Repetitive Cleaning: How Cleaning Can Feel Like Groundhog Day

January 29, 2025

Let’s face it: cleaning your home (no matter how big or small) can feel like a repetitive, daunting task. It’s kind of like that movie Groundhog Day (p.s. the real Groundhog Day is February 2nd). In the movie, Bill Murray wakes up every morning and experiences Groundhog Day over and over again. In real life, cleaning can kinda feel the same way. There are so many rooms to think about; all with their own set of fixtures and appliances that need attention. You’ve got your bedrooms, living room, laundry room, and of course, your kitchen and your bathroom – the two dirtiest places in your home. There’s just so much to clean!  

The good news is that cleaning doesn’t have to feel daunting. If you start with the most “difficult” or arduous rooms, the rest of your home will be a breeze. More importantly, if you’re consistent with your cleaning routine, you’ll have less grime to work through. So, let’s get started with the room most people dread the most: your bathroom. 

Bathrooms

Bathrooms aren’t particularly fun to clean… y’know, for obvious reasons. Still, for the sake of hygiene and overall wellness, regular cleaning is important. You should clean toilets, sinks, showers, tubs, and countertops weekly. 

 Now, if you don’t want to “toil” over cleaning your toilet on a weekly basis, you can use Bar Keepers Friend Toilet Bowl Cleaner. What makes it easier to use? The extra-thick formula clings to the bowl, the angled spout allows for easy under-the-rim application, and this product only takes five minutes to deep-clean your toilet.

To make cleaning shower walls, doors, floors, and tubs easier, you also need a cleanser that will cling to vertical surfaces. Viola! Bar Keepers Friend MORE Spray & Foam.

What about your sink? It depends on the material. For porcelain, we recommend Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser. If your bathroom sink is stainless steel, you can use Bar Keepers Friend Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish.

The Kitchen

There’s been much debate over what room in your home is the dirtiest. Some say it’s the bathroom, while others have said it’s the kitchen. Regardless of who “wins” that competition, it’s a room that likely gets a ton of use – with lots of grease, dirt and grime hanging out on your stovetop, kitchen top and more. 

You probably need to wipe down your stainless steel appliances daily, so we recommend using MORE Spray + Foam. For your weekly deep clean, use BKF’s stainless steel appliance cleaner. It not only cleans and shines, it can also prevent rust from building up on your appliances. 

Counters should also be wiped down daily.. For a deeper weekly clean of your granite and stone counters, use our granite countertops cleaner, Granite & Stone Cleaner & Polish. It will make those countertops sparkle and shine.

While you’re at it, BKF’s Cooktop Cleaner (and Cooktop Cleaning Kit) can continue that level of cleaning for your cooktops. Food particles (think solidified sugars, sauces, crumbs, etc) can stick to your cooktop and ruin the look and functionality of your cooktop. Using a cleaner specifically made for cooktops can help keep them in tip-top shape.

Plan Ahead 

One of the best ways to make your weekly cleaning more manageable is to plan ahead. Here are some practical tips for regularly cleaning your home:

Create a Cleaning Schedule

Break down tasks by room. It can be helpful to schedule rooms or tasks, so you don’t take on too much and become overwhelmed.

Gather Supplies

Store these in your kitchen and bathroom cabinets.

• Soft, non-abrasive sponge
• Microfiber cloth
• Bar Keepers Friend Powder Cleanser
• Bar Keepers Friend MORE Spray + Foam
• Bar Keepers Friend Stainless Steel Cleaner
• Bar Keepers Friend Granite & Stone Cleaner & Polish
• Bar Keepers Friend Cookware Cleanser & Polish
• Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser

Declutter First

Remove unnecessary items from each room. Sorting items into keep, donate, or discard piles helps me keep areas uncluttered.

Use the Top-Down Method

Start cleaning from the top (ceiling fans, light fixtures) and work your way down to avoid re-cleaning areas.

Clean Inside Appliances

Remember to clean inside the oven, refrigerator, and microwave. It might not be necessary every week, but it should be done at least monthly. I use BKF MORE Spray + Foam.

By following these tips, repetitive cleaning can be less of a Groundhog Day ordeal and more ideal. Let’s make repetitive cleaning easier!

Do you have a weekly cleaning schedule? If so, do you use any BKF products? Do you have any photos? If you do, you can share them at #BKFBeforeAndAfter or submit them to our website. We’d love to see what you’ve done! It could be featured on one of our social media accounts, our website, or even on a can of Bar Keepers Friend!

About the Author 

Randy Clark is a speaker, coach, and author. He publishes a weekly blog at Randy Clark Leadership.com. Randy is passionate about social media, leadership development, and flower gardening. He’s a beer geek, and on weekends (after COVID-19), he can be found fronting the Rock & Roll band Under the Radar. He’s the proud father of two daughters; he has four amazing grandchildren and a wife who dedicates her time to helping others. Randy is the author of the Amazon bestseller The New Manager’s Workbook: A crash course in effective management.