What's your daily minimum for housework? My true daily minimum: kiddos alive and dinner close to ready when my sweetheart gets home.
Ideal Daily Minimum:
1.Every room free of toys/clutter
2.Bathrooms given the once over (love that Windex!)
3.Beds made
4.Laundry completed (actually folded and, yes, put away)
5.Sweep/spot mop
6.Daily Dirty--deep clean something
7.Maximum Efficiency--organize something
What does it take to complete this small list?
Constant Vigilance! (thanks, Moody!)
1.To keep rooms toy and clutter free, the most important rule is to not leave children alone for any period of time. They truly delight in displacing as many items as possible before you come back. Make a habit of this old standard: Put it Away, Don't Put it Down.
2.Keep your favorite cleaner in multiples--one under every bathroom sink along with a roll of paper towels (or rags if you really like doing laundry.) Spray and wipe down in this order (from least to most gross!): Mirror-Counter-Bathtub-Sink-Floor-Toilet.
3.Even though kiddos are in and out for naps (and time-outs!) make sure their beds are made after they wake up in the morning.
4.Laundry is done daily in my home thanks to Baby Chubchub; set a timer if you need to remember to get those clothes out of the dryer--so much less to iron if you fold them while still warm.
5.Chewbacca being only three-and-a-half and Baby Chubchub learning to feed herself means daily sweeping and spot mopping. Baby Chubchub assists by crawling army man-style across the floor to catch anything I missed.
6.Daily Dirty: this can be anything from detailing lightswitches to cleaning out the fridge. Once something has really been cleaned, I'm more likely to keep it up.
7.Maximum Efficiency: organize a drawer, a closet, paperwork, you name it. Super satisfying and again, easier to keep up.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Housework: the Daily Minimum
Labels:
cleaning,
homemaking
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4 comments:
Thanks for this post. At first I thought you were listing all the things you complete daily and I immediately thought what a loser mom I am. Then I read closer and realized that this was an ideal list. I wish I had the answers. I seem to be cleaning everyday all day. Because I am have cleanning add, I start one room and go to put something back in a room and see that it needs cleaning so I begin in there. Basically I have a few rooms that only get 1/2 cleaned. If you figure it out please let me know.
Blessings
(found you through a comment on LotsofScotts)
Today has been one of those days where I am grateful to be alive and I am glad my kids are still in one piece! What a day. Thank goodness it is almost bedtime.
I am a firm believer in put it away, don't put it down.
I also like to tackle small organizing tasks. I need to get back in the groove on that one.
Linda, I totally understand cleaning ADD! You may find some useful information in this post: sahmmysays.blogspot.com/2007/08/goyb-challenge-part-ii.html Thanks for the comments!
#5...
I wanted to comment on that one. You will still have to do that daily as your kids are older (mine are 11, 9 and 8). They still seem to get food on the chair and floor. Sorry, to break the bad news to you. *hee hee!* It is a never ending task. But here is alittle hope...you can train your kids to do that job when they are bigger. :)
~Amy
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