This post is part of the Creating a Homekeeping Book Series
I said I would share my cleaning plan, and I will. First, though, I should say that there are lots of great systems out there, I am only sharing mine because maybe somewhere there is another mom who has the same kind of brain as me and will find this useful.
Also, a confession: I am great at coming up with systems, not so great at keeping up with them. Some weeks, my cleaning plan sits collecting dust while I attend to other things. However, when I do buckle down, this is the easiest way I’ve found of doing things. I’ve taken suggestions from several books and websites and made a plan that works for me.
It is slightly embarrassing to admit that I need this list! I am just not a natural housekeeper, which seems so unladylike! Yet, it is better to just face it already and do what I have to do to keep up. This is what I have to do to keep up.
My cleaning schedule has three sections, Daily (things I need to do each morning and evening), Weekly, and Declutter.
Here’s a week’s sample.
Daily:
Morning:
Laundry
Make bed (Yes, I need a reminder still)
Empty dishwasher
Go over priorities for day
Any evening chores not done
Evening:
Wipe down counters/toilets in bathrooms
Dishes/Counters/Kitchen table/Stove
Vacuum kitchen
Put away toys, mail, etc.
Dining room table cleared and cleaned
Go over lesson plans for next day
Weekly:
Monday: Living room
Tuesday: Kitchen
Wednesday: Bathroom/Bedroom/Closet
Thursday: Errands
Fridays: School area/Clean out purse and car/Plan school week
Saturday: Catch up on any chores not done
I try to spend an hour or so every day on weekly chores. It hardly ever happens, so oftentimes I am doing all my catching up on Saturdays. For each weekly area, I actually have a checklist with details for each room. (Such as, vacuum, dust, scrub shower, etc.) You would think after ten years in the same house I wouldn’t need it, but I actually still use this list.
Declutter:
Monday: Video cabinet
Tuesday: Pantry
Wednesday: Bathroom cabinet
Friday: Binders
When making my schedules, I added all the little areas that need regular de-cluttering. They repeat about every two months. I have 18 cleaning weeks, to coincide with my menu plans. This way, whatever week I am on, it is all there in my little binder: Menus, grocery lists, and cleaning schedules.
Tomorrow or Monday, I’ll share about making a homekeeping book for your daughters.
Read the complete series:
Homekeeping Book
Menu Planning: Part 1
Menu Planning Part 2
Shopping Lists, your Key to freedom
A Cleaning Plan for the Housekeeping challenged
Mini-Homekeeping Book for Girls
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You should teach special ed teachers how to teach. You cover every contingency–with clear, reasonable directives. The visualization of your days must help so much.
May I say..HOLY COW with the lists!
They are so complete and clear and organized and diligent . I am amazed. And wowed. I could never be such a list maker or follower but, I can use a few of your ideas and start making my days a little more organized from your posts.
You would be a good teacher to adults as well as your kids.
Maybe you could post a few scanned pictures of your lists as examples or something.
Good Job Angela!
Mom, thanks…I think
Joy-
I will try to get some examples up. Lists rule!
I’m seriously copying/tweaking your list right now! I seriously need to do this. I can’t even find the crib at this point!