If you live with roommates, you won’t always agree on some things that affect everyone involved, and housekeeping seems to tend to be one of those areas. With open communication, a good cleaning routine can be developed. It is possible to come up with a plan that works for everyone and keep your home clean and neat.

Purge the Clutter

The first step to getting your home set up for ongoing cleaning success is to get rid of all that stuff no one needs. Shared housing can often mean smaller spaces, so any unneeded clutter is going to have an impact. Many of us defend our hoarding tendencies with thoughts like, “What if I need that someday?” or some other thin defense. But the truth for most of us is that there is a lot of stuff we could get rid of if we really thought about it.

Once you decide that it’s okay to throw away that stack of National Geographic magazines that have been collecting dust for two years in den, you are off and running. The key at this stage is to purge ruthlessly. All that stuff has been piling up, often for years, and now it’s time just to let it go. Look around and identify things that you haven’t used in the last year- then start making those tough decisions. And don’t forget to include your kitchen. Trust us, there’s a lot more in your kitchen that you realize!

Make a Checklist

Firstly, all of the roommates need to get together and figure out what cleaning tasks need to be done often and by whom. Putting together a plan requires everyone’s support if it’s going to work. Making sure everyone is on the same page is what will make it work. Here are a few tips to create a fair and effective plan.

Start by planning all of the tasks that should be done regularly. Again, everyone needs to be involved in the making of this list. It’s going to be important for everyone to have an open mind, and with some effort and communication it should be a list that everyone is comfortable with and still be able to complete the job.

Determine a Timeline

Somethings like dusting and vacuuming can be done weekly, but something like cleaning the fridge inside and out, scrubbing the toilets and grout can be done less often. You need to give some and take some for this stage. You can come up with a schedule that is great for everyone.

Once your list is made and everyone agrees, decide which ones will be more time consuming and more difficult. Assigning these less-attractive chores evenly is important so that everyone feels they are being assigned fairly.

Cleaning Chart

Now that you have all the details, it’s time to put your plan on paper so everyone will know what’s expected. There are plenty of places out there to find or make a good cleaning chart, so you’re sure to find one that works for your particular situation. Have fun when you create your cleaning checklist and get everyone involved. The more input you get from everyone, the more likely they are to follow the plan.

Whether it’s a daily, weekly or monthly cleaning task, set days for when those chores should be done. If it’s daily, agree on a time that you and your roommates want the chore to be completed. If it’s weekly or monthly, decide on a day or date the chores should be completed.