I am the worst ever when it comes to consistently cleaning my house. I really stink at it. I recognize that this is a deficiency and I am really trying to overcome it.
In the past, I’ve polled my friends asking them how often they do certain chores like scrub the tub, clean the toilets, wipe the baseboards, wash the hardwood, scrub the linoleum, wash their bath towels, etc. If there’s a chore for it, I’ve asked about it! I’ve tried writing a schedule and taping it to the back of my bedroom door so I can see it every day. I’ve tried assigning one day to do all the cleaning. I’ve tried pop-up reminders on my computer. I’ve tried FlyLady. Are you sensing a trend? Nothing seems to work for me!
A friend of mine said it’s because I’m a perfectionist. I think it’s laziness and no real plan of action that works for me. I look at the work that needs to be done and feel so overwhelmed by it all that I end up opting for a bowl of ice cream and some America’s Next Top Model instead.
Realizing that I need “bite size” goals that keep me working daily, don’t overwhelm me, an easy system and still gets the house clean, I think I have found the solution!
Motivated Moms is a daily chore list, already written out for the entire year. One day’s list of chores might be: Change all the kitchen towels and wash them, clean out the 3rd shelf of the refrigerator, change linens in room #2, make all the beds, dust room #1. That’s really not a lot of work! But, it builds on other chores you have already done – like cleaning out the fridge. One week, you clean the first self then another week the second shelf. Instead of spending an hour pulling out all your food and tossing the bad stuff, then washing down the insides of the fridge, you spread it out so it’s not such an overwhelming task.
With the New Year well underway, I plan on getting started on this year’s Motivated Moms chore list asap!
Good luck!
4 comments
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January 30, 2008 at 6:51 am
Nun
I am soooo glad I found your site! I also have trouble consistantly cleaning my house and I hate it. I usually put it off till I can’t stand it anymore and then drive my fam and friends crazy with a massive cleaning drive.
Great site!
NUN
May 13, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Niki
I too have a weekly cleaning chore list as well as a monthly. My weekly breaks chores such as upstairs and downstairs bathrooms as well as certain days for certain loads of laundry. I also ensure one day is designated for wiping out the microwave and cleaning light switches and remote controls (trying to keep colds to a minimum). My monthly chore list is simply a list that I check off something that is complete. Things like cleaning the car, the oven and deep cleaning the kids toys are part of this list. By month end I try to have them all ticked off. The one downside to this is the fact that your house is never 100% clean at once. For a treat I would like to get a cleaning lady to do a once over…I can dream cant I?
February 9, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Lisa
I too never seem to get all the work done! I have three teenagers (15, 15, and 14 plus an 8 yo) in the house and can’t seem to get them motivated either. I started doing one room at a time (of course the kids bedrooms are all theirs!) and this seemed to work ok for me. One day kitchen, next day bathroom etc. The chore isn’t always the same on a given day week to week but it all gets done. I also have the kids doing their own laundry (not the 8yo!) which helps alot too. The problem really is that with my brother, his 2 kids, my 1 and his 1, and the two of us in a 5 BR house, it gets a little hectic! I wouldn’t trade it for anything!
June 20, 2009 at 10:11 am
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