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Post by manygoatsnmore on Mar 1, 2016 9:23:16 GMT
This is where we help each other get our homes clean and organized and then to keep them that way.  A clean, organized home, inside and out, is a goal for most of us, and I know for me, it takes a lot of stress off my shoulders when I don't have to cringe when I hear a knock on my door. I love to have a home that I feel proud to welcome friends and family to visit. When my home is cluttered and messy, I feel like my mind is cluttered and messy, too! And then there is the frugal factor...if you've ever had to buy another of an item you KNOW you already own, but can't find, you know what I'm talking about. Being able to lay hands on what you need, when you need it is a time and money saver. So, do you have a to-do list for what you want to get done to clean and organize in March? Feel free to post it here, and update the thread as you work on it. Even if you don't have a list, share what you've done to clean and organize today, as well as any tips that help you around the house and you feel would help others. There's nothing like a group of friends that encourage each other along the way, so feel free to chime in. |
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Post by sss3 on Mar 3, 2016 1:34:24 GMT
MGM So true. Have cleaned and organized all kitchen cupboards. That should be easy to maintain. Couple months ago, cleaned fridge and freezer. Fridge is still good. Freezer needs reorganizing again. If I get busy, shouldn't take long.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2016 19:19:48 GMT
I have a routine that I try to stick by.
Every day AM chores: wipe my bath, make bed, wipe kids bath, take laundry down and put in a load, with 1/2 bath, unload dishwasher, clean breakfast dishes, counters, pick up family room, sweep main area of kitchen, family room, spot mop with steam mop or a damp rag. This takes about 30 minutes.
Everyday 4:30 chores: pick up, put away clean clothes, cook supper - clean as I go in cooking.
Monday: Vacuum and dust downstairs, mop wood and marble floors, clean half bath.
Tuesday: pay bills, make any calls, print coupons and make a grocery list match g coupons and weekly sales. File and shred bills/paperwork. I have a file folder that in in front of files and during the week I open mail and put in this folder. On Tuesday I go through and take care of everything. I iron everything later in the day. I try to make any doctor appointments on for Tuesdays at 1:00 - first appointment after lunch, so they aren't behind schedule.
Wednesday- Shopping day. I put a cooler in my car with frozen 2 liters and go on a loop to the stores. When I get home I try to go ahead and package meats for the freezer. Sometimes I cook a few pounds of hamburger and make up some meals to freeze or put chicken pieces in ziploc bags with different marinades to grill that evening or the next day.
Thursday- vacuum and dust upstairs. Optional cooking day to put up meals.
Friday: clean master and kids baths.
Saturday: yardwork, kids clean their rooms and wash their sheets
On the days I vacuum and dust I rotate rooms and doing a basic job on every room, but deep clean one. Deep clean includes moving furniture to vacuum behind, baseboards, light fixture, window, light switch, vacuum drapes and furniture,remove smudges from wall, clean trash can, clean put drawers.
I try to use my trips up and down the stairs to carry items rather than go empty handed. When I am cooking I clean put drawers, wipe cabinet fronts, clean put the refrigerator, etc.
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Post by manygoatsnmore on Mar 4, 2016 0:25:48 GMT
@bamamama, it looks like you have your system down to a science - good for you! I think we could learn a lesson from it. I used to use the Sidetracked Home Executives 3x5 card method, which had daily jobs, weekly jobs, weekly jobs and seasonal jobs. Many of the daily jobs were things that would take less than 5 minutes to finish each day. It assigned a day of the week to jobs like shopping, filing, etc, much like you have. It was a very workable system when I was a stay at home mom. It was a little harder when I worked unpredictable shifts, and I got away from using it. Now that I'm home, I tend to just look around and do what needs doing. I do miss a lot of the little things that I used to do and that make the house look a lot neater, like that little card that told me to sweep the cobwebs once a week, not just went I notice them! I should get back in the box.
It is shedding season for my cat, and I noticed her favorite pillow on my bed was just covered with cat hair. I didn't want to put all that hair into my washing machine so I took the lint brush to it. my lint brush has a chamber that collects the hair as it cleans off the round brush head. A few strokes of the lint brush and I'd have to clean it off (has a lever that you switch back and forth to pull the lint (hair) off into the chamber. By the time I was done, that chamber was stuffed with hair! It was nice to not feel like I was going to breathe in fur last night! I'll be glad when she is done shedding out her winter coat. For a short haired cat, she is very plush coated.
This month, along with keeping up on the indoor maintenance cleaning, I want to get the freezers defrosted. work on straightening up the yard (especially after the storm on the 1st) and cleaning in and around the barn.
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Post by midtnmama on Mar 5, 2016 21:36:08 GMT
manygoatsnmore , sss3 ,@bamamama , Thanks Manygoats for starting this. Its a little late, but we are in the Front Entrance, living room and dining room this week (March week 1). 10 min daily missions (do these first, then the detailed cleaning list if you have time) Mon: Vacuum the Living room Tues: go on a trash hunt in the zone Wed: Put away the things that have piled up in your dining room thurs: Put away accumulated things in the front entrance/hallway Fri:Broom and vacuum for 5 min in each area. Shake out the entrance rugs. 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)
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Post by midtnmama on Mar 5, 2016 21:45:09 GMT
manygoatsnmore, I have found that an old hair brush is good to get the pet hair off area rugs/oriental type rugs. I'm spending the day getting all the rooms dusted and vacuumed/swept and maybe even mopped if I have time. One thing I think makes Flylady a genius is that you aren't trying to be perfect! If you vacuum a room in your house every week, eventually, you will get all parts of the room. If you "swish and swipe" the sinks everyday casually, then big cleaning will be a breeze. Little bits really add up. I know my home is in much better shape than when I started. I don't panic about company because it's in control now. She says, if you have filled your bathroom sink with soapy water to wash a sweater--just afterwards dunk a rag in that soapy water and start swiping the sink/bathub, toilet. Quickly. All done--may be not perfectly, but enough until you can really get in there and do a good cleaning. How do all of you clean your chrome sink?
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Post by manygoatsnmore on Mar 5, 2016 22:23:06 GMT
midtnmama, I use a fine toothed comb on my throw rugs to get my dd's shed long hair off of them. Waist length hair really sticks to them! I, too, love the idea that housework, even done imperfectly, still blesses your home. Little bits here and there really help keep the house from getting totally out of control. I use Comet on my stainless steel sink and chrome faucets when I do a deep clean on them. It gives enough grit to remove the grungies, but not enough to damage the surfaces, and it contains bleach for disinfecting. It works well to bleach spots off of formica counters, too. I also use it in the bathroom. It's not terribly expensive and doesn't take a lot to do the job. I've also used the Mr Clean melamine sponges, and while they work well, they are more expensive and don't disinfect. Of course, I also use vinegar and baking soda for much of my cleaning, and The Works to remove rust stains in my bathroom.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2016 22:34:26 GMT
midtnmama, I use a fine toothed comb on my throw rugs to get my dd's shed long hair off of them. Waist length hair really sticks to them! I, too, love the idea that housework, even done imperfectly, still blesses your home. Little bits here and there really help keep the house from getting totally out of control. I use Comet on my stainless steel sink and chrome faucets when I do a deep clean on them. It gives enough grit to remove the grungies, but not enough to damage the surfaces, and it contains bleach for disinfecting. It works well to bleach spots off of formica counters, too. I also use it in the bathroom. It's not terribly expensive and doesn't take a lot to do the job. I've also used the Mr Clean melamine sponges, and while they work well, they are more expensive and don't disinfect. Of course, I also use vinegar and baking soda for much of my cleaning, and The Works to remove rust stains in my bathroom. I use comet on my glass top stove, too. |
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Post by manygoatsnmore on Mar 6, 2016 19:25:02 GMT
I know my mom swore by Bon Ami, because it wasn't supposed to scratch the surfaces you used it on...I don't know if they even make Bon Ami any more, but I like Comet better. Bon Ami didn't disinfect, iirc. I'm working on laundry and my bathroom today. I know it's not the right week for it if you're following flylady, but I just feel like it's a good time for a good scrubbing in there today. I'm also going through my closet and getting rid of all the shoes I don't wear for one reason or another. I noticed yesterday that there is a stinky smell in my closet and it seems to be coming from a shoe rack! For the shoes I'm keeping, I'm going to take old socks with no mates and fill them with baking soda, stitch them shut, and put them in my shoes. Funny that I've never noticed a smell from those shoes before, and they aren't the ones I tend to wear. I don't tend to have foot odor, unlike my ds, who is known for it in the family! Abby is doing a better job on the kitchen and keeping her room clean since I read her the riot act...shame to have to do that for a 24yo young lady, but if I must, I will. Need to have her scrub the small bathroom today while we are cleaning. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2016 4:34:16 GMT
If you are asking about stainless steel sink, I don't clean it as I refuse to have a stainless steel sink. As so "metal" faucets, I use a mixture of white vinegar/water. |
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Post by mollymckee on Mar 11, 2016 6:54:55 GMT
They still make Bon Ami, it does a great job on car windows. It takes the road spray right off, and doesn't scratch.
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Post by ketoriverfarm on Mar 12, 2016 0:20:26 GMT
I use both comet and bon ami. The older cleansers are the best! Though I do use the costco household surface wipes when I am doing a quick clean up.
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Post by ketoriverfarm on Mar 12, 2016 0:21:58 GMT
I use both comet and bon ami. The older cleansers are the best! Though I do use the costco household surface wipes when I am doing a quick clean up.
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Post by manygoatsnmore on Mar 12, 2016 2:28:41 GMT
Let's see...today I:
Organized the H&BA section of my pantry, and made a note of anything we are getting low on.
Got out my pill totes and filled them so I don't have to open so many pill bottles every day. Fill once a week and save some time and effort.
Sprayed down my shower stall with The Works Tub and Tile cleaner and scrubbed most of the rust stains off.
Treated the shower head with rust remover and put a paper clip in there to use on the holes afterward.
Filtered enough water to refill all the water bottles and jugs.
"Glued" down the facings on a scrub top with fusible webbing and ironed top.
Found scrub top had dark sweat stains - treated them with a hot water and Oxi-clean (generic) soak - stains appear to be gone.
Picked up trash along road, driveway and fenceline on my walk. Walked about 3 miles.
Washed my few dishes that I personally use (Abby is responsible for general kitchen cleaning including dishes).
Swept cobwebs in my bedroom and bathroom - didn't find any spiders this time.
Scrubbed sink, counters, toilet and tub.
Looked up hand bell pieces on line and spent some time practicing.
Cleaned the bathroom space heater housing.
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Post by midtnmama on Mar 12, 2016 15:15:48 GMT
Week of 3/6/16 Zone: Kitchen manygoatsnmore, sss3,@bamamama, midtnmama,@selena, mollymckee, ketoriverfarm, Spend 15 min daily on the missions, then proceed to the detailed cleaning list that follows: Mon:Using hot soapy water do a full scrub of your countertops ( I have some stains to get out with magic erasers) Tues:Scub your stovetop and take off knobs to do a good cleaning Wed:Scrub the small appliances. Empty the crumbs from the toaster oven and toaster. Thurs: Using an old clean toothbrush: clean the faucet Fri:Clean and polish the cabinets 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 |
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Post by susannah on Mar 12, 2016 15:28:52 GMT
I'm still following around here by reading, but since my weekdays are spent 250 miles away babysitting at my son and daughter-in-law's house - and my weekends are back home living through the nightmare mess of a huge remodeling job (plus the other messes my totally NOT a neat freak husband has created while I'm gone - I'm not participating in the "zones" much. Keeping up with the incredible amount of demolition dust is the goal for me when I'm home. When I'm babysitting, I'm enjoying spending hours with my granddaughter while she's awake. And during those all too brief naptimes, my main goal is picking up everything she threw on the floor. I will return to a more organized home - and challenge - next month, when I only need to be out of town for one week. |
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Post by manygoatsnmore on Mar 13, 2016 20:54:07 GMT
susannah, what you are doing is so much more important than housework! Enjoy your Amelia while you can - they grow up too fast. Your son is so lucky to have a mom who can drop everything and come. BTW, my Abby's middle name is Amelia. 
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2016 22:29:57 GMT
I "cleaned" my asparagus bed as nice weather on Saturday. Removed all the dead stalks from last season and dug up the weeds that *thought* they could get a jump start. Haven't raked off the leaves, still to early. But I do have a moss area (and I think one in the strawberry patch) so I'll be buying some 10-10-10 and fertilize before the asparagus spears appear. And hopefully before the strawberries bloom.
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Post by manygoatsnmore on Mar 18, 2016 2:44:44 GMT
It all started with needing a crescent wrench to remove the batteries from my trucks so I could take them to town for replacement....
That required going in my dd's room where the tool chests live. Which led to me looking around her room. Which led me to nearly cussing when I saw a pile of dishes that were beyond belief...and then I turned a half circle and found another surface covered in dirty dishes. I KNEW I was missing a lot of silverware and bowls, and much more. I removed the dishes to the kitchen and put Abby to work on them. While they were soaking, we started working on her room - gack! Several sacks of trash and loads of laundry to be washed later, I was coughing and hacking from the DUST level in there and called it quits, but told her to keep working on it until it was TOTALLY, ABSOLUTELY CLEAN. I wouldn't say she's quite there, but all but the last few dishes are washed and the room is nearly livable (her definition of livable is a little more relaxed than is mine).
In addition, today I:
Oxiclean soaked the scrub top one more time (it's totally clean and stain-free!)
oxiclean soaked a sleep shirt and 2 sleep Ts
Washed my laundry and towels
Filled all the water bottles again and filtered more water
Straightened the dish and glass cupboard in the kitchen and removed unused mugs/travel cups/glasses and dishes to storage
Cleaned out the crisper drawers in the fridge and sent stuff to compost pile
Removed the old eggs from the fridge now that the hens are laying again
Filled an egg carton with fresh eggs for the neighbors (forgot to take them with me today, but will try to remember tomorrow)
Cleaned the litter box
Sorted the recycling and took to car
Figured out how to make the arms move with the stepper/elliptical foot pedals
Emptied all the wastebaskets
Did some general picking up throughout the house
Went for a walk with the next door neighbor gal
Did some picking up outside and got more recycling ready to go to transfer station.
eta: What I did NOT do today: take crescent wrench out and remove batteries for trucks!
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Post by Homesteader on Mar 18, 2016 15:29:24 GMT
Hi you all! I just discovered what an incredible job a Magic Eraser does on a stainless steel sink. Wow. I clean it first, and then once all clean, I go over it with the ME. Try this, it's amazing what it does!
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Post by manygoatsnmore on Mar 21, 2016 5:00:53 GMT
Today's organization tasks included matching up receipts and statements to make sure my spending is all accounted for so far this year. I tallied up my spending for each month (of course, there will be more by the end of March) and have to say, I'm pretty pleased with my frugality so far. Spending for March is up over the last few months, but more than half of it was the bill for fixing my water system after the freeze in January. I found the recipe I needed to return an item to the grocery store for exchange, and added a few things to my list of places I need to go in town this week.
I also spent some time on the phone and called in the prescriptions that need refilled - I still have one that needs to be called directly to the MD office in the morning, but I was able to take care of almost everything by phone systems today.
Other than that, it was more straightening up around the house and vegging out today.
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Post by midtnmama on Mar 21, 2016 12:09:15 GMT
Week of March 20: Master Bedroom: Wake up: manygoatsnmore, sss3,@bamamama, midtnmama,@selena, mollymckee, ketoriverfarm, susannah, susannah, Homesteader, FlyLady’s Detailed Cleaning List – Zone 4: The Master Bedroom This is my detailed cleaning list for Zone 4. Ensure you adapt it to fit your home and family. If you are still decluttering, you are not ready for this whole list, concentrate on decluttering only! Baby steps! – FlyLady This is FlyLady’s Detailed Cleaning List for Zone 4. If your home is still cluttered, you are not supposed to do detailed cleaning yet; just declutter for 15 minutes a day in this area. Do not get blown away by how big this detailed cleaning list is LOL! We do not do all of it in one week. Each month we focus on a different room, and only do just a little in the other rooms. After a few months it will be very easy! BabySteps! It did not get dirty overnight and it is not going to get clean in a day! Print each room on a separate sheet of paper. Copy and paste into a word processing document. You may need to add a few of your own details that apply to your home. Start at the ceiling and work your way down to the floor. Daily Missions: Monday: look under your bed and take out things that don't belong there. Vacuum. Tues: Clean out the mismatched socks and unneeded pantyhose from the sock drawer. (this really makes getting ready in the morning easier) Wed: Clean off nightstands Thurs: Clean the top of the dresser Fri: Spend 15 min clearing hot spots (full of junk that needs to be put away) in the bedroom. Master Bathroom Detailed Cleaning List Wash area rugs Straighten up makeup Straighten drawer cabinets Clean shower/stall demold Wash shower doors Master Bedroom Detail Cleaning List Polish Furniture Clean off the desks Clean cobwebs Wash mattress pad/dust ruffle Flip mattress Empty trash Wash windows Cull some books from bookcase Straighten drawers Clean under the bed Closet Detailed Cleaning List Straighten the top shelves Arrange the shoes Take Suitcases to basement Dust shoe bookcase |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2016 17:18:54 GMT
I got in the attic and pulled down two office boxes of old tax returns back to 1997. I have a lunch sack bag of old ink cartridges so I am sending my son to Staples to return them, then use the credit to shred all the documents.
I have laundry after a weekend away.
I brought home a bunch of boxes from my mother in law. I have flannel, embroidery, cookbooks, and some other items. I am sorting and taking what I don't need to our storage unit and putting up the items I can use before we move. I didn't go through the cookbooks so will do that today and sell any I don't want.
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Post by ketoriverfarm on Mar 24, 2016 19:41:29 GMT
I am working on organizing. Since I do the bookkeeping, bill paying, taxes etc for both my dad and brother and our household,I am swamped with paper. I am in the process of turning our spare bedroom into an office. I just got my shelving unit/desk area completely emptied and am now putting back with color coordinated fie folders, in/out baskets etc. since this is tax time, I have 3 of the 5 returns that I do completely done and submitted. Just finished inputting all our info into turbo tax. I typically enter the data and let it sit for a few days before I go back and review everything. Then print it out, and review one more time before I submit ours. I just have my brothers 1040ez to do and his state return. I can do his taxes in an hour and I leave his to last. Today I woke up with a sore throat and achey body. So instead of making progress, I am laying around feeling not so good. Sigh!  |
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Post by manygoatsnmore on Mar 25, 2016 5:41:39 GMT
ketoriverfarm, I liked your post for everything except the sore throat and achy body. Hope you are feeling better soon. I'm actually on the right week for what I've been cleaning! I cleaned and organized the master bathroom vanity, including taking out all the raggedy towels and cleaning rags that live under there. I sorted through them all, folded and put back the ones that are still fit for use, but took the worst of the holey ones out and stashed them in the vehicles. They can be used for clean ups and things like wiping dipsticks while checking the oil, and can be just thrown away or burned in the stove. I got my bedding all washed and flipped the mattress, swiffered all the floors, washed the rest of the laundry including throw rugs, cleaned the rust stains off the tub, and made sure the closet was organized. And I swept for cobwebs and spiders - I think they are reincarnated as spiders again as soon as I get rid of them! Dusted all the flat surfaces, but that is an ongoing thing, too. My cat is shedding big time, so the dust bunnies are horrendous this time of year. All in all, it's looking pretty good in my master bath and bedroom.
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Post by manygoatsnmore on Mar 26, 2016 6:20:19 GMT
I've been working on picking up the yard and barn area, a bit at a time, and today was another day to work on that. I made pretty good progress - it's looking so much better than it did the beginning of the month. There is still a LOT more to do, but every day that I get outside and chip away at it, it gets a little closer to being done.
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Post by Use Less on Mar 26, 2016 15:11:11 GMT
I have been dragging my feet (again) on the sorting and deciding chores. I note that if I start feeling down, I lose the energy to do more than barest-barest necessities. Grey skies will do that for me, too. I haven't gotten going (yet) today, except to load and run the dishwasher, but something was affecting my mood, and now I'm annoyed I "let" that happen. Also, the sun is peeping through, so likely I'll get on to something I have tax prep and other paperwork to attend to. The ones requiring the h's cooperation are the hardest. He isn't being helpful, anything but, and even though I need to and will do the work, it takes a concerted effort. The shovel-kid owes me some work hours, so I am hopeful that when it warms up midweek, he will show up to do a thorough raking. There are a billion maple-wings in the yard, and they will start sprouting any time. When it is time to mow, that will take care of the ones in the grass, though. |
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Post by susannah on Mar 28, 2016 14:04:45 GMT
I've always said my husband and I have different mess and clutter tolerances. It's really apparent to me now, as I'm home for two weeks after spending the bulk of the last four weeks at ds's house. First goal for me was to get things organized again - the pantry closet scared me each time I opened the doors due to the strange balancing/juggling act most items were doing. Now that the organizing is done, I plan on doing a quick cleaning. Then I'll start dealing with the absolute chaos living through a remodel causes. |
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