CLEANING
My Must-Have Cleaning Products
• multi-surface Pledge
anti-bacterial spray
• baking soda + vinegar in the
stinky laundry (1 cup+1cup and presoak for about 30 minutes) & you can’t
bleach it
• Oxi-Clean (for stains) (make
a paste with water and use old toothbrush to scrub on laundry stains, carpet or
upholstery stains, etc.)
• vinegar + dawn for mopping
• comet for bathrooms
• glass cleaner (NOT WINDEX)
• freeze vinegar w/ slices of
lemons in ice cube trays, (pop out and save in gallon Ziploc bags) run through
disposal occasionally
Getting in a routine
• Every day list:
• Kitchen counters, sink,
table
• Laundry
• Pick up
• Few times a week/weekly:
• Vacuum
• Dust
• bathroom sinks, counters,
toilets
• replace towels
• Weekly/bi-monthly:
• tubs/showers
• floors
• mirrors/glass
• change sheets
Every
day- pick something from the “random” list:
• glass (on doors/mirrors not
in bathrooms)
• a shelf in the fridge- (best
time- is the day before a grocery trip or right before you leave when you’re
making a list)
• Randomly pick a day to do
non-dishes in the dishwasher without the heated dry, if necessary
• fixtures (wash in
dishwasher)
• bath tub toys (wash in
dishwasher)
• toilet brushes
• sponges
• crocks
• other baby toys or toys that
get dirty often (MegaBlocks, Legos in baby accessory containers, Playdoh toys,
etc.)
• Wash throw blankets,
bathroom rugs, curtains
• microwave / fridge water
area
• change filters
• clean out expired food from
fridge and pantry (play guess what food this is game with kids and blindfolds)
• push all the furniture out
of the way (easiest on hard floors) and mop/vacuum- get the kids to do hidden
baseboards. Tell them you have a surprise when you get it clean. When it’s clean and before you move the
furniture back- have a dance party, wrestling match, or play twister in that
clean, open space. When they can see how
dirty under couches get, they are more likely to understand the need for
cleaning up. When everyone pitches in
for some “projects” it gets done quicker (unless everyone helping is under the
age of 4... haha- they’ll like the dance party though!)
• mending
• ironing
How can the kids help?
I.
By Age
A. 2-3
• matching socks, folding
washcloths/rags/burp cloths, etc stacking underwear
• picking up toys by category
(2 yr old suggestion: Claire, you get all the balls and toss them in that
bucket) - put 1 of each type in a bin/bucket to help them get started. Use a timer, make it a game, everyone helps
(boys like to make it a race, say, “ready, set, go!”)
B.
4-5
• dryer sheets on base boards
(or other low molding)
• unload silverware from
dishwasher
• unload dryer into laundry
basket
• DUSTBUSTER (steps, under
table, furniture where pet sits)
• feed pets
C. 6+
• taking out trash and/or
bringing the bins back from the street
• get the mail/newspaper
• make bed
• teach them to use the steam
mop & broom
• put their laundry away
• set table
• clear dishes
• load/unload dishwasher
• help make packed lunches
• wiping surfaces with clorox
wipes
Set a timer after dinner for 15 minutes-
everyone collects his/her stuff (including husbands) and puts it where it goes.ORGANIZING
Where to
start:
Rule of
thumb: if it can be done now in a few minutes or less, do it immediately
• Plan ahead- make a list a
put it on the fridge of your cleaning to do in a week- check it off when you do
it. Don’t feel bogged down by a busy
day, use a freer day to do more. Add your “random” chore on the list for the
week.
• Containers:
• repurpose- shoe boxes,
animal cracker containers, card boxes, wipes containers, formula containers,
zip-up linen bags (for swim wear, seasonal socks, scarfs, flipflops-- put on
top of closet shelf) etc. --- add some construction paper, scrapbooking letters
or sharpie and viola!
• Use these for small toys
(army men, dress up jewelry, legos, stickers, art supplies, or in your own
stuff- hair accessories, makeup, under the sink for hotel toiletries, razors,
nail polish)
• Bins, baskets, buckets
• everything has a place
• where do shoes go? (where do
out of season shoes go?)
• where do backpacks go?
• where does dirty clothes go?
• LOW Hooks for kids towels on
back of kid bathroom door
• I could put this away but by
encouraging my kids to do it most of the time, I am teaching them that it
doesn’t happen by magic and they all work together to keep the house sane. I can expect them to put a towel on a hook
and I am freed up to do the things that they aren’t capable of doing or helping
with yet.
• What do you do with clothes?
• Color coded bins for gender-
labeled with size and/or seasonal info
• keep shoes separate (and
other accessories)
• Color coded bins for mom
& dad
• Always have a bin that kids
clothes are going into (b/c they are getting too small. If you put it on the
kid and it doesn’t fit, toss it in immediately.)
• If it’s visible, it’s more
likely to be used and enjoyed.
• Help your hubby organize the
attic (map it out, literally & tape your map on the floor at the entrance)
• One zone for seasonal,
keepsakes, clothing, baby items, luggage, one Miscellaneous area
• Color code every room. (if
you color code furniture, do it the night before and when everything is in the
new home remove the tape immediately)
• Write on the box enough info
to help you prioritize unpacking.
• Prep- for attic/garage
• Use suitcases for extra
heavy stuff
• Fill a box with heavy books
in one layer on the bottom and add light items on top that go in that room-
(kid books +stuffed animals or cookbooks + kitchen towels or table cloths)
• UNpack- kitchen and kids
rooms first (you can immediate live and the kids can play while you do other
rooms)
What to
keep, what to pitch:
• Ask yourself
• When was the last time I
used this? (or wore this)
• For too-small clothing- (is
replacing it expensive? will it be out of style? is it pretty worn out
already?)
• Did you just discover it and
haven’t been missing it?
• Is it something that should
be replaced regularly and this is a good time?
• toilet brushes / sponges
• mop / broom
• shower curtain liner
• bathroom rugs
***IF YOU THROW IT OUT- Keep a list so you’ll know to replace it when you arrive in your new home
• Do you want to open a box
and find this and have to give it a new home?
• Do you have space for it?
(If everything has a place and there isn’t room for certain items consider
donating them to the salvation army or local charity)
GOALS
for the big picture in your home.
• Do you feel better if a
certain room is clean/organized?
• Focus on high-traffic areas
of the house when in a pinch for time. (kitchen/living areas/guest bathroom/big
kids rooms)
• Cleaner home = healthier
environment for family living
• Probably between you or your
hubby- one of you feels loved and happier in a clean/organized environment- so
do it in a way to love him or to keep your own sanity
• Are you more likely to host
friends over, play dates, or other guests when your house stays clean? Have you ever thought to yourself, I’d love
to have them over but there’s no way I could tackle this mess... ?
• Start organizing in a small
way- have one organization project per week: a closet, a drawer, a bathroom
cabinet, the medicine area, etc. You
can’t do it all today, but it will surprise you how much getting the “inner
workings” of your home organized with help everything run smoother. When you
organize that space- wipe/dust/vacuum it out before you refill it.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Top To Bottom Cleaning Checklist (Printable)
Clean-Up Cards for Kids (Printable)
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