Fly Lady: Monthly Cleaning Checklist
The Fly Lady method divides your home into five zones, each tackled for one week in a monthly cycle. Spend just 15 minutes daily on deep cleaning tasks—entryway, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, or living room—without striving for perfection. Consistency over time transforms your space.
The Fly Lady method is built on a simple yet brilliant idea: your home is divided into zones, and each week you focus on just one of them. This eliminates the feeling that you need to clean everything at once and helps you move forward in small steps without burnout.
The system is designed around a five-week cycle that fits perfectly into a monthly rhythm of life. You simply follow the plan, and order maintains itself—without frantic rushes or feelings of guilt.
How the Zone System Works
Each zone is a specific part of your home that needs attention once a month. Throughout the week, you perform your daily routines (morning and evening) and also dedicate 15 minutes to deep cleaning the current zone.
The LadyFly app automatically reminds you which zone is active this week and suggests tasks. You don't need to keep everything in your head—the system guides you through the plan.
Five-Week Zone Checklist
Week 1: Entryway and Entry Zone
- Sort through shoes: put away off-season ones, clean or discard old ones
- Go through outerwear in the closet, check pockets
- Wipe mirrors, shelves, and coat hooks to remove dust
- Clean the doormat or wash it
- Organize a spot for keys, bags, and umbrellas
- Wipe door handles and light switches
- Check for unnecessary receipts, flyers, old newspapers
Week 2: Kitchen
- Organize one kitchen cabinet or drawer with dishes
- Throw out expired food from the refrigerator
- Wash the inside of the refrigerator, wipe shelves
- Clean the oven, microwave, or multi-cooker
- Wipe kitchen cabinet fronts and handles
- Sort through spices and grains, check expiration dates
- Clean the sink and faucet to remove buildup
- Wipe the range hood and stove
- Wash the trash bin
Week 3: Bathroom and Toilet
- Sort through cosmetics: throw out old, unnecessary, expired items
- Check the medicine cabinet, remove expired medications
- Wash mirrors and shelves
- Clean the shower or bathtub to remove buildup and mold
- Wash bath mats and shower curtain
- Wipe cabinets from the inside
- Clean the washing machine (filter and drum)
- Sort through towels: old ones for rags, new ones on the shelf
- Wash toothbrush holders and soap dishes
Week 4: Bedroom and Wardrobe
- Sort through clothes in the closet: donate or discard what you don't wear
- Change bed linens, air out pillows and blankets
- Dust all surfaces, including baseboards
- Organize nightstands, remove clutter
- Sort through drawers with underwear and socks
- Wipe mirrors and picture frames
- Vacuum under the bed
- Check if any clothes need repair or dry cleaning
Week 5: Living Room and Common Areas
- Sort through books, magazines, old newspapers
- Put away children's toys: throw out broken ones, sort the rest
- Wipe electronics: TV, remotes, computer
- Wash windows or blinds
- Clean under the sofa and behind furniture
- Wipe houseplants, remove dead leaves
- Sort through cords and chargers, organize their storage
- Clean carpets or vacuum upholstered furniture
- Dust light fixtures and chandeliers
The Secret to Success: Consistency, Not Perfection
The main rule of Fly Lady is not to strive for perfection. You don't have to clean the entire zone until it sparkles in one week. Just dedicate 15 minutes a day to it, and within a month you'll notice how your home transforms.
The LadyFly app has ready-made checklists for each zone that you can adapt to your home. You check off completed tasks and see your progress—it's incredibly motivating to keep going.
Start Right Now
Don't wait for Monday or the first of the month. Start with whichever week of the cycle corresponds to the current date, or simply choose the zone that bothers you the most. The system works when you take small steps every day.
Install LadyFly, choose your first zone—and let order become part of your life, not a source of stress.
