Manic Monday- Organize and Clean!

Okay, we all hate that very nasty word..."cleaning". I mean not many of us really want to jump out of bed and clean our house. And yet after it is done, we breathe a sigh of relief. You must agree, we fully love to see a clean house. Now if only it could be that way 90% of the time. I don't say 100% because that is just impossible, and in reality it is probably more like 75-80% of the time.

In order to be more productive with cleaning, you need to get your cleaning supplies organized. It also helps to come up with a cleaning schedule. Here are a few tips to get you organized!

Bathroom Cleaning:
Create a bucket of supplies for each bathroom. Put everything you need in it- window cleaner, tub and tile cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, rags, old toothbrush, gloves etc. (for some great homemade cleaners checkout the blog from Monday, February 15, 2010). If you have a high cabinet, place your bucket there. Otherwise, store in a linen closet. When you need to clean, just grab your bucket. I suggest doing a really good clean once a week, and a wipe down once to twice a week. I normally do the wipe down why the kids play in the tub. We only have one bathroom, so it requires more wipe downs in a week.

Dusting:
This is also a place you can create a bucket. Just fill it with wood cleaner, window cleaner, rags, and anything else you may need. If you have an older home like me, dust will be collecting immediately after you do this chore! Do not become discouraged! Just pray everyone who comes to your home has poor eye sight! :)

Kitchen:
I have created a little caddy to go under the sink. It is just a nice way to keep things handy. Again I just store a counter cleaner, some bleach water (great for cleaning counters after cutting meat), scraper, and rags.

Once you have organized your cleaning supplies, it is time to start cleaning! Aren't you excited? I find it much easier to have a cleaning schedule. This way it does not seem so overwhelming. What I do is make a month long list of what needs to be done each day. I make sure I always have one day to do nothing. The days I know I am home have more chores. Some of the chores are weekly, others may only be once or twice a year. ( ie. cleaning stove or hutch) When things are broken down by the day, it makes it easier to get done.

Don't forget your children! They also need some chores. Make up a chore chart for them. Show them yours and then theirs. This way they understand that everyone in the family has a job to do. Also make sure your husband has a few chores. :) Having a clean house is a family project!

Not many of us get excited to clean, but we all want the clean house. Hope this gives you a few ideas to get you cleaning with a happy heart.

Your girlfriend,
Melinda