I find that if you make a list and check things off, you have a greater sense of accomplishment. You look at this long list and realize that in less than two hours it's done.... and it feels great.
Okay... so, my system.
The first step is to make a list of each room in your house. Then, go around your house from room to room and write down everything that you can think of that would need done in that room at any given time. This would include... pick up the floor, clean the ceiling fan, vacuum, dust, etc. If you were to completely get this room clean, what would you do? Write it down for each room.
Now, with your list, divided by room, you want to decide what needs done daily, weekly, monthly, etc. I write a D, W, M by each task.
Now, you can jump on your computer, or stick to pen and paper... whatever you prefer.
The first step is to make a list of each room in your house. Then, go around your house from room to room and write down everything that you can think of that would need done in that room at any given time. This would include... pick up the floor, clean the ceiling fan, vacuum, dust, etc. If you were to completely get this room clean, what would you do? Write it down for each room.
Now, with your list, divided by room, you want to decide what needs done daily, weekly, monthly, etc. I write a D, W, M by each task.
Now, you can jump on your computer, or stick to pen and paper... whatever you prefer.
When listing my rooms, I assigned each room a day of the week. Example: Kitchen - Monday, Restroom - Tuesday, Master bedroom - Wednesday, etc etc. On some days, you might need to put two rooms. I combine the two easiest rooms and keep the hardest rooms by themselves. I have a small house, so this is pretty easy.
Next, you want to divide your rooms by month. I divided mine into 6 weeks. This is just easier on me, being the busy person that I am and all. ;)
At this point, you want your list divided by daily, weekly, monthly, etc. Naturally, your daily list will be those things that need done every day. Weekly will be things that are done every week, etc.
Here is an example of my daily..
Daily
Kitchen
Clean off counters
Get new towel
Unload dishwasher
Wipe down counters
Clean sink
Pick up floor
Sweep
Keep dishes washed and loaded in dishwasher
Dining
Pick up floor
Sweep
Living Room
Pick up floor
Clean off couch
Sweep
Den
Pick up floor
Sweep
Emily’s Room
Pick up and organize toys
Fold blankets
Restroom
Pick up floor
Clean off counters
Here is an example of my daily..
Daily
Kitchen
Clean off counters
Get new towel
Unload dishwasher
Wipe down counters
Clean sink
Pick up floor
Sweep
Keep dishes washed and loaded in dishwasher
Dining
Pick up floor
Sweep
Living Room
Pick up floor
Clean off couch
Sweep
Den
Pick up floor
Sweep
Emily’s Room
Pick up and organize toys
Fold blankets
Restroom
Pick up floor
Clean off counters
Wipe down toilets (with boys, this is one of those things you really have to do daily)
Hall and Laundry
Pick up hall
Sweep
Wash clothes
Fold laundry
Master Bedroom
Pick up floor
Fold blankets
Once you have your daily stuff typed out (I did it on the computer, so I'm giving instructions that way) you want to save it.
Then, do the weekly... just list everything that you put a W by, and do Monthly... same way, each on a seperate sheet.
At this point, you want to add your weekly and monthly into the list, so that you have a checklist each day. This is how I did mine...
Take your weekly stuff and divide it up by your 7 days (or 6 if you want a day of rest, etc). This way, your work is divided up, and you are not overwhelmed one day a week. Here is an example of mine...
Weekly
Monday –
Kitchen
Wipe front of appliances
Wipe inside of microwave
Mop
Tuesday-
Dining
Clean off table
Wipe table off w/cleaner (it's a wood table, so every now and then I remove the cloth and wipe it with wood cleaner)
Wipe front of pantry off
Wednesday-
Living Room
Clean off entertainment center
Sweep under couch
Clean under couch cushions
Hall and Laundry
Pick up hall
Sweep
Wash clothes
Fold laundry
Master Bedroom
Pick up floor
Fold blankets
Once you have your daily stuff typed out (I did it on the computer, so I'm giving instructions that way) you want to save it.
Then, do the weekly... just list everything that you put a W by, and do Monthly... same way, each on a seperate sheet.
At this point, you want to add your weekly and monthly into the list, so that you have a checklist each day. This is how I did mine...
Take your weekly stuff and divide it up by your 7 days (or 6 if you want a day of rest, etc). This way, your work is divided up, and you are not overwhelmed one day a week. Here is an example of mine...
Weekly
Monday –
Kitchen
Wipe front of appliances
Wipe inside of microwave
Mop
Tuesday-
Dining
Clean off table
Wipe table off w/cleaner (it's a wood table, so every now and then I remove the cloth and wipe it with wood cleaner)
Wipe front of pantry off
Wednesday-
Living Room
Clean off entertainment center
Sweep under couch
Clean under couch cushions
Thursday-
Emily’s Room
Vacuum
Make bed
Wash blankets and sheets
Friday-
Restroom
Wash toilet
Scrubbath
Empty garbage
Check TP supply
Hall and Laundry
Check cat food and water
Saturday-
Our Bedroom
Check Air filter
Wash blankets and sheets
Sunday-
Den
Take out garbage (garbage man comes monday morning)
Mop
Okay, so once that is done, you want to divide your monthly. I ended up dividing mine into 6 weeks. I put week one as my kitchen and dining (dining room stays pretty clean), week two den, week 3 livingroom, week 4 restroom and laundry room, week 5 Emily's room, and week 6 master bedroom.
Here is my example...
Monthly
Week 1
Kitchen
Clean inside of fridge
Deep clean stove (burner pans, knobs, etc)
Dining
Organize pantry
Week 2
Den
Organize fabric shelves
Organize book shelves
Organize desk
De-lint sewing machines
Week 3
Living Room
Wash couch cushions
Clean blinds
Clean windows
Clean door
Week 4
Restroom
Organize drawers
Organize cabinet
Wash mirror
Laundry
Clean and wipe off washer and dryer
Clean inside of washer
Week 5
Emily’s room
Clean blinds
Organize drawers
Week 6
Master bedroom
Wash windows
Emily’s Room
Vacuum
Make bed
Wash blankets and sheets
Friday-
Restroom
Wash toilet
Scrubbath
Empty garbage
Check TP supply
Hall and Laundry
Check cat food and water
Saturday-
Our Bedroom
Check Air filter
Wash blankets and sheets
Sunday-
Den
Take out garbage (garbage man comes monday morning)
Mop
Okay, so once that is done, you want to divide your monthly. I ended up dividing mine into 6 weeks. I put week one as my kitchen and dining (dining room stays pretty clean), week two den, week 3 livingroom, week 4 restroom and laundry room, week 5 Emily's room, and week 6 master bedroom.
Here is my example...
Monthly
Week 1
Kitchen
Clean inside of fridge
Deep clean stove (burner pans, knobs, etc)
Dining
Organize pantry
Week 2
Den
Organize fabric shelves
Organize book shelves
Organize desk
De-lint sewing machines
Week 3
Living Room
Wash couch cushions
Clean blinds
Clean windows
Clean door
Week 4
Restroom
Organize drawers
Organize cabinet
Wash mirror
Laundry
Clean and wipe off washer and dryer
Clean inside of washer
Week 5
Emily’s room
Clean blinds
Organize drawers
Week 6
Master bedroom
Wash windows
Clean blinds
Clean windowsills
Okay, so now you want to put your lists together. I divided each monthly chore daily, so that on week 6, for example, one day I might wash the windows, the next day clean the blinds, and the next wipe down the windowsills. (you'll notice that each of these tasks takes a few minutes, so not a long time at all)
I forgot to put wash ceiling fans and dust, etc. I write them in on my lists so far, but will go in and update it in word. This is week one. I did 6 weekly lists. If anybody wants to see all 6 of my lists, let me know and I can either post them or email them to you. If this doesn't make sense, but you want to give it a try, let me know... I can explain better. I have a hard time explaining things sometimes. But, your goal is to go through each room and finish its tasks each day. Put a checkmark by each task as it is completed. It is amazing how fast it goes too! Now, what I did, just to get into the routine is spend two weeks just doing your daily list.... then move on to the full thing once you are in the swing of it with just the daily list. The kids can pick some things on the list and complete them too. They actually enjoy picking what they will do, and adding to the checkmarks of completed tasks... it gives them a sense of accomplishment like it does you.
Okay, so now you want to put your lists together. I divided each monthly chore daily, so that on week 6, for example, one day I might wash the windows, the next day clean the blinds, and the next wipe down the windowsills. (you'll notice that each of these tasks takes a few minutes, so not a long time at all)
I forgot to put wash ceiling fans and dust, etc. I write them in on my lists so far, but will go in and update it in word. This is week one. I did 6 weekly lists. If anybody wants to see all 6 of my lists, let me know and I can either post them or email them to you. If this doesn't make sense, but you want to give it a try, let me know... I can explain better. I have a hard time explaining things sometimes. But, your goal is to go through each room and finish its tasks each day. Put a checkmark by each task as it is completed. It is amazing how fast it goes too! Now, what I did, just to get into the routine is spend two weeks just doing your daily list.... then move on to the full thing once you are in the swing of it with just the daily list. The kids can pick some things on the list and complete them too. They actually enjoy picking what they will do, and adding to the checkmarks of completed tasks... it gives them a sense of accomplishment like it does you.
Just for my own fun, I printed my lists on pretty paper and put them in those page protecters that are clear in a pretty binder. I write my checkmarks on the page protecter, so I am not having to print over and over and waste paper. I love having my pretty lists!
Here is week one of my finished product.
Week 1 - Monday
Kitchen
Get new towel
Unload dishwasher
Clean off counters
Wipe down counters
Clean sink
Pick up floor
Sweep
Keep dishes washed and loaded in dishwasher
Wipe front of appliances
Wipe inside of microwave
Mop
Dining
Pick up floor
Sweep
Living Room
Pick up floor
Clean off couch
Sweep
Den
Pick up floor
Sweep
Emily’s Room
Pick up and organize toys (she does this with me)
Restroom
Pick up floor
Clean off counters (I use those sanitizing wipes because it is so fast and easy)
Hall and Laundry
Pick up hall
Sweep
Wash clothes
Fold laundry
Our Bedroom
Pick up floor
Fold blankets
Week 1 - Tuesday
Kitchen
Get new towel
Unload dishwasher
Clean off counters
Wipe down counters
Clean sink
Pick up floor
Sweep
Keep dishes washed and loaded in dishwasher
Deep clean top of stove (burner pans, knobs, etc)
Dining
Pick up floor
Vacuum
Clean off table
Wipe table off w/cleaner
Wipe front of pantry off
Living Room
Pick up floor
Clean Emily’s table
Clean off couch
Vacuum
Den
Pick up floor
Sweep
Emily’s Room
Pick up and organize toys
Restroom
Pick up floor
Clean off counters
Hall and Laundry
Pick up hall
Vacuum hall
Wash clothes
Fold laundry
Our Bedroom
Pick up floor
Fold blankets
Week 1 - Wednesday
Kitchen
Get new towel
Unload dishwasher
Clean off counters
Wipe down counters
Clean and shine sink
Pick up floor
Sweep
Keep dishes washed and loaded in dishwasher
Dining
Pick up floor
Vacuum
Living Room
Pick up floor
Clean Emily’s table
Clean off couch
Vacuum
Clean off entertainment center
Clean under Emily’s table
Den
Pick up floor
Sweep
Emily’s Room
Pick up and organize toys
Restroom
Pick up floor
Clean off counters
Hall and Laundry
Pick up hall
Vacuum hall
Wash clothes
Fold laundry
Our Bedroom
Pick up floor
Fold blankets
Week 1 - Thursday
Kitchen
Get new towel
Unload dishwasher
Clean off counters
Wipe down counters
Clean and shine sink
Pick up floor
Sweep
Keep dishes washed and loaded in dishwasher
Dining
Pick up floor
Vacuum
Organize pantry
Living Room
Pick up floor
Clean Emily’s table
Clean off couch
Vacuum
Den
Pick up floor
Sweep
Emily’s Room
Pick up and organize toys
Vacuum
Make bed
Wash sheets
Restroom
Pick up floor
Clean off counters
Hall and Laundry
Pick up hall
Vacuum hall
Wash clothes
Fold laundry
Our Bedroom
Pick up floor
Fold blankets
Week 1 - Friday
Kitchen
Get new towel
Unload dishwasher
Clean off counters
Wipe down counters
Clean and shine sink
Pick up floor
Sweep
Keep dishes washed and loaded in dishwasher
Clean inside of fridge
Dining
Pick up floor
Vacuum
Living Room
Pick up floor
Clean Emily’s table
Clean off couch
Vacuum
Den
Pick up floor
Sweep
Emily’s Room
Pick up and organize toys
Restroom
Pick up floor
Clean off counters
Wash toilet
Wash bath
Empty garbage
Check TP supply
Hall and Laundry
Pick up hall
Vacuum hall
Wash clothes
Fold laundry
Check cat food and water
Our Bedroom
Pick up floor
Fold blankets
__________________
Here are some of my strange tricks....
I make the bed, then I sleep on top of the made bed and use another blanket. When we get up, I fold that blanket, and my bed is all made. Easy. People have asked how I manage to make the bed every morning... I just chuckle.
I keep a little bottle of dish soap, or cheap shampoo in the shower. While I'm taking a shower, I clean the shower walls and stuff off with the dishsoap and rinse it off while I'm in there.
If you're a stay at home mom, like me, start your "chores" about two hours before hubby arrives home. This way it looks like you worked your ass off all day. (not that we don't)
2 comments:
That's some seriously great advice Teri, thanks for sharing it!
Thanks Maria! I had so many negative comments about it just seeming like SO much work. It really isn't. I spend less than 2 hours per day cleaning and hubby thinks that I spent all day cleaning. ;) One would almost think I had time left over to sit on the couch in front of the TV eating bonbons.
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