March 2017 Cleaning and Organizing Thread

[midtnmama]

Welcome to the March Cleaning and Organizing thread



Please post your successes and your downfalls so we can support one another. I'm trying to plant all my old seed and clean up my planting areas.
Each week I try to post the Flylady tasks because over the course of a year, you can get to all areas of your home.  


As I clean this weekend, I'm updating my Control Journal and making a list of what needs to be fixed/done/painted, bought in each room.



Here are a couple Videos related to our First Week of March Cleaning and Organizing tasks:



www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTj7IPhl6SA



I like this idea for organizing what is on the dining room table every day and makes it easier to wipe off the table.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=q68MsV9FhJA

[midtnmama]

February 26, 2017 - March 4, 2017 Flylady tasks

Spend 15 minutes a day on the missions. If you have more time, continue to the deep cleaning steps.

Mon:get rid of things that dont belong in your dining room/and or entry
Tues: continue to get rid of things that dont belong in your dining room/and or entry
Wed: Put away all old mail, file it if need be, put away shoes or other items that should not be in this room.
Thurs: Continue same
Fri: Use the feather duster to clean off the leaves of your plants



Entrance Detailed Cleaning List
Start at the ceiling and work your way down to the floor.

Clean cobwebs
Dust window sills and front door
Clean switch plate of hand prints and walls if needed
Put plants in to the shower and give them a good rinse. Let them set there until you are finished.
Dust furniture
Dust baseboards
Straighten the coat closest
Sweep vacuum or mop the floor
Put back the plants. You would hate for DH to walk into a jungle tomorrow morning.
Add your own personal touches to make it more welcoming.


Dining Room Detailed Cleaning List
Start at the ceiling and work your way down to the floor.

Clean the cobwebs
Dust window sills
Clean the window
Clean doors of china cabinet after you straighten dishes if they need done. Dust.
Clean and straighten any drawer
Clean off top of dining table and polish
Rinse plants in the shower
Dust the bottoms of the chairs.
Dust the baseboards
Move furniture and vacuum underneath (except the china cabinet). I turned mine over one time. It was not funny.
Add your own personal touches to the table (table cloth, pretty bowl, flowers)
Front Porch Detailed cleaning
Sweep down cobweb and spider webs (In the summer, I leave them. I feed the spiders, too, LOL.)
Sweep off porch furniture.
Sweep the porch.
Throw away any dead plants.
Prune back unruly bushes from the entrance.
Repot planters if necessary (in summer)
Refill bird feeders.
Wipe off tables, banisters, and light fixtures.
Get rid of unwanted items.
Add your own personal touches to welcome friends and family (wreath, welcome mat, bell)

[midtnmama]

Flylady Tasks Week of March 5 - 11, 2017

This week we are in Zone 2: The Kitchen

Spend 15 min on the missions and then, if you have time, proceed to deep cleaning:
Mon:Unplug and clean small appliances, inside and out. Ungunk your can openers
Tues: wash all the dishes on the counter and sink.
Wed: Put away all the things that don't belong on the flat surfaces of your kitchen.
Thurs: Clean the outside of your refrigerator, oven and dishwasher
Fri: Clean one shelf of your pantry getting rid of things that are too old and donating things that are still good to eat that you won't use.

Kitchen: Detailed Cleaning List
Empty refg/clean thoroughly
Clean microwave inside and out
Clean stove/oven
Wash canister/knick-knacks
Straighten drawers/cupboards
Wipe fingerprints off walls
Wash inside windows
Clean fan/vent-a-hood filters and hood
Scrub down cabinet fronts (only a few at a time)
Clean light defusing bowls (glass globes over light bulbs)
Clean under sink/throw away old rags
Clean pet dishes

[spacecase0]

"Wipe fingerprints off walls"
I avoid this task by never touching the walls

you sound super organized with cleaning...
i try not to mess anything up so I don't have to clean it later
and don't allow other lifeforms in the house other than me or other humans, so no cobwebs to clean,
also, I dust baseboards with diatomaceous earth, and it kind of precludes me from bothering to clean them ever.

[LauraD]

I'm working on cleaning and reorganizing the garage. Unfortunately it's snowing right now, so if I want to work on it today I can't do my favorite trick: take everything out of the garage, sweep thoroughly, then put things back in an organized fashion.

[midtnmama]

LauraD, I'm impressed. That would not work for me as I end up going down rabbit holes with things and then....Pouff... It's time to go to bed and half the garage is still in the driveway or 1/2 the closet is on my bed. I do much better, myself, to do portions and keep coming at things. That's why flylady works for me.

I do admire those who can do as you do!

[midtnmama]

spacecase0, I try to be organized, but have a very busy life, working full time, long commute, community involvements--all to say that I do what I can and try to be consistent and prepared as much as possible.

I love to hear what everyone else is doing --it motivates me!

And yes, I do try not to touch the walls. I don't live alone, however, haha.

[LauraD]

I've got most of the garage done - still have a big pile of stuff where the car belongs, though. I hope to get through that this weekend, then I can start on the smaller garage stuff, like organizing the cabinets...

I know what you mean about rabbit holes, midtnmama, as I've done my fair share of going down them!

[midtnmama]

Week of March 26, 2017
Living Room/Family Room/Den 10 min missions
Mon: Look around and get rid of some old decorations you no longer need. Get rid of old magazines, etc.
Tues:Clean/vacum under the chair and sofa cushions
Wed: Get rid of the hotspots of piles of stuff that shouldn't be in the living room
Thurs:Clean the baseboards, corners and two inches of floor next to the baseboards that never get fully cleaned by the vacuum
Fri: Put away/throw away clutter






Living Room/Family Room/Den Detailed Cleaning List
Clean cobwebs
Clean windows
Straighten bookcases
Wash ornaments and knick-knacks
Clean out end table
Straighten closets/ drawers
Wipe fingerprints from walls
Polish furniture
Clean out magazine racks
Clean phone
Clean under cushions
Clean out fireplace
Move furniture and vacuum
Shampoo carpet
If you have a family room, game room, sun porch, or other room that is used by the family for living purposes, then concentrate on decluttering one room each month