Photography: Nic Gossage / Styling: Lucy Gough
Three things in life are certain: death, taxes and the neverending burden of cleaning your home. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of advice on the internet regarding the best way to tackle those chores. From time-saving hacks to tips on labour division and room-by-room guides, the sheer volume of info can be overwhelming. But have you ever tried a cleaning schedule designed for your personality type?
According to Bona‘s in-house cleaning expert, Leah Howell, it’s the only way to do it.
What’s my personality type?
You might have heard people describe themselves as Type A or Type B in recent years. The concept of two main personality types has seen a resurgence on the internet but this theory actually started in 1959, with American cardiologists Meyer Friedman and Ray Rosenman. The original study focused on how behavioural patterns are associated with cardiovascular health but as far as personality types go, the main take away is this: Type A people are ambitious and organised while Type B people are more relaxed and spontaneous.
But how do these personality traits present themselves when it comes to cleaning?
How the personality types clean
According to Leah Howell, “Type A people are highly organised, structured, and efficiency-driven. In a home, you’ll see them following strict cleaning schedules, checklists, and perfectly organised cupboards. They love systems that save time and ensure every surface is spotless.” They’re more likely to own complete kits that will tackle an entire section of the house efficiently and thoroughly, such as spray mop kits.
Meanwhile, Type B people “are more relaxed and intuitive. They tend to clean on the fly, tackling messes as they appear rather than sticking to a routine.” They like products that can be hidden away when not in use, such as cleaning sprays. This helps with the “notion to clean when they feel like it, rather than being reminded every time they step into a room.”
Now that you know your personality type, how can you hack the system and make household maintenance work with you, rather than against you?
Thankfully, Leah Howell has done all the hard work for us, creating a cleaning schedule for each personality type.
Scroll on for the cleaning schedule designed just for you.
The ultimate Type A cleaning schedule
- Plan & schedule: Map out weekly and monthly tasks into a concise cleaning checklist. The 6/10 method (6 daily tasks, 10 weekly tasks) is a great place to start.
- Zone & conquer: You might assume that tackling specific chores one by one (such as dusting the entire house) can be the way to go but Leah suggests Type A personality types clean room-by-room.
- Create a checklist: Keep a visible cleaning checklist on the fridge or a whiteboard. You’ll get a hit of dopamine every time you tick something off the list.
- Use high-performance tools: As a highly organised person, you’re more likely to want to research the best cleaning products and most effective cleaning methods. Leah suggests this kit for streak-free cleaning.
- Finish & reset: Return everything to its designated place for lasting order.
The ultimate Type B cleaning schedule
- Spot clean first: Tackle visible messes like spills or dust immediately. It’s small but makes a big difference. Acting in the moment means you work with momentum and don’t have to remember to do it later (be honest: you won’t).
- Keep a flexible rhythm: Clean in bursts when inspired instead of trying to stick to dedicated times.
- Use multi-task tools: Keep versatile solutions on hand. Leah suggests this spray for spot cleaning.
- Enjoy the process: Play music, light a candle, and make it a mindful ritual. Perhaps Mary Poppins’ ‘A Spoonful of Sugar’ could be a helpful guide?
- Reward yourself: Once you’re all done, make sure to treat yourself afterwards – it will help encourage you to keep going.
