Monthly Home Maintenance Checklist
Most of what goes wrong in a house is not a sudden failure. It is a filter, a drain or a seal that nobody looked at for a year. The monthly jobs are the ones that keep the dishwasher cleaning properly, the washing machine from smelling, the drains running and the litter box from becoming a problem. None of them is hard, and most take less than ten minutes.
Here are the tasks from the HouseKiper schedule that come around every month, followed by the ones that return every two months. We kept them separate from the seasonal and yearly jobs on purpose, so you can treat this page as a short routine: pick a day, such as the first Saturday, and run down the list. If you want the larger jobs too, the seasonal checklists and the complete schedule cover everything that only happens once or twice a year.
12 tasks below. Want them as reminders instead of a list? Download HouseKiper and it schedules the ones that apply to your home. The full list is on the home maintenance checklist.
📅 Every month
Pick a fixed day and work through these in one short session.
Clean the dishwasher filter
Every monthRemove it from the bottom, rinse under the tap and brush off any residue.
Deep-clean the microwave
Every monthHeat a bowl of water and lemon for 3 minutes; the steam loosens the grime.
Clean the kitchen drain
Every monthBaking soda, vinegar and hot water; now and then take apart and clean the trap.
Clean the bathroom drains
Every monthRemove hair from the grate and use baking soda with vinegar.
Run a washing machine cleaning cycle
Every monthEmpty wash at 60–90 °C with vinegar or cleaner, then dry the door seal.
Backwash the pool filter
Every monthBackwash when the pressure gauge rises.
Wash pet beds and blankets
Every monthHelps keep fleas and odours under control.
Deep-clean the litter box
Every monthEmpty fully, hot water and mild soap (no bleach mixed with ammonia).
🗓️ Every month and a half to two months
Not quite monthly, so put them on every second round.
Deep-clean the fridge
Every 45 daysEmpty it, wash shelves and drawers with warm water and baking soda, and check the door seals.
Descale the coffee maker and kettle
Every 2 monthsRun a full cycle with water and vinegar or citric acid, then rinse twice.
Clean the air conditioner filters
Every 2 monthsMonthly during heavy use. Rinse with water and let them dry in the shade.
Wash and disinfect the bins
Every 2 monthsHot water and a splash of bleach; let them dry in the sun.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do around the house every month?
Clean the dishwasher filter, run the washing machine cleaning cycle, clear the kitchen and bathroom drains, deep clean the microwave and wash pet bedding. Each is a small job that prevents smells, clogs and early appliance wear.
How long does monthly home maintenance take?
Plan on 30 to 60 minutes in total, depending on which appliances and pets you have. Doing it on a fixed day makes it a habit instead of a chore.
Are monthly tasks the same for every home?
No. Pool, pet and appliance jobs only apply if you have them, so skip anything that does not fit your home. The HouseKiper app filters the list this way when you set up your home.
What about tasks that are not monthly?
Quarterly, yearly and seasonal jobs are on the complete home maintenance checklist and on the fall, winter, spring and summer pages.