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!!
My favorite product is 'The Original Bee's Wax' spray. It is the best stuff I have found for cleaning my stainless appliances, furniture, granite countertops, my leather pieces, even my windows! It leaves no build-up an it smells amazing.
My best cleaning secret is my housekeeper, Yolanda :-)
we have a chore chart that is color coded according to family member. We try to stick to it but life tends to get in the way. I use the basket method as well. I work full time out of the house and have a 3 year old as well as a 5 month old so cleaning is kind of low on the priority list right now. I can't keep up and tend to do most of the cleaning on the weekends. The daily chore chart keeps the kitchen tidy and the small chores taken care of but it is hard to keep up! A maid and a nanny would be nice…in my dreams, right?
p.s. I love your blog!
My mom taught us to wipe down the shower tiles after each use to ensure no soap scum or dirty wanter. It keeps the grout nice and clean!
My tip is to stay on top of the cleaning and not put it off too much. For example, I could conceivably do laundry every other week, but I feel so much happier when I do it every week so that the loads are more manageable!
for me, the best tip is to go green. I'm slowly using up my old store-bought cleaners and replacing them with a green, homemade variety. My apartment smells better already!
One of my tips for keeping a clean kitchen is to clean it while you are using it. Every night, while my dinner cooks in the oven, I'll spend those 20 – 30 minutes wiping down countertops, cleaning the floor, doing the dishes, going through the refrigerator, and more.
I'm also with you on the bed making thing. If I don't make my bed right when I wake up, it will never get made. :)
Hi, I love your chore chart. I have been doing Martha Stewart's 6 things you must do everyday list.
1. make bed
2. sort mail
3. clean as you cook
4 sweep kitchen floor
5. De clutter rooms
6. Wipe up spills when they're fresh
I have discovered I work much better with a chore chart! Thanks for sharing!
Rita Humphries
This is sort of a general tip, but my main goals are to make sure that everything has a place (e.g., enough hangers in the closet for your clothes, enough room on the bookshelves for all your books, enough space in the kitchen cabinets for all your jars) and to make sure that everything is accessible (nothing shoved in the back of closets or under beds – if it's too difficult to reach, then you won't ever take it out).
My tip? Never walk up the stairs empty handed! Between myself, my husband and two growing boys, there is always something that needs putting away. If you take it as you go, it keeps the clutter to a minimum. Love the chore chart, thanks Jenny!
My tip is to de-clutter every night before bed. Take 10 minutes to put everything in its place and your mind will feel at ease. The next day you start fresh with a clean slate!
I like to "cleanse" once a month by getting rid of things I don't need – old bills, magazines, clothes I don't wear anymore, etc. It gives me a fresh start and keeps me motivated to live as minimalistic as possible.
I just leave disinfecting wipes in every room and at my desk!
The only thing I can think of for cleaning/organizing is my closet. I keep everything in order based on color and sleeve length. Tha way, I know exactly what I have clean/dirty and it's so much easier to get dressed in the mornings (allowing me some free time to do dishes). I love your chart though. I must incorporate it into my household!
A few things that we do…
A load of laundry a day so that it doesn't pile up. Chore chart so that everyone contributes. And, quick pickup of the house before bed.
I stick to a chore chart like you and it truly makes the work much, much lighter!
Hi, I love your chore chart. I have been doing Martha Stewart's 6 things you must do everyday list.
1. make bed
2. sort mail
3. clean as you cook
4 sweep kitchen floor
5. De clutter rooms
6. Wipe up spills when they're fresh
I have discovered I work much better with a chore chart! Thanks for sharing!
Rita Humphries
My biggest "trick" is staying on top of the dishes {no dishwasher}. I do the dishes between breakfast and lunch and then again after dinner. That way it's a light load both times and it gives the dishes time to air dry before I wash the next batch. Plus I never wash the dishes without music, which definitely helps make it less of a chore. :) I love your chore chart though {I'm horrible about making the bed} and I'm looking forward to using it!
Labels! Help me (and more importantly the rest of the family) remember where things go -especially when all the balls have been dumped out of the basket!
It sounds simple, but it really does help to just do a little bit every day. Before you leave the kitchen, do the dishes.
I also put things that need to go upstairs in a basket on the steps, and take at least one thing up with me every time I go upstairs. My biggest annoyance is pet hair…….
I feel like I am terrible at keeping the house clean with 3 kids but I try to involve them. I think organization is the key to a clean home. If everything has a place, clean-up seems much easier.
THis is brilliant!!!! I really don't have a cleaning process. I wait until the house is CRAZY and then I start to lose my mind. Once that happens, everyone is trying to clean-up before I start fussing! ha!
Your chore list has really come in hand. I appreciate you for shring it and thanks for the giveaway:)
I make sure to put dirty clothes in the hampers and I bought a tray to corral our remotes and magazines in the den. I'm going to try your cleaning schedule!
My key cleaning tip is to take care of the kitchen while cooking dinner. While items saute, bake or boil I take the time to clean out the fridge, wipe down my counters and load/unload the dishwasher. I love using Clorox wipes for this so I don't have to spray cleaning fluid and risk getting it in my food! This strategy makes tidying up after the meal a breeze and helps me keep a high-traffic area spotless!
In my dream world, I deep clean one room in the house every weekend to avoid that time you mentioned when you have to start from zero.
Ajax and a pumice stone for cleaning super old sinks in super old houses!
I had a chore chart but it fell away. I might try to resurrect–it wasn't as thorough as yours. I like the Fly Lady's 5 things tip–every time you leave a room, throw 5 things away and put 5 things where they belong. It takes the edge off.
I also use the basket method — Pottery Barn has great lidded baskets, that hid clutter even better! I also have a stick vacuum that I use for daily runs around the house, so I only have to lug out the big vacuum once a week. Carrying that guy up from the basement was such a deterrant!
Great Schedule! We keep old toothbrushes around for misc. cleaning projects…scrubbing grout, cleaning around the sink drain, getting all of the lint off the dryer's lint catcher, etc., etc.
Just make sure you know which toothbrushes are for cleaning the house and which are for cleaning your teeth!
my favorite products: barkeepers friends for sink and odd jobs, vinegar and water for floors and general cleaning.
to control clutter in main entry (mudroom): boxes for shoes, tall baskets for sports stuff, umbrellas.
oh and new label maker (purchased with michael's coupon) inspires me to organize closets/pantry.
My favorite cleaning tip is to clean the kitchen during dinner! While things are sautéing, baking or boiling I take time to clean out the fridge, wipe down counters and sort through mail. I love using Clorox wipes for this so I don't have to risk spraying cleaning fluid in my food! This makes tidying the kitchen after a meal a breeze and helps me keep this high-traffic area spotless!
This is an awesome cleaning schedule, thanks and love your site!
My mom always said your house should be ready for guests at any time. I was terrific at maintaining that–until kids came along. After a few years of mess (and being OK with it), my staying organized strategies are to involve the whole family in cleaning up (having the kids pick up their toys before bed, for example), and to allow myself one room (such as the guest room) where half-finished projects can reside, things to be filed can pile up, etc. This keeps the mess contained and hidden away until I have the time and space to focus on what needs to get done.
I love those new skinny hangers, I am able to get a lot more items in my closet, with a lot more room to spare! Also, Ikea has some AMAZING shoe storage that I just love, really cute but narrow cabinets easy enough to store several pairs of shoes. Its helped my lack of storage problem immensely!
So inspirational! I'll admit that my cleaning routine is quite lacking. I do try declutter a bit everyday, but it always seems like 1 step forward, 2 steps back with the messes that get made by the kids during the day. I need this give away!
We try to declutter a couple times a year, usually when you're changing your wardrobe (taking out winter or summer clothes). Clothes and other items get sorted into donate or toss piles.
Organization tip – each new article of clothing that enters my closet requires an old one to leave. As far as cleaning goes, my favorite tip is to have your kids do it!! Mine are almost teenagers and this helps them develop a dimishing value in our culture – work ethic.
Maybe I should try your chore chart! My house is always "picked up" but I stink at the deep cleaning stuff. I always end up with a marathon day to get bathrooms and floors back to zero.
I find that if I wipe counters down with disinfecting wipes after every meal, and make sure that all mirrors in my apartment are shiny, the place feels a lot cleaner and brighter! Fingers crossed :)
your post's sponsor is my favorite cleaning tip. i have a can of clorox wipes in every bathroom. quick swipe makes the bathroom look spotless minutes before guests arrive.
Such a great giveaway! Im not the rosiest person by nature, yet I love a well organized space. What I've found is that it pays off to put in the time and money up front (ie pretty baskets, trays, dishes etc) to set up an efficient and beautiful organizing system. If I have a place to put everything, I'm much more likely to put by belongings away as opposed to tossed casually about.
Live Inspired,
Heidi
Athousandlaughingstrfiah.blogspot.com
My cleaning tip is having a maid :) Ha- just kidding sort of… With a toddler and a baby about to be crawling, I try to keep things tidy but I am not great about clean. I love this chart and plan to use it! You always have the most practical ideas!! Thank you for sharing!
With a dog and a toddler (and not to mention clutter-blind husband), I have to do a daily light sweep and clean to stave off the feeling that when weekend hits, I am spending all my time cleaning! This also helps my sanity :)
wow-thanks for offering this! you know how they suggest you do a once over, and put away all the little things you leave out…well, i can't handle having things out of place, so my semi ocd behavior means i'm usually organized and clutter free!
When I was roommates with my little brother we had a chore chart, but no one really adhered to it haha.
I usually have one of two approaches to cleaning: For deep cleaning I focus on one room at a time, but in general I go through the house and pick up clutter, clean the kitchen (which is always in a state of disaster despite my efforts) and usually have loads of laundry going throughout the day.
I'm also beginning to heavily invest in trays and baskets. Corralling the mess makes it much less daunting to sift through.
I also utilize the basket process. I keep several in the living room at all times to corral related items until I need them, and one at the base of the stairs to gather up everything that needs to go upstairs throughout the day. Whenever anyone goes up the stairs they grab a handful and put it away once they are up there.
I hate cleaning too, although I do love Clorox wipes. They are awesome. We finally finished our basement this week, which is exciting to me because it means no more toys and books upstairs! I think now that I'm not constantly de-cluttering our main living area, I might actually get a little better at deep cleaning it. Maybe I should make a schedule like your though, just to start off on the right foot! :)
love the chart and just printed it out. i sweep everyday as i have long haired dogs–amazing what a nice vaccuum does1
We have mostly hardwood floors in our house…and a dog that drools a lot. So finding a steam cleaner that we can use on hardwood has made all the difference. No more mop and bucket! And my husband seems to like using the steam cleaner, so one more chore off my list! ;)
I wish I had a really good tip to share, but with a 10 month old and a 3 year old I feel like I'm not ever keeping up. Thankfully, my husband is a fantastic cleaner so our house isn't too bad. We have start keeping wipes in the bathroom and try to wipe down the counters and sinks while we are letting our oldest play during bathtime.