Cleaning Routines

chessylady · ‎05-01-2010

I have never enjoyed housework. How do you get into a routine? What is your cleaning routine?

scotnovel · ‎12-31-2013

I have a list of specific items that I do each day of the week. Before I retired, I would do smaller tasks each evening during the week so I'd have time for other things too. I would dust on Friday nights and then vacuum first thing Saturday. Breaking it up that way kept me from having to face doing everything on the weekends.

For laundry, I don't let it pile up and will do a load at a time. When I change the sheets, for example, I put them in the washer right then as part of that task. When I clean bathrooms, I wash the towels.

I also don't let things pile up on the kitchen counters or elsewhere so I don't have big piles of things or messes to deal with when it is time to dust and vacuum. I hate having a bunch of stuff on my kitchen counters so it stays free of clutter and all I have to do is clean up that day's dishes.

I wasn't complusive about it but just tried to keep the habit as much as possible so I wasn't spending multiple hours at a time doing housework.

GCR18 · ‎07-03-2013

I do laundry during the week. I leave housework for the w/e. Saturday's I change sheets, put everything in it's place and vacuum. Sunday's I grocery shop and do kitchen work. Other routine things like cleaning the bathroom or washing floors are rotated in. Alot of things tend to get done on an as needed basis.

Marsha2003 · ‎03-12-2010

I keep up with dishes, clutter control and bathrooms throughout the week. Everything else gets done on the weekend, but I don't have an exact schedule. I try to fit chores in around other activities. However, my priorities are laundry, which includes changing sheets, and grocery shopping. As long as those tasks are completed, we can make it through the following week. I don't make myself crazy if I miss a week vacuuming or dusting.

Adelm · ‎03-13-2010

I use the Motivated Moms Chore List and it has really changed my life and home. I found it about 4 years ago and I've never looked back. As long as I do the tasks assigned to the day, my home is always guest ready and I never have to do a full house clean or a spring cleaning. I just have a clean home every day.

I used to use the printed e-books but since last year switched over to the app. Both are great although the app is customizable so I decided to go that route.

www.motivatedmoms.com

I'm not affiliated with the company, just a very happy customer. Before Motivated Moms I struggled with getting everything done. Now it's not an issue.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

Even when I was working I did the everyday tasks every day. I made the bed, cleaned the BR, washed the dishes everyday. Then on one day off each week I totally cleaned the house and did the laundry.Now, I have a very bad back so I have someone come in and clean every 2 weeks - then I just have to do the day to day stuff.She doesn't keep it as clean as I did but it is better than I am able to do now.

Fressa · ‎03-20-2012

I have eased up a bit in my cleaning routine because I was driving myself crazy with trying to get it all done and keep it tidy. Now this is my routine----I pick one day for my major laundry day. This is for the clothing and bedding. I cycle the towels, bedspreads, throw rugs, etc. to once every three or four weeks (as needed). These loads I can do as I watch tv in the evenings or if I have time with the regular laundry.

I keep the kitchen tidy and clean up as I'm preparing a meal. The greatest invention for me are those microfiber cloths and sponges. I use them everywhere. Great for the "once over" or the 15 minutes that you have to do "some thing".

I also try to do the 15 minute pick up to see what is stack up or laying around before I leave or when I come in to the house. It's amazing how much this helps with keeping things from getting too out of control and keeping you from feeling that you are always behind on tasks.

I so the "once over cleaning" on all the bathrooms and floors once a week broken up over the week. I include the dusting with microfiber dusters that you can just swipe across/over everything in that as well. (I have a big house so I limit this to the main rooms and the "public spaces". The other rooms I tackle on my one day off on a rotation basis. I keep my weekends free for the outside chores, gardening or fun and family stuff.

Grocery shopping I do once every two or three weeks but I get everything that we need. I plan this for an afternoon or my day off depending on what is on my schedule.

The important thing that works for me is that I have flexibility with the tasks and the time. This takes the pressure off. If I don't get the bathrooms done but the groceries are bought then I'm good. In any given week, I am able to get a good portion of the tasks checked off my list and in any given month I am able to have squeezed in some home project that I needed to handle, the main part of the house is under control and the remainder of the house is not in a shambles. This works for me.

Good Luck on what you decide. There are good ideas from everyone. It depends on what will work for you and your schedule.

springers · ‎03-09-2010

My big jobs are kitchen/fam.room floor and baths(2.5), I do those in one day(sat usually) . Everything else spread thru week.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

I do not understand what assistance some of you get in cleaning from a website. I walk around my house in the morning after breakfast and tidy up whatever needs tidied - I am certainly capable to figure out for myself when I look at something that is dirty that I need to clean it. If i see something that is dirty I don't wait until some website tells me it is the day to clean it - when I notice it needs cleaned, I clean it. It seems to me that the time spent on a website being told how to clean would be better spent actually doing the cleaning.