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Vacuuming, wiping, sweeping - a tiresome but necessary undertaking (symbol image)
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It crunches and cracks when you walk through the kitchen, the refrigerator smells and the shower curtain has a color gradient - there are many signs that you urgently need to grab a rag and vacuum cleaner.
Neither party flat shares nor neat couples' apartments are immune to this, sooner or later they all get dirty.
But one question always causes conflict: How often do you really have to clean?
Markus Egert and Martina Schäfer help in the search for a clean answer.
Egert is a microbiologist and deals with household hygiene, Schäfer is a home economics consultant.
How often do I have to clean my apartment?
Here Schäfer and Egert agree.
The unsatisfactory but unfortunately only correct answer is: »It depends«.
Cleaning once a week is a good rule of thumb, says Schäfer.
Sure, some things need to be cleaned up immediately, while others can wait.
In addition, an apartment is not always the same.
It shouldn't come as a surprise that a shared flat with five to ten people has to clean more often than a one-man household.
Where the apartment is located can also make a difference: in the city we carry different dirt home than in the country, instead of pollen, car exhaust fumes cling to the windows.
Therefore, microbiologist Egert advises cleaning "depending on the situation".
It appeals to the eyes, head and nose.
“Just think about it: Is that necessary now or not?” If the fridge is smelly or dust bunnies are gathering in the corners, you can wipe more often than planned.
If, on the other hand, the kitchen is hardly used for a week, it does not necessarily have to be cleaned.
In order to get used to regular cleaning, a certain routine can still do no harm.
Schäfer therefore advises making a fixed day.
If time is tight, the rooms can also be divided over different days – for example the kitchen on Mondays, the bathroom on Thursdays and the bedroom on Saturdays.
One thing is clear: if there is a risk of pest infestation or the kitchen starts to stink, cleaning should start – regardless of personal preferences.
Apart from that, everyone has a different sense of cleanliness.
Agreements make living together easier.
Anyone who lives with several people and wants to maintain harmony should therefore define the pain limits of all those living with them from the outset: What is particularly important to whom?
Who is uncomfortable when, and do we need a cleaning schedule?
What should you clean every day?
Just like roommates, furniture, surfaces and spaces have varying needs.
A few suggestions for orientation from the experts.
What should you clean every day?
Expand areaKitchen
Whether it’s beef steak or carrots, microorganisms come into the kitchen with food.
Wiping kitchen appliances and surfaces after cooking prevents unwanted family growth.
The same applies to the dirty dishes, which should also be washed immediately.
Unfortunately, letting it “soak” for two weeks is no excuse.
Unfold the washbasin and shower area
If you use your sink every day, you should clean it afterwards.
Simply rinse thoroughly once, water and a clean cloth are sufficient.
The same goes for the shower.
Regularly wiping down the shower wall saves you from stubborn water and limescale stains.
Expand areaAiring
At least since Corona, the importance of ventilation should no longer be a secret - once a day is mandatory, no arguments!
Gladly also after larger groups of visitors, after cooking or after a shower.
Turn off the heating and ventilate the room instead of tilting it to waste less energy.
Opening the window wide can also help against dust: the more humid the air, the less dust.
What should you clean weekly?
Expand areaBottoms
Once a week
vacuuming and wiping with a damp cloth keeps the socks white.
It may be more frequent in large flat-sharing communities.
Care should be taken with wooden or laminate floors - they do not tolerate as much water and should only be vacuumed and treated with a special care product.
Expand areaDust
Wipe dry or damp?
This is where opinions differ.
Drying is often faster, but stains can be removed at the same time with a slightly damp cloth.
In any case, Schäfer recommends a microfiber cloth or feather duster so that the dust particles are not stirred up but attracted.
However, microfiber cloths can also scratch sensitive furniture and surfaces.
areaKloopen
Clean inside and out once a week.
Schäfer advises twice for large households.
Open the bath and shower area
Upon need.
Expand area carpets and upholstered furniture
Carpets and upholstered furniture are "true dust collectors," says Schäfer.
Upholstery and carpets should therefore be vacuumed or wiped with a damp microfiber cloth once a week.
Open the doorknobs and light switches area
Thoroughly wipe everything we put our fingers on every day.
ExpandareaTrashcan
The rubbish itself may be taken out as often as possible, especially kitchen rubbish every one or two days.
Once a week the bucket itself is attacked.
Unfold the cabinets area from the outside
Swipe, wipe, wipe.
Expand areaLiving room furniture
Upon need.
We remember: eyes, nose, head.
Open the dishwasher and washing machine area
Of course, the dishwasher and washing machine are usually clean inside.
However, dirt and germs tend to collect on handles and seals in particular.
Wipe once a week with water and household detergent to prevent dirt crusts.
To avoid mold and germs, the drum and detergent container of the washing machine should be left open and allowed to dry after each wash.
AreaMirrors unfold
As required.
If toothpaste or finger taps get out of hand, simply go over the pane with glass cleaner and a soft cloth.
What should you clean monthly?
Expand areaChairs
Depending on your needs and use.
Expand areaOpen shelves
Dust, clear out and wipe down.
Open theFridge area
When it comes to the refrigerator, it depends on how it is used: if it is empty, it obviously does not have to be cleaned every week.
So-called “fridge corpses” quickly accumulate, especially in shared flats: old jam jars, rotting vegetables or long-forgotten Tupperware with indefinable contents.
Some refrigerated compartments in student residences quickly smell of decay, says Schäfer.
At least once a month, the following applies: "Get the corpses out and clean everything well with a vinegar-based cleaner."
By the way, keeping the fridge particularly cold doesn't help much with the germ load, says Egert.
Four to seven degrees are completely sufficient.
Open the Microwave and Oven area
Wipe inside and out once a month.
The basic cleaning is then scheduled once a year.
ExpandareaRadiators
It's best to do the rough stuff first with a feather duster.
Then clean all sides and grooves with all-purpose cleaner.
Expand area Dishwasher
Thoroughly clean once a month, i.e. clean the hidden areas of the flap, the rubber seals and the filter.
We recommend a program at 70°C once a month for machine care. Dishes are also welcome – but without glasses, which should only be washed at a maximum of 55°C.
Expand the washing machine area
It is similar here.
Clean any hidden areas and empty the lint filter.
From time to time wash in the "normal programme", i.e. at a higher temperature (approx. 50°-60° C) and with heavy-duty detergent.
Some machines also have self-cleaning programs.
Egert advises using them occasionally, especially when the eco-programs are otherwise running.
Expand areawindow
There are big differences depending on location, air and accessibility.
Simply decide as needed and avoid cloudy days.
Expand the Change linen area
How often sheets should be changed depends on the bed habits: sleeping naked or in pyjamas?
How many people share the bed?
Do you sometimes eat or smoke in bed?
About every two to three weeks is normally a reasonable rhythm.
Unfold the shower curtain area
Wash the curtain (if washable) every two to three months, depending on how dirty it is, and then simply hang it up again to dry.
Once or twice a year or as needed
Expand areaCabinets
Completely clear out and clean until there are no more crumbs hidden.
Back, front, bottom, top...
Open the extractor hood area
Depending on your needs and use.
Open areaDoor frame
As required.
Expand areaOven
Mrs Schäfer has a tip for the annual cleaning of the oven.
»A ball of stainless steel and a paste made of baking soda and lemon juice work wonders.« She is not a fan of oven cleaner: »Corrosive stuff is sprayed into the oven, then heated up, scratched around and then everything is broken.« Warning: not steel wool, but the somewhat softer stainless steel wool is meant here.
AreaCurtains and drapes unfold
Curtains can sometimes also be vacuumed with the upholstery nozzle.
After all, not all fabrics can go in the washing machine.
Expand area carpet and upholstered furniture
Deep cleaning is allowed once a year.
Instead of expensive carpet shampoos, Schäfer recommends using baking soda as a household remedy: Distribute it either as a dry powder or with water in a spray bottle.
Then leave it on overnight and go over it with a microfiber cloth.
However, this does not apply to all materials.
It is better to test the compatibility in a hidden area beforehand.
Never use on leather.
How often should you clean the kitchen?
The kitchen deserves special attention.
"In terms of hygiene, it is by far the most important room," says Egert.
Most people are far too focused on the toilet and are afraid of faeces.
In fact, most of the dangerous germs come into the home through food.
According to the microbiologist, this applies to both animal and plant products.
Accordingly, it is worth cleaning chopping boards, kitchen appliances and surfaces immediately after use - even if it is annoying.
One of the biggest problem areas in the kitchen is the refrigerator – and the sink.
"There's this saying: If extraterrestrials came to earth and could see microbes, they would drink from our toilets and do their business in our sink," quotes Egert.
The sink should always be cleaned after use.
A clean towel or a clean sponge, water and, if necessary, some washing-up liquid are enough here.
How often do I need to change sponges and towels?
The real culprit, in a way the Eldorado of germs, is the dish sponge, according to Egert - a fatal combination of a large surface area, lots of moisture and lots of nutrients.
It should therefore be changed every one to two weeks.
Brushes and cloths are better.
Kitchen towels can also be changed at least once a week, and even more often if used frequently, advises Egert.
The same applies to towels in the bathroom.
It is also important not to mix towels from the bathroom and kitchen in order to keep the different germs separate.
What cleaning supplies are needed
Cleaning is always about an interplay of time, mechanics, temperature and chemistry.
If you increase one of the factors, you can save on the others, the experts explain.
If I use a stainless steel sponge or a microfiber cloth (mechanics), I can reduce chemical agents.
If I clean with warm water, I may be faster.
Unfortunately, hygiene and energy saving are often opposed to one another, says Egert.
"You'll have to find a compromise there."
Detergents-
»
must-haves
«
Housekeeping expert Schäfer advises a small basic equipment:
All-purpose cleaner or neutral cleaner
Liquid soda and baking soda
detergent
WC cleaner
scouring powder
Citric acid (vinegar has a similar effect, but citric acid is easier on rubber seals)
Normally, disinfectants are not necessary, says Egert.
'It might even be harmful.
The hypotheses still differ.” It is not necessary – if nobody in the apartment is ill – at first.
Don't feel like cleaning - can that be dangerous?
What happens when you stop cleaning is clear: dust, dirt and germs accumulate.
This is unhygienic and becomes dangerous when the immune system is weakened by underlying diseases and is therefore more susceptible to germs.
One thing is clear: the less cleaning is done, the greater the likelihood that something will happen.