WordPress Maintenance Checklist: Monthly Tasks Guide

1. Update Everything: Outdated WordPress core, plugins, or themes can lead to security risks. Always update in this sequence: WordPress core → Plugins → Themes.
2. Backup Regularly: Use tools like UpdraftPlus or Jetpack VaultPress. Follow the 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies, 2 storage types, 1 off-site.
3. Run Security Checks: Scan for malware with tools like MalCare or Wordfence. Review user access and enable 2FA for better protection.
4. Optimize Speed: Clean up your database, enable caching, and compress media files. Tools like WP-Optimize and ShortPixel can help.
5. Test Features and Fix Links: Ensure forms, links, and interactive elements work properly. Use Broken Link Checker or Google Search Console for link audits.

Why it matters:

• 56% of hacked sites run outdated software.
• Slow sites lose 7% in conversions per second of delay.
• Proactive maintenance can reduce emergency repair costs by 50%.

Quick Comparison:

Stay consistent with these tasks to avoid costly downtime, security breaches, or performance issues.

WordPress Monthly Maintenance Checklist

Core System Updates

Keeping your WordPress installation up-to-date is crucial to avoid downtime and compatibility problems. This means regularly updating the WordPress core, plugins, and themes.

Finding Available Updates

Head to the Dashboard > Updates section to check for pending updates. You’ll find three categories:

• WordPress core updates
• Plugin updates
• Theme updates
  

For more control, consider using a tool like Easy Updates Manager. It lets you configure automatic updates, view logs, and even schedule updates during off-peak hours. Once you’ve identified updates, follow these safety measures before proceeding.

Update Safety Steps

Taking a few precautions can save you from potential headaches when updating your site. Here’s what you should do:

• Create Multiple Backups
  Use your hosting provider’s backup tools or plugins like UpdraftPlus or WPvivid. Store copies in separate locations for extra security.
• Enable Maintenance Mode
  Install a plugin like SeedProd to activate maintenance mode. This ensures visitors know the site is temporarily down.
• Prepare a Test Environment
  Set up a staging site to test updates before applying them to your live site. If that’s not an option, wait a week or two after an update’s release to see feedback from the WordPress community.

Update Sequence

Applying updates in the correct order helps maintain site stability. Here’s the recommended process:

For each stage, follow these steps:

1. Apply updates one at a time.
2. Clear your site’s cache.
3. Test the site’s functionality to ensure everything works as expected.

If your site hasn’t been updated in a long time, take extra care. Start by switching to a default theme, disabling plugins, updating the core files, and then reactivating plugins and your preferred theme. This step-by-step approach minimizes the risk of errors.

Website Backup Process

Backing up your WordPress site regularly is crucial. According to data, 54% of site owners have experienced data loss, yet only 10% perform daily backups ^[2].

Backup Methods

Different backup types cater to various needs:

For most WordPress sites, a mix of these methods works best. Aim for a full backup every month, paired with incremental backups daily or weekly, depending on how often you update your content.

Manual vs. Automated Backups

Manual backups give you complete control, while automated tools ensure consistency. Popular options include:

• UpdraftPlus: Over 3 million installations and a 4.8/5 rating ^[5].
• BlogVault: Starts at $149 per year ^[3].
• Jetpack VaultPress: Great for WooCommerce sites, priced at $59.40 per year ^[4].

Choose the method that fits your workflow and budget.

Backup Storage

Follow the 3-2-1 rule ^[1]: keep three copies of your backups, use two different storage types, and store one copy off-site.

Consider cloud services like Google Drive or Amazon S3, local drives, or backups provided by your hosting provider. Once your backups are secure, you can focus on strengthening your site further with monthly security checks.

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Monthly Security Checks

Pair your regular system updates and backups with these focused monthly security checks to keep your site secure. Recent statistics reveal that 41% of WordPress users fail to use two-factor authentication (2FA) or strong passwords ^[9].

Malware Detection

Running frequent malware scans is essential for keeping your site healthy and secure ^[6].

Here are some top tools to help:

After removing malware, take these steps: reset all passwords, clear your site’s caches, and update your security keys ^[6]. It’s also a good idea to review user access permissions to tighten security further.

User Access Review

Regularly reviewing user access is critical for safeguarding your site. In 2023, OneMain Financial faced a $4.25 million fine due to poor access control measures [7m,].

WordPress provides five user roles with varying levels of access:

“Consistency is key to a successful access management program. Setting up a consistent review schedule for access reviews can ensure that you identify any unnecessary or inappropriate individuals with access and sensitive privileges and revoke them before any security incident or reputational damage takes place.” – Anna Fitzgerald, Senior Content Marketing Manager ^[7]

 

Password and 2FA Setup

After reviewing user access, strengthen logins by implementing strong passwords and enabling two-factor authentication. According to Google, 2FA prevents 100% of automated bot attacks and 99% of bulk phishing attempts ^[11].

To improve password security:

• Use a password manager like NordPass to create and store complex passwords ^[8].
• Add reCAPTCHA to login pages to block automated attacks ^[8].
• Set login attempt limits to prevent brute-force attacks ^[8].

For 2FA, here are some reliable authenticator apps to consider:

For businesses, Duo Two-Factor Authentication offers a free plan for up to 10 users and scalable pricing starting at $3 per user per month for larger teams ^[10].

Speed and Performance Tasks

Once your site is secure, it’s time to focus on maintaining fast load times and smooth performance. Did you know that images alone make up 21% of a webpage’s size? ^[17]

Database Cleanup

A cluttered database can slow your site down. Tools like WP-Optimize ^[14] can help you tidy up and improve performance.

For best results, keep autoloaded data in the wp_options table under 800KB ^[12]. And always back up your database before making changes ^[13].

Cache Settings

Caching can dramatically reduce server load and improve page load times. Here’s how different types of caching help:

You can implement caching on both the server and browser sides. Tools like Redis or Memcached are excellent for object caching ^[15], while plugins such as WP Super Cache handle page-level caching.

Media File Optimization

Optimizing your images can shrink file sizes without compromising quality. Here’s a look at some tools:

Enable lazy loading to delay loading images until they’re needed, and convert images to WebP format for better compression ^[16]. Pair these efforts with a CDN to serve media files from servers closer to your visitors ^[15].

Finally, track your site’s performance using tools like LoadForge ^[15], and always test your speed after making any big changes. These steps, combined with caching, will keep your site running efficiently.

Content and Function Tests

Regular testing of your website’s content and features is essential to prevent user frustration and keep your site running reliably. Here’s a breakdown of key monthly checks to ensure your WordPress site stays in top shape.

Content Updates

Use tools like Google Analytics to review your site’s content each month, focusing on high-traffic posts ranked between positions 5–20. This can help you pinpoint areas for improvement.

For instance, the Content Refresh Manager plugin provides automated alerts and visual indicators to track when updates are due. This keeps your site fresh and optimized for search engines.

Form and Feature Testing

Beyond content, interactive elements like forms and features need to work flawlessly. Test these monthly to ensure smooth user experiences and accurate data capture.

A well-functioning form ensures users can complete tasks without frustration, with error messages guiding them effectively when needed.

Link Check

Broken links can harm both user experience and SEO. Regularly scan your site to catch and fix broken links before they become a problem. Trusted by over 700,000 users, the Broken Link Checker plugin automates this process, making it easier to maintain a fully operational site.

For example, in August 2024, a WPBeginner user discovered dozens of broken links after adding multilingual support with Polylang. The issue arose from changes in URL structure that lacked proper redirection. Regular link scans can help catch such problems early.

To minimize performance issues, schedule link checks during low-traffic hours. When broken links are found, use 301 redirects to guide users to the right pages and maintain your site’s usability.

Next Steps

Managing your website’s maintenance can take up more than 5 hours each week ^[18]. This leaves you with a decision: handle it yourself or hire professional support.

Once your site is running smoothly and securely, it’s important to pick a maintenance plan that keeps it that way with minimal interruptions. Here’s a quick breakdown of the most common options:

This comparison can help you figure out which option aligns with your site’s needs and traffic levels.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive solution, providers like WP Support Specialists offer plans starting at £120/month. These plans typically include malware monitoring, weekly backups, and unlimited website edits, all with a 12-hour response time.

Data shows that most website issues come from outdated plugins, missed updates, and poor backup practices ^[19][20]. For commercial websites, investing in professional maintenance often makes financial sense. Key features to look for include:

• 24/7 support
• Daily cloud backups
• Malware scanning
• Performance optimization
• Staging environment

Skipping maintenance can lead to security breaches, data loss, and even harm your SEO ^[19]. Take a close look at your site’s needs and budget to choose a maintenance plan that ensures long-term stability and success.