What Is The Best Schedule For Keeping An Apartment Clean/Tidy?

[drobi619]

I just moved into my first apartment by myself after moving out of my parents place. I don't know how to keep the place in order and be motivated to clean/tidy based on my schedule. Right now I work 6 days a week at a job that is 5-close(9pm ish) or 1pm-9pm. How do I organize my days to best keep my place clean and such? I also need to sort out laundry and meal prepping as I eat out more than I should.

[davebro]

I don't have a schedule as such - just do what needs doing when I think it needs doing & I'm not constrained by work hours. People will have different ideas about what level of cleanliness/order needs to be maintained - sometimes a source of friction in relationships!
Get a simple cookbook - https://www.taste.com.au/healthy/galleries/healthy-dinners-budget/4qGChV5h

[Spicerack]

Invite your Mum round.

[Spicerack]

Just checked and I see you're female. Not sure my tip would work or be desirable.

[Ringlet]

There really isn't a "universal" schedule for keeping your home space clean and preparing meals.
You need to work out what suits you in terms of personal preference, what time you have, what needs ding on any specific day, and how much energy/motivation you have.
All of this will differ with different people, and you should tailor your needs to suit yourself.

[barry1010]

It is important that some areas are kept clean - toilets, sinks, shower, bath, kitchen worktops, kitchen bins - so prioritise those jobs and do them every day before you go to work.

Wash up and tidy every day then it will be easy to whizz the vacuum or mop round when you have time. Keep your surfaces clutter free to minimise dusting time.
It's up to you how often you change your bedding - if you sleep alone and are not a heavy sweater then you don't need to change it so often. When you get up every day turn your bedding right back to air your bed.
If you don't smoke and don't have open fires your windows will only need cleaning inside once a month or so.

Get in the habit of wiping your oven as soon as it is cool enough - there is nothing worse than having to scrub out a filthy oven. It will only take a couple of minutes.

As for your laundry, do it as soon as you have enough dirty washing to make a full load.

If you like casseroles, curries, bolognese buy a cheap slow cooker, prep it in the morning and it will be cooked when you get home from work. If you have a freezer, batch cook and freeze individual portions to give you days off from prepping.

[roopower]

Some great advice from barry. The only thing I will say is put stuff back as soon as you have finished with it. My son will get a box of plasters out,(for example) put one on his finger and the box is on the table for weeks if I don't nag him to put it away.

[Maydup]

I'm not sure you need to attend to housework everyday. Until it becomes more natural, my advice is to pick a day once a week and make it housework morning before you go to work.

Have a simple list of things to do:

Start when you're in the shower, and clean it
Clean the toilet, basin and floor
Get dressed and sort your laundry - put a load on
Have a coffee!
Tidy the apartment
Dust surfaces and flick around any cobwebs
Hoover (or sweep if it is hard floors)
Empty bins
Do any washing or drying up
Clean kitchen worktops
Clean the hob
More coffee!

[Canary42]

It's really up to you drobi619 - someone else's schedule/requirements may be totally unsuitable for you. But the suggestions throughout this stream should help.

On a personal note, about 3 years ago I finally resolved to always do any outstanding washing up (however much had built up) immediately before retiring to bed, and have managed to stick to it religiously ever since. And I'm in my 70s !

[Canary42]

Ooops - I turned 80 a few months ago - freudian slip.