Cleaning?

Just curious, does everyone have a sort of work-flow for cleaning there house? I used to just have a big cleaning day once a week (usually before the in-laws were coming over to get the kids ) but have changed it to a one room a day sort of approach.

Here is a LO I did with my main cleaning tasks. I am going to print this and put in on my fridge (my kitchen is white, yellow, and blue so it is perfect!)



Of course there is still the normal daily stuffs like laundry, dishes, tidying, and such. But, I am finding it a lot easier to spend 1/2 hour a day on the one big cleaning task, usually by room.

How do you guys tackle cleaning?

I should probably do it that way. Mostly because with my way, nothing gets cleaned until I can't STAND it anymore. Living with 2 messy boys, the only thing that gets regularly cleaned is the kitchen. Any weekend we're home, that gets cleaned 1 morning from top to bottom. I HATE sticky counters.

Other than that, it all just piles up on me until I can't take it anymore. Like the bathrooms. Blegh.

PS~Super cute LO!

My husband is peeking over my shoulder and said that's what I need! He's right too! VERY cute Jenn- I'm thinking laminate and mount to to my white board. At least my to-do list would be cute then.

ETA: Don't be surprised if I lift your idea! hee hee!

I basically just clean whenever it needs done. My kids with the exception of the youngest are gone alot with friends and what-have-you so it is just me and my husband and youngest son here most of the time so basically we dont have a whole lot of messes. My husband and kids pitch in to so it is not just me cleaning here.

Usually all in one big sweep on the weekends. I work all day during the week then have ballgames and practices for the boys. By the time everything is done, the kids are fed, bathed and in bed I am ready to collapse. I just don't think I could fit in the cleaning of one room everyday.

One word: Flylady.

I had been doing the Flylady thing for a while but fell off the train for whatever reason. With moving now, I started it up again. It's hard to explain to somebody who isn't savvy. You'd have to just check it out. It's more or less about creating cleaning habits that stick... it's not something you jump into.

I pick a room a day :thumbup:. I HATE to clean so that breaks it up enough for me to actually get something done.

Other than dusting and grocery shopping I do pretty much everything every day lol. I cannot stand for my kitchen or bathroom to be dirty so they get cleaned and usually mopped every day..I make up the beds first thing and do at least 2 loads of laundry a day. I also make a run through the entire house before I go to sleep to pick up stray toys and clothes and stuff. I just can't relax if my house isn't clean. My vacuum is my best friend and we don't even have carpet downstairs..I love my attachments Dust bunnies are the enemy!!!

AnnieBananie said:

One word: Flylady.

I had been doing the Flylady thing for a while but fell off the train for whatever reason. With moving now, I started it up again. It's hard to explain to somebody who isn't savvy. You'd have to just check it out. It's more or less about creating cleaning habits that stick... it's not something you jump into.

Click to expand...

I like here detailed cleaning lists, I think I might need to print those out (yes I need step by step lists to help me clean....)

nikkiARNGwife said:

Other than dusting and grocery shopping I do pretty much everything every day lol. I cannot stand for my kitchen or bathroom to be dirty so they get cleaned and usually mopped every day..I make up the beds first thing and do at least 2 loads of laundry a day. I also make a run through the entire house before I go to sleep to pick up stray toys and clothes and stuff. I just can't relax if my house isn't clean. My vacuum is my best friend and we don't even have carpet downstairs..I love my attachments Dust bunnies are the enemy!!!

Click to expand...

I'm the same way..

If i'm deep cleaning..I'll normally take a week and do a room or 2 at a time/a day..but I pretty much clean/tidy up everyday.

I always *want* to do things by room - work on a room each day. But I've never gotten it to work, lol. I think I may need to try your chart method.

JenniferBarrette said:

(yes I need step by step lists to help me clean....)

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Meeeee too

I used to use the Motivated Moms calendar. I LOVED it. Whole house cleaning broken into easy manageable tasks. I have to find that calendar!!! I tend to clean in spurts, which is why my house isn't as clean as it could be. :/

Using a list is the way to go! We have a check list and it really helps (although it hasn't the past couple of months since we have been out of town so much!!)

Here's ours - nothing fancy.

BEFORE BED TO DO LIST
Quick clean-up:
- Clean up from dinner – clean off table, stove and counters, wash dishes
- Living room: Pick up floor, etc

Prepare for tomorrow:
- Thaw food for tomorrow’s dinner and/or get out crock pot
- Lay out clothes and shoes for tomorrow
- Make lunch for tomorrow (on working days)
- Reflect on today’s accomplishments



MORNINIG TO DO LIST
- Make the bed
- Put load of laundry in
- Eat breakfast, feed Wesley breakfast
- Make a list for the day
- Finish making lunch


WEEKLY CLEANING SCHEDULE

Sunday: Planning Day
- Plan meals for the week, and make grocery list
- Prep ahead for weeknight meals as able

Monday: Grocery & Laundry Day
- Crock pot day for dinner
- Double check meal/grocery list
- Go grocery shopping – Deanna
- Do 2 loads of laundry (including sheets) from start to finish – Steve
- Empty all trash and diaper pail, and clean our refrigerator – Deanna
- Take trash down – Steve

Tuesday: Free Day
- Water plants – Deanna
- Straighten/sweep porches - Steve

Wednesday: Weekly Quick-clean (1 hour of quick-cleaning time)
- Toss old magazines and sort mail – Deanna
- Sweep (mop as needed) kitchen, hall, bath – Deanna
- Clean bathroom - Deanna
- Vacuum all rooms – Steve
- Dust all rooms and clean all mirrors - Steve

Thursday: Paperwork & Laundry Day
- Clean out purse - Deanna
- Sort/pay bills – Deanna
- File paperwork/bills – Deanna
- Write cards, thank you notes, etc. – Deanna
- Do ironing – Deanna
- Do 2 loads of laundry (including rugs and tablecloth) from start to finish – Steve

BTW, I love the Fly Lady and used her method to help with our cleaning list. Her method really works!

Speaking of cleaning....

I MUST GO GET A NEW BELT FOR MY KIRBY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's about 20 miles to the Kirby store and I just haven't had the motivation to do it!

My cleaning method is as follows:

Sit. Wait. Play on the computer. Scrap. Play with Ava. Repeat. DH comes home. Can't stand the mess. He cleans. Done!

I'm starting to think that this isn't the best way though, lol!! I'm going to check out Fly Lady and see what kind of list I can make. I know DH would appreciate it if I cleaned more, lol. I just hate it so much!

My mom used to have "days" for things. I liked her method - I might try it myself. Like Monday was Laundry Day. Tuesday was Grocery Day. Wednesday was Baking Day. It worked for her - she had 5 kids and managed to keep up.

Cleaning for me:

Every day:
Laundry
beds made
clean kitchen
floor sweeping (often several times)
tidying (several times)
Playroom clean up (lunch time and after dinner)

Wednesdays:
Sheets
Bathrooms

Sundays
Bathrooms
dusting
floor mopping
kids room cleaning

If something is out of place, I walk by and pick it up. I don't just leave it, kwim?

Man I've tried everything. Lists, day by day, Flylady, "eliminating the evidence", chore schedules. I'm - just - lazy.

I try to keep my kitchen very tidy (because, uh, it's the kitchen) but other than that... If I clean my desk off before it reaches maximum capacity I feel like I'm Donna Reed.