First off, I believe that if it isn't dirty, don't clean it. Second thing--if the public rooms (living room, powder room, kitchen) are picked up and reasonably dust-free/wiped down, I'm golden to have people over....so----
1. Before I go to bed, I straighten the sofa where I've been lying reading--cushions fluffed, throw folded. I take anything else--what I was reading, drinking from, shoes kicked off, etc. with me. My husband is cooperative for the most part. No kids, so...but you can either teach them to pick up after themselves ASAP, or pick up after them, too, last thing.
2. After every meal, dishes go in the dishwasher, counters wiped down. There may be things drying in the drainer--things that didn't dry soon enough when I left the dishwasher door open and pulled out the racks--if I can catch it right when the cycle ends and wipe the tops of glasses and mugs, everything dries pretty quickly except plastic. Empty the dishwasher ASAP, so you can reload before anything backs up.
3. When the powder room (or other bathroom, for that matter) looks grungy every few days and I notice it, I wipe the sink and toilet down with a spritzy cleaner (I like Method because it smells nice) and either the hand towel - put out a fresh one, or a paper towel. If the mirror got spotted or dusty, a spritz of window cleaner and a swipe with a paper towel (my grocery store gives out rolls of their lousy towels for a penny every so often). I sprinkle some Comet in the toilet bowl and scrub it, and leave the suds to soak....All cleaning supplies used there are stored under the sink.
4. I have two dogs, a German Shedder ;) and a Weimaraner. They get taken for nearly daily walks in the woods, so they track stuff in if I can't rinse them first. Rinsing them releases the dog hair, unless I can Furminate it away first. So pretty much daily, after their walks, I run a giant dust mop over the hard floors and onto the carpet, and then quickly run the upright vacuum over those--just on the traffic parts.
5. I pull down the bed sheet and covers neatly when I get up to let the bed air out while I eat breakfast, and then pull them up to make the bed (I love a duvet!) when I go back upstairs to shower and dress. Anything left out to air the night before gets folded, if necessary, and put away. All clothes are hung up or spread out to air (sweaters) when I take them off, or put in the laundry bag.
6. Sheets and towels are washed weekly. I do a load of laundry as soon as I have either a darks or a lights full load. I sometimes dry things on an indoor rack--in winter-- everything get put away as soon as it comes out of the dryer or is dry from hanging.
7. Deep cleaning happens when I get around to it...which may only be when furniture is moved. Baseboards get dusted; windows washed, etc. when I notice them.
8. No clutter makes maintaining very easy. I have two pieces of art glass on my coffee table. All books and magazines are stored on shelves. My laptop goes in its sleeve after I log off, and put aside against the wall.
