Sunday, March 25, 2012

Detailed Housecleaning Week 1 ~ The Bathroom

 

I have been wanting to blog about my housecleaning schedule for a while now, so now is as good a time as any.

This is a schedule that I've been devising and tweaking for a while now until it was something that was easy for me to work with, and to stick with...and I think I have it just about right.

First of all...why do I need a list? I am a terrible procrastinator, and will put things off and put things off until they are just not done at all.
What works to motivate me and get me going are lists. I make lists for all kinds of things, but it wasn't until I put together this housecleaning list that I felt I really had a handle on my home and it's organization.

My inspiration for my housecleaning comes from the Flylady website. I followed it for a while, and while some of it worked for me...some of it just didn't. So I took what I learned from it, and tweaked it to fit into my life.

Now before we start, I will explain the basics of it. I have 5 areas/rooms in my home: our main bedroom, the bathroom, the kitchen, the dining area, and the living room (I don't clean the kid's rooms...they are old enough and responsible for their own spaces)....and each week I work on a different room and do a detailed cleaning which I divide up all through the week. Then there are certain chores that are done every day of the week, and finally there are certain chores that I do once a week on a particular day.

How did I come up with the chores for the detailed cleaning? I stood in each room of my house and asked myself, "If I were to do a thorough cleaning in this room right now, what all would I need to do?" I then sat down, wrote out each chore that would need to be done, then divided the chores throughout the week.

I know...it sounds confusing, but I will list each thing I do every day. It will also look like a LOT of work..but once you get into the routine, it really only takes no more than about an hour.

I go into a little more detail about how to get into this routine and how certain things are done here:
Detailed Housecleaning ~ Don't Get Overwhelmed!

Just a couple other things before we start.

A HOT SPOT is an area in a room that is the most cluttered. I always do the visible hot spots first, like tabletops...and if there isn't any visible clutter, I will work on a hidden hot spot, like a drawer or cabinet. So when it's time to clean a hot spot for 5 minutes...I look around, and just straighten the messiest spot in a room.

DECLUTTERING is done each day in a different area of the house. For this, I set a time for 15 minutes, and straighten a room. Get stuff out of there that doesn't belong, throw out garbage, put things where they go. 

CHORES THAT ARE DONE EVERY DAY:
  • Dishes (Load dishwasher and run it before bed, empty it in the morning.)
  • Fill pet dishes/ check and clean cat litter
  • Wash, dry and put away one load of laundry
  • Wipe bathroom (spray sink, faucet and toilet...wipe clean (disinfecting wipes work great too). Swish inside toilet with toilet brush)
  • Vacuum (don't move furniture, just do around everything. I have 2 cats, a dog, a 12 and 17 year old, a 6 month old and a husband....I HAVE to vacuum every day haha!)
  • Straighten surfaces (before bed I make sure the kitchen table, the kitchen counter and living room coffee and end tables are clutter free)
WEEKLY CHORES:
  • Monday: Change and/or wash bedding
  • Tuesday: Dust surfaces (I feather dust everything in the whole house, shelves, knick knacks, lampshades, etc. When I think it needs it, or I have time...I use furniture polish and do tabletops, etc.)
  • Wednesday: Empty all garbage (Bathroom and bedroom cans are emptied, kitchen garbage goes out if full....anything else that has been set aside that needs to go out....gets put in garbage cans in the garage.
  • Thursday: Clean mirrors and glass (Spray and wipe all mirrors, spot clean the inside of each window in the house)
  • Friday: Purge mail and magazines (go through all the mail is laying around, throw out what is junk. Go through magazines and newspapers and throw out what has been read....straighten what you are keeping)

Oh my....ok....is anyone still with me??? Haha! I PROMISE....this is MUCH easier than it looks.

 

To put it simply....the hot spots, decluttering, daily and weekly cleaning are ongoing upkeep, while you are concentrating on doing a thorough cleaning during the week in a particular room.
Easy peasy! ;p


This week....I am cleaning in the BATHROOM.


Ready? Here we go!

 

MONDAY
  • Change/wash bedding
  • Clean toilet inside and out
  • Declutter living room for 15 minutes
  • Wash/put away dishes
  • Fill pet dishes/clean litter
  • Clean hot spots for 5 minutes each: Bedroom & kitchen
  • Wash, dry and put away a load of laundry
  • Straighten surfaces (before bed)
  • Wipe bathroom
  • Vacuum
  • Spray and wipe down plastic shower curtain, wash fabric shower curtain


TUESDAY
  • Spray and wipe bathroom mirror and window
  • Spray down and wipe shower walls and bathtub, throw out any empty bottles 
  • Declutter bedroom for 15 minutes
  • Wash/put away dishes
  • Dust all surfaces in house
  • Fill pet dishes/clean litter
  • Clean hot spots for 5 minutes each: Kitchen & bathroom
  • Wash, dry and put away a load of laundry
  • Straighten surfaces (before bed)
  • Wipe bathroom
  • Vacuum


WEDNESDAY
  • Clean out medicine cabinet (take things out, wipe inside cabinet, throw out old medications, organize and put away what you are keeping. Now is a good time to write down anything you need to stock up on...bandaids, cold medicine, etc)
  • Declutter kitchen for 15 minutes
  • Wash/put away dishes
  • Empty all garbage and put out
  • Fill pet dishes/ clean litter
  • Clean hot spots for 5 minutes each: Bathroom and living room
  • Wash, dry and put away a load of laundry
  • Sweep and mop kitchen and bathroom floors
  • Straighten surfaces (before bed)
  • Wipe bathroom
  • Vacuum


THURSDAY
  • Clean cabinet above toilet (this can be any other storage cabinet or area in your bathroom. Take things out, wipe clean, throw out anything old, organize and restock it.)
  • Clean all mirrors in the house, spot clean insides of all windows in the house
  • Declutter bathroom for 15 minutes
  • Wash/put away dishes
  • Fill pet dishes/ clean litter
  • Clean hot spots for 5 minutes each: Living room and bedroom
  • Wash, dry and put away a load of laundry
  • Straighten surfaces (before bed)
  • Wipe bathroom
  • Vacuum
  • Collect and wash bathroom rugs, curtains and any stray towels laying around in bathroom


FRIDAY
  • Scrub bathroom sink and faucet. Empty out cabinet under sink, wipe clean, organize and restock.
  • Straighten up in the laundry area/room. Take out garbage, organize shelves and cabinets, wipe down washer and dryer.
  • Wash/put away dishes
  • Fill pet dishes/clean letter
  • Clean hot spots for 5 minutes each: Kitchen and bathroom
  • Wash, dry and put away a load of laundry
  • Purge mail and magazines (throw out junk, organize what you are keeping)
  • Straighten surfaces (before bed)
  • Wipe bathroom
  • Vacuum


SATURDAY & SUNDAY
  • Wash/put away dishes
  • Fill pet dishes/check litter
  • Wash, dry and put away a load of laundry
  • Straighten surfaces (before bed)
  • Wipe bathroom
  • Vacuum
Every Monday I print out my weekly list, and I mark off each chore as I do it.

At first, if your house was as cluttered and disorganized as mine....this will take you a while to get through, but if you keep at it, eventually you will be able to get all of your cleaning done in an hour or so a day. You will start to notice a difference in your house, and you won't panic when you hear someone knock on the door because your home will be presentable.


If you follow this, you will of course have to tweak it to what will work for you. You will have to add chores, and omit chores, but this gives you a basic idea of how I keep my home clean and organized.

IMPORTANT NOTE: After hiding my cleaning list from The Kids and The Husband for a long time because I was embarrassed for them to know I needed a list to clean the house.....I started leaving it on the counter so that it was easier to see what needed to get done...The Kids started looking at it each day, and asking to HELP! The Husband has not yet caught on though, ha ha! 

 

Please leave a comment if you have any questions.

For the next 4 weeks, I will detail a different room, so if you want to continue to read further installments of my housecleaning schedule, please make sure you follow me by one of the options in my sidebar.


Other links:

Next week we will clean.....The bedroom.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Linking to:
A bowl full of lemons ~ A Glimpse Inside ~ At The Picket FenceBetween Naps on the Porch ~ Boogieboard CottageBrassy Apple ~ Cherished Handmade Treasures ~ Chic on a ShoestringCoastal Charm ~ Confessions of a Stay at Home MommyC.R.A.F.T. ~ Craft-O-Maniac ~ Debbie Does Creations ~ DIY by DesignElizabeth & Co ~ French Country CottageHandy Man, Crafty Woman ~ Happy Hour Projects ~ Here Comes the Sunhome happy homeHome Savvy A to ZHomemaker on a Dime ~ homework ~ House of Hepworths ~ How To Nest For LessI Heart Nap Time  ~ little becky homeckylive laugh roweMy 1929 Charmer ~ My Girlish Whims ~ My Repurposed LifeMy Uncommon Slice of Suburbia ~ No Minimalist HereNot JUST A Housewife ~ One Artsy MamaOur Delightful HomePetite HermineRandee's Organized Chaos ~ Sassy Sites! ~ Savvy Southern Style ~ School House ScrapsSerendipity and Spice ~ Serenity NowSew Chatty ~ Sew Many Ways ~ Skip To My Lou ~ Someday Crafts ~ Southern Lovely ~ Stuff and NonsenseSugar and DotsSugar Bee CraftsSumo's Sweet Stuff ~ Tea Rose HomeThe Blackberry Vine ~ The Brambleberry Cottage ~ The Charm of HomeThe Grant LifeThe NY Melrose FamilyThe Project QueenThe Southern Institute ~ Thirty Handmade DaysThrifty 101Tip JunkieUnder The Table and Dreaming ~ Vintage Gwen

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23 comments:

  1. I have been trying to make a list like that for myself for AGES! Now I'm just going to use yours. :-) Thanks so much for sharing; I'm looking forward to next week!

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  2. This is a great plan to keep your housework under control...thanks!

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  3. Hi again Jackie--I just left a comment on your celtic cross post too! I am such a list girl--oh my--I have lists of things I need to make lists of, and my 23 year old daughter has inherited my affliction. I do the cleaning lists too and I think they are quite effective. Good idea to leave it for the family to see! I think I must follow you so I can enjoy your future lists! :) Linda

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  4. Linda - Great list but I'm wondering how I can get this all done before and after I get home from work. Just curious to know if you work outside the home? My house is a clutter disaster with no kids but several cats. Vacuuming every day is a must but I don't seem to even get that done. I checked out Flylady but the website was too overwhelming. Think I will try your program and see how it goes. Your newest follower.

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  5. This is brilliant. I an so much more productive and efficient with a list, too. But I tend to get out of the habit of using them. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  6. This is so great! I am going to use this, too!!

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  7. I need to get back to my list. I have been horrible lately. Thanks for sharing. I don't know if you use it. I love Evernote. I have it on my phone and it syncs to my computer so I can take my lists wherever I go and it has a place where I can insert a checkmark. Yes please!! Let me know if you need help with the app. Thanks so much for linking to Toot Your Horn Tuesday.

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  8. I need to get a detailed list of what needs to be done in each room - for me and for my kids to reference.

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  9. Great post! I would love for you to link up at my via:http://ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.com/2012/03/show-me-what-you-got-linky-party-7.html


    PS: I am your newest Linky Follower!

    Mrs. Delightful
    www.ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.com

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  10. I never had a list, didn't think I needed one, but I really like it. I like knowing what I need to do everyday, and really feel like it will help me keep on top of it. Thanks so much for putting this together, and I really love your pictures. A really great post! Thanks for sharing your creative inspiration at Sunday's Best!

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  11. You did an amazing job explaining this. I've tried so hard to get a schedule down for cleaning, but then when would I blog?! LOL! Thanks so much for sharing at Whimsy Wednesdays. Stop back tonight (Thursday) for a bloglovin blog hop. You can find out how to add bloglovin to your blog at www.thenymelrosefamily.blogspot.com/2012/02/i-heart-bloglovin.html.

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  12. This is AWESOME!!!! Thank you!!! I can't wait for the rest of your series.

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  13. Frig I just am digging your cool pictures!!!!!!!! awesome!

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  14. Wonderful tips!! And I love the pics!! I would love for you to link this up to Fantabulous Friday @ Little Becky Homecky! Hope to see you there!!

    http://littlebeckyhomecky.blogspot.com/2012/03/fantabulous-friday6.html

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  15. Ok I think I'm a little behind schedule! Thanks for linking up at Whimsy Wednesday. Have a wonderful weekend.
    Amy@homehappyhome

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  16. I love your last comment. I have been hesitant to have my list out for public viewing (then they'll KNOW if I do it or not) but I NEED it out so I can see what to do. I need to get over myself and just do it :)

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  17. I've been using a list like this for many years. I have mine in a three-ring binder, so it can be updated as need be. I also have an area for things that only need to be done monthly - like paying bills - and quarterly - like rotating mattresses. It's the ONLY way I can stay on track with ALL the demands on my time.

    Thanks for linking to Time Travel Thursday. Hope you'll join the fun each week.

    Blessings,
    Liz @ The Brambleberry Cottage

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  18. So smart! Thank you for linking up to Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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  19. Great post! Very inspiring. I linked you on my blog. :) http://theonlyonemama.blogspot.com/2012/04/just-call-me-organizing-fool.html

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  20. Very good points you wrote here..Great stuff...I think you've made some truly interesting points.Keep up the good work.

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  21. Found you on Pinterest. Printed out your housecleaning schedule. LOVE IT

    Is there a Week #5? Have I missed it?

    Thanks,
    Karen

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  22. Wow, great organizing, very detailed. Schedules like this helps in ensuring that tasks will be done for that particular day.

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  23. Good schedule to do this job in house cleaning thanks for sharing house cleaning dallas

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