Having a plan
Once you get all of your cleaning supplies lined up, then there is the task of
deciding what to do and when.
Do you just take it a day at a time? And clean what is most necessary?
Do you have specific days for specific chores?
Or do you clean a room at a time on a certain day?
Have you set aside a certain day(s) to do laundry?
Is your plan actually "working"?
Or do you need to revamp you plan?
Take a very close-up look at everything.
Is it really clean or just tidy?
Is it all messy and cluttered, but squeaky-clean?
Only "we" can decide what we are comfortable with - and your husband
of course!
Is your husband pleased with what you have done?
What major thing would make you both happy?
Are there areas that need more of your attention?
Are you a "clean-freak", and are some things really "that" necessary? Would
your husband and family be more at ease if you weren't so finicky about certain things? Does your cleaning take up too much of the time that could be spent enjoying your children or husband or even your home? Or is your home uncomfortable, because it is messy, and or dirty? A good clue is how you react when a guest is coming. Do you freak out when someone drives up
unexpectedly? Do you rush around tidying up? Do you meet them at the front door, and not let them see inside your home? Or are you comfortable enough to invite them in?
Do you have a plan?
Do you write a list of To-Do's in a notebook?
Do you have a daily planner that you use religiously?
Are you a list lady?
Or do you just play it all by ear?
Could you use some helpful tips on doing a quick pickup, quick
clean, or de-cluttering hints?
Years ago, I used the book called 15 Minute Home & Family Organizer, by Emilie Barnes for an outline for cleaning, organizing, de-cluttering, etc. Her suggestions have been very helpful and I'm sure some of it might help you as well. As I remember (I loaned the book out, so some of this info may be
incorrect, as far as word for word, but it'll give you the overall concept)
Using three bags, boxes or baskets, go through a room and fill the
bags using the following categories:
Thow away
Give away
Move to another room or proper place
Set a timer, work for 15 minutes...
This would work just as well for cleaning:
Dust
Sweep or vacuum
Mop
Or for de-cluttering, using the same categories as above.
Another outline she used was having three categories of what to
keep:
Is it beautiful?
Is it useful and being used?
Is it sentimental?
If an item doesn't fall into one of the three categories, out it goes!
So, how does your surroundings really make you
feel?
Closed in? Really uncomfortable? It may be time to simplify! So much can be said for simplifying, but the main thing is that it is far more stress-free than a cluttered unkept home. Children would also find this fun to do, and with our monitoring they could do very well...Of course you might need to check and
make sure they haven't thrown away something their Great Aunt Grace gave them...LOL
All in all, quit dreading the task at hand, and realize that it will make our family happy, and make us feel as if we have really accomplished something that is important...The atmosphere we create can be cozy, welcoming, and relaxing...Or it can be uncomfortable, bothersome, and very stressful to us and our family...We are in charge of our domain, and we should do our
best to make it as happy and delightful as possible! We want our husband and children to feel comfortable and really look forward to coming home everyday...And we want to welcome visitors and our friends into our home without feeling shy or embarrassed. If it only takes 15 minutes per room to get it looking acceptable, then why wait?
No, I'm not Flylady...Although it might be nice at times! LOL I just have to get in the mood before tackling the tasks' at hand...."Ready, Set, Go" just doesn't really motivate me "most" of the time. Now if you use Flylady techniques, then that is fine...
Of course we want to have fun, and not make this a dreaded chore, so don your apron, put on some good music, and make yourself a cup of something to drink to keep up your energy level, and set your timer and go to work!
My regular Monday chores:
Thaw something for supper.
Strip and make bed.
While in bedroom: dust, vacuum, pickup.
Wash sheets, and other laundry.
While there: dust, pickup, sweep, mop.
Hang out sheets, clothes, etc.
Sweep back porch, wipe off surfaces, and clean windows.
Take in, fold, put-away laundry.
Take a break and rest before starting supper.
deciding what to do and when.
Do you just take it a day at a time? And clean what is most necessary?
Do you have specific days for specific chores?
Or do you clean a room at a time on a certain day?
Have you set aside a certain day(s) to do laundry?
Is your plan actually "working"?
Or do you need to revamp you plan?
Take a very close-up look at everything.
Is it really clean or just tidy?
Is it all messy and cluttered, but squeaky-clean?
Only "we" can decide what we are comfortable with - and your husband
of course!
Is your husband pleased with what you have done?
What major thing would make you both happy?
Are there areas that need more of your attention?
Are you a "clean-freak", and are some things really "that" necessary? Would
your husband and family be more at ease if you weren't so finicky about certain things? Does your cleaning take up too much of the time that could be spent enjoying your children or husband or even your home? Or is your home uncomfortable, because it is messy, and or dirty? A good clue is how you react when a guest is coming. Do you freak out when someone drives up
unexpectedly? Do you rush around tidying up? Do you meet them at the front door, and not let them see inside your home? Or are you comfortable enough to invite them in?
Do you have a plan?
Do you write a list of To-Do's in a notebook?
Do you have a daily planner that you use religiously?
Are you a list lady?
Or do you just play it all by ear?
Could you use some helpful tips on doing a quick pickup, quick
clean, or de-cluttering hints?
Years ago, I used the book called 15 Minute Home & Family Organizer, by Emilie Barnes for an outline for cleaning, organizing, de-cluttering, etc. Her suggestions have been very helpful and I'm sure some of it might help you as well. As I remember (I loaned the book out, so some of this info may be
incorrect, as far as word for word, but it'll give you the overall concept)
Using three bags, boxes or baskets, go through a room and fill the
bags using the following categories:
Thow away
Give away
Move to another room or proper place
Set a timer, work for 15 minutes...
This would work just as well for cleaning:
Dust
Sweep or vacuum
Mop
Or for de-cluttering, using the same categories as above.
Another outline she used was having three categories of what to
keep:
Is it beautiful?
Is it useful and being used?
Is it sentimental?
If an item doesn't fall into one of the three categories, out it goes!
So, how does your surroundings really make you
feel?
Closed in? Really uncomfortable? It may be time to simplify! So much can be said for simplifying, but the main thing is that it is far more stress-free than a cluttered unkept home. Children would also find this fun to do, and with our monitoring they could do very well...Of course you might need to check and
make sure they haven't thrown away something their Great Aunt Grace gave them...LOL
All in all, quit dreading the task at hand, and realize that it will make our family happy, and make us feel as if we have really accomplished something that is important...The atmosphere we create can be cozy, welcoming, and relaxing...Or it can be uncomfortable, bothersome, and very stressful to us and our family...We are in charge of our domain, and we should do our
best to make it as happy and delightful as possible! We want our husband and children to feel comfortable and really look forward to coming home everyday...And we want to welcome visitors and our friends into our home without feeling shy or embarrassed. If it only takes 15 minutes per room to get it looking acceptable, then why wait?
No, I'm not Flylady...Although it might be nice at times! LOL I just have to get in the mood before tackling the tasks' at hand...."Ready, Set, Go" just doesn't really motivate me "most" of the time. Now if you use Flylady techniques, then that is fine...
Of course we want to have fun, and not make this a dreaded chore, so don your apron, put on some good music, and make yourself a cup of something to drink to keep up your energy level, and set your timer and go to work!
My regular Monday chores:
Thaw something for supper.
Strip and make bed.
While in bedroom: dust, vacuum, pickup.
Wash sheets, and other laundry.
While there: dust, pickup, sweep, mop.
Hang out sheets, clothes, etc.
Sweep back porch, wipe off surfaces, and clean windows.
Take in, fold, put-away laundry.
Take a break and rest before starting supper.
