Simplifying Housekeeping

After decluttering our home (mentioned in this post), I have set up a cleaning schedule and made myself a Cleaning Schedule Notebook that makes me smile.

Wanting to replace the tacky old steno notebooks in which I had written my daily to-do list for years, I set about to find a way to make my regularly-scheduled cleaning lists reusable. Meaning, I didn't want to keep writing the same list out week after week. I knew about Flylady and her idea of using a notebook and page protectors for her to-do lists, but I didn't want a big notebook cluttering up my limited cabinet space. So when I found this cute little photo album in town Saturday, I knew I had found my solution.

I brought my little book home and personalized it with my favorite kitty picture which I had scanned from a piece of fabric.



I then cut pink paper down into a size to fit in the photo slots. On seven of these sheets, I wrote the days of the week and the daily chores I do on each of those days:



Monday: laundry, vacuum, clean out frig, make menu
Tuesday: sweep/mop, buy groceries
Wednesday: laundry, dust
Thursday: wash sheets, clean baths
Friday: laundry, Pink Saturday post

And on the bottom of each page is a spot for me to keep up with the glasses of water I drink each day.

Being in the clear plastic pages means I can use a dry erase marker to mark off each chore as it gets done or make a tic mark for each glass of water I drink. I can just add the occasional chores (like ironing) on the plastic sleeve for the day I want to do them. Since I don't do them on a certain day, I don't want them added to my permanent list.

I am still working on the next section but here's what it's going to be; a detailed cleaning list for each room.



I started my detailed cleaning on one end of our home, the utility room, and plan to work myself down the line, from one room to the next, until I get to the other end of the house. Then I can start all over in the utility room. I am working in my breakfast room this week.



I will work in here until my list is all checked off, whether it takes two days or two weeks. Then I will move on to the next room. I am trying to resist pressuring myself with time limits for each room. That way, my schedule will remain flexible and I won't feel guilty if I want to make time for some fun.

And my little notebook is cute and out of the way,standing on my cabinet or on top of the frig, when not in use.



Ahhhh, life is grand when clutter is gone and cleaning is broken into small snippets. It doesn't take much to make me happy, does it?

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