If you’ve ever wondered, “What is zone cleaning?” you’re in the right place!
Here’s my guide to zone cleaning and how to use zone cleaning to clean your home without stress and overwhelm.
“My idea of superwoman is someone who scrubs her own floors.”
Bette Midler
Do you ever feel like you’re climbing a never-ending hill trying to keep your home in order?
You think you’re almost at the top when a load of laundry knocks you back down?
If your answer is yes, keep reading – you’re not alone!
Running a busy home while juggling multiple responsibilities is like being stuck in a revolving door that never stops. It isn’t easy, and maintaining it all without spending endless hours cleaning, can seem like an unattainable dream.
I’ve been there and I know exactly how it feels, but don’t worry, I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be that way.
Unfortunately, cleaning will always need to be done – there’s just no getting away from it. So rather than burning yourself out trying to do it all at once or feeling that you need to clean the whole house from top to bottom for it to be considered clean, let me tell you about a game-changing concept I discovered several years ago that changed my life…
Introducing zone cleaning
Zone cleaning is a simple, effective approach that has revolutionised how I look after and maintain my home forever. It might just be the solution you’ve been searching for too.
Are you ready to reclaim your time, space, and mental clarity? Let’s wave goodbye to the overwhelming task of spinning plates and trying to do it all and instead dive into the wonderful world of zone cleaning!
What is zone cleaning?
Zone cleaning isn’t just another cleaning routine. It’s an organised plan and rolling programme for deep cleaning the home in easy, manageable, bite-size chunks. It’s designed for busy women who want an achievable and efficient way to keep their homes under control without overwhelm.
With zone cleaning, you divide your home into zones (rooms or areas) and focus on only one zone each week. This completely frees your mind from thinking about all the other things that need to be done. On top of your usual daily or weekly cleaning, spend a maximum of 15-30 minutes each day completing a short decluttering or deep cleaning task in the zone.
For example, in the kitchen zone, you wash the window interiors one day, declutter a drawer the next day and wash down the cabinet fronts the next. One small task a day feels so much less daunting than trying to blitz the whole room at once.
Little and often is the best practice for any sort of decluttering, tidying or cleaning. It prevents dirt and clutter build-up and ensures a more structured approach that gets easier and quicker over time.
For housework-free weekends, simply spread the tasks over the five working days. No time during the week? No problem, just set some time aside at the weekend to do it instead. It’s completely flexible and I encourage you to experiment with it and create a zone cleaning routine that works for you.
What zone cleaning is not
Zone cleaning isn’t a daily or weekly cleaning routine. Zone cleaning does not cover day-to-day tasks like washing dishes and making your bed or weekly tasks such as dusting and hoovering the living room. It is also not about perfection. Trying to keep your home spotless and pristine all the time is not realistic. Your home is for living in – it’s your sanctuary from the outside world.
What zone cleaning is
Zone cleaning is a catch-all method for tackling the occasional jobs that need doing less often in the home. Monthly, seasonal or annual tasks such as washing windows, clearing out your wardrobe and wiping down the skirting boards. The aim is to help you maintain your home at a standard that feels right for you. It doesn’t mean it will never get into a mess, but if it does (and it will), it’s going to be quick and easy to clean up.
Why seasonal zone cleaning?
I am obsessed with simplicity and optimisation. In the early days when I was looking for solutions, I was inspired to try zone cleaning but I couldn’t find a routine I liked that wasn’t overcomplicated and difficult to follow.
I needed to simplify the process further in order to make it as easy and manageable as possible.
Most of us find it very difficult to remember what needs to be done in the house, when it should be done, and actually keep track of when we do it. This means that things either get done on an ad hoc basis or not at all, and that’s exactly what was happening to me. It felt bitty, and I wanted a solution that didn’t have me cleaning all day or stressing because my house wasn’t as clean and tidy as I wanted it to be.
So I created a simple rolling programme that ran with the four seasons. A system that would give me four chances each year to declutter and deep clean in each zone. This would be more than I had ever achieved before and even if I didn’t manage to do it all, it was better than doing nothing or procrastinating about it.
The Organise With Jen seasonal zone cleaning programme
The Spring Zone Clean: March – May
The Summer Zone Clean: June – August
The Autumn Zone Clean: September – November
The Winter Zone Clean: December – February
Or
*The New Year Home Reset: January – February (allows a complete break in December)
Each cycle lasts 12 weeks and repeats 4 times throughout the year.
*There is the option to take December off and follow the New Year home reset challenge in January instead, which is only 8 weeks long.
This system has been a total game-changer! Decluttering and cleaning are things I actually enjoy now. With seasonal zone cleaning, keeping on top of everything feels easier and over time you’ll see it make a real difference to your home and your overall well-being. You won’t believe how quickly time flies when each season rolls around. Cleaning with the seasons is easy to remember and it feels manageable.
Are there other zone cleaning routines?
There are many zone cleaning routines out there, many adapted from the Flylady system. It’s worth having a look to compare and see if any resonate with you. However, I’m confident you won’t find another routine as simple and easy to follow as my seasonal zone cleaning programme. What makes it different from the others is that it rolls with the seasons and only focuses on one area each week. Nice and simple!
I recommend you try using a timer, to help with motivation and to see how long it takes to complete certain tasks. Starting is the hardest part. Once you get started and see results, you’ll naturally feel motivated and want to keep the momentum going.
How will I know what tasks to do?
Don’t worry, my zone cleaning programme is planned and ready for you to use, along with a free downloadable checklist to help you keep track of your progress. You can tweak it to suit your own home and family set-up. I’ve created lists of suggested tasks for every zone which you can follow and check off as you go.
If you struggle with clutter and your home feels too difficult to clean, focus only on decluttering in the zones for a short time each day instead. Over time if you do this consistently and also reduce your consumption, your surfaces will be clearer and cleaning much easier.
You can also create your own personalised zone cleaning routine. All you need to do is identify your home’s zones, arrange them in the order you’d like to tackle them and write a list of the decluttering and deep cleaning tasks required in each one. It’s trial and error until you find the perfect system for you.
My zone cleaning programme has been years in the making and is now helping many women in my free online community too. If you’re ready to regain control of your home, I hope you’ll give it a try.
Since spring 2020, I’ve shared the programme on Instagram and Facebook. I’m also excited to announce that my first zone cleaning book, containing all the tasks, checklists, tips and tricks, will be available to buy soon!
The benefits of zone cleaning
Less stress
A clear plan and designated time for tackling each zone reduces the stress and mental burden of trying to remember everything that needs to be done.
You focus on one area or room at a time, confident that you’ll eventually cover the entire house and will continue to do so consistently.
Less time spent cleaning
As zone cleaning is an area-focused, systematic approach, it reduces the time and effort required to clean the entire space. Little and often is the key to success!
Attention to detail
By concentrating on only one zone at a time, it reduces the chances of missing any areas. This means you’ll be able to maintain a higher level of cleanliness throughout your home.
Increased productivity
Zone cleaning means fewer distractions as you concentrate on completing one zone properly before moving on to the next. This leads to achieving more. It’s amazing what you can do in 15-30 minutes!
Guest ready
The zone cleaning programme will help you keep your house at a baseline level of cleanliness and tidiness that feels right for you. It will be guest-ready at any time! No more hiding behind the curtains when there’s a knock at the door!
Feeling happier
Regular maintenance of each zone reduces the chances of clutter and dirt accumulating. By consistently decluttering, organising and cleaning each area, you’ll have a more pleasant and calm environment to live in. When your home looks good, you feel good. Happiness boost guaranteed!
There are so many benefits to zone cleaning I could go on and on. I love it and I’m so grateful for all the support and positive feedback I’ve received from the women who have tried my programme and are enjoying it along with me.
To summarise, zone cleaning provides a clear plan for maintaining your home with ease. My programme is easy to follow and is designed to motivate you to tackle the jobs you never got around to before.
If you feel inspired to give zone cleaning a go, you can download my free Zone Cleaning Checklist and follow along with me on Instagram or Facebook.
You can also join my free zone cleaning facebook group here: Zone Clean with Jen