Is it that time already?
Spring Cleaning is in the air! Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work? Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever done “Spring Cleaning”. I think it is a great concept and works well for a lot of people. It just hasn’t been a good fit for me and my family.
Why? I just don’t have the time or the energy to do an intense overhaul of my entire home. Maybe I will some day but until then we live in a filthy house! No, just kidding. Our house is not immaculate with 11 people running all over it, but we do try to maintain cleanliness and orderliness. Here is our method:
All Year Cleaning!
I begin by making a list of all the rooms in the house including the linen closet, garage and outdoors.
Then I combine the items on that list to end up with 12 numbered areas. I usually combine the smaller spots together like linen closet and hall closet together and leave the big areas like the garage to stand alone.
Once I have my list of 12, I assign a month to each number. Months that are busier for us, like December tend to get the easier spots from the list of 12. Months where the schedule is relaxed get the bigger jobs.
Each month I know which areas are going to get a complete overhaul and we have the whole month to get it done! A complete overhaul means cleaning beyond the daily duties for us. Washing the windows and window coverings, cleaning out light fixtures, taking everything out of drawers or cabinets and reviewing what to keep and get rid of, rearranging for efficiency, and so forth.
This method has been so enjoyable because you feel a sense of accomplishment all year long! It helps keep things from piling up that are not used or need replacing. No worries about items collecting dust because they have been hidden in the back of drawers or closets for years.
Broken toys get fixed or tossed, items in good condition that are no longer needed can be donated, and space is opened up for a cleaner and more organized look that makes daily life easier!
If “Spring Cleaning” doesn’t fit your family then maybe you need a year to get it done like us!
Permalink
Wow! What a great idea! The way our schedules work, we normally have a "fall cleaning, rather than a "spring cleaning." But it takes FOREVER and I never really satisfied because I'm so stressed out. I know I probably should have thought about an easier way, but it just never crossed my mind (yet another sign that I really need to find some housewife courses, lol!). This sounds like the *perfect* plan for my family. I am already working out which sections in the home are getting what number…
Again, this is a great idea! Thanks so much for sharing! 🙂
Katie
Homeschooling mom to a 7 year old who is loving (and learning with!) his <a href="http://www.time4learning.com/education/second_grade.shtml"> second grade online curriculum</a>.
Katie´s last [type] ..A Stage Debut…