Cleaning takes time that most of us would rather use doing other (more fun) things. The average adult spends about 10 hours a week just keeping up on regular cleaning. That's more than one full work day! If that number seems unrealistic, time yourself doing cleaning tasks in just one day. Here are just a few surprising averages for cleaning chores that most people do:



- Washing/Doing Dishes: 2.5 hours weekly

- Sweeping/Washing Floors: 1 hour weekly

- Laundry: 2.5 hours weekly

- Beds: 1.5 hours weekly (those 10 minutes per bed really add up)

- Cleaning the Bathroom: 40 minutes weekly

- Vacuuming: 1 hour weekly

See how it all adds up? You CAN cut the time you spend cleaning by half with a weekly household cleaning schedule, some helpful household hints, a few surprising cleaning facts and the right tools to do the job.

The Weekly Household Cleaning Schedule

I've seen all sorts of variations on the household cleaning schedule. Some experts recommend that you set aside one day to tackle all the rooms in your house and get it over with in one fell swoop. Others suggest designating weekly cleaning chores to specific days: Monday, wash and change bedding, Tuesday, tackle the bathroom, etc. I personally favor the pick-one-day approach, since I'm a procrastinator. It's far far too easy to say, “Oh, I'll just do it tomorrow along with tomorrow's chores…” Your mileage may vary, though. Choose the method that works best for you, and – here's the important part – write it down!

Getting Organized – Helpful Household Hints

Before you go at another week's cleaning, sit down and plan your attack. In each room, there are tasks that must be done. Make a list of them. Save it in checklist form on your computer. Print them out when you're ready to clean – or post one in each room. This is a specially handy helpful household hint if you have kids in the family. A checklist where everyone can see it is a great reminder to wipe out the bathroom sink after you brush your teeth, and put you glass in the dishwasher after you drink your milk. Those daily maintenance chores will cut down on your weekly cleaning time more than any other thing.

Surprising Cleaning Facts

Your kitchen sink has more germs than your toilet seat, and scrubbing won't get rid of them. When you tackle your kitchen, start by clearing off countertops and emptying the sink. Spray the sink and countertops first – then leave them wet while you move around the room to spray the appliances. By the time you get back to the sink, the cleaner will have killed the germs – and started to power the deep-seated grime loose. Wipe it down with a sponge, then wet it again – but this time, tackle it with a good scrubbing brush. Get in around the faucet fitting and behind the fixtures with the brush to loosen up the grime that hides household odors and germs. When you're done, spray it with the sink spray, and wipe clean with a paper towel or soft cloth.

The longer a stain sits, the harder it will be to get out. That's common sense. But did you know that you've probably got one of the best stain lifters around sitting in your refrigerator or on your bar? A bottle of club soda makes a great emergency spot cleaner. As soon as a spill happens, grab the bottle, shake it up and aim it at the spot to keep the stain from setting. Next, tackle the stain with a stain brush and blot with dry paper toweling or soft cotton cloths.

The least favorite job in the house? Believe it or not, it's not cleaning the bathroom. It's sweeping the stairs! Keeping the outside stairs clean can literally save you hours of work by keeping dirt OUTSIDE where it belongs. A good utility brush with a curved, comfortable handle may not make anyone LIKE the job, but it will certainly make it easier to do.