Keep a Clean House and NOT hate Cleaning (so much)
When I became a stay at home mom just over a year ago I thought cleaning the house would be so easy, boy was I wrong. I had no schedule or organization to the whole cleaning process so I was left with a untidy home and feeling like a failure. I would tell my family and friends, “I thought my house was messy before because I worked close to 50 hours a week but I think I’m just a horrible housekeeper!”
I can’t tell you how many time I would get a phone call, “Hey were in the area and stopping by.” ME: “OH CRAP!” Then you see me running around the house like a mad woman!
I had to put a stop to the madness and also the feeling like I was bad at keeping a clean home. I came up with a Cleaning Schedule and it really helps me keep my house clean and bonus I do not totally hate cleaning now!
After using this schedule it turns out I actually clean quit well! I just needed a little structure to keep me on track!
The minimum maintenance is the key.
In my attempt to be better at keeping a clean home I ran across this post, The Secret to Successful Home Management-“Minimum Maintenance” from Home Sanctuary.
- Do a quick pick up of each room.
- This will take maybe 30 minutes.
- Includes picking up clothes/toys off the floor.
- Putting dishes in the dishwasher or unloading the dishwasher.
- Quick cleaning of kitchen counters.
- Quick Sweep if necessary. (I have a 4 year old and 1 year, both messy eaters so I have to everyday.)
1 load of Laundry a Day instead of “1 Whole Day of Laundry”.
I found that my frustration with laundry went down a notch when I started to do 1 load of laundry a day, opposed to doing it all on Saturday and Sunday. My weekends were no fun!
On my schedule there is a line by laundry so you can write what load for that day. I do Monday: Jeans Tues: Clean Bedding Wed: Whites Thur: Lights Fri: Darks Sat: Towels.
*If I have a lot of darks or towels then I will do 2 loads that day.
Take a day off!
Now that my home stays pretty tidy and I am not buried in dirty laundry I take Sunday off from cleaning. OK, I still take care of dirty dishes and make my boys pick up after themselves but for the most part there is no cleaning.
FREE PRINTABLE FOR YOU : I made 3 options for you to print: My Actual Cleaning Schedule, Minimum Maintenance Only, and a Blank Schedule.
I always play upbeat music or my favorite songs while I’m cleaning. Music really helps me stay on task and not focus on the fact that I’m cleaning.
Monday- I clean all the floors in the house. This includes vacuuming all the rooms and hallways. I DO NOT mop kitchen and restrooms this day. I do that on their detail clean day.
Tuesday- I change all the bedding in the house. This is also my day of laundry for bedding so I do more than 1 load this day. =(
Wednesday- Clean all the bedrooms this includes cleaning under beds and other crevices, organizing clutter from dresser and tables, dusting, picking up trash and taking glasses/dishes to kitchen and cleaning mirrors.
Thursday- Cleaning Restrooms this includes the restroom floors.
Friday- Detail Clean the kitchen this includes a good cleaning of the floors, wipe down all appliances, sink and inside microwave.
Saturday- Sweep front and back porch and yard work if needed. Clean the doors glass if needed. My back porch is an outside playroom so I put away and organize their toys too.
How do you keep you home clean? What tips or tricks do you use?
, 12 Ounce Bag and pour my batter into a mini cupcake pan. One bag makes 48 mini cornbread muffins! I make them on Sunday and put in the refrigerator, but they can be frozen too if you do not plan to eat them within 2-3 days.
if you plan on using them year round. I really don’t mind sporting a Frankenstein or Skull bag year round at the market!