Friday, July 23, 2010

Airing The Dirty Laundry


It's Friday, and we have company coming to stay for the weekend (it's becoming a happy trend).

What's not a happy trend is this: saving all my major housework for Friday. Mopping, vacuuming, bathrooms, two large loads of laundry. Oh yes, and today should also include a grocery run.

Hmmm.

Maybe it's time to implement a cleaning schedule.

Here's my rough draft:

Monday: Min. Maintenance, Sweep/Mop, Laundry
Tuesday: Min. Maintenance, Sweep, Vacuum
Wednesday: Min. Maintenance, Sweep, Bathroom, Laundry
Thursday: Min. Maintenance, Sweep, Vacuum, Focus on one room (kitchen, etc.)
Friday: Min. Maintenance, Sweep, Laundry

The whole house has linoleum flooring, and Squishy is crawling, so sweeping should be a daily occurrence.

I've never really stuck to a cleaning schedule, so we'll see how this goes. I know I'll have to be flexible (things will come up!), but I'm curious to see if I can keep to this generally.

Do you have a cleaning schedule that works well for you?

Regardless of how clean my house ends up being this weekend, I'm looking forward to our time with Andrew's younger sister. Tomorrow morning I hope to go blueberry picking again, and of course we'll have scrumptious breakfasts, and maybe some time at the pool.



This post is linked to Company Girl Coffee and Focus Check Friday
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17 comments:

  1. I love the timer idea on your min. maintenance. When the dishes pile up really badly, I set a timer for 15 or 20 minutes and tell myself I can stop when the timer goes off. But when the 15 or 20 is up, I'm usually almost done, and by then it's not hard to just finish the job.

    I think I'll apply your ideas around the house during naptime today.

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  2. Isn't it amazing what a few minutes everyday can do? I like setting my timer when I need extra motivation and otherwise follow a daily task list. My "deep cleaning" days rotate according to my hubby's work schedule but I try to split it up over a couple of days so my entire day isn't spent on housework. Good luck with your schedule - being flexible is key!

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  3. I use to have a cleaning schedule, but after Baby 2 showed up, that schedule went out the door {along with my clean house!}. I will say, I find myself doing a cleaning frenzy about once every two weeks and then try to stay on top of things in between. Doesn't always work, but sometimes I might keep the house "clean" for up to a week {and with two young toddlers, I think that deserves an award! :)}.

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  4. The minimum maintenance is the best thing ever. It really cuts down on the rest of the chores - amazing!!

    My schedule has gotten more and more flexible - fewer kids at home, busy job - so I can let some things go for longer than I used to be able to. When things start spinning out of control, the first thing I do is pull out a cleaning schedule and save my sanity.

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  5. I recently did a post on schedules! Here's a link to it: http://todayon2010.blogspot.com/2010/07/creating-weekly-schedule.html I've been the type of person who will stare at the clean clothes in the laundry basket, hoping they will fold themselves! Having a schedule I can kind of glance over daily/weekly really has helped!

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  6. Thanks for linking up at A SLob Comes Clean!

    I think your schedule looks great. It's always a work in progress and can be adjusted as needed . . . for the rest of your life.

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  7. You know, considering I am basically a Type A person, I would think I'd have a cleaning schedule. But I don't and I think it is just because, well, I don't know. It makes sense to have one, but I think when something gets dirty enough to catch my attention, I have to Do. It. Right. Then. Kind of compulsive. Oh well.

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  8. My schedule changes with the weeks...usually just what I can manage, we stay on top of things alright but we certainly wouldn't win the cleanest house on the block! Good luck with your schedule!

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  9. I love my cleaning schedule. I hated having to do big cleaning-all-day marathons when things start piling up. I love having company too...one reason to keep the house decent. Doesn't have to be perfect, especially when you have kids. I know what you mean about sweeping. We have hardwood throughout the house and if there is one tiny thing on the floor Emily will find it. Luckily she is good about not putting stuff in her mouth. She'll look at me first to see what I will do. =p Enjoy your weekend and some pool time.

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  10. I need to get back into a cleaning routine - it works very well when I stick to it! I miss having company, but perhaps I'll get feeling better and than we will be able to open our home and be hospitable again!

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  11. Sadly, I had an awesome Flylady thing going when my son was a baby. Then I had another baby, and it was all over. That was 5 years ago, and I see a glimmer of hope when they are both in school (in the mornings at least) in the fall.
    Regardless, enjoy your time with your guests! They came to see you, not your immaculate floorboards :)

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  12. Funny... I was just thinking of reinstating one around here. As the girls grew up, I became less ordered in that. The schedule, when kept pretty simple, worked, and I was just in the rough planning of a new on myself.

    So... I'm thinking this post was confirmation for me.

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  13. By the way, that photo makes this tired old 48 year old yearn for her childhood.

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  14. Oh Alicia--I'm on again, off again. Flylady helped me tons years ago and some of her philosophy still really helps me cause it's ingrained (like a morning routine). Maybe I should consider a schedule..cause being a working outside the home mom and the housecleaning thing is not really working these days...

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  15. I have a schedule that I follow every week for all the regular things (dusting, bathrooms, etc) and then a garden schedule (weeding this, that, etc) and then I choose one misc. item every day from Monday to Thursday to do and then I take Friday off. It's pretty strict but it keeps me sane.

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  16. Good luck! I can't seem to stick to one! I would love to stick to one each day but honestly mine always ends up happening all in one day. My husband has duty (24+ hours on the boat) about once a week, so I strive to spend that as my own duty day, I clean and clean to make the house as sparkly as possible because I know my hubby will appreciate that the most when he returns home, very sleep deprived the next day! Although he will be gone for 3 months early next year and I will struggle with the motivation then I know!!

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  17. I like your schedule...I vary between letting it all fall on one day and doing some every day. I definitely like spreading it out but don't make it happen as often as I'd like. Good luck on the new routine!

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