Better Living Series-Part 9: House Cleaning Schedule

Today we are going to delve into household management habits and specifically, set up a cleaning schedule for your home. Once again, it’s going to be simple for the sake of success!

Before we begin let’s have a little heart-to-heart chat, shall we?!

 

WHY A CLEANING SCHEDULE?

If our homes are going to become a place of giving and hospitality, we must treat the home as if it has purpose and value. Whatever we value in this life, we take pains to care for.

“But a cleaning schedule? Seriously, that’s granny stuff! I don’t want to waste my day away…cleaning my house!”

Which is precisely why we start simple.

Please hear this now: our goal isn’t to keep the home in apple pie order! Not at all!

Having a simple cleaning schedule will help eliminate one more drain in our lives. Living in an orderly space actually aids in relaxation. It will enable us to silence the nagging thoughts of ‘I should be doing more.’

When we feel on top of our housekeeping, we are far more likely to welcome visitors into our homes.

 

MY TRANSITION TO BETTER HOUSEKEEPING

I didn’t always hold to a cleaning schedule. There was a time in life when I was juggling many hats…and had dropped more than a few! Among the fallen ones were housework and hospitality. After a crazy season and near burnout, I sat down to re-assess where and how I geared my energy.

It quickly became apparent that both housekeeping and hospitality needed to be higher on the list. But how? Where did I begin? And what would be a sustainable plan?

Instead of perusing the internet for ‘household management tips,’ I peeled back the pages of history. How did stay-at-home women of long ago manage their busy lives? And with a handful of kids in tow?

We know from historical records that household cleanliness took a huge leap forward after Louis Pasteur’s discovery in the mid 1800’s. Some women were so conscious of germs, so incredibly houseproud that they mopped the kitchen twice a day. Twice!

And yet? They obviously knew something about household management that I did not! As I parted the pages of history and searched for the secret to their success, a pattern began to emerge.

 

THE HOMEMAKER’S SECRET TO SUCCESS

What I discovered was this: these woman assigned one particular task to each day on top of regular household duties (making beds, wiping dishes, preparing meals, etc).

It varied from home to home and often, according to season. But homemakers knew what to expect for each day and turned their energies toward accomplishing that particular task.

I was intrigued. Immediately, I began implementing this principle.

Ladies, let me tell you…it WORKED! I’ve never felt so on top of my household duties as I do now. And the best part? It’s incredibly simple!

 

CHOOSE YOUR TASKS

Our lives and situations are all different, so take time to consider the particulars of your home. Which common tasks would you like to see accomplished on a weekly basis?

Swept floors? Folded laundry? Clean bathrooms? Organized bedrooms? De-cluttered living areas? A tidy entrance?

Also take time to consider the lists we made at the beginning of this series. Re-examine the ‘home’ category. Which things drain you most in the home if left undone? What makes you feel good about it?

From these two considerations, choose a task for each day of the week (Mon-Fri). Then, write tasks into your calendar or post a note on your fridge.

 

KEEP IT SIMPLE

In the beginning, keep it simple! The assigned cleaning task for each day should take no more than 15 minutes. The goal isn’t to deep clean your house. It’s to get you started on a schedule!

Choose a regular cleaning time that works well with your home’s timetable. Whether it’s first thing in the morning, during the baby’s nap or in the evening, make it work for you!

 

HOW SMALL AND STEADY WINS THE RACE

Cleaning weekly and in small increments will enable you to stay on top of basic household chores without feeling bombarded by ‘housekeeping.’

Want to know a secret? In the end, you’ll actually spend less time cleaning! Things can’t accumulate when you consistently sweep/mop/scrub/wash!

I was intrigued to discover that having one clean space in my home made me want to clean other areas. When 15 minutes become part of your week day routine, go ahead and increase your time, if so desired.

What will your 5 household cleaning tasks be for this month?

 

Be sure to read to part 10: tips for managing daily chores.