Category Archives: Homemaker’s Journal

Apr 3

The 5 Minute Pick-Up

As my daily clean-up routine is ever evolving, I’m always looking for a faster way to keep the house nice and tidy. Last week I did a deep clean of the downstairs for Dylan’s party and it took way too long, but it got me thinking… If I broke down the major cleaning tasks to just five minutes a day per room, I could get a lot more accomplished in a little bit of time, and have extra time for the kiddos. This won’t replace the big deep clean, but it will help out with the clutter and little day to day messes.

I’m planning on spending just 5 minutes a day per room cleaning up a little here and there and decluttering daily too. Here is the break-down of the house:

  • Kitchen
  • Utility Room & 1/2 Bathroom
  • Dining Room
  • Living Room/Main Play Area
  • Foyer
  • James Office
  • Main Bathroom
  • Master Bedroom
  • Boy’s Room
  • Total time to clean 45 minutes

We’ll see how the experiment goes. Dylan usually takes a pretty good nap in the morning and in the afternoon, so I hope to get all of the cleaning accomplished then 😉

Feb 18

Nico’s Daily To Do’s

I’m a big list maker, and having a set schedule really helps me out (thanks O.C.D.) I’ve been working on my daily to do list off and on, and I think I finally have a pretty good list together. I’m still revising my weekly and monthly to do’s 😉 So here we go:

Nico’s Daily To Do List:

A.M.:

  • Make Beds
  • Make Breakfast for everybody
  •  Feed and Water Cats (Thade’s chore most days)
  • Wash Dishes
  • Empty Upstairs Trash Cans
  • Clean High Chair
  • Wash at least 1 Load of Laundry
  • Make Lunch for everybody
  • Clean Kitchen Surfaces

Afternoon:

  • Sweep Kitchen, Dining Room, Foyer
  • Swiffer/Vacuum Living Room
  • Fold Laundry
  • Empty the Downstairs Trash Cans
  • Take out the Trash
  • Put away Clean Laundry
  • Dust and Windex Downstairs
  • Bills, E-mails, Nicostuff Orders, and Phone Calls

Evening:

  • Make Dinner and Dylan’s Nighttime Bottles
  • Sweep Kitchen and Dining Room
  • Wash Dishes
  • Make Coffee for Tomorrow (very important)
  • Feed and Water Cats

I’m pretty sure that I forgot a few things, and I know there will always be something new to add to the list. I hope that having my new list will keep me on track with all of the daily housework 🙂

 

Are you a list maker too? What are a few of your daily To Do’s?

Dec 31

Finding a Cleaning Schedule That Works

Mid-Summer I started a Homemaker’s Journal filled with cleaning routines, shopping lists, and menu plans. I stuck to the chopping lists and menu plans, but the cleaning routine just wasn’t working. I’m working on a schedule to keep up with it all. I have a small daily to do list, but there is a lot that needs to be added to the schedule. Here is the old set of Daily Chores:

  1. Feed and Water Cats A.M.
  2. Feed and Water Cats P.M.
  3. Put away Clean Dishes
  4. Wash Dirty Dishes
  5. Wash at least One Load of Laundry
  6. Make Breakfast
  7. Make Lunch (hubby is usually home for lunch)
  8. Make Dinner
  9. Clean Kitchen Surfaces A.M. and P.M.
  10. Get the Coffee-Pot ready for Tomorrow (very important)

With Dylan crawling, and trying to eat everything off the floor I need to add:

  1. Sweep Kitchen A.M. and P.M.
  2. Sweep Dining Room A.M. and P.M.
  3. Vacuum the Living Room 2-3 times a Week
  4. Clean the High Chair as needed
  5. Put away yesterday’s laundry
  6. Clean off the Dining Room table daily
  7. Clean the Living Room daily (pick up the toys, wipe surfaces)

I’m sure that I can think of a few more things to add to the list, and I’ll keep you posted on how the progress is going.  Wish me luck on my new Homemaker’s Journal 😉

Jun 29

Today’s To Do List

I’m off with the boys for another shopping adventure today. We are going to Walgreens and Dillons for supplies for next weeks B-B-Q. It is still raining, so I know Dylan won’t be too happy with this shopping trip.

Here is the plan for today:

* Put away 3 loads of laundry
* Homemaker’s Journal room to clean- Living Room
* Go shopping at Walgreens, and Dillons
*Pay Bills and balance checkbook
*Wash and put away dishes

This weekend I’m getting the house ready for company. I need to clean everywhere. I also need to get my Walgreens rebates sent out this weekend too, I don’t want to miss out on those gift cards.

Aug 12

So Quiet Saturday

Thade is napping, I’m on my fourth load of laundry, and I’m trying to talk myself in to the kitchen to wash dishes. I really don’t want to wash dishes. It is a pretty lazy day, which is nice. I’ve already brushed and watered Dakota. I really wish that I had something else to do besides those dishes, yuck.

The in-laws are going to be in town tomorrow, so I’m trying to figure out something to do to keep everyone entertained. It is too hot to be outside, and the race is on tomorrow, so they better be happy watching NASCAR.