As I write this, I'm staring at a load of clean white towels ... which must be folded before single mom's Effortless Living class tonight. Of course I host it in my home, so all of the moms can bring their kids over, too. That means my house has be clean, and those towels are right in the middle of where the action will be later.
Alisa, one of the original moms in the class and I were having a discussion about keeping things neat and tidy, when, as previously discussed, there are so many things to do. There are a few basic rules I follow that I thought might be helpful.
1. At least once a day, I set the timer for anywhere from 7 to 15 minutes (depending on how much time I have) and "police the area." That means putting things in their place at lightning speed. My living room can go from "oh goodness!!" to "oh how nice" in about 3 minutes flat ... then onto the kitchen and counter tops. Its not deep cleaning, but it keeps the clutter and mess from getting out of control.
2. I use this same "just a few minutes here and there" strategy to fold a couple of loads of laundry, wipe down the guest-bathroom sink and countertop, dust the major surfaces, etc.
3. I do the dishes, wipe down the countertops, and empty the garbage at night before I go to bed. Its nice to wake up to a clean kitchen and empty waste-baskets. I also make my bed every weekday (weekends off!). I just love how neat it makes the whole room look.
4. I delegate to my daughter. She's part of the family, I don't consider this something I need to pay allowance for ... and she loves it! She gets excited when I "let" her vacuum and dust. Score! Seriously, I use a broom to put the "floor scraps" where she can sweep over them with the vacuum and all of that takes about 15 minutes.
5. Everything has a "home" and must go back to its home as soon as possible when not in use. That way we can always find what we need, when we need it.
6. Breathe. It doesn't need to be perfect, just managed.
Please share your tips. Happy cleaning!
1 comment:
Oh yea... cleaning. *sigh* It's the ongoing never ending process that seems about 1000X harder with kiddos that run behind you destroying everything in their wake...LOL. My daughter has finally reached an age where she can help. She is really good at putting dishes away. I love that. And even Tristan puts laundry away. We're a family and in this together, right?!
For me, I really have to fold every load of laundry as it comes out of the dryer or it becomes a mountain of clothes that I just can't deal with. Baby steps along the way.
I do love Honoree's suggestion of the 15 minute timer. I often get dishes done in the morning while I'm waiting for the coffee to brew. (yes, I still drink coffee...one of my favorite vices).
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