It sure is wonderful to be back here and boy, do I ever need help!

I just did an inventory of each room in my house and listed all things that need to be cleaned. I'm feeling overwhelemed already but I know that I'll get some help here just like I used to!

My goal is to get a workable schedule for cleaning and to be able to stay on top of it. Looking through my list I'm sure that there are some items that don't need to be done weekly given that the rooms are not used frequently but I want to make sure that they do get done but that I'm not not dedicating my life to just housecleaning!

Family Room weekly cleaning (used frequently)
-dust and clean glass on coffee and end tables
-dust lamps, fireplace and TV
-vacuum carpets and cushions
-dust walls

Kitchen and pass-through weekly cleaning (used frequently)
-mop floor
-wipe down counters
-wipe down microwave oven
-wipe fridge, stove, dishwasher
-wipe cabinets
-dust walls

Laundry Room weekly cleaning (used frequently)
-wipe down washer and dryer
-clean dryer lint trap (as needed)
-mop floor

Pantry weekly cleaning (used frequently)
-sweep and mop floor

Dining Room weekly cleaning (used infrequently)
-dust furniture
-Swiffer floor (Pergo floor)
polish china cabinet glass
-dust walls

Living Room weekly cleaning (used infrequently)
-dust and clean glass coffee tables and end tables
-dust lamps
-dust etigierre (sp?)
-dust walls
-Swiffer floor (Pergo floor)

Foyer weekly cleaning (used frequently)
-sweep and mop floor
-wipe door windows

Office weekly cleaning (used frequently)
-ETE
-dust furniture
-vacuum carpet
-dust walls

Powder Room weekly cleaning (used infrequently)
-clean toilet, sink and counter
-clean mirror
-mop floor

Stairs and Hallway weekly cleaning (used frequently)
-vacuum carpets
-dust bannisters

Guest Bedroom #1 weekly cleaning (used very infrequently)
-dust furniture
-vacuum carpet
-dust walls and ceiling fan

Guest Bedroom #2 weekly cleaning (used very infrequently)
-dust furniture
-vacuum carpet
-dust walls and ceiling fan

Guest Bedroom #3 weekly cleaning (used very infrequently)
-dust furniture
-vacuum carpet
-dust walls and ceiling fan

Master Bedroom weekly cleaning (used everyday)
-dust furniture
-dust ceiling fan and walls
-clean mirror
-vacuum carpets and furniture cushions

Master Bathroom weekly cleaning (used everyday)
-clean toilet, sink, tub and shower
-clean mirror
-dust walls
-mop floor

Basement weekly cleaning (used infrequently)
-dust bookcases and gym equipment
-vacuum carpet and dust walls

I do get the laundry done on a weekly basis (usually Monday) and I stay on top of that. To alleviate any unnecessary ironing I dry my clothes on the delicate cycle and promptly pull out ironable clothes and hang them as soon as the dryer stops.

Each Wednesday I get an allergy shot at 11:00 a.m. so that is a trip to the doctor's. His office is only 5 minutes away. I leave my home for work at 12:15 p.m. so there is time to do a little something either before or after my appointment. Every other Thursday I get my hair done before work but that is at 9:30 and I'm not finished until 12:00. I'm also wanting to get a three-times per week exercise schedule in but I just can't see how I can do that.

I am open to any and ALL suggestions that you might offer.

Lynnie

Lynnie, good to have you back!

I've made a list similar to yours, with even more detail, although I admit I'm not real systematic about using it. Mainly, it serves to remind me that there are things I should do now and then, some more frequently than others.

Walking is exercise that is always available, and virtually injury-free. It can be done at any pace and for any length of time. You can build some extra walking into your day, such as parking a little farther away from a store, rather than closer, to get extra steps. You can work in a flight of stairs now and then (I use them in the local subway instead of the elevator). I've read, for people with pedometers, the goal is 10,000 steps a day, but any walking is helpful.

Great to see you back Lynnie. Your list is impressive. I'm somewhat on the lazy side and offer up some short cuts often just timing. In summer especially,public rooms are de-cluttered to almost Zen-like simplicity. 10:00 PM 'Beat the clock' tidy goes fast.

By showering in the main bathroom, I clean tub/shower area, tiles and glass just before stepping out. Easier to clean steamy rm. mirrors, vanity & rest in undies as last to shower.

Ingredients returned to cupboards as soon as food is cooking on range/oven/microwave; counter, fridge, stove, sink all cleared and wiped before food goes to table. Love Swiffer for crown molding, baseboards and non carpet areas having cut up old towels/microfibre cloths to size to create a lg. box of cheapie wet wipes for Swiffer. If needed I support 'stay in place' with a couple of heavy duty elastic bands. Old squeezee type [ketchup] bottles hold labelled cleaning mix like diluted PineSol or Glass cleaning mix.

By buying microfibre cloths at automotive discount store and using for wood and glass, dry and wet and even torque putting something together. I followed the advice of the spped cleaning guy and use a fabric carpenter's apron to hold supplies while doing major cleaning tasks.

Hi! It's great to be back and thank you for the tips!

Simplicity, I was actually thinking this morning that walking would be good. I live in a development so I could get out and do a couple of miles before work. Also, I saw my neighbor walking her two dogs around 8:30. She is extremly disciplined with her walking. I see her at least three times a day out getting exercise and giving her pooches exercise walks as well.

Cyd, wonderful idea to give the shower a clean before getting out of it. I am pretty good about doing the counter and mirrors after showering though. Excellent tip for putting stuff away and wiping up while I'm cooking. It will make less work once the meal is over. Swiffer is absolutely awesome! Best thing in the world. I did get a great tip from somewhere that automotive glass cleaner is great for cleaning household windows, mirrors and glass. I gave it a try and I must say the result has been very good.

Looking thru my schedule there are some items that can wait to be done every other week like the guest rooms.

Overall, regular maintenance is key in avoiding routine chores to turn into major projects and taking up our precious time!

Lynne

i clean 3 days/week for 1/2 hr this is when i dust, scrub toilets/ sinks / floors and clean mirrors/ tv/ computer screen/ and frig or microwave/ washer/ chandelier

i dust 20 min/week, do sinks and toilets for 10, floors 10 more, clean glass 15

i spend the rest of the time doing things i don't do every couple of weeks.

mike does the vac and tubs for me

i wash laundry every day, run a load of dishes almost every day, scoop the litter box and give metro a fresh bowl of water, wash 2 ash trays, i usually ete while the food cooks, make the bed, read all the mail, pay bills and file the day i receive them

mary

I was going to quote, but couldn't find the Quote feature. Anyway, Lynnie said it so well:

"Overall, regular maintenance is key in avoiding routine chores to turn into major projects and taking up our precious time!"

I keep what I call a seasonal cleaning checklist. It is formatted on excel, so the tasks are on the left and months along the top. All those occasional tasks like cleaning area rugs, cleaning grout, cleaning the stove vent filters, you get the idea, are listed there.

I do a few each month, trying to keep summer tasks for summer and strictly indoor tasks for winter accordingly. I put an / under which month(s) I want to do each of them and tick it off when done. This way I have a record and a reminder.

I do a quick sweep through, around the first of the month every month, tidying areas that tend to get messy, like the cabinet I keep my pots and pans, under the bathroom sink etc. Since I do it the first week of every month it's habit now. While I'm doing that I clean the oven and under the stove, run some vinegar and baking soda in the sinks and other cleaning tasks.

I've started a routine which frees up most Fridays and I call it "Finish it up Friday" This is when I do mending, minor repairs, and any lingering paperwork, etc.

Hi all! Been off for a couple of weeks. One of my best friends died Monday a week ago and her funeral was this past Tuesday. The emotional aspect of losing her and then helping prepare for her service really drained me. I'm supposed to go to a retirement dinner tomorrow but I truly have to beg off. I'm just tired and need me time.
I have been wanting to get my projects and a new schedule down on paper since forever and tomorrow is going to be the day. I want to also run to Penneys to purchase a new patio umbrella -- I will either do that the first thing in the morning or later on after 5:00 or 6:00.
Looking back through my schedule there are some things that don't need to be done weekly. Also, tools make the jobs simpler. I tried Swiffer wood cleaning spray or whatever it's called and I noticed it repels dust for at least a week. You know when you've dusted something and look back a day later and the dust has returned (or never left)? Well, with this spray it really keeps the dust away for a while and I like that.
Lynni, you've always had it together when it comes to scheduled cleaning!
I was just reading an article on GON's homepage, "How Long Will It Take?" and there are some really good tips on tackling those chores or that project right away, not putting them off until they become monumental tasks that will take you forever. Been there done that...many many times.

Lynne

Lynnie, I just happened to read your post above, and I am sorry to hear about your loss of a dear friend last month. <<<<<<<Hugs>>>>>>>>

I hope that you are managing to cope after this sad time, and that you have been able to get some rest.