The Real Gun Cleaning Schedule
You're probably over-cleaning the parts that don't matter and under-cleaning the one that does.
There's a persistent range myth that a defensive pistol needs a full detail strip after every trip to stay reliable. Modern pistols run hundreds of rounds on minimal lubrication without issue. The actual failure point people create by over-cleaning is stripping oil off the rails and leaving the gun dry, not leaving carbon on it.
After every range session
Wipe down the exterior, run a bore snake or a patch through the barrel, and check that there's still a thin film of oil on the rails and locking surfaces. That's it. This takes five minutes and covers 90% of what actually needs attention.
Every few hundred rounds, or monthly for a carry gun
This is when a real cleaning kit earns its keep: brush the bore properly, clean carbon out of the extractor and breech face, and re-lube the full rail system rather than just topping it off. This is also the point to inspect for wear: check the recoil spring, look for stress cracks on polymer frames, and confirm the sights or optic mount are still torqued to spec.
The part people actually neglect
Magazines. Nobody cleans magazines, and magazines are disproportionately responsible for feeding malfunctions. Strip them, wipe the spring and follower, and check the feed lips aren't deformed: every few months for range mags, more often for a carry magazine that's living in a holster or pocket picking up lint and pocket debris.
What to skip
You don't need to detail-strip a striker-fired pistol every week, and you don't need three different bore solvents doing the same job. A good CLP, a proper set of brushes, and a bore snake for quick maintenance between deeper cleanings covers nearly everything most owners will ever need.
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