I have been to many websites over the years about organizing and cleaning the home. I have tried a few different methods, like a household notebook, control journal, to keep me to task in getting everything done on a daily, weekly, monthly basis. I have decided to tweak it all and make something that will work for me.

My plan is to make a 4-week chart telling me when I need to do what, putting it in a plastic page protector and using a dry-erase marker to mark off my list. I will keep it on the fridge.

But I am still open to more suggestions, if you have any. What do you do to make sure you get your house cleaned and don't forget to do certain things? Do you have lists, do you make lists as you go or do you just clean when it looks like it needs done?

Thanks!

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"It's time to move from what we can do, to what we must do, to what we will do." ~Hillary Clinton

I'd like to see your list!

I'm still working on mine! I've KINDA got it down to a weekly list, but the one I'd laminated and put on my fridge is not detailed enough so I'm trying to revise it! PLUS, I'm trying to figure out which days I really want to do what! I'm trying to get my 2 and 4 year old boys to help me. For example they can vacuum their room with a short vacuum I have (the handle broke off one we had) while I vacuum the living room, etc, so I'm trying to schedule that day (or days) for when my 4 year old is not in school!

I think my plan is to have the daily chores listed of course and then maybe pick a room or two (kinda like the fly lady suggests I think) and focus heavily on them! Of course I also want to get it down to cleaning only 3 or 4 days a week! I want my Friday's free (if possible) and I'd love to not have to do a thing on weekends! Also, I think I need my list to be very detailed! If I just say "Clean the bathroom" I'm afraid I'll just go in, pick up the clutter wiped down a surface or two and call it done!

I also want to come up with better monthly, seasonal and yearly lists! Still working on them! I'm also trying to come up with a small little kit for my boys so that when I pull out my supplies, they can pull out theirs!

SO I'm no help!

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Stay at home mom to my 3 boys... ages 5, 3 & 1!

I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

That sounds like a good idea. I might just have to copy you!

I also use a list...I keep it in my computer. I have one for each day (Mon-Fri). I have them pretty much memorized, but sometimes I do print them out and I like to check off the little boxes when I complete a task. LOL

Each day has things I do each week, each month, every other month, every six months etc I put in the date to keep track. So if I want to do something every month, like wash windows. I put the date in and then I can look and see...okay it hasn't been a month since I last did that. That way I can stagger stuff that I don't do weekly, so I'm not doing the whole house, all at once.

I would love to see some of these lists!

My list is pretty vague. I just wanted to have it all on one page, but it won't fit, so I'm going to do a room detail on the back side.

Some things that flylady does, I don't think need to be done everyday (like swish the toilet, I do it 3 days a week when I'm cleaning the bathroom, and I still don't need to use a cleaner) and there are some things I think need to be done more than once a month (like scrub the kitchen floors, which in my house need to be done twice a week, ack!)

So I made a 4-week calendar and started on it this Monday. What has worked for me is to do cleaning every day, including the weekend, otherwise when I take a "day off" it's hard for me to get motivated the next day. Here is what I do:

Everyday: take out trash, laundry, sweep, clean the kitchen

Twice a week: clean the windows,tv screens, scrub the kitchen floors

Three times a week: vacuum, clean the bathroom

Once a week: wash the bedding, clean the fridge, clean the dining room, dust every room, wash the living room blankets, vacuum the stairs and basement, clean the microwave, clean the laundry room

Every two weeks: clean the back porch, clean the guest room (I'm decluttering this room), clean our bedroom, clean the boys' bedroom

I know this seems like a lot, but it's only 7 or 8 things a day and it doesn't really take me that long. I usually do my cleaning in the mornings, taking breaks to play with the boys and watch tv, and get on the computer, lol. Whatever I don't have done by lunch time, I finish up quickly while the boys are napping.

My mom cleaned 4 times a year, that includes vacuuming. I didn't grow up in a house where cleanliness was important, so sometime I feel I may be going overboard, but my kids come first and housework comes second. (DH is a close third, lol) It is important to me to have my house "mother-in-law ready" at all times, lol.

I haven't made a detailed list for each room, yet. Maybe today or tomorrow. But it is important for me to know what I have done that week or month.

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"It's time to move from what we can do, to what we must do, to what we will do." ~Hillary Clinton

ewww i must be living in a dump compared to you all...i NEVER clean my windows...and you are doing it twice a week...haha...oh well i always knew i wasn't that clean!

I just posted on the "How has your cleaning routine changed" thread that I was considering coming up with a detailed daily checklist to get things done around the house. I seem to do better when I have things written down.

ChickyHip and SAHMto3boys - good idea for laminating the list! I'll have to keep that in mind. You two seem very organized.

Don't feel bad -- my windows went 9 years between cleanings!

Me to about the windows. I manage to get the kids paw prints off but as for a really washing. I barely have time to fit in my regular cleaning.
I make a to do list for the week, based on the calendar( birthdays & events)and regular cleaning things. Then I divy it up into each day of the week. I cross off as I get them done each day. If I have less to do on certain weeks I'll add an extra deep clean item.

I have things like:
sweep
mop
bathrooms
dust
weekly menu
make grocery list
clip coupons
buy birthday present
mail bills
clean fridge
thaw chicken
prep casserole
pack lunch
put together kids church bag
and etc.

then I divide it up mon-sat giving me sunday off. I also am crazy about having to cross off what I do. So even bathe kids, is on my list every day>

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"Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body." ~Anonymous

I don't actually WASH my windows that often, lol. I wipe the glass with window cleaner and dust the windowsills. Geesh. I'm not that bad, lol.

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"It's time to move from what we can do, to what we must do, to what we will do." ~Hillary Clinton