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I get a lot of emails asking about my cleaning schedule after I wrote about my typical day on Joanna’s blog. I truly do not love cleaning, but I know that I’m so much happier with life when my house is clean. Don’t you feel the same way?
A couple years ago, right after I had Claire and when Gracie was old enough to really start doing some damage, I was feeling like I would never have a clean house again. (I also thought there was a good chance I would never get to sleep through the night again. :) good times) I was picking up the house all week long it felt like, and then I would do all my laundry and deep cleaning on the weekends. That meant my Saturday was completely gone and that the house was totally dirty again by Monday morning. Stresses me out just thinking about it.
Then one time I was visiting a friend’s house who had three rambunctious toddler boys. I walked into her house for the first time and my jaw dropped. Her house was CLEAN. Like, I’m not talking about tidy – tidy is not always possible during the day with kids, but it was clean. She is one of those amazing mothers who is really active with her kids, so I knew she didn’t spend all day neglecting her boys to clean the house. I was surprised and a little jealous of her sparkly floors so I begged her to share her secret. She laughed and said she kept a chore chart, which I thought was hilarious! What grown woman has a chore chart?! Suddenly I had to have one!
I copied her chart and have been using a slightly tweaked version ever since. I can’t say that I’m always following through here, but when I do, my house is practically spotless and best of all, I don’t feel like I am cleaning all the time – which honestly was the hardest part for me of being a stay at home mom in the early years.
It looks like a lot, but I think even on the most intense days I’m only spending 30 or 40 minutes in aggregate cleaning (though we live in a 1500 sq ft apartment, so your home might require a little more time). I’ve listed the chart here below, and here’s a simple printable version.
So the basic idea is this: there are daily chores – easy things you should take care of almost habitually in the morning and in the night, and then there is a single special chore of the day. Most of these chores end up getting done once a week (for example, every Monday I do a deep vacuuming of all our rugs. I took only one interior design class in college and I only remember a handful of things from that class. One of them was a tangential comment my professor made about vacuuming. She said that you should go over the same area on a rug SEVEN times super slowly to get it clean. Isn’t that just nuts? I don’t do that, but I do try to do a slow vacuuming on Mondays.). Friday though is the swing day, where you rotate in chores that need to be done less frequently, like scrubbing the microwave.
I’ll walk you through today’s cleaning schedule. It’s Tuesday. I wake up and make our bed. It won’t get done unless I make it as soon as I get up. The girls are getting good about making their beds too. After I finish getting ready I wipe down the bathroom counters and the sink. While I’m making the kids breakfast I empty out the dishwasher.
Then life happens and the house sort of falls apart during the day.
Then at night the girls help me clear the table and load the dishwasher. Michael does the trashes. Once the kids are in bed I quickly sweep or vacuum the kitchen and dining room and I might pop into the living room too. I keep a wet rag with me and as I go I’ll spot clean the floor. My goal is fast and furious cleaning!
And here’s where my baskets come into play. I keep them everywhere. I really love this basket that I posted about yesterday because it is super sturdy and holds its shape. I zip through my house every night with this basket, throwing in every misplaced item, then going back to each room once and put the things back where they belong. It takes me just a few minutes to pick up a day’s worth of clutter this way. No more running back and forth and back and forth from room to room putting things away. Try the basket method – you’ll never go back!
Plus – another bonus of having your pretty baskets out in every room? If you have a friend coming over right away, you can just corral everything in the basket super fast and no one’s the wiser.
Once the house has been de-cluttered, I do my chore of the day (today was cleaning the mirrors and windows), and then I’m done! It might sound like a lot, but I promise it isn’t. When I’m consistent with this schedule, I never have to do one of those marathon cleaning days to get back to ground zero. The house never has a chance to get really dirty, so the cleaning never feels like a true chore. It feels easy and, dare I say it? Pleasant?
So that’s my approach to cleaning in a nutshell. I know we all have our special tricks, and I’d LOVE to hear yours!
Today’s super-sized give away is $350 to Target AND $150 to the Container Store and all you have to do to enter is leave a comment sharing your favorite cleaning or organization tip. I can’t wait to see what you guys do to keep your spaces sparkling! Any other crazies out there with a chore chart? :)
Contest ends March 22. Winner will be announced on the 23rd. Contest rules can be read in full here. Good luck!!
My favorite cleaning tip is from an old dear Heloise. This is a tip for cleaning baked on food in glass or metal baking dish, use your dishwasher liquid + hot water, let soak 5-10 minutes. The baked on food comes out so much easier!! I love your schedule.
I too have a chore chart… I even put gold stars on it when I complete my chores :)
Not entirely a cleaning tip as much as an after cleaning tip. After scrubbing the toilet it always made me cringe when my mom would just put the wet brush back in the holder and then under the sink. Sure we don't see it, but that brush sits in water and bacteria grows and spreads. It really grossed me out. So after I clean my toilet I let the brush drip dry into the toilet by putting the handle under the seat and closing the lid. This keeps it out of the water, but still over it.
Weekend Bliss! On Thurs. evening, my husband works late so I do the grocery shopping. On Friday morning, we gather all the sheets, towels, etc. and start a load of laundry. As soon as we get home from work on Friday, we spend about 90 minutes cleaning-we switch out the laundry, I do the kitchen, glass and bathrooms. He does dusting, vacuuming and mopping. Plus we try to tackle one other "once in a while" job such as
cleaning the ceiling lights or scrubbing out the fridge. We even still have time to go out if we have evening plans. The trade-off: having the whole weekend to do what we like with a full fridge, clean house and no chores!
I'm in the stage you described – a toddler on the run, and a new(ish) baby slowing me down. *sigh* So thank you for this. I just made up my own chore chart and it shall commence tomorrow! :)
(I can't enter the contest, though, I'm Canadian.)
My biggest cleaning cheat is filling the sinks and /or tubs with hot water…. pouring in about 1/4 c bleach and walking away. (the commodes too!) an hour or so later drain and voila! all my cast iron enamel sinks and tubs are sparkly clean…and no scrubbing the commodes!
For laundry, it seems hard to get it put away with little ones napping and going to bed early, I could never get into their rooms. So now I sort at night and can put it away quickly in the morning. Very simple.
Delegate to the kids too. This chore chart will be great for them to break the chores up daily.
My regimen is to do everything Thursday evening.
No work out after work, no cooking, no playing video games. When we get home we get right to it.
The Boy does the laundry (with a couple loads during the week) and the small bath and the trash.
I do the kitchen main bath, dusting and vacuuming.
It takes two hours. When we're done we have a completely fresh and clean home for the entire weekend.
The motivation for me is to not have any chores over the weekend so I can spend my free time being free of chores.
I love your chore chart! This will help so much. I'm not sure if I have a cleaning tip as it's my downfall, but I try to do certain large scale cleaning items on different days of the week..and keep all common areas clean and picked up.
My organization skills definitely need work, but I decided that however much or little I do in terms of cleaning/organization, deserves a psychological "pat on the back" for the work well done. I've been using a "have-done" list instead of a to-do list. Every evening, I write what I was able to accomplish that day, including fun things or relaxing things I did. This allows me to look back and give myself credit for what I've done instead of just focusing on what still needs doing.
renewstuff.wordpress.com
Great giveaway! I'm not reinventing the wheel here, but it's fun to read everybody else's tips. My tip is to put a load of laundry in, take the dog for a walk and it's done when we come back (yes, I live in NYC). Or at least ready for the dryer.
I try to stay on top of the mess by getting the kids to do a 'clean up' at around 5pm every day – before Dad gets home and while I'm making dinner. Then we're all ready to enjoy a family meal together.
My tip is to get rid of the stuff you don't use. You know all that stuff on the top shelf in the closet? Get rid of it!
at the very beginning of nap time and right after bedtime i try to clean for 20-30 minutes because once i hit the dvr productivity is hopeless.
I use a method foaming hand soap dispenser to hold liquid dish soap/water (half half mix about) in the kitchen and use it to clean counters, wash hands, and of course dishes. Best thing ever! Hope I win – I really need to do some house organizing/cleaning!
One of my favorite organization tip has to do with mail. As soon as I get it from the mailbox, I quickly go through it and discard what I don't want. That way I don't have a pile of mail to go through at the end of the week.
Your chart is amazing, I so need to use it!! My little household helper is my sticky lint roller….it picks you stray hairs fuzz and bits from the carpet, removes dust/cobwebs from walls, ceiling fans, curtains and more, cleans my lampshades and keeps my slacks neat. It really can do a ton of things!
I can't think of any good tips… well, every other Thursday we go to the farmer's market, so Wednesday nights are usually good nights to wipe down a shelf or two in the fridge before it gets filled back up.
If only I could get my husband to do that automatically!
Tuesday and Thursday are "maintenance cleaning" days! Monday, Wednesday are "tidy up days" just pick up what gets put out of place. Friday is mopping day. :) And once a month I get a wild hair and deep clean!
A quick, daily wipe down in the bathrooms means you never have to deep clean them because they're always clean! Then it's easier to focus on vacuuming, mopping, etc!
I save up podcasts to listen to or shows to watch while cleaning…makes it pass much more quickly and also gives me an idea of how much time I'm putting into any given task.
I save up podcasts to listen to or shows to watch while cleaning…makes it pass much more quickly and also gives me an idea of how much time I'm putting into any given task.
I always run a swifter over the hardwood floors each night while doing the basket trick of picking up. Small house = a quick swift.
What an amazing giveaway! Recently my cleaning routine has included doing the dishes once or twice a day. I sweep and do laundry once a week, and happily delegate bathroom cleaning and taking out the garbage to my dear husband :) Interestingly, I used to let the dishes pile up for days and wouldn't do them until I had no more bowls, but I've been really enjoying having a clean kitchen. It gives me clarity.
Sarah
Cable Car Couture
Monday's are sheet days. All sheets get cleaned. Tuesday's are towels.
I've seen a lot of chore/cleaning charts, but I really really like yours! I'm hoping it will work for me and help me get into a good cleaning schedule.
My favorite cleaning tip right now involves using a rag stack instead of a million paper towels. I keep my cleaning rags under the kitchen sink right next to a small laundry basket for the dirty ones. I hate, HATE old dirty nasty wet mildewy rags sitting around, so I pretty much use my rags like they're disposable. Wipe something up and throw the rag in the basket. Add the rags to the laundry and they're good as new to use again! I've saved a ton of money by not using so many paper towels!
I try to use "clean up time" as a little independence building opportunity for our two year old. Of course there are those times when I run around during
nap-time like a crazy person getting as much accomplished as I can. But when the opportunity presents itself we love to sing little songs as we clean up the "really big mess" we made. We break big jobs into little jobs so she can tackle them by herself. She gets so excited when she looks at what she has accomplished. It's a great time for high fives, hugs, and words of encouragement.
I love to use clear containers to store my kids crayons, petsop toys, etc. These containers keep small things neat and tidy and can be stacked on a bookshelf or some other place easily accessible to the kids.
I am printIng this now! As a new mom to a 5 month old I feel like my house is always a wreck – and she isn't even moving yet! A little each day would help me feel much better about our house.
One of my favorite cleaning products is the Scrubbing Bubbles Shower Cleaner. It gets the grime off no matter how bad the shower has gotten…with very little actual scrubbing! It's great!
I live by myself, which makes cleaning a whole lot easier, I am sure. But I've started applying small changes to make life easier. First, I try to put things where they go when I first walk in the door. Coat in closet, mail on desk, etc. Second, I empty my purse every evening, or else it gets nuts. Third, I almost never leave one room without something in my hand to put away. And finally, if I'll wash the tiny handful of dishes I dirty every day, it is manageable. Once I let it go two or three days, it's insane!
I always boil a cup of water in the microwave before wiping it down to soften the debris. Thanks for this giveaway. :)
I try to handle mail only once. Put the bills to be paid in the file, take the magazines to their basket by my chair, take Hubs to his spot. then when we are done reading we put items to be tossed in a spot between our chairs so that at the end of the evening I can toss them.
I love containers for storage in closets, drawers and such. I recently bought a thing to hang my spools of thread on. Now I can see them at a glance (it is hidden in a closet)and no more mess in a drawer. Plus they are sorted by color.
I try to handle mail only once. Put the bills to be paid in the file, take the magazines to their basket by my chair, take Hubs to his spot. then when we are done reading we put items to be tossed in a spot between our chairs so that at the end of the evening I can toss them.
I love containers for storage in closets, drawers and such. I recently bought a thing to hang my spools of thread on. Now I can see them at a glance (it is hidden in a closet)and no more mess in a drawer. Plus they are sorted by color.
I had a chore chart but I got off track. You''ve inspired me to pull it back out!
I have failed at the chore chart method several times now – I think because I put way too much on there and get overwhelmed, so I quit before I even start. I am going to try again!!
Now that the kids are away at college, I have a lot less pick up to do around the house! I like your chart though, this would help to keep me from marathon cleaning right before company comes…
I am working on not piling stuff. I'm trying to live by ” a place for everything”. It just takes a conscious effort.
I like to keep a spray like Mrs. Meyer's close by so cleaning off countertops is a breeze.
It's super helpful to see the way you breakdown the chores. My number one tip is put items away as soon as I'm done with it. I've tried to break the habit of just setting things on counter tops, floor, etc. A place for everything & everything in it's place!
My trick is to invite someone over for a play date or dinner. That motivates me to clean up like nothing else! ;)
My tip is to do just a little each day – but then set aside one day each month for a SUPER deep clean!
For organizing, I love over-the-door shoe holders. I have one hanging in my pantry that holds spices and snacks; one hanging in my coat closet for my kids' hats and gloves; and one in the linen closet for small toiletries, first-aid supplies, and other random things. The organizers make things easy to see and easy to access!
I use a chore chart as well. Some people would say that it is more efficient to group my cleaning, I only have 1 child and two dogs, I work from home, and my husband owns his own business. Tackling one room at a time works best for me. I can still clean during nap time or in between my own work schedule, or if my husband is on a call for work.
Each day of the week gets a chore (15-45 min. each)
Monday – Bathrooms
Tuesday – kitchen, floors
Wednesday – bedrooms
Thursday – office/general declutter
Friday – floors/dog area
Saturday – backyard/garage
Daily chores – 1 load of laundry, dishes, trash, general pickup, spot clean
Rotating chores – windows, steam clean carpets/upholstery, fridges, laundry room. I also added freezer cooking to my chores once a week.
I used to get up early on Sat. and do it all – too much work! Chore charts are life savers, even for grown-ups (good skills for the kiddos to learn too!)
I've been feeling so overwhelmed with organization and cleaning since we had our second child! I was really inspired by this post and am hoping to get not only myself on chore chart but also my 5 yr old. We both need it :)
Thanks Jenny, for the inspiration!
Julie
I actually have a very similar routine. The only difference is rather than a task a day, I tend to focus on a room a day. This way I always feel like I at least have one room each day that is clean.
I would have to say that my new favorite organizational tool has been to use over the door shoe organizers for other purposes. We live in a fairly small house (1500 sq ft.) for a family of six and are really trying to maximize space. Those things add TONS of storage – on the back of our hall closet they house all of our gloves, scarves, etc. In another closet, all of our art supplies, in the linen closet, odds and ends. They really are a wonderful invention!
That's a great "cleaning calendar". I like that idea. I have recently re-vamped my kids chore chart but don't have one for myself. Basically, my job is the kitchen. The kids are each assigned a room that they are in charge of for the week. I help my 5-yr old, but all the rest can do it on their own. I do have to remind them on a daily basis, but they know when they get home from school it's snack, homework and chore THEN play. (it is good in theory at least, right?) :) So, I guess my tip is, get the kids to help. When I try to do it all on my own, I feel overwhelmed and grouchy. It's good training for them, so it's a win-win.
I like to see how fast I can pick things up in a set amount of time. Even if it's just 10 minutes, I can get A LOT done in that 10 minutes if I am going at it furiously.
That's a great "cleaning calendar". I like that idea. I have recently re-vamped my kids chore chart but don't have one for myself. Basically, my job is the kitchen. The kids are each assigned a room that they are in charge of for the week. I help my 5-yr old, but all the rest can do it on their own. I do have to remind them on a daily basis, but they know when they get home from school it's snack, homework and chore THEN play. (it is good in theory at least, right?) :) So, I guess my tip is, get the kids to help. When I try to do it all on my own, I feel overwhelmed and grouchy. It's good training for them, so it's a win-win.