|
Post by manygoatsnmore on Aug 2, 2015 5:04:59 GMT
Thought I'd get us started for the month, since I'm actually DOING some cleaning and organizing, lol. I'm sure @midtnmamma will be popping in soon with our lists. Feel free to share what you are doing to make your home more organized, and what, if any method you might use to keep on track.
I used to use the Sidetracked Home Executives 3x5 card system to keep on track, and it worked really well, as long as I paid attention to it every day. I used it effectively for years, but now find it to be really hard to get started on again. I've used Flylady, and it is helpful, too, although I had to disable the emails as they were overwhelming to me. Then there is the Mt Vernon cleaning method where you start at one corner of the room and work your way around the room until you reach your starting point. That works pretty well for deep cleaning. I must have a shelf full of books on organizing, and still have a hard time staying on task. Blame it on my ADD!
|
|
|
Post by manygoatsnmore on Aug 2, 2015 5:10:16 GMT
Tonight I'm finally getting to wash up all the goodies I bought at Goodwill Outlet stores last month. I got my water filter system serviced a few days ago and actually have nice water again. I've been putting off doing laundry, especially whites, until I could get through fair time and a few other obligations and get that water system taken care of. Now, I have probably 10 loads of laundry to do while the house is cool tonight. The plan is to sell some of the clothes I bought, so I didn't want to mess them up.
|
|
|
Post by manygoatsnmore on Aug 4, 2015 5:30:43 GMT
Still plugging away on the laundry, but I'm getting close to being caught up. One more down comforter and a couple down pillows left to wash, several more loads to finish drying, and whatever Abby has in her room. Some of the white clothes STILL ended up with rust on them, so I'll need to put laundry rust remover on my shopping list for the next town trip. Don't know when that's going to be, so I'll just keep adding onto the shopping list until it's worth going.
I'm also getting the stuff from fair time organized and put back into storage - seems it always takes longer than it does to get it all out. Of course, I'm on a mission when I get it out, and I procrastinate about putting it away. I don't like all the clutter in my living room right now with it all over, so I absolutely MUST get it finished up.
|
|
|
Post by manygoatsnmore on Aug 6, 2015 2:31:57 GMT
Still working on cleaning up the fair stuff...I am the superintendent of the garden dept for my local fair, and that means having a lot of decorations and educational stuff to store between fairs. You never know what you can reuse a few years down the line, depending on the current year's fair theme. Makes it really hard to decide what can stay and what should go. I'd really like to get rid of some of what I've been storing, but sure as shootin', if I get rid of it, I'll need it the next year. I've been doing this for 15 years, so I should know by now what I can get rid of, right?
Organized all my reusable shopping bags and have them ready for my next shopping trips - divided them into the really good, sturdy kind of plastic tarp material ones and canvas bags, vs the lighter weight poly bags. I'll take the poly bags with me on Goodwill Outlet shopping trips, and use the good ones for groceries. I also use the poly bags to stuff down comforters into and then tie the handles together in a bow. It really saves space on storing those big, puffy comforters.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2015 10:58:53 GMT
Still working on filling the trash bags and donation boxes. I tackled half of the garage yesterday afternoon. It looks better and I feel I made progress. Of course, the mice helped by chewing on a few things making the decision to keep easy as it all went into the trash.
Today, my plan is to get the backporch area cleaned up. The weeds are taking over leading up to the porch and the spiders are decorating it for me. Oh, and the flies are leaving polka dots on the siding.
|
|
|
Post by dw on Aug 6, 2015 16:29:51 GMT
I picked up a book at the library called: Organizing Solutions for Every Quilter and there were some good ideas. Sometimes the sewing side of the room gets BAD. (Like Now) Think I'll work on a couple of ideas.
|
|
|
Post by manygoatsnmore on Aug 6, 2015 20:23:53 GMT
Just when I thought it was safe to go back in the utility room, I found a down comforter (from Goodwill Outlet) I'd forgotten about. I had tripped over it and ripped a hole in it a few months ago, and after clipping the hole shut to keep the down from escaping, I'd put it in a bag until I could mend it. Then, out of side, out of mind took over. I know the comforter really needed washed, and the thought of hand mending that dirty thing isn't all that appetizing, but I can't wash it until I do. So, that is one of my main tasks to finish up today...mending and washing it. Other than that, I have the last comforter in the dryer - still needs shaken out and run again, and I still have my mattress pad and sheets to wash. It's so nice to be pretty well caught up on laundry! Now I just need to organize and store what I'm keeping, take pics of the items for resale and post to fb classifieds. I'm not all that tech savvy and tend to avoid things I perceive as being hard, so I'll REALLY have to make myself "just do it". The living room is slowly being restored to order. It's going to be so nice to be able to just walk in and see nothing but clean and uncluttered space.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2015 11:06:59 GMT
make myself "just do it". It's going to be so nice to be able to just walk in and see nothing but clean and uncluttered space. MGM, that's it!!! This is me and I want this, too. I did well on the weeding and sprucing up the porch area yesterday. But, I didn't get to the scrubbing of the siding around the entry door. That will be today. That might be all I get done as the garden is at the top of the list today.
|
|
|
Post by manygoatsnmore on Aug 8, 2015 5:54:57 GMT
@prairiegirl, we'll just have to encourage each other to get to that point!
Gosh, I keep working on the living room and dining room, and it just seems to be taking so long. Then I stop and look around. I really am nearly done with most of the jobs I set for myself there. There are so many little jobs within the big job, and I'm taking the time to finish each thing instead of doing it halfway and then having to redo it later. It makes me feel better knowing that it may take me a while to get there, but when I'm done, I'll really be DONE.
I still don't have the down comforter mended, but I have put it in a box to contain the dirty-ness while I mend, found matching thread (although it's upholstery thread, so might be too heavy - might buy thread when I'm in town tomorrow), have the needle I need, so I'm ready to get 'er done.
Found yet ANOTHER down comforter in the dining room, too. It smells like I've washed it, but it still has the GW tag on it, so I'm not sure. When in doubt, wash it out! I'll go over it carefully to look for any rips before I wash it.
I'm going garage saling tomorrow, so I will probably have another pile of stuff to wash by the time I get home...2 steps forward, 1 step back. While I'm out and about, I'm going to buy the laundry iron remover I need to rewash the iron stained stuff, as well as the other items on my shopping list.
I keep a running shopping list so I can make those town trips count.
|
|
|
Post by manygoatsnmore on Aug 9, 2015 9:28:03 GMT
My shopping trip went well. I didn't overspend my budget at the garage sales and came home with useful items, with only 8 flannel receiving blankets and a xmas print fingertip towel to be washed (even better, they were all FREE). Pretty much everything I bought is already stowed away, including all the groceries and the items from store shopping, too. I'm draining the old pool so I can replace it with the new, identical pool I got on closeout - yay. Looking forward to having a pool with a working filter. I got the iron remover for the laundry, too, so tomorrow (today, I guess, since it's the wee hours of the morning) I get to rewash everything with rust stains. I think I remembered everything on my shopping list, even though I forgot to take the list with me!
|
|
|
Post by midtnmama on Aug 9, 2015 12:23:48 GMT
Flylady Week of 8 2 15: Zone 1: The Entrance, Front Porch and Dining Room
Flylady 10=15 min per day Tasks
Monday: Spend 15 minutes at whatever task needs doing in this area.
Tues:Do a 27 boogie fling. When done, dust.
Wed:Sweep the front porch, shake out the rug, wipe down the front door.Thurs:Clean the walls and windows of your dining room. Go after those fingerprints.
Fri:dust any houseplant leaves ( I like to use a banana peel to dust and polish leaves) and clean up any dead branches and leaves.
Once you have finished these small tasks, proceed to the detailed cleaning list:
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)
|
|
|
Post by midtnmama on Aug 9, 2015 12:30:38 GMT
When it's too hot outside, or too dark, or too dewy, I walk briskly through my house, up the stairs to the upper level and back down to the basement. While I do this, I pick up things that need to go in another room or be put in the trash. In one room, I do jumping jacks, in another I do pretend jumprope and in another room, I spend a couple minutes on the bicycle (that's all I can do).
I carried the full basket of clothes around one level lifting as I went and then dumped it on the bed. Each pass through the bedroom, I picked out kitchen towels and dishcloths that got delivered to their home.
All this to say is, I like this method of exercise because it kills two birds with one stone. On my path through the office, I pick up mail and dump the junk mail in the compost bucket on my porch. Later, when I empty the bucket, I will sprint to the garden. I hate to clean and organize and it helps if I challenge myself to work faster/harder and get a workout at the same time
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2015 18:21:25 GMT
manygoatsnmore, ahh, the forgotten shopping list. I've done that myself. Good for you remembering everything on the list....and staying on budget while shopping the garage sales.
midtnmama, sounds like you get a good work out while doing chores. I know I get some exercise, but don't really think about it. I'm too busy staying on task.lol Thanks for the list. I am almost done with the porches.
We scrubbed the front porch over the weekend. DH got up a new storm/screen door. Just a bit more work at the bottom and it will be done.
I spent the a couple of hours in the kitchen this morning. Dusted lighting, the top of the fridge, stove top and clearing some canning clutter. All the dried kale got marked, dated and put away. The dehydrator got a good scrubbing, too. Mopped the floor and put down clean rugs. It smells and looks fresh, but won't last long. It is the season for messy kitchens - in a good way!
|
|
|
Post by manygoatsnmore on Aug 12, 2015 7:03:55 GMT
Lol, @prairiegirl, I did so well remembering things on Saturday, and totally forgot to stop at Fred Meyer for bread and milk (on sale and my favorite store bought bread - Sweet Hawaiian) yesterday! I'm nothing if not a work in progress!
I brought home quite a bit of "stuff" yesterday from GW Outlet. By then time I got home, I was too tired to do more than put away the perishables, and I spent today recuperating. Didn't sleep more than a couple hours Sunday night, and was short on sleep for about 3-4 days straight, so I really needed a down day today. I slept pretty much all night and all day - feel pretty good now, but think I can still sleep well tonight.
Tomorrow I'll need to wash up the clothing I brought home and finish cleaning the living and dining rooms (great room, so it's all one open space). I'm also working on getting the new pool set up. Wanted to get it set up tonight, but I didn't realize just how early it's getting dark already...it was dark enough that I couldn't see very well by the time it was cool enough this evening. I need to really make myself get on it first thing in the morning while it's nice and cool. My reward will be a good swim in cold water by tomorrow evening if I start bright and early.
Then I have a couple new sewing machines to figure out - the Baby Lock Anna I bought Saturday, and a Singer (Featherweight?) I found at GWO yesterday. I have way too many sewing machines, and I don't even sew very well, lol.
|
|
|
Post by manygoatsnmore on Aug 14, 2015 2:18:42 GMT
Last night I tried walking through my unlit house and about killed myself! I was trying to keep my eyes adjusted for meteor viewing, but I think I should have turned on a light. I learned that even though I've made some progress on putting my house back in order, it isn't nearly enough yet. Gives me incentive to get back to work - I kind of like having all my toes attached to my feet, and not falling on my face, too.
|
|
|
Post by midtnmama on Aug 15, 2015 17:54:45 GMT
Had a very productive morning. Went through many boxes of "stuff" in the basement that have been stored for years, but not gone through. Was able to find scissors and glue gun and glue that I need. Threw out four full feed bags of trash and filled two boxes for goodwill. I'll work on more tomorrow and fill up the car to be dropped off this week.
I noticed that a lot of bags and boxes were things that had been taken to craft get togethers/crafting for car trips/sunday school crafts, etc. that were never put in their forever home. Thus, the many, many scissors!! -----------------
Taking a load of books to the resale bookstore today. It's in another city, but we will have another trip there next month, so I'll get the boxes ready for that trip. They also take cameras/electronic equipment. You can find metal detectors, baby monitors and home security systems there for much less. -------------------------------- Took old, old, old, computer equipment and metal that need to go to a farther dump today. Yay! Some things have been staged for at least 5 years to go! Feeling great!!!! ----------------------------- I'd emptied several plastic storage boxes and saved them for further organizing. ------------- Last week, everything was at least put away enough to park the cars in the garage. I need to put a list of things in my control journal that need to be fixed/done there.
|
|
|
Post by manygoatsnmore on Aug 16, 2015 2:42:16 GMT
midtnmama, that is an awesome and productive day! Did you know that Goodwill recycles old computer equipment? Probably won't help if you got rid of all that today, but something to keep in mind for the future or it might help someone else on here with their organization.
|
|
|
Post by midtnmama on Aug 16, 2015 12:15:41 GMT
Flylady August 16 - 22, 2015
This week we are in Zone 3: The Bathroom and One Extra Room
Monday: Clean the flat surfaces in the bathroom--that means anything horizontal: sink, toilet, tub and shower (not floor) Today the other room is the Laundry room. Put away stray hangars, clean the top of the washer and dryer and throw away empty laundry boxes/containers.
Tues: Clean behind the toilet. For the other room: Spend 15 minutes doing the 27 boogie flig. In my case, it will be the basement and I'll be spending 15 minutes with trash bags and a box for goodwill.
Wed: Go through your towels and washclothes and take out worn ones. Donate towels to the animal shelter. In my case, I use them for washing floors. I cut off a corner of washcloths and zig zag stitch to prevent fraying. These are cleaning rags. I cut towels in halves and zig zag and use them for floor washing.
Thurs: Make a list of what you need to buy for supplies in the bathroom and laundry room. In my case it is to be aware of doubles or triples of things that need to be used up.
Fri: Wash your bathroom rugs and wash the floor. In my case, I wash a differnt rug every week from the bathroom (I have a lot of cotton rugs in there (in front of shower, in front of bath, in front of each sink and in the toilet area)
I love flylady--she has changed my life. Her website is wonderful and you should check her out:http://flylady.net/
It's not just about cleaning and organizing--its about mental and physical health! All are related!
|
|
|
Post by claytonpiano on Aug 18, 2015 0:57:58 GMT
I decided it was time to get the farm organized. I started an official farm notebook today with a GOOD calendar that records when we are doing what. I intend to do this every year, but I finally have it started.
We even worked on barn clean out. There are still things stuffed in there from when my parents lived with us. It is hysterical to see where my Dad with Alzheimer's put things. It is nice to be getting that organized!!!!!!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2015 11:01:32 GMT
Today I am back to work. I have been off for about a week. Getting the hay in was at the top of the list last week and I'm happy to say it is done - until next time. We were gone for three days for our family reunion. Yesterday was spent cleaning out the camper, piles of laundry, and getting back into the routine of things. I have one more load of laundry to dry. Thankfully, it was a good day for clothesline drying and I got all the bedding dry It was our oldest DD birthday so I spent the afternoon making her favorite meal for her birthday dinner.
Anyway, back to work. My plan today is to tackle the bathroom. It's not really too bad as far as organization. I did that earlier in the Spring. My extra room will be the basement. I want to pull all the boxes of canning jars and supplies down and get them better organized.
claytonpiano, I have always wanted to have a farm book, but have never done it. Life has always been too busy and I felt other things were more important. A couple of years ago we did start recording as much as we could on a farm calendar. It's a bit easier to do, although I wish it were an actual notebook for making more detailed notes.
|
|
|
Post by midtnmama on Aug 23, 2015 23:07:17 GMT
Week of aug 24, 2015: Master Bedroom
Monday: Look Around and throw out any trash. Flylady said to look at your bedroom as you would a hotel room and ask "What is trash?". Sometimes we look at things that don't belong in a room and can't "see" the trash. Be objective. Tues: Put away the laundry and any clothes that aren't where they belong. Wed: Dust all surfaces and the lamps. Thurs: Change your sheets and fluff up your pillows. Make your bed inviting for a good night's sleep. Fri: Put on your favorite pjs and get into bed 1/2 hr early to enjoy your relaxing, clean bedroom!
|
|
|
Post by midtnmama on Aug 23, 2015 23:45:56 GMT
The work we did in decluttering/throwing things out/donating things has really built upon itself. I continued this weekend by taking a load to the goodwill and dump (old TVs, notebooks, books).
I found a small box that I used to gather up several loose jelly jars and took them down to the basement storage.
In going through stored boxes, I found things I wanted to keep and have started to nicely organize them on cabinet shelves so I can see them and they are protected from the dust and dirt of an unfinished basement.
I see a lot of camping equipment that is just waiting for the camping kid to buy a house!
I got the sheets changed on the bed, so I'm ahead this week in the master bedroom. What I really need to do is vacuum!
What are you getting done?
|
|
|
Post by manygoatsnmore on Aug 24, 2015 6:50:44 GMT
I'm glad it's master bedroom week. Mine tends to be the catch all for things that have no home, and I plan to make this the week that they find homes or go away.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2015 11:24:32 GMT
I'm still working on things, just a here and there. Too much canning and animal chores lately. Throw in a picnic and family dinner and well........you know how that goes.
Anyway, our bedroom needs a good cleaning. I did one in the Spring, but there is one corner where the cedar chest sits that is a drop spot for things, mainly clothes. I pledge to clear that today. I need to get out a different bedspread as I spilled nail polish on the previous one. Blaming that on getting old.lol
|
|
|
Post by manygoatsnmore on Aug 27, 2015 4:15:07 GMT
I'm working my way through cleaning my bedroom, too. Even just getting a couple surfaces cleared and cleaned makes such a difference in how it looks. I really have to do a deep clean, though, from top to bottom. It's too dusty and every time I turn on the ceiling fan, I start sneezing! That can't be healthy.
More of my time than I thought has been spent in town this week, and it seems like I have to recuperate every time I make a town trip (I'm such a happy hermit). I thought I'd be further along than I am. I have to keep telling myself, "Baby steps!"
|
|
|
Post by manygoatsnmore on Aug 31, 2015 16:06:00 GMT
I got the sheets changed, trash emptied, some of the surfaces cleared, some of the dusting done, swept the cobwebs, and swept/swiffered the floor, so I did actually make good progress. I also managed to get some of the clothing relocated, but I will have lots more to do next time the master bedroom comes around on Flylady, if I don't get a wild hair before that! I've also been doing more laundry, getting GWO purchases ready to post for resale, so as I get more of those things taken care of, the house will be looking a whole lot better. Can you believe it's already the end of August? Midtnmama and I have been talking it over, and I'll start a new thread for September tomorrow, and she'll try to get the weekly Flylady rooms posted.
|
|
|
Post by midtnmama on Aug 31, 2015 23:44:24 GMT
Here is this week's flylady tasks.
Manygoats: Can you start the september thread and copy these to it. I am afraid I won't be able to get that done in the next few days....
August 30, 2015 - September 5, 2015
This week we are in 2 Zones: Zone 5: The Living Room Zone 1: The Entrance, Front Porch and Dining Room
Monday: Declutter the living room for 15 minutes. Tues: declutter the front porch and entrance for 15 min. Tops!! Wed:Declutter the dining room (Mine really needs it!) Thurs:Sweep the front porch, entryway and shake out the entry rug. I've got some epic spiker webs to remove out there! Friday:Do a maintenance vacuum and sweep of the dining/living room. You don't have to move the furniture.
|
|
|
Post by manygoatsnmore on Sept 1, 2015 3:35:40 GMT
Here is this week's flylady tasks. Manygoats: Can you start the September thread and copy these to it. I am afraid I won't be able to get that done in the next few days.... August 30, 2015 - September 5, 2015 This week we are in 2 Zones: Zone 5: The Living Room Zone 1: The Entrance, Front Porch and Dining Room Monday: Declutter the living room for 15 minutes. Tues: Declutter the front porch and entrance for 15 min. Tops!! Wed:Declutter the dining room (Mine really needs it!) Thurs:Sweep the front porch, entryway and shake out the entry rug. I've got some epic spider webs to remove out there! Friday:Do a maintenance vacuum and sweep of the dining/living room. You don't have to move the furniture. No problem - I'd be happy to.
|
|