Housekeeping

If you are like me, things get hectic.  Life happens.  Before you know it, another week is gone.  So, I developed chores cards to keep me on track.  Nothing fancy, just colored index cards that I flip through each day (I keep mine above the kitchen sink so I can't miss them).  My feeling is that it is much easier to do a few small things each day than to need to do an all out house cleaning on ONE day.  Plus, the added advantage is that the house is always somewhat picked up and if someone drops in unexpectedly, it's no biggie.  I've arranged mine so that the weekends are mostly free.  These are easily adaptable to your own schedule, so making your own should not be difficult.

Monday:
*Clean bathroom sink, toilet, and tub (including the bases)
*Brush the dog (if you are lucky enough to have one!)
*Leave a check for the lawn guys (or mow the lawn if you do it yourself)
*Exercise (still working on this one, but it sounds good right?)
*Check monthly and deep cleaning cards (see below)
*Pick up all rooms/declutter
*Laundry/dishes
*(summer:  water flowers)

Tuesday:
*Dust all rooms with feather duster (wet dust on the first Tuesday of each month)
*Brush the dog
*Exercise
*Take trash out
*Pick up all rooms/declutter
*Laundry/dishes *(summer:  water flowers)

Wednesday:
*Vacuum
*Kitchen (wipe down appliances, counter tops, sweep and wash floor)
*Clean back door windows
*Brush the dog
*Make weekly menus/clip coupons
*Garage sales
*Exercise
*Pick up all rooms/declutter
*Laundry/dishes *(summer:  water flowers)

Thursday:
*Grocery store
*Bathroom:  sanitize toilet, wipe off sink/counters, sweep and wash floor
*Wash sheets/pillow cases
*Pay bills
*Brush the dog
*Exercise
*Pick up all rooms/declutter
*Laundry/dishes *(summer:  water flowers)

Friday:
*Clean out/wash car
*Clean dog dishes
*Replace plug-in air fresheners if needed
*Brush the dog
*Pick up all rooms/declutter
*Laundry/dishes*Exercise
*(summer:  water flowers)

Saturday:
*Errands/garage sales
*Brush the dog
*Spray rooms with fabric spray (you can make your own by mixing 2 cups of water with 1 cup of fabric softener, via Pinterest - cost effective and you can choose your own scent)
*Exercise
*Pick up all rooms/declutter
*Laundry/dishes *Do something fun!
*(summer:  water flowers)

Sunday:
*Church
*Vacuum
*Straighten basement/garage/craft area
*Brush the dog
*Exercise
*Pick up all rooms/declutter
*Laundry/dishes *Family Day :)
*(summer:  water flowers)

Monthly:
*change furnace filter
*Wash shower curtain liner
*Clean inside oven and fridge
*Polish wood floors
*Run washing machine sanitizer
*Keep drains running clear and fresh:  pour 1 cup baking powder into drains (kitchen sink, tub, bathroom sink), pour 1/2 cup vinegar in drain and immediately cover drain with a plug, dish, or wet wash cloth.  Let sit 30 minutes.  Remove cover and run hot water for 2-3 minutes. (via Pinterest)

Fall Deep Cleaning:
*Wash all bed blankets/ put on beds
*Choose rooms to deep clean (I have 6 rooms, so I choose 3).  Clean all windows, curtains, knick knacks, light fixtures, base boards, etc.
*Winterize yard:  cover air conditioner, turn off outside faucets
*Spray bug killer (be careful of kids and pets)
*Cut back flowers
*Buy rock salt, get ahead of it! (you're welcome)

Spring Deep Cleaning:
*Buy and plant flowers
*Spray weed killer (use a mixture of 2 cups vinegar, 1 Tablespoon dish soap, 1Tablespoon salt)  Recipe via Pinterest that is safe for kids and animals, cost effective, and works great!
*Wash and put away heavy bed blankets
*Spray bug killer (be careful of kids and pets)
*Choose rooms to deep clean (opposite of rooms cleaned in the Fall).  Clean all windows, curtains, knick knacks, light fixtures, base boards, etc.


This makes my life so much easier let me tell you.  My brain doesn't even have to work very hard - I just flip the card to the next day and it tells me what I need to do.  Literally, most days it takes all of 15 minutes if not less and then you can go on with whatever else the day holds.  As I discover new techniques, I will add them to the above lists.  Plus, you can be so creative with these or even make them cuter than simple index cards.  I'd love to hear your ideas too so we can all worry more about projects than cleaning :)