Posted by: Sammi Apr 22 2006, 02:00 PM

I was taking a quick break from cleaning and it made me wonder....


do any of you have a routine for cleaning? Would you share?

I know, if anyone does, it's Kenny, she is cleaning machine!

I never got started with under the sink. Everyone woke up at once, so I decided to get started w/ dd room. If you can believe it, I am still going strong in there.

She has a rather big room 16 x 26, and her sister shares some of the dressers, b'c her room, upstairs, doesn't have a closet and the room is very tiny, 10 x 14. So part of the room is her sisters and part is hers.

This room is a disaster area.

At the foot of her double bed, we put her junior bed and had stuffed animals on it. So we took that out and there is more room to walk. We moved her kitchen set out of our dining room, and moved it into her room. She is cleaning it up now.

She has two tall book shelves, which the top 2 shelves in both, are filled w/ stuffed animals. She just doesn't want to get rid of them. I can't blame her. They are cute... They are filled w/ memories of the people that gave them to her.

Anyway...I still have atleast a half of a room to go. I've been looking at this room for months, and just plain overwhelmed to start it.

I have a bag of books, a doll house, a kiddie piano and a toy box to go in the yard sale next weekend.

I should not have let it go on this long. It is my fault.

Well, I'm going back into dust bunny heaven now.

Posted by: HomeschoolLady03 Apr 22 2006, 02:11 PM

QUOTE(Sammi @ Apr 22 2006, 02:00 PM)

do any of you have a routine for cleaning? Would you share?

I know, if anyone does, it's Kenny, she is cleaning machine!

Posted by: ucfgizmo Apr 22 2006, 02:42 PM

My main cleaning day is Monday. It is an all day adventure. I like eveywhere to be clean for the week, and we do a lot in the yard over the weekend, so it needs it most then. I actually have a list and cross things off as I go, so I feel like I have accomplished something.

My oldest is really starting to be a big help with picking up and putting things back after I vac. She also entertains the little one, which of course is the biggest help of all!

Monday's order:
Strip beds & Spray Lysol
Sort Laundry
First load goes in, usually 4 loads progressively during the day in betw'n
Tidy everywhere, put things in their place
Make beds
Put smaller stuff up on chairs, beds, etc to make vac'ing easier
Vacuum & put back
Empty DW & wipe it down w/ lysol
Clean counters, sinks, stove, vent, fridge, micro, tables
Clean all 3 bathroom counters, sinks, & mirrors
Wash kitchen lino & rest of the tile (I have one of those Hoover Vac/Wash/Dry machines, so its pretty quick these days)
Soak Toilets (when girls are resting... I'm always afraid of the chemicals)
Scrub tubs & shower
Finish Toilets
One of my once a month jobs (either windows, wash all baseboards, clean ceiling fans, or empty, clean, and resort kitchen cupboards)
Make grocery list for Tuesday


Tuesday:
Dust
Sweep garage, lanai, front porch
Grocery Shop

Friday:
Laundry -- only 2 loads
Quick vac (living room, den, & playroom)
Wash lino again (kitchen and breakfast area only)

Posted by: Blaise Apr 22 2006, 04:57 PM

Cleaning routine? CLEANING ROUTINE???

Yeah, mine goes a little something like this:

DO YOUR CHORES! NOW!




I clean as something needs to be cleaned, so no real routine. There is a lot I can not do because of the Sciatica. It just won't let me.

Posted by: TiffinKY Apr 22 2006, 05:17 PM

I've been doing most of my cleaning on Saturdays with laundry being dispersed throughout the week. The only problem with this method is that I get tired and give up sometimes before I've gotten everything done. I'm thinking of making up a chore chart once we get moved and organize it so that each day is devoted to one room.

Posted by: krodriguez Apr 22 2006, 05:51 PM

My only routine is to pray that I get it done before someone stops over unexpectedly.

No, really, I do certain chores on certain days. It helps make the load easier.

Posted by: hs4hmom Apr 22 2006, 07:00 PM

I guess I have a sort of routine.
Monday: clean kitchen
Tuesday: family room
Wednesday: bathrooms
Thursday: living room
Friday: back hallway

The kids each have a "public" room they are responsible for keeping picked up and vacuumed/swept.

Having said all that, it is still an ongoing battle to make sure it all gets done. I am not a natural housekeeper like my mom, grandma, greatgrandma--you get the picture. It takes work on my part.

Posted by: Tressa Apr 22 2006, 07:39 PM

You mean I am the one that is supposed to clean this mess?! But..but..but.. I was waiting for the maid!

Honestly, I wish I had a routine. I just clean as it needs it and it usually needs it before I get to it and then I am overwhelmed. I need a routine.

Posted by: CelticMuse Apr 22 2006, 07:44 PM

Sammi,
I had the best routine going for months until I got the measles while pregnant with Camryn, then cam a new baby, then I had to go to work, another difficult pregnancy and birth. Now with four little ones again I'm struggling how to balance it all again. I'm so out of my routine that it is really getting to me.

Posted by: Beth S...in AK Apr 22 2006, 09:06 PM

QUOTE(Tressa @ Apr 22 2006, 04:39 PM)

You mean I am the one that is supposed to clean this mess?! But..but..but.. I was waiting for the maid!

Honestly, I wish I had a routine. I just clean as it needs it and it usually needs it before I get to it and then I am overwhelmed. I need a routine.

Posted by: Donna Apr 22 2006, 09:53 PM

I have a routine. Once in a while family members blow it out of the water and it is hard to get back on track. That is okay with me since that is evidence of life in my household. I've never ever been super picky about my house.

I have my morning routine posted in my blog in a block. It has the daily bare essentials for me, but it alone doesn't cover everything that needs to be done. The rest.. vacuuming, mopping, etc is spread out over two or three days during the week with weekends off and a shopping day off. Even though I have this stuff written down, it doesn't mean that I always get to it. Aside from homeschool clutter, my house is fairly neat today since I did manage to do my list this week.

Posted by: sumi Apr 22 2006, 09:56 PM

QUOTE(Tressa @ Apr 22 2006, 08:39 PM)

Honestly, I wish I had a routine. I just clean as it needs it and it usually needs it before I get to it and then I am overwhelmed. I need a routine.

Posted by: Blaise Apr 22 2006, 09:59 PM

Bah, I kind of like my organized chaos!

Posted by: Sherinova Apr 22 2006, 10:08 PM

I routinely come here every morning and see what everyone else is doing.




No, I don't have a set routine. Certain things get done daily (pick-up, beds, kitchen) and Monday seems to be the day I get most of my housecleaning done. Laundry & bathrooms are almost daily. Hubby does the floors so that is somewhat sporadic, but I am thankful he does this for me. Dusting and putting away folded laundry are my downfalls.

Posted by: Sammi Apr 23 2006, 05:50 AM

Dd room is done and looks beautiful!!!!

I was so tired, I could barely get off the couch to go to bed. Something is totally wrong w/ that picture. My husband said, well, how long has it been since you cleaned it? Okay, well, b'f Xmas. I know, it is totally my fault.

I asked about a cleaning routine, b'c I find it hard to keep one. Something always keeps creeping into our schedule.

We hs everyday and I find it difficult to keep up cleaning, b'c I am constantly being called to help. Which is fine, it is what I am supposed to do. But it does make it difficult to clean.

So ladies, with a wonderful schedule. How do you fit hs'g in there?

I find I just clean when I can fit it in. That makes me feel a bit disorganized and I am not thrilled with that.

Posted by: mimzie Apr 23 2006, 06:19 AM

My house is a mess!! lol My routine is to just clean every single day!!

I try to wash sheets on thursday, vacuum the couch on friday, weekend is bathrooms for sure cause I usually dont get to it during the week etc but often it gets done more often than the days I had planned cause something happens (4 little kids! lol)

I read something recently that helped though, it said when you go to the potty, do at least 1 thing to make it look better. My bathroom is a clothing magnet, 4 little kids taking baths each night, SMALL bathroom (like 2x6 walk way in there!) clothes really pile up quickly so now when I go in there I try to at least pick up all the clothes. They are picked up nightly but I try to do it each time I'm in the bathroom cause they go thru several pairs of clothes and the bathroom either drags the clothes in there or the kids throw em in there.. I think its the kids..

So I've tried to apply that to the rest of the house too, if I go in the front room I try to at least do 1 thing to make it look better, the stray bowl or the pillow on the floor, doesnt have to be spick and span, just do 1 thing each time you walk into a room. Of course it does help if you can start with a clean room, when all our kids are grown, we'll have clean houses!!! lol

Anyway, my kids rooms were both a total wreck too. I hate going in there, my oldest is 6. One room has papers scattered EVERY where! I didnt have the heart to go in there and throw all MY hard earned printings away lol but I had to, the other room was just a big ole mess! Finally when got in there one day and jsut cleaned til it was done and now DS (6) insist on keeping it looking nice He cleans it every day What has happened to my child?? I have no idea!! But we've been having a lot of talks about how when the whole house is clean, we feel better because our enviorment is clean!! I guess it has sparked something in him. ...

anyway, I'm rambling on, it's late!! So glad you got it all done. Its hard to juggle all these things, hs'ing, cleaning, cooking.. but just as your were new to parenting your first and cooking and cleaning up after them.. you'll get use to it (I hope, I'm still trying LOL.. did I fall off the wagon some where and it left me?) LOL but just wanted to let ya know, its not something that comes to you the instant you need it to, I think it really has to be grown and nutured for a bit then you just get the hang of it and do it naturally!

Posted by: hs4hmom Apr 23 2006, 08:07 AM

My kids are all old enough to be independent learners so I don't have to be quite so on-top of them/hs all the time.

I don't get the routine done everyday and I try not to stress about it. If a room doesn't get done that week it waits until next week--as long as the kids are doing their chores it looks okay.

But my kids are 17, 15, 13, and 11--tomorrow. My baby's birthday is tomorrow. How time flies.

Posted by: carmatlock Apr 23 2006, 08:21 AM

I "try" to do Fly Lady's routine. If you don't sign up for the emails and just look at her routine. . .she does a room per week (or zone as she calls it) and gives you assignments.

I have not done much with her lately. But it really helps to know people around the world are sticking with her program. And you have chances to de-clutter and all. When I was doing it. I loved it.


Also something I saw on a show called neat. .. .the girl did not want to get rid of her stuffed animals. . .. the lady (home organizer) told the girl to pick 10 top fav's of stuffed animals. she then did it. While the girl was out. . .the home organizer took kodak's of each stuffed animal. Placed them in a small photo album and gave it to the girl at the end of the show. This was very neat idea I thought. . .and thought of it when I read your post about all the animals. That way she still has the memory (and she could even journalize about the animals and slide that in the page with pic so she would always remember Grandma or Grandpa or Dad got them this animal and how special it was to her!) and a pic of the stuffed animal.

Hope this helps.

Car

Posted by: chocolatechic Apr 23 2006, 12:49 PM

QUOTE(Blaise @ Apr 22 2006, 05:57 PM)

Posted by: Melanie Apr 23 2006, 05:02 PM

I'm a FlyLady gal. My morning/evening routines are posted on my blog, and I have weekly cleaning chores as well as well as the work for whatever "zone" we're in for the week. Those are "supposed" to be done on Monday, but I spread them out over the week because spending more than a few minutes a day on housekeeping really gets me in a funk. My kids are older (10 and 7) and I delegate nearly all chores in the public areas of the house to them. They also do their schoolwork without much help (or is it interference?) from me, so that frees up a lot of hours for me to do whatever it is I need to do.

Tanya, I'm worried about when my kids move out, too! I know my parents miss having me around for all the chores I used to do to buy my way out of being grounded!

Posted by: Blaise Apr 23 2006, 05:07 PM

Posted by: carmatlock Apr 23 2006, 05:24 PM

Right now my kids do a wee bit of some work. . .. and love helping. . .6 yr old and 4 yr old and 4 yr old. . .so they are excited to help. . .or maybe it is just getting out of doing schoolwork.

They are still young enough I have to sit on them to do the work. . .(school) and yet they do like housework. . .and I figure I am teaching them lifeskills when we do fit it in the schedule.

I look forward to making a (and maybe I should start one now!) chore chart and they know they have xx amount of time to do school and their chores. . .so do them.

something to look forward to

Posted by: chocolatechic Apr 23 2006, 07:33 PM

QUOTE(Blaise @ Apr 23 2006, 06:07 PM)

Well, there won't be nearly as much mess then will there?

Posted by: Sammi Apr 23 2006, 07:50 PM

I have enjoyed reading what you all have written.

I must admit, I hate to clean. HATE to clean!

I like to organize, but the day to day...I really don't like at all.

I get no satisfaction from cleaning something, that in minutes is a mess.

* Wash the dishes...eat....wash the dishes.
* Wash the clothes, fold the clothes...wear the clothes...wash the clothes.
* Clean the bathroom sink...1/2 day later...a mess...again.

I don't mind vaccuming, b'c that seems to stay okay for more than a whole day...except the kitchen floor.

So I guess I just need to realize, that it is what I need to do and pray for God to give me joy in my job and do it.

Right?

I prayed before I cleaned my dd room. It helped tremendously. God is good.

Posted by: chocolatechic Apr 23 2006, 08:07 PM

QUOTE(Sammi @ Apr 23 2006, 08:50 PM)

Posted by: Sammi Apr 23 2006, 08:10 PM

QUOTE(chocolatechic @ Apr 23 2006, 09:07 PM)

Posted by: Melanie Apr 23 2006, 08:10 PM

I feel the same way - I'd rather do just about anything than clean. It has to be done, though, so I try to make the best of it. It's hard to do it without grumbling some days!

Posted by: chocolatechic Apr 23 2006, 08:13 PM

to me it is like death and taxes...inevitable.........might as well bite the bullet and get it over with, so you can enjoy the day.

I don't put it off.....it is done first thing in the morning...

Posted by: Sammi Apr 23 2006, 08:14 PM

QUOTE(chocolatechic @ Apr 23 2006, 09:13 PM)

Posted by: chocolatechic Apr 23 2006, 08:15 PM

QUOTE(Sammi @ Apr 23 2006, 09:14 PM)

Posted by: Sammi Apr 23 2006, 08:16 PM

Then I'd have to get up at 4am!!!

Posted by: chocolatechic Apr 23 2006, 08:17 PM

I do, do some things that make cleaning much easier. I have a plastic box of wipies in each bathroom. I use wipies to clean my sink and toilets....then just pitch them. They are much cheeper than the wipies that are marketed for specific tasks, and the soap is right in them.

You can also use a dryer sheet to dust, instead of getting out the Pledge and a rag...

Posted by: Sammi Apr 23 2006, 08:19 PM

Do you mean baby wipes...or like a lysol wipe?

Posted by: Sandra314 Apr 23 2006, 10:10 PM

We try to do all the cleaning on Fridays before the weekend and I tidy up during the week. I admit it has been hard to keep this place clean with caring for a baby.

Posted by: chocolatechic Apr 24 2006, 06:19 AM

QUOTE(Sammi @ Apr 23 2006, 09:19 PM)

Posted by: Sammi Apr 24 2006, 10:48 AM

I would have never, in a million trillion, gazillion years, thought to clean with baby wipes!

Mmmmm, I guess if they are good enough for a babies bottom, they are certainly good enough for my bathroom sink!

Posted by: chocolatechic Apr 24 2006, 10:50 AM

QUOTE(Sammi @ Apr 24 2006, 11:48 AM)

Posted by: Sammi Apr 24 2006, 10:52 AM

so is it cheaper than buying a lysol wipe?

Posted by: chocolatechic Apr 24 2006, 11:33 AM

Sooooooooooo way cheeper! Think about it. The Lysol wipes cost about $3 for maybe what??? 20 wipes...even if there are 40 wipes, You can spend $3 for 80 baby wipes. I generally get the big box of 432 wipes for $8. If I bought Lysol wipes at that rate, I would be spending...about $303!

Posted by: Michelle Apr 24 2006, 04:56 PM

Yes, I have a routine. Like Donna mentioned earlier, mine has been blown out of the water this last few months, but that will get back to normal as soon as I get back home.