Print these steps out, and using a 3-hole, paper punch, put each one in your monthly, goal pages in your Planner Perfect. Then you can write them in your daily pages to execute; having the hard copies to always adhere to.
Taken from Martha Stewart’s book:
#1 Make Your bed
Tidiness beget tidiness. A crisply made bed makes the whole room seem more tidy. Have all your children do the same.
#2 Manage Clutter
Whenever you leave a room, take a quick look around for anything that isn’t where it should be. Pick it up and put it where it belongs. Insist that everyone in the household do the same. Another great tip is to wipe down all the bathrooms with those Clorox wipes. Keep them handy, one each under each bathroom counter for fast and easy cleaning.
#3 Check and Sort Mail
Use about 15 minutes to check you email, sort mail, file anything that needs filing. Sometimes I make a slot for myself in the morning for my blogging/devotions, and/or exercise and use about one hour. It all depends on my week, so I plan accordingly. Sometimes it’s best for me to attend to personal things in the evening when kids are in bed. Write down what is best for you.
#4 Clean As You Cook
Instead of filling the sink with pots and dishes, wash them or put them in the dishwasher as you prepare a meal. I always, always, no matter how tired I am, make sure my kitchen and family room is spotless before we go to bed. I usually recruit my children to help. This makes mornings, marvelous.
#5Wipe Up Spills While They’re Fresh
Whether it’s tomato sauce on the cooktop or makeup on the bathroom counter, almost anything is faster and easier to remove if you attend to it immediately.
#6 Sweep The Kitchen Floor
Every evening once you’ve finished ashing up after dinner, sweep the floor. This will keep tough-to-clean dirt and grime from building up, which will make the weekly mopping much quicker.
- Wipe surfaces, including sink, countertops, the outside of the ventilation hood, refrigerator and cupboard doors, top of refrigerator, appliance exteriors, shelves, and furniture.
- Wipe the inside of the oven, microwave, and toaster oven
- Discard foods and beverages past their prime
- Dust light fixtures
- Wipe the inside and outside of trash and recycling bins
- Vacuum and mop floor
Dining Room
- Dust surfaces and objects, including furniture and light fixtures
- Vacuum upholstery and floor
Living Room
- Fluff and rotate sofa cushions
- Discard magazines that you are done with
- Dust surfaces and objects, including furniture, light fixtures, and electronics
Home Office
- Sort through in-boxes: pay bills, file paid bills and paperwork
- Dust surfaces and objects, including furniture, light fixtures, and electronics
- Empty trash bin
- vacuum floor
Entryways, Stairs, and Hallways
- Dust staircase banisters, furniture, objects, and light fixtures
- Wipe mirrors
- Launder machine-washable throw rugs and runners
- vacuum stairs and landings
- Vacuum and mop floors
Bedrooms
- Change and launder sheet and pillowcases
- Discard magazines on side tables
- Dust surfaces, including furniture, objects, and light fixtures
- Empty trash bins
- Vacuum floors
Bathrooms
- Clean toilets, bathtubs, showers, and sinks
- Wipe mirrors
- Change and launder bath mats, towels, and wahsclothes
- Dust light fixtures
- Empty trash bins and wipe the insides and outsides
- Vacuum and mop floors
Throughout the House
- Wipe hand and pet prints from windows and glass doors
- vacuum vents
- Wash ventilation hoods
- Discard food in the freezer that’s past its prime
- Vacuum fireplace screen
- Launder duvet covers, pillow protectors, mattress pads, and shams
- Wipe tub adn shower surrounds
- Scrub grout
- Wipe insides of medicine cabinets
- Dust shelves and storage bins
- Vacuum floors and baseboards
- Vacuum window treatments, moldings, and windowsills
- Dust portable and ceiling fans
- Wipe interior and exterior doors and trim
- Wipe switch plates
- Wipe telephones
Alicia says
great tips! thanks for sharing 🙂
Danielle says
Thanks for sharing this!
Danielle
Anonymous says
Really goog tips!! Thanks
Maria
Darling @ Junque 'n my Trunk says
Yikes! Now that i see it in a list, it is no wonder why I never get done everything! I am for sure printing these out! I came over from "Not Just a Housewife", and am your newest follower.
Thanks Ms. P. Perfect!
Anonymous says
Hey, great post and tips! Keep up the good work
Debra Mennins says
Knowing what to do first and what to do next will compress the time to tasks ration. If you have the money and no time to do it, hire professionals to do it for you.
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Michelle says
This is just what I need to get back on track! Thanks.
Jennifer Bond says
Cleaning is the hardest job for me, the kitchen and the office-space are the dirtiest places in my home. Need to follow your cleaning methods soon.
Richard C. Lambert says
I find myself all over the place when it comes to cleaning and sometimes it feels like I make more of a mess than I plan to, because I start in one spot and then I go to another and never finish the spot before. learn more