Home-keeping Schedules

[bananacake]

My home is better organized than it's been probably since we moved in, and I'd like to get on a housekeeping schedule. Honestly, though, most of your schedules completely overwhelm me. I wonder if I should start a thread for housekeeping for minimalists - anyone interested?

[fireweedmama]

This thread made me feel so much better! I am not the only one who doesn't have or can't stick to a schedule! Now if I can figure out how to not be so hard on myself when I fall behind....

[mezzogirl]

For a few years now, I have used the "Motivated Moms" homekeeping routine. It has really helped me in so many ways. Each day you have around 5 things to do, as well as daily tasks that are routine. With everything broken down, I am able to see the week at a glance and if I know I am going to have a crazy week, I try to work ahead, or work after the craziness is over. As well, it helps b/c the kids ask what the get to do (hope this lasts) and I just cross that off the list.

[Starfish]

I can't stick to a set schedule either. What I've been trying is to set up a 'cleaning time' (same time each day). Then I wrote all my weekly chores on slips of paper and put them in a jar. At cleaning time, I pick one out and do that chore. Once all the papers are out of the jar, I toss them back in and start again. I think its more fun, and usually I pick a chore and think "that's not too bad, I can get that chore done".

This doesn't include laundry or grocery shopping, I just do those when I run out of food or clean clothes. Before, I tried to have one day as "cleaning day" but that got overwhelming very fast.

[LisaMarie]

I'm a total housekeeping failure. I've never been successful at keeping my house organized and clean. The best I got was just after I got married and DH & I would spend our Saturdays doing crazy cleaning and then wait til the next week.

A month or 2 ago I found www.justmommies.com 's housekeeping plan and omgosh - my house looks so much more amazing! I am feeling more successful and have seen such an improvement. I'm not embarrassed if people come by, etc.

I'm not where near perfect, but the changes it's motivated in me have been tremendous.

Basically, there's every day routine tasks - morning, afternoon and evening. Then there's daily tasks - like Monday is changing the bathroom towels and bed sheets. and washing the laundry. Tuesday is vacuuming and dusting. Wednesday is washing the bathroom and wiping lightswitches/doorknobs. etc. etc.

Then there's a calendar for the month. Each day has something to do. Like today is sweep the front and rear entrances.

For people who want/need more, there's monthly goals too - like to go through your drawers and get rid of clothes you don't need, etc.

... maybe it sounds more complicated than it really is!

I just printed out what I have to do every day. Printed out a blank meal plan for the week. Printed out the calendar. Then taped them all on my pantry door in sheet protector.

I've also finished reading Steve & Teri Maxwell's book "Managers of their Chores" and have been inspired to include my boys in the housekeeping. I made their little chorepacks and added them to the pantry collection of paperwork. Day 2 of adding them into the plan and they love it! (Hoping that continues). I'm finding getting them involved gets me involved.

My husband has actually mentioned that he can see the difference - and THAT, for me, is success.

[arctic oak]

I've just realised in reading all these posts from you lovely ladies that I am more into doing, thinking about, and talking about household chores than I ever thought possible! It seems to consume me these days, but I am trying not to be a perfectionist so that I can also have a balanced life with the kids! Now that #3 is about to be born I maybe need to tone down my expectations in order to stay sane!

My 4 year old told me the other day that I need to learn to live with chaos! I think he's right, but in the meantime my home-keeping schedule is pretty non-stop! So rather than have a weekly schedule like lots of moms out there, I just do things a bit at a time all day, every day- with bigger chores whenever they seem to really need done.

In the morning I make breakfast first (between pregnancy and 2 hungry tummies to feed that is my priority!)- when the kids have mostly finished eating but are still busy with food, I run around making beds, throwing laundry in, doing breakfast dishes, getting snack ready for later, folding diapers, etc. So I do laundry (clothes and/or diapers) every day.

I try to incorporate the boys in the bigger cleaning things- I have dish mops that look like mini floor mops, so they can "help" me wash the floor, they play with the vacuum when I have it out, and I wash the bathroom while they are in the tub. All this is easier now that my youngest is walking and stable in the bath- having another is sure to slow me down for the first while. But even when my youngest was a year old, I'd put him in the sling facing out while I washed the floor (he was at least 25 pounds then, so it was a bit of a workout!).

If I have a chore to do that I need to keep the boys away from (like washing the fridge- they helped at first last time and then I got scared for the eggs!) then I set them up with a craft and confine my 21 month old to his high chair while he colours (usually his tummy rather than the paper).

For me, it's all about being organised in the first place (knowing where things go) and making the most of the minutes when the boys are happy playing. And they love to help so I've had to learn that it might take longer to do something, but they'll be happier if I involve them.

Oh yeah, I also go out as much as possible so the boys let out their energy on something other than the house! They can make as much mess with stones, sand and snow as they like!- or run off steam at community activities. I'm really fortunate to live in a place where there's lots going on for kids.

Originally Posted by righteous mama

I'm pretty much hiding with Crystal, but I do have a schedule...it's just that it isn't being used.

So I'll tell you what I'm supposed to do...

Monday: Bathroom & Master Bedroom (that's clean them, not hang out in them)
Tuesday: Laundry Day, Kids Bedroom, Clean Off Desk
Wednesday: Living Room/Dining Room
Thursday: Errand Day
Friday: Laundry Day, Kitchen, Clean Up Outside

As you can see, it is an easy schedule. There is absolutely no reason I can't stick to that. Oh, and on Monday's I strip the beds and wash sheets. My goal is to bleach them once a month (they are just white sheets) so that they stay pretty.

I really like that schedule! I just happen to like playing on the computer more.

---------- Post added at 05:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:27 PM ----------

I just need to throw this out in the air:

I am really enjoying finding other Mamas to talk about cleaning with and share experiences and humor. I thought growing up that I'd never amount to a good wife because I didn't learn a lot of this stuff. It's so comforting to me to be able to learn without judgment and pressure. Because of the kindness of everyone, I'm able to do far more than I thought I could. It's like I get on GCM to the happy homekeeping stuff, and instant hope arises from within me. I thank God for this forum.

[mamaroland]

These posts are all so encouraging. Thank you mamas! I don't have time to read them all so I'm bumping for my reading enjoyment later

[FarmMama]

So many great ideas! I am currently trying to get on paper what it is I WANT done every day and to be more organized. I find that the basics that make the house seem clean (and this is daily) would be two loads of clothes washed and put away (that part is often the hardest for me), two loads in the dishwasher, make beds, wipe down bathroom, and pick up floors. Then maybe atack a hot spot a day? I don't know, just pinging ideas out there. But I love all the ideas that you all have mentioned!

Looking fwd to catching up on this thread!

Originally Posted by jghomeschooler

okay, here goes:

when there are piles of laundry in the bedroom AND laundry room, it's time for a laundry marathon
when I'm tired of having to wash dishes before I can cook, it's time to tame the dish monster (I've been MUCH better about this lately, we do 3 loads of dishes a day in the dishwasher!!!!!!!)
when I am tired of stepping on crumbs in the kitchen, it's time to vacuum
when I can see the floors again in the laundry/bedrooms, it's time to vacuum
when we want to eat at the table, it's time to put all the books away on the shelves where they belong
when we can't find books on the shelves, it's time to straighten them all out and dust the shelves too
when I think someone is coming over, or might step in the door, it's time to put ALL of the toys (downstairs) in a box in the closet, and vacuum the downstairs, wipe down the bathrooms and scrub the toilets.
how's that for a "schedule"?
Jenn

That's my schedule, too!

I don't really have a set schedule right now but I would like to bc I think it would make things easier! Basically I make sure and wipe down the kitchen and run the dishwasher every day. I try to do 1-2 loads of laundry every other day (for example, mon. and wed.) and then tues and thurs would be my days to fold and put away the laundry that i washed the day before. one day a week is devoted to errands and paying bills, though the day that i do this changes each week. i also try to wash sheets and towels once a week, but again, i don't usually do this on the same day every week. i do love the idea of setting aside a day for baking! that is something i love to do but i feel like i never have time for it anymore so maybe that would help! right now all of my other household chores are done on an 'as needed' basis.

[JenniferJuniper]

So I recently redid my housekeeping schedule when we started homeschooling in August then twicked it a few weeks ago when my 4th little one was born.. Heres what is "suppose" to be done:
Laundry Schedule:
Monday:children clothing, diapers
Tuesday: my DH/my clothing
Wednesday: towels, diapers
Thursday: linens
Friday: Anything extra that needs to get done, diapers
Saturday: Dh's uniforms, diapers (I don't do housework past upkeep on Sunday so I do everything possible on Saturday so I don't have to do anything on Sunday)

Housework:
Monday: baking/food prep for the week, meal plan if needed
Tuesday: Kitchen and living room
Wednesday: both bathrooms
Thursday: playroom and both bedrooms
Friday: sweep the patio, clean up the yard, sweep the driveway, prep school for next week, prep church clothing
2 Saturdays a month: yard work and other large household projects (Aka: anything I need an extra set of hands to help with )

Daily tasks:
meal clean up
morning/night clean up
vacuum at night
sweep kitchen
wipe down bathroom sinks each night

Seems like a lot but I only average about 2 hours cleaning per day, that includes laundry and meal clean up. I have a rather small house so it makes clean up quick This will change again when DH leaves for training/deployment.

[VeganIma]

My homekeeping schedule revolves around the Sabbath.

Sunday: Prepare big batches of food for the week
M-W: Tidy up house
Thursday: Vaccuum everywhere, laundry
Friday: Clean bathroom and kitchen; prepare food for the Sabbath

I only have a son and a husband to care for, so my chores aren't too bad!