you don’t forget.

Step 3: Simplify Your Cleaning Routine

Focus on simple, effective cleaning tools and techniques that will help you complete your tasks more quickly.

Keep essential cleaning supplies within reach to minimize interruptions and maximize efficiency while you’re cleaning.

Step 4: Customize, Review, & Reassess

The ‘6/10’ cleaning rule makes it sound more rigid than it needs to be. Feel free to alter the number of daily and monthly cleaning tasks according to what works best for you and your home.

You may start with an initial plan but then find you need to tweak the routine some here and there. Reviewing and adjusting as needed will help you to create the best customized cleaning plan for your space.

Benefits of the ‘6/10’ Cleaning Rule

There are several benefits to using the ‘6/10’ cleaning rule. For those of us who aren’t easily motivated to clean, this rule can help you get the task done anyway while also providing these added advantages:

1. Keeps Your Home Clean:

By targeting high-traffic areas regularly, you prevent dirt and clutter from building up, leading to a consistently cleaner home.

2. Makes You More Efficient With Your Time:

By intentionally working on necessary tasks on a daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly basis you can stay on top of your chores. This will reduce the need for marathon cleaning sessions and free up more time for activities you enjoy.

3. Reduces Overwhelm:

Breaking down cleaning into manageable tasks alleviates the stress and burden of trying to maintain a tidy home. It also gets the constant cleaning to-do list out of your mind as you’ve created a schedule and a plan.

4. Encourages Consistency:

Establishing daily cleaning habits reinforces discipline and keeps your home tidy so that you’re prepared for unexpected guests or to simply more fully enjoy your own space.

Embrace Simplicity in Your Home

Using practical strategies that simplify your daily life creates a sense of calm and order. The ‘6/10’ cleaning rule helps you maintain a clean home so you can spend more time enjoying the moments that matter most.

By incorporating the ‘6/10’ cleaning rule into your routine, you not only streamline your home maintenance but also have a more relaxed and organized living space.

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