I guess since Daylight Savings Time is tonight, it means that Spring has officially begun. And with Spring comes yet of course, Spring cleaning. Most people dread this. Or cleaning in general. And I don't blame you.
Cleaning isn't all that terrible though. Unless, of course, it's Saturday, you've worked all week and all you want to do is relax, but alas, the house is filthy and needs some attention.
I'm not an absolute clean/neat freak, but I do keep a pretty clean house. I know what some of y'all are thinking, "well, you don't have kids, it's so hard to keep a house clean with kids." But the way I see it, if you keep a clean house for kids (or God forbid even give them chores!!) it will instill some sense of responsibility in them, and teach them the importance of cleaning and putting things away.
The main I know about kids and cleaning is this: don't tell them, clean your room! It's too vague and sweet little kiddies will more than likely get overwhelmed and won't get the task done. Start simple. And offer your help. One step at a time. And as they grow older, you should be able to tell them to clean their room and it should be a task they can master.
That is how things were done when I was growing up. We wouldn't leave for school until our beds were made and rooms were picked up. And I guess now, years later, something stuck, because making the bed is the first thing I do in the morning, granted if sweet Tay isn't sleeping in :)
In our house, the cleaning (for the most part) is left up to me. I get up and make the bed. Jump in the shower/tub depending on if my legs need a shave or not! Keep Scrubbing Bubbles in your bathroom cabinet. While you are brushing your teeth and putting on deodorant, spray down the shower. When you get done brushing your teeth and deodorizing, give the shower a quick wipedown. After your teeth are sparkly clean, spray some more Scrubbing Bubbles on the counters. Give them a quick wipedown.
In our house, we DO NOT put off cleaning. For the most part. While we are cooking, we are cleaning as we go. Makes the after dinner mess NOT so much of a mess. After we eat, I wash dishes and Tay puts things away and wipes down the counter tops. We don't use a dishwasher, even though we do have one. I hate to do the same chore multiple times when it can be done once with the same result. If you are going to pre-wash dishes, why not go ahead and wash them, them you don't have to worry about unloading that pesky dishwasher.
Most people vacuum, sweep, dust on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. I only vacuum when the need presents itself. Like, Tay gets done mowing the yard and random grass clipping show up in the house. The other time I vacuum is if company is coming over...have to make a good impression you know?
I'm not going to lie, I'm not an avid duster. It's my least favorite chore. But I try to get it done. And if I dust, I'll do the whole house and then not any other chores that day. Woo-Hoo, set for the next month!
The main thing I've learned about cleaning is breaking the mundane chore of 'cleaning the house' into smaller everyday tasks. Take the trash out after dinner. Sweep the kitchen, it takes 5 minutes. Put your shoes away when you walk into the house. When you replenish toilet paper in your bathrooms, put a little toilet cleaner in the bowl. And before the next time you use the bathroom, give the toilet a quick scrub. Have a dedicated spot for small knickknacks. Best thing ever, having a table with drawers in or near your entryway. Not your fancy front door entry, but the one you use daily. And when you walk in, put things in their dedicated spot in or on the table.
And then, when you wake up Saturday morning, the daunting task of spring cleaning won't be looming over you. It'll basically take care of itself. Granted, you'll still have some small tasks to do, but it won't be this overwhelming process that takes all day.
Good Luck with your spring cleaning...I'm all done :)
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