cleaning: staying on task!
So weekendpbs has a new house and is thinking about cleaning and schedules and staying on task and all that. She posted a poll with some questions about frequency of certain household tasks and wondered how the rest of us manage it. I filled out the poll with some measure of amusement; I don't think it's any secret that I am not very accomplished in the area of house cleaning. However, I have good intentions, and I think I set up a decent system, if only I could stick to it. After I commented, she indicated interest in seeing my 'house control journal', as it were, and since it's lengthy I figured I'd share it here. How do all of YOU keep up with your homes? What works for you and what doesn't? Do you see ways I could take what I've got here, a method that only partially works for me, and improve it?
Here was my comment on her poll:
"this poll is hilarious because I am the worst cleaner on the planet. For the tasks that I "accomplish" daily and weekly, I assumed you actually meant "which tasks do you PLAN to accomplish daily and/or weekly", rather than 'which tasks do you actually get DONE on a regular basis", because I fail most every week. And day, for that matter. I have never figured out how to keep up with all the tasks I feel NEED to be done in even my small house, without sacrificing family time and work time. It's a neverending battle for me.
That said, I DO have a schedule that I even follow sometimes, with tasks for every day, and when I'm following it I try to get some things done every day so that the house is always in some semblance of order. When I have my clutter problem under control, it's easier to follow. When I don't have the clutter under control, it's hard to CLEAN because picking up the clutter always gets in the way of cleaning time.
How I made it: i went through every room in my house and listed all the chores for each room I thought needed to be done, ever. Then I categorized them as daily, weekly, or monthly chores. (I included the outside, with things like cutting the grass and cleaning the gutters too.) I made sheets up for every day of the week, and listed all the daily and weekly chores on them. I tried to space the weekly chores all out throughout the week and also group them together so, for instance, all the vacuuming gets done in one day, and all the dusting on another. Then I added a page with monthly chores. When the first of the month hits, I try to either schedule them on the calendar or just get to them when I have 'extra' time during the week.
I have never done the monthly chores in the two years that this 'house control journal' has existed. But I know what they are should I ever get around to them.
As I said, when my house is decluttered, I'm pretty good about getting to the journal and at least working on the daily / weekly chores each day. I have never gotten through a whole house's worth of stuff though, and it's frustrating. Even when I'm at the top of my game, it seems like there are always more chores than I can keep up with. I don't know if that's MY failing or if I was overambitious with my lists (I don't THINK I was, but who knows), but it seems like I will be spending two hours a day cleaning every day in order to get it all done. And I only have a 2 bedroom ranch house! Add in cooking and cleaning up after meals and taking care of the kids and homework and baths and showers, and I have NO time left over for writing / working, let alone for any hobbies. It's immensely frustrating, and I often wish I could afford a maid.
I AM challenged in the cleaning department, it's true, but I also feel really frustrated at the amount of work taking care of a house seems to be. ANd it's not just owning a house, it's apartments, everything; cleaning in general just seems to take up so much time. :/
I am willing to share my task lists with you if you want to know more after all my bitching about cleaning there, lol.
My house is filthy right now. FILLLLTHY."
In addition to the daily tasks per room, I have a small morning routine that I do before I start any of this. It consists of:
start one load of laundry (and reboot dryer from yesterday)
empty dishwasher
feed the animals and clean up pet waste
and then I have an after dinner routine as well, that consists of:
switch laundry, put clean load from yesterday away
stack dishwasher and run it
Kids' Room:
daily:
laundry in hamper
take garbage out
pick up toys / misc
make beds
Sunday:
clean glass
Monday:
sweep
Tuesday:
dust
Wednesday:
vacuum
Thursday:
change sheets
Friday:
sweep and mop
Saturday:
no extra chores
Master Bedroom
daily:
laundry in hamper
take garbage out
pick up misc
make beds
Sunday:
clean glass
Monday:
sweep
Tuesday:
dust
Wednesday:
vacuum
Thursday:
change sheets
de-hair chair
Friday:
sweep and mop
Saturday:
no extra chores
Upstairs Bathroom
take garbage out
laundry in hamper
pick up misc
Sunday:
clean glass and sink and shelves
Monday:
sweep
change towels
Tuesday:
clean toilet
Wednesday:
vacuum
Thursday:
clean shower
Friday:
sweep and mop
change towels
Saturday:
no extra chores
Hallway:
daily:
pick up misc
take all laundry downstairs
Sunday:
clean pictures
Monday:
sweep
Tuesday:
dust
Wednesday:
vacuum
Thursday:
clean out pantry
Friday:
sweep and mop
Saturday:
vacuum floor vent
Living / Dining Room:
daily:
pick up misc
clean and wipe table
Sunday:
clean glass
Monday:
groom pets
sweep
Tuesday:
dust
Wednesday:
groom pets
vacuum
Thursday:
de-hair upholstery
Friday:
groom pets
sweep and mop
Saturday:
no extra chores
Kitchen:
daily:
pick up misc
wipe counters
take all garbage out
Sunday:
clean glass
Monday:
sweep
Tuesday:
wipe walls and cabinets
Wednesday:
vacuum
Thursday:
clean out fridge / freezer
Friday:
sweep and mop
Saturday:
clean microwave
Stairwell:
daily
pick up misc.
Sunday:
clean glass
Monday:
change rug
sweep
Tuesday:
dust
Wednesday:
vacuum
Thursday:
wipe door
Friday:
sweep and mop
Saturday:
no extra chores
Bar Area:
daily:
pick up misc
take garbage out
wash one row of bar glasses
Sunday:
clean glass
Monday:
sweep
Tuesday:
dust
Wednesday:
vacuum
vacuum shelf
Thursday:
wipe down bar
Friday:
sweep and mop
Saturday:
clean light fixtures
Family Room:
daily:
pick up misc
take all garbage out
Sunday:
clean glass
Monday:
no extra chores
Tuesday:
dust
Wednesday:
vacuum
vacuum shelf
Thursday:
change futon sheet
Friday:
no extra chores
Saturday:
no extra chores
Downstairs Bathroom:
daily:
pick up misc
put all laundry in laundry room
take garbage out
Sunday:
clean glass and sink
Monday:
sweep
change towels
Tuesday:
clean toilet
dust
Wednesday:
vacuum
vacuum shelf
Thursday:
clean tub / shower curtain
Friday:
change towels
sweep and mop
Saturday:
no extra chores
Laundry Room:
daily:
take garbage out
Sunday:
clean glass
Monday:
sweep
Tuesday:
dust
Wednesday:
vacuum
Thursday:
clean out fridge / freezer
wipe down appliances
Friday:
sweep and mop
Saturday:
no extra chores
Outside:
daily:
straighten up yard
bring in and sort mail
Sunday:
weed
Monday:
take out garbage and recycling
Tuesday:
put away garbage and recycling bins
Wednesday:
cut grass
Thursday:
wash down patio furniture
Friday:
swingset maintenance
Saturday:
straighten up garage, sweep out
MONTHLY CHORES
kids' room
wash blankets
wash curtains
clean fan
wipe walls
master bedroom
clean fan
wash blankets
wipe walls
clean blinds
clean under bed
upstairs bathroom and hallway
wipe walls and doors
living / dining room:
clean fan
wipe walls
wash drapes
kitchen
clean fan
clean oven
clean blinds
stairwell
wipe walls
clean blinds
bar area
wipe walls
clean blinds
clean and tighten bar stools and desk chair
vacuum inside bar
vacuum electronics and tool closet
family room
wipe walls
clean blinds
downstairs bath
wipe walls
clean closet
laundry room
wash out litter box
maintenance on appliances if needed
change air filter
outside
clean windows
clean gutters
clean windows outside
Here was my comment on her poll:
"this poll is hilarious because I am the worst cleaner on the planet. For the tasks that I "accomplish" daily and weekly, I assumed you actually meant "which tasks do you PLAN to accomplish daily and/or weekly", rather than 'which tasks do you actually get DONE on a regular basis", because I fail most every week. And day, for that matter. I have never figured out how to keep up with all the tasks I feel NEED to be done in even my small house, without sacrificing family time and work time. It's a neverending battle for me.
That said, I DO have a schedule that I even follow sometimes, with tasks for every day, and when I'm following it I try to get some things done every day so that the house is always in some semblance of order. When I have my clutter problem under control, it's easier to follow. When I don't have the clutter under control, it's hard to CLEAN because picking up the clutter always gets in the way of cleaning time.
How I made it: i went through every room in my house and listed all the chores for each room I thought needed to be done, ever. Then I categorized them as daily, weekly, or monthly chores. (I included the outside, with things like cutting the grass and cleaning the gutters too.) I made sheets up for every day of the week, and listed all the daily and weekly chores on them. I tried to space the weekly chores all out throughout the week and also group them together so, for instance, all the vacuuming gets done in one day, and all the dusting on another. Then I added a page with monthly chores. When the first of the month hits, I try to either schedule them on the calendar or just get to them when I have 'extra' time during the week.
I have never done the monthly chores in the two years that this 'house control journal' has existed. But I know what they are should I ever get around to them.
As I said, when my house is decluttered, I'm pretty good about getting to the journal and at least working on the daily / weekly chores each day. I have never gotten through a whole house's worth of stuff though, and it's frustrating. Even when I'm at the top of my game, it seems like there are always more chores than I can keep up with. I don't know if that's MY failing or if I was overambitious with my lists (I don't THINK I was, but who knows), but it seems like I will be spending two hours a day cleaning every day in order to get it all done. And I only have a 2 bedroom ranch house! Add in cooking and cleaning up after meals and taking care of the kids and homework and baths and showers, and I have NO time left over for writing / working, let alone for any hobbies. It's immensely frustrating, and I often wish I could afford a maid.
I AM challenged in the cleaning department, it's true, but I also feel really frustrated at the amount of work taking care of a house seems to be. ANd it's not just owning a house, it's apartments, everything; cleaning in general just seems to take up so much time. :/
I am willing to share my task lists with you if you want to know more after all my bitching about cleaning there, lol.
My house is filthy right now. FILLLLTHY."
In addition to the daily tasks per room, I have a small morning routine that I do before I start any of this. It consists of:
start one load of laundry (and reboot dryer from yesterday)
empty dishwasher
feed the animals and clean up pet waste
and then I have an after dinner routine as well, that consists of:
switch laundry, put clean load from yesterday away
stack dishwasher and run it
Kids' Room:
daily:
laundry in hamper
take garbage out
pick up toys / misc
make beds
Sunday:
clean glass
Monday:
sweep
Tuesday:
dust
Wednesday:
vacuum
Thursday:
change sheets
Friday:
sweep and mop
Saturday:
no extra chores
Master Bedroom
daily:
laundry in hamper
take garbage out
pick up misc
make beds
Sunday:
clean glass
Monday:
sweep
Tuesday:
dust
Wednesday:
vacuum
Thursday:
change sheets
de-hair chair
Friday:
sweep and mop
Saturday:
no extra chores
Upstairs Bathroom
take garbage out
laundry in hamper
pick up misc
Sunday:
clean glass and sink and shelves
Monday:
sweep
change towels
Tuesday:
clean toilet
Wednesday:
vacuum
Thursday:
clean shower
Friday:
sweep and mop
change towels
Saturday:
no extra chores
Hallway:
daily:
pick up misc
take all laundry downstairs
Sunday:
clean pictures
Monday:
sweep
Tuesday:
dust
Wednesday:
vacuum
Thursday:
clean out pantry
Friday:
sweep and mop
Saturday:
vacuum floor vent
Living / Dining Room:
daily:
pick up misc
clean and wipe table
Sunday:
clean glass
Monday:
groom pets
sweep
Tuesday:
dust
Wednesday:
groom pets
vacuum
Thursday:
de-hair upholstery
Friday:
groom pets
sweep and mop
Saturday:
no extra chores
Kitchen:
daily:
pick up misc
wipe counters
take all garbage out
Sunday:
clean glass
Monday:
sweep
Tuesday:
wipe walls and cabinets
Wednesday:
vacuum
Thursday:
clean out fridge / freezer
Friday:
sweep and mop
Saturday:
clean microwave
Stairwell:
daily
pick up misc.
Sunday:
clean glass
Monday:
change rug
sweep
Tuesday:
dust
Wednesday:
vacuum
Thursday:
wipe door
Friday:
sweep and mop
Saturday:
no extra chores
Bar Area:
daily:
pick up misc
take garbage out
wash one row of bar glasses
Sunday:
clean glass
Monday:
sweep
Tuesday:
dust
Wednesday:
vacuum
vacuum shelf
Thursday:
wipe down bar
Friday:
sweep and mop
Saturday:
clean light fixtures
Family Room:
daily:
pick up misc
take all garbage out
Sunday:
clean glass
Monday:
no extra chores
Tuesday:
dust
Wednesday:
vacuum
vacuum shelf
Thursday:
change futon sheet
Friday:
no extra chores
Saturday:
no extra chores
Downstairs Bathroom:
daily:
pick up misc
put all laundry in laundry room
take garbage out
Sunday:
clean glass and sink
Monday:
sweep
change towels
Tuesday:
clean toilet
dust
Wednesday:
vacuum
vacuum shelf
Thursday:
clean tub / shower curtain
Friday:
change towels
sweep and mop
Saturday:
no extra chores
Laundry Room:
daily:
take garbage out
Sunday:
clean glass
Monday:
sweep
Tuesday:
dust
Wednesday:
vacuum
Thursday:
clean out fridge / freezer
wipe down appliances
Friday:
sweep and mop
Saturday:
no extra chores
Outside:
daily:
straighten up yard
bring in and sort mail
Sunday:
weed
Monday:
take out garbage and recycling
Tuesday:
put away garbage and recycling bins
Wednesday:
cut grass
Thursday:
wash down patio furniture
Friday:
swingset maintenance
Saturday:
straighten up garage, sweep out
MONTHLY CHORES
kids' room
wash blankets
wash curtains
clean fan
wipe walls
master bedroom
clean fan
wash blankets
wipe walls
clean blinds
clean under bed
upstairs bathroom and hallway
wipe walls and doors
living / dining room:
clean fan
wipe walls
wash drapes
kitchen
clean fan
clean oven
clean blinds
stairwell
wipe walls
clean blinds
bar area
wipe walls
clean blinds
clean and tighten bar stools and desk chair
vacuum inside bar
vacuum electronics and tool closet
family room
wipe walls
clean blinds
downstairs bath
wipe walls
clean closet
laundry room
wash out litter box
maintenance on appliances if needed
change air filter
outside
clean windows
clean gutters
clean windows outside