A Home Cleaning Schedule Built for Dust and Rain
Kenyan homes have two cleaning seasons, and they need opposite routines. The dry season is a dust problem — it wants dry removal first. The rains are a mud and damp problem — they want containment at the door. Using the same routine all year is why cleaning feels endless in January and futile in April.
The weekly baseline
| Task | Frequency | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sweep or dry-mop floors | Daily in dry season | Dry removal before any water |
| Wet mop | 2–3× weekly | Daily in the rains at entrances |
| Wipe kitchen counters | Daily | After the last cooking, not before |
| Bins emptied | Daily | Non-negotiable — it is pest control |
| Dust surfaces | 2× weekly dry season, weekly in rains | Damp cloth, not a dry duster |
| Bathroom clean | Weekly | More often in a shared household |
| Change bedsheets | Weekly | Fortnightly at minimum |
| Fridge wipe-out | Weekly | Do it before shopping, not after |
| Windows and sills | Weekly in dry season | Sills collect the most dust in the house |
| Curtains shaken or vacuumed | Monthly | They hold more dust than anything else |
Dry season: the dust routine
The mistake is reaching for a wet mop first. Water plus dust makes mud, which you then spread across the floor.
- Close windows on the dusty side during the windiest part of the day. Ventilate from the sheltered side.
- Dry-remove first — sweep or dry-mop, working toward one point.
- Then wet mop, changing the water when it turns cloudy rather than pushing dirty water around.
- Use a damp cloth for dusting, never a dry duster. A dry duster lifts dust into the air and it resettles within an hour.
- Do sills and skirtings weekly. These are where dust accumulates and re-enters the room.
- Shake curtains and door mats outside weekly.
- Cover food and dishes stored on open shelves, or wash before use.
Rainy season: the mud routine
In the rains, cleaning is won or lost at the front door. Everything else is consequence.
- Two door mats — a coarse one outside to knock off mud, an absorbent one inside to take water.
- Shoes off at the door, with a rack there so it actually happens.
- Mop entrances daily, the rest as needed.
- Wipe damp walls and windows where condensation collects — this is how mould starts.
- Ventilate on dry spells. A closed damp house grows mould faster than a cleaned one stays clean.
- Deal with damp corners immediately. Mould is far easier to prevent than remove.
- Dry the mop itself. A mop stored damp in a bucket sours and then spreads that smell across your floors.
The kit worth owning
- A broom and a dustpan — the dry-removal foundation.
- A mop with a wringer bucket. Wringing by hand means the mop is too wet, which is why floors stay streaky and take an hour to dry.
- Microfibre cloths, colour-coded. One colour for kitchen, one for bathroom, one for general. This is a hygiene measure, not fussiness.
- Two door mats per entrance in the rains.
- A toilet brush with a holder.
- A squeegee for shower screens and windows — faster and streak-free.
- Rubber gloves.
- A caddy so you carry supplies room to room instead of walking back and forth.
- Bins with lids in kitchen and bathroom.
Products: fewer, used properly
- One all-purpose cleaner handles most surfaces. Most homes own five products and use one.
- Bleach for sanitising toilets and whitening — never mixed with anything else.
- Vinegar for limescale on taps, shower heads, kettles and glass.
- Bicarbonate of soda for scouring without scratching.
- Dish soap for greasy surfaces beyond dishes.
Never mix bleach with anything containing ammonia or acid, including some drain cleaners and vinegar. The reaction produces genuinely dangerous fumes in an enclosed bathroom. One product at a time, rinsed between.
Monthly and seasonal
| Monthly | Every 3 months | Twice a year |
|---|---|---|
| Descale kettle and shower head | Wash curtains | Wash or replace door mats |
| Wipe inside cupboards | Turn and air mattresses | Deep-clean behind and under furniture |
| Clean fridge coils and behind it | Wash blankets and throws | Clean water storage containers |
| Check under the sink for damp | Deep-clean the cooker | Review and replace worn cloths and brushes |
The fridge coils item is worth doing. Dust on the coils makes the fridge work harder and run longer, which shows up on your electricity bill.
Making it sustainable
- Fifteen minutes daily beats three hours on Saturday. Dust accumulates continuously here; weekly-only cleaning always feels like losing.
- One room properly, not all rooms partly.
- Clean top to bottom, dry to wet. Dust falls; do not mop then dust.
- Keep the caddy stocked so starting takes no preparation.
- Split tasks in a shared household by area, not by task — clearer, and easier to hold.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I mop in the dry season?
Sweep or dry-mop daily and wet mop two or three times a week. Always dry-remove dust before adding water, or you make mud.
Why does dusting not seem to work?
A dry duster lifts dust into the air and it resettles within an hour. Use a damp cloth.
How do I keep mud out during the rains?
Two door mats — coarse outside, absorbent inside — shoes off at the door with a rack there, and mop entrances daily.
Can I mix bleach and vinegar?
No. Never mix bleach with acids or ammonia. The fumes are dangerous, especially in a small bathroom.
Why colour-code cleaning cloths?
So a bathroom cloth never touches a kitchen surface. It is a basic hygiene measure.
How often should curtains be cleaned?
Shake or vacuum monthly and wash every three months. They hold more dust than anything else in the room.
Does cleaning the fridge coils matter?
Yes. Dusty coils make the fridge run longer and use more electricity.
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