This post is sponsored by the makers of Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes, the quick and easy way to clean and disinfect your home!
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!!
I live with two roommates and we keep a chore chart, too! We divided the apartment into 3 main cleaning zones, and every month we rotate duties. We posted what needs to get cleaned in every area in the kitchen- that way, everyone knows what they are responsible for and there is no confusion! Since we live in NYC and our space is so small, keeping things neat are a must! And our favorite trick? In our hall closet we have a back of the door shoe organizer that we use to store hairbrushes, toothpaste, etc.
Your cleaning list looks much like what my mother had. She had a meticulous house- which says something when you're raising 8 kids. I get married on Friday and even though I inherited a bit of my mother's OCD of cleanliness- I know my fiance doesn't so I may include him in the chore chart :)
Thanks for the chance to win! I'm a big time Clorox wipe fan and Target is like my 2nd love :)
Not holding on to clutter. It makes cleaning much easier if you don't have as much stuff.
My yellow lab is one of my cleaning tricks. What I have to vacuum up in pet hair, she more than makes up for in kitchen floor spot clean up :) She's our continual Hoovie.
Jenny, I love your blog!
I keep the same cleaning supplies in every bathroom and under the sink in the kitchen. This way, if I see spots on the mirror after I brush my teeth, I reach down, get the window cleaner, a couple of paper towels -and wallah, cleaned in ten seconds!
Thanks for the tips. "Skating" around the kitchen floor with a damp rag under each foot helps pick up grim – but it's more fun and less taxing on my knees!
i too use baskets to sort/corral/return items back to their proper home.
-Jenny
A load of laundry a day, plastic dish tubs labels for each child so they can put their own laundry away. I'm a big fan of Clorox wipes and Method Multi Purpose cleaner. I can clean many surfaces without many products. One less step! Also I have a Miele vacuum that is AMAZING, it makes me so happy to vacuum and that is really saying something.
Love your blog!
sugarf16(at)gmail(dot)com
I live in a small one bedroom New York apartment, so keeping the clutter to a minimum, the kitchen sink empty, and taking the trash and recycling out at least every other day is a definite must. I have a lot of stuff, and I'd be lost without a great sense of organization. I don't necessarily organize by groups or similar items, but rather based on what I utilize most frequently. When you live in a small space whether it be when I cook or get dressed in the morning everything needs to have a sense of flow; otherwise you are totally frazzled and frustrated.
Ps. Clorox wipes are the best! One cleans all of my kitchen and bathroom surfaces- talk about bang for your buck.
daily laundry!
I never go to bed without the kitchen clean. I usually take care of it right after dinner and then do a once over before bed to makes sure all the dishes are away for the night.
My organizational tip is using lots of baskets. If everything has a place, it is easier to keep things looking organized. Plus, if you're ever in a pinch and have unexpected guests, you can throw stuff in a basket and sort it out later!
I never go to bed without the kitchen clean. I usually take care of it right after dinner and then do a once over before bed to makes sure all the dishes are away for the night.
I love having a laundry day- get it all out of the way at one time… makes the rest of my week so much less stressful!
I hate to clean up, but an easy way to do the microwave is to fill a bowl with water and a tablespoon or so of vinegar. Nuke it for a few minutes, and the steam from the water and vinegar loosens up all the gross microwave stuff! Such a time (and elbow-grease) saver!
I have a new baby and while inwas pregnant i devised a daily 15-20 minute cleaning plan and wrote it all up where hubby can see it and pick a chore or two.
I love using clear plastic containers in all sizes for EVERYTHING. In the kitchen, I use them to store spices, flour, cereal, vegetables, leftovers, etc. They are easy to label and they stack nicely. In my bedroom, I use under-the-bed containers for non-seasonal clothing and shoes. In closets, I store scarfs, belts and other accessories in plastic bins.
This is such a great idea! I try to do one load of laundry every two days so that I'm not spending all day Saturday doing laundry. In fact, on Saturday the only loads I like to do are the sheets and towels.
I think having a schedule is the thing that helps me the most.
I have a chore chart too. I keep mine by room though. In other words, Monday is master bedroom, Tuesday is guest room and guest bath, etc. I may try your method instead though. I like the idea of only one or two "chores" a day rather than rooms.
-Elizabeth
Love your chore chart! I have a slightly looser schedule, but could see how printing it out would help me keep on track. One of my favorite cleaning tips is to take advantage of the delay function on your washing machine. I load the machine before I go to bed, but have it start at 5. That way it's just finishing as I get up. I switch it over before breakfast, and start another load. I can get 2 loads done before my day really starts. Thanks for hosting this generous giveaway!
I use the daily chore chart. When I follow through the house looks amazing!
I love you blog, and I just posted about my frustrations with cleaning yesterday on my own blog.
I LOVE THE IDEA of a chore chart; this might be the answer to my cleaning conundrum.
Anyway, my tip is to keep a cleaning bucket ready to go at all times, so when it is time to clean, everything is on one place.
Again, love your blog!!!
Oooooh, I love your chore chart! I guess the only thing I have to add is that I do all my laundry on Mondays and Fridays. Somehow the laundry explodes over the weekend…I don't know why that is, but this schedule has made a big difference. (:
No extra tips… Just excited to try the chore chart. I used to be super clean and tidy and now 3 kids later it is very hard to keep up! Thanks for the advice and inspiration as always!! :)
No extra tips… Just excited to try the chore chart. I used to be super clean and tidy and now 3 kids later it is very hard to keep up! Thanks for the advice and inspiration as always!! :)
I definitely have a chore chart! I used to keep it on the fridge, but guests would make fun so now it's inside a kitchen cabinet. I try not to let it dictate my life, but in a small house with a toddler, it's a necessity to do something every day. I love the idea of spot cleaning the floor at night. Because let's be honest – the dog licking up spilt milk and missed Cheerios isn't all that clean! ;)
I am printing this ASAP! Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed that I just choose to do nothing! Not good.
Thanks for sharing!
I hate cleaning (ha) so the boy really helps out and we try to each tackle one thing every day (tonight is he vacuums, I clean kitchen). Working so far but love the chart idea!!
I do tidying on a daily basis and my husband and i clean on Wednesday nights! We throw in a cleaning lady once a month and that does help with a deep clean. Maybe it's time for a cleaning calendar!
I like to empy my kids backpacks of their papers, sort through them and take care of the papers immediately. Same thing with the mail, this prevents piles of paper from accumulating everywhere!
I like to empy my kids backpacks of their papers, sort through them and take care of the papers immediately. Same thing with the mail, this prevents piles of paper from accumulating everywhere!
I've finally started doing the cleaning thing on a daily basis, one chore a day. I set aside specific days for laundry and do nothing else but that. Having a schedule makes it easier to get it done.
It's hard for me to keep my house clean. I started committing to have every room straightened up and vacuumed on tuesdays and fridays. Believe it or not that has also helped me keep it cleaner on other days, yet feel no guilt when I spend my entire monday cooking and running errands and my house is a mess! fInding what works for you is such a mental game!
hollydart at yahoo dot com
With a 7 week old baby, I try and incorporate laundry into once every other day. I hate folding laundry and putting it away, so instead of waiting and doing it all on one day, I keep on top of the piles. Plus, baby spit-up just doesn't seem to smell great after a couple of days in the hamper. :)
No extra advice… Just excited to try the chore chart! I used to be super clean and tidy but after three kids its hard to keep up… Thanks for the advice and inspiration as always!! :)
Every time you leave a room to go into another, pick up something that belongs in the room you are going to. It helps you keep picked up without having to do a bunch at once.
For example, heading from the living room to the kitchen, I might pick up the empty drinking glass on the end table. Heading back to the living room, I might take the baby doll my daughter so lovingly left on the kitchen floor. :)
I set the timer for 15 minutes and focus. It's amazing how much I can do but going into it 15 minutes doesn't feel overwhelming.
The chore chart is genius. I think I will be making one of my own. I really need some organization in my living room and sewing/guest room.
My two best cleaning tips – always make the bed in the morning (I've heard it's one of the simplest things one can do to live a happy life :-)) and squeegee the glass shower doors after each and every shower. Crossing my fingers for this giveaway!!!
I would love to win this giveaway!
My favorite organizing tip is something you could add to this chore chart (and yes, I have one too…). My husband brings the mail in at night and it all goes in this documents tray on the desk in our apartment. Then, before answering emails the next morning (something else we shut down for the night), I dive into paying bills, answering letters, etc. Keeping it all contained, mentally and physically, is a great way to stay organized!
LHB
I wipe down the bathroom sink each time I use it. Stays clean!!:)
Such a great idea, who ever thought the chore chart would still be around post high school? (yes, my mom had me doing chores via chore chart through high school haha)
My cleaning tips. 1. Teach your kids how to do laundry (mine were 8 when they started!) They are in charge of their clothes and as teen-age girls, they certainly take care of them better, hand them up when their done, avoid trying something on and dropping it on the floor! They're rather particular about their wardrobes! My husband does his own laundry, too, and has since early in our marriage when we both worked. When everyone does their own, there's less sorting, and such! 2. My mom's tip – when the house is "trashed" and someone's coming over, throw some sheets on the furniture and say you're getting ready to "paint" hahaha!!
I do three things that keep me sane: make the bed, do the dishes/tidy the kitchen, and complete at least one load of laundry. I've started to use more baskets (just installed one to collect library materials waiting to be returned), but I definitely need to try a chore chart again! Today is going to be one of those catch-up cleaning days!
I've always found cleaning to be therapeutic. My best cleaning happens early in the morning. I find that if I wait until the afternoon or evening very little gets done. I like to get up early, make a pot of coffee, and seize the day!
I try to clean my living room within 15 minutes, any time longer than that means that I have too many things. So decluttering is the key to keeping a room clean and neat.
My tip to keeping a clean house is not to have a dog that sheds. If, like me, you don't follow that tip, accept that you will vacuum several times a week.
As cheesy as it sounds because they're sponsoring the post, I actually do use Clorox wipes for messes! They're perfect for wiping down baseboards, spots on the floor, the counter tops, sinks, and even the fridge. I love that there's no "clean-up" when I clean– just toss them in the garbage!
Thanks for the great giveaway!!
I love your chore chart! Mind if I adopt it?
For the tasks I absolutely hate, like cleaning the bathroom, I break it down into smaller, seeming more manageable, pieces in order for it to actually get done. To me, bathroom cleaning is a mammoth task, so making smaller bits of it is much less daunting to me.
Also, all-natural all-purpose spray is my best friend! I use a cleaner from Gold Canyon Candles (http://www.goldcanyon.com/Shop/Homeology–Rosemary-Mint-Natural-All-Purpose-Cleaner/p/363) that is absolutely divine and works for just about anything!