Thursday, August 25, 2011

Cleaning Schedule

First, THANK YOU so much for all of your input on yesterday's post, I was blown away by the feedback! It was super helpful! I think at this point I'm going to sew the quilt then decide where to go from there, but I can guarantee they'll be some color!

One of the questions I get asked the most is about my cleaning schedule.
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Short answer: Yes I do, but it's not set in stone. It's fluid, if something doesn't get done on the day it should it just gets moved to the next day. What's that they say "A clean house is a sure sign of a wasted life" I don't believe that! But I'm also not going to turn down a shopping day with the girls because I had it written on the calendar that today I'm going to vacuum the steps!

The Daily Grind:
~ Load the dishwasher
~ Wipe down the counters
~ Tidy the living room, fluff the pillows
~ Make the bed (most days :)
~ Pick up Lee's dirty clothes from beside the laundry bin (seriously . . . right beside the bin)
~ Walk the dog, poop patrol in the backyard.
~ Water the garden
~ and a million other things that seem to pop up everyday!

Here is how I organize my days:

Monday:
Clean out the fridge and figure out what we need from the grocery store.
Grocery Shop!
Clean up from the weekend. I do the bare minimum on the weekends, just dishes. So by the time that Monday comes the house could use a little TLC. I walk around picking up all the empty booze bottles off the floor and clean liquor off the counters from all the weekend body shots . . . just kidding! Monday usually involves picking up rouge socks from the floor and washing guest room sheets from weekend visitors.
Monday is also my day to tend to houseplants. I water them, wipe down their leaves, fertilize them every two weeks, and clip off dead foliage.
Monday is also bill paying day.

Tuesday:
Main floor cleaning day. Vacuum the living room and library,  sweep and mop all wood and stone flooring.
Wipe down kitchen cupboard doors, clean all the stainless steel in the kitchen (fridge, stove, dishwasher) Deodorize the garbage disposal (a little bit of lemon does wonders).
Remove everything from Kitchen counters, and wipe down. Clean Stove top.
Dust main floor.
Clean Main floor bathroom.

Wednesday:
LAUNDRY
Ironing, folding etc . . .
Wednesday's is also the day I tackle what ever monthly chores there are (i.e. windows, gardening, seasonal things)
Wednesday's are also the chance I have to tackle sewing, knitting or organizing projects, or just catch up on blog work.
Most importantly Wednesday is the day that I bake, usually it's bread and something yummy for dessert!

Thursday:
Upstairs cleaning day.  Just like Tuesday is our main floor cleaning day, Thursday is our upper floor cleaning day.
The sheets get pulled off and washed, all the carpets get vacuumed including the stairs and everything gets dusted.
Both the upstairs bathrooms get cleaned. All the laundry from Wednesday gets put away, and both of our closets get a tidy!

Friday:
Back to the main floor for a 'surface clean' because heaven knows it's messy already. Then the rest of Friday is spent getting ready for the weekend. If we're having people over it's spent preparing food and guest rooms, if we're going away for the weekend it's spent packing suitcases and making food for the trip.

I hope that was helpful, this cleaning system really works for me. This way I'm not doing the same thing over and over again. I clean the kitchen cabinets once a week so if I see a little smudge on the door I don't drop what I'm doing to clean it because I know that on Tuesday that will get clean. I don't worry about the full laundry bins because I know that Wednesday it gets done!

When my house is clean, I feel calm and in control. When my house is messy I feel like a mess. The schedule keeps me sane and my house clean!  It doesn't have to be my schedule but I think a cleaning system is a neccessity, try it out, it makes a huge difference!

btw ~ I've recently started making my own cleaners so if you're interested look for a post on that
Next Week!

26 comments:

  1. I feel like a mess too when my house is a mess. I need to get on and keep on a cleaning schedule! I saw that you go on dog poop patrol daily. That is one thing (of many) I need to do!! Our back yard is a mine field! We never go back there for that reason. It really is a shame.

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  2. This is a manageable schedule! I like it! Might need to be adapted for different house, different cleaner, but still, I think something like this would work for me! Thanks for sharing!

    Nancy

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  3. Thanks for a great post. I'm always curious to see how others organize their cleaning schedule. I need to be better organized like this.

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  4. Watch out!! There's a spider on your end table between the 2 arm chairs!! EEEEK!!! ;)

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  5. Wow, interesting on how you schedule your cleaning. Thanks for posting your schedule. I might give it a try as well. I am so out of whack when the house is a mess! I quilt and don't feel like being creative when there is a mess around me. Now that school is starting back next week, maybe I can fall into some sort of a routine, maybe like yours.

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  6. Hi, I don't have a schedule like that as I work full-time and when I come home I do whatever is necessary to make it look "clean". My husband and I do the "big" cleaning and shopping together at the weekend. But I like how well-organized you are! Some day when I will work less, I might adapt a schedule like that.
    What I love in your picture: 1. YOU (so relaxed), 2. the pictures above your fireplace (never noticed before how you arranged those 12 frames, very cool!) and 3. (this made me laugh) the stairs for your little dog for it to reach the couch. HAHA!!
    Jule

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  7. I keep revamping my schedule because it seems like nothing really REALLY works. I don't think it's the schedule though... it's the little girl that *needs* to be held every single time I start cleaning (especially dishes...). :-P

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  8. How flippin' cute are you?!

    Love this post. I don't know why...but I always like reading about other people's cleaning schedules. Maybe motivation for me to do my own? LOL

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  9. That picture is beautiful and your dog is too cute! I do just about everything on Sunday: vacuum, mop, bathroom, sheets, laundry, groceries. If I go to bed on Sunday without all this done, the week gets off to a rocky start. I do vacuum every few days because I have a dog but that's about it. Also, I live in a one bedroom/1 bathroom condo, so much less to tidy. I love a schedule, thanks for sharing!

    Keltie

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  10. Always good inspiration I have made a small list of sorts to attack each room even if it takes all night! We have a dinner party this Friday so I will be crazy busy.The house is neat but my desire for perfection... Well you know.! lol Love our scedule.

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  11. Great post Ashli! I am currently revamping my schedule now that we are back in full swing with school and volleyball. I do have set days for laundry, meal planning, grocery shopping, but really need to set specific days for cleaning...and I love how you broke it down. Our house is not huge, but it's not small either and I always felt like I needed to do it all in one day...and it just isn't working. Breaking it down between the two floors will be super helpful. And, once again, you read my mind...I am on the look out for some great natural cleaning products. We have a few we love. Two things I haven't found...something to handle the mold in the shower (it gets so humid here in summer so it does become a problem, and I hate using bleach) and something for dusting furniture with (I hate things like Pledge!!).

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  12. LOL Ashli.....picking up booze bottles and cleaning up after body shots!!! An organized schedule surely, but not over the top. Just really organized. I have to say the pic of you is great and Max is adorable on the sofa!!! He looks like a little toy that you put there to stage the photo. Just too darn cute!!

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  13. love it...I have so much to get done but only the weekends to do it.im jealous! questions for you:

    1. what mop and sweeper do you use? Ive always been on the lookout for a good one that doesnt just move dirt around the floor?
    2. What are some of your organization tips? I noticed you have a new basket with maybe blankets in it?? in the living room now. So what do you find useful to store in each room and how do you store them?

    thanks..have a great day!

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  14. I love reading people's cleaning schedules. I'm weird I guess. ;) I split up the chores: i.e. clean bathroom on Mondays, dust whole house Tuesdays, vacuum whole house on Wednesdays, thoroughly wash floors Thursdays, garbage/recycling/compost pick-up on Fridays, and laundry on Sundays. Of course there's always the daily tidying up.

    My dog is fed a raw diet so 1: his poop is small and 2: the poop literally turns to dust after a couple of days negating the need for picking it up. :P

    I completely agree with you saying when the house is clean, you feel calm. :)

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  15. Hi.
    I found your blog surfing the net. I'm delighted. Your house is beautiful and organized. it's an example to me.
    Unfortunately, here in Brazil, we do not have stores like Ikea or Target (I see many things you buy at these stores). Here, the stores that are similar to these are very expensive.
    Sorry my bad English, but I only speak Portuguese and I'm writing by google translator.
    It will be a pleasure if you know my blog. You can write to me in English. I translate it. no problem!
    You know something about Brazil? I know little about Canada, but I realize that is a very pleasant, if not covered with snow (I'm kidding!). I have never seen snow in my hole life.
    I live near the beach in a very sunny side of my country. Here it is summer all year. I'm programmed to write a post about the beautiful beaches of northeastern Brazil, where I live.
    So that's it
    I'm expecting your visit on my blog.
    Bianca Bohnert
    http://eusouomeuguia.blogspot.com/

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  16. I loved reading your cleaning schedule! Thanks for sharing! =)

    http://bloobreyplace.blogspot.com

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  17. Oh my gosh, I am so glad to hear that your man also leaves his dirty clothe next to the hamper. I have one with a lid and his always ends up on top of the lid...ugghh! Love your blog and I'm really impressed with your tips and organizing. Your teaching this 45 year old some good lessons.

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  18. Thank you for all of the Cleaning LOVE :)
    Jennifer,
    1)I use a Bona Mop, you can find them almost everywhere I found mine a Bed Bath and Beyond.
    It's what the "experts" haha suggest, and it's pretty natural and safe. If you drink the whole bottle of solution it suggests you drink some water to dillute it, so I feel safe using it around the dog. But before I mop I run the vacuum over the hardwood on the bare floors setting, it's way better than sweeping because it sucks up all the dirt without tossing it into the air.
    2) I'm planning a post on our favorite organization tips, but in general I like to contain things, like instead of blankets on the couch I like to put them in a basket. I have a knitting basket in the living room so my yarn and needles aren't everywhere. And I like to organize things where they naturally land. Like when you come into the house where do you drop your purse? Then put up something to organize it there, because then you'll actually use it :) haha Look for a post on our favorite organizing tips in the next couple weeks :)
    Hope that helped a little
    Ashli

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  19. I do admire you for you decorating skills and organizing but I am shocked that you pick your husband clothes that are on the floor. I have been married for awhile and never have I picked up his clothes !

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  20. :) Honestly they're mostly my clothes haha But He's so super helpful in almost every area of our home I don't mind one bit. He even takes hours out of his weekend to help me take blog photos, he runs into the shot to move things around and doesn't even get mad when I say "a little to the left, more, more, less, more, less okay perfect" hahaha

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  22. thank you for posting a cleaning schedule, it has helped me get my a into g and I now have the clean tidy home that I used to have years ago. Love your blog - thanks Ruth

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  23. wow you are superwoman!

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  24. I think the schedule is a good idea and our house is a mess but I don't think it would work do me

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