Through the years I would read books on cleaning (so much more fun that actually doing the work) and I would make to do lists, and read more, and make schedules and read more, notice not much in the way of cleaning.... I think that was a huge part of my problem. Finally I started to purg and get rid of alot of JUNK! And started following some of what those books said about cleaning! What do you know, I actually had days where my house was clean!
All that leads me to this, this blog here, this post on this blog. I created this particular blog to help share what I learn. Some about cleaning, and when about other "homemakery" things I learn. If you already know it, just keep hopping over to another blog, but if you are starting out as dense as I was....this might be a good place to start, along with Merry Maids.....
I recently found the most wonderful book on another person's blog. It's called Home Ec 101 by Heather Solos.
I'm going to share a little from her book. Not really word for word and hope I don't get sued for copyright enfringment! It's a really good book and one I highly suggest purchasing (it's not in the libraries at this time). One blogger suggested, (and I plan to use that suggestion) using it as a reference for teaching your kids home ec. So they don't grow up to be like me who has no clue on how to keep a house! :-)Here is the following schedule she recommends. It's a good start and you can tweek it to fit your circumstances.
Monday: Strip the beds, do all the laundry. This includes putting away the clean laundry, not leaving it in the baskets. Many people do a load a day or stretch it out. We stretch ours out, so I am going to try washing the bedding that I strip off the bed and putting away clean clothes on this day. I plan to strip the beds every other week (which will probably translate to once a month). Really, unless you are rolling around in the mud daily, who really needs to , or has the energy to, strip them every week. Also, wipe down everything in your kitchen. This includes actually lifting items up and wiping the counter underneath them. And if your really feeling it, actually wiping down the item you lifted before you set it down. It says to spend a few minutes doing this, but if your like me, one item alone could take a few minutes! lol So it maybe wiping down one item each Monday, but atleast you will get one more done than you would have before. OR you will spend more than a few minutes, but once you start that, it won't take so long the next time. Ok, this is why it takes me so long to get things done, one thought turns into another then another! I MUST move on....
Tuesday: Spend 15 mins. picking stuff up off the floor. Especially things that clog your vacuum. You can not purposefully clog your vacuum so you can avoid using it. It will just bug you until you get you vacuum fixed. If you have kids, go against your grain and MAKE THEM pick up their own stuff. Yes it would be faster to do it yourself, but they won't learn, and you will be doing it yourself when they are teenagers! Once you have done that, it's time to vacuum. Each week spend a little extra time in a different room. Actually using the attatchements that come with the vacuum (if you still have them). Vacuum the crevices, the couches etc....
Wednesday: Errands and Appointments. I really liked her idea of scheduling all the appts you can on Wednesdays. Then also plan all your errands on that day. It would be so much easier to not have to remember all the different days appts are on if you always schedule them on Wed. I have not done this yet, but I have started. Made an appt today for a Wed later in the month. Now to remember to plan everything else for that day. This includes any service calls etc.... Also since you will be in your car, take the time to clean up the car a bit. pick up any trash, if you have the time, maybe run through the car wash or vacuum it out. Clean up the entry way to your home. As you go in and out of the house look at it as a guest would.
Thursday: Clean the bathrooms......that's enough work for one day! I might even suggest eating out that night!
Friday: Kitchen duty. You might think, hey, I wiped it all down on Monday, well did you really think it was going to stay clean all week? Or that there wasn't more to the kitchen than the counters? This is the day you get to walk around the house (or again put the kids to work) and find all the dishes left through out the house and get them to walk themselves into the kitchen. Go through the fridge and find any science projects growing in there. Sweep and Mop the floor. You know what you SHOULD be doing. Just look at it as if you were a stranger coming in. What would gross them out?
Saturday: use this day as project day. Be it yard work, or painting or sewing. Any big project you have going on. By the way, despite what your conscience tells you, it's O.K. to use one or two Saturdays to do something *gasp* FUN!
Sunday: Planning day! Gather library books, plan you menus, your shopping list, look at your appts. all that fun stuff, so you are not suprised during the week. Also kind of relax on this day. You will be able to do so much more the rest of the week if you are able to just relax one day. AFTER returning home from church ofcourse! :-)
And that concludes this episode of "How Do I Do This".
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