We keep our apartment clean by cleaning communal spaces once a week and cleaning up after ourselves as we go. We do not have a cleaning lady on a regular basis, but we did have one a handful of times and it was nice 😉 . My roommates and I have divided up the main jobs that need to be done on a regular basis:
- kitchen surfaces, including sinks and stovetop
- kitchen floor
- bathroom surfaces, including toilet and tub
- bathroom floor
- living/dining room floor/carpet
We are each responsible for cleaning up after ourselves (of course), like washing dishes and wiping down surfaces after we cook. Ditto for cleaning our bedrooms. And no one shares bedrooms, I have been asked this a few times.
We haven’t divvied up less frequent jobs like cleaning the fridge. Those we discuss as needed.
We do not have a laundry schedule, it just tends to work out that everyone gets the machine basically when they need it. We are supposed to be getting the dryer vent cleaned out around now.
We keep the garbage and recycling pickup schedule on the fridge. No one specific is responsible for taking out the garbage, we just all try to remember and remind each other. You might be able to sign up for email reminders of garbage and recycling pickup on your street.
Before we turn on the heat for the winter, someone from the oil company comes to refill the tank and check/service the boiler. (We have oil, but many newer houses are heated by gas only).
Do you have any questions about how we coordinate keeping our apartment clean and maintained?
