Starting this on Friday for people who want to work on the branches over the weekend. Think of your home as a tree and each room is a branch of that tree.

First, break the house up into branches (manageable areas), which can be DEEP cleaned in a week's time.

For each branch, compile a list of all the tasks you'll need to do to get that room to SPARKLE! This includes cleaning, dusting and vacuuming the areas behind and under furniture, washing windows and curtains, etc.

Also, put together a Weekly Cleaning List to keep things looking good. Each week, finish your Weekly Cleaning THEN focus on doing some deep cleaning in this week's branch.

Cycle through the branches, one per week, to maintain a high level of cleanliness throughout the house.

Here's the schedule of Branches we'll be following:

Week 1: Entry/Living Room
Week 2: Dining Room/Laundry Room
Week 3: Bathrooms/Front Porch
Week 4: Kitchen/Back Porch
Week 5: Children’s Room/Guest Room + Closets for those rooms
Week 6: Family Room/Room of choice
Week 7: Master Bedroom/Master Closet
Week 8: All House Cleaning

Some sample "Choice" Rooms:
Office, Pantry, Craft Room, Garage, Attic, etc.

Make your master and individual branch lists work for YOU. The lists we share here are just our own examples; yours should be designed to suit your own home and situation.

If the branch you're working on needs decluttering, focus on that first. It's much easier to clean a room that doesn't have piles and boxes everywhere. Even if the whole house needs decluttering, this is a good way to focus on a room at a time on a regular schedule.

This isn't a competition. Just go at your own pace, as that will be exactly right for you. We are all here to support and encourage one another.

Start with a new branch each week. If you don't finish all the tasks on your branch list for the week, that's OK--you're already ahead of where you were before, and the unfinished tasks will still be there for you when you cycle back to this branch. If you finish early one week, you can go back to work on previous branches.
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Won't be here this week, so the house will be cleaned before I leave tomorrow. Wanted to post this for you gals.

Getting back on the branches when I return....but the best part is by doing them previously the house is in good shape.
Just need to pack and change the linens and ETE today and all set for leaving.

Have a nice time away Diana!

I could say the same about not having as much to do, most of my chores for this branch have been done in previous ones (dining area is part of the kitchen, laundry appliances are in bathroom and general stuff has been done in all house cleaning!)

here is my 'list'

wipe appliances

dust armoire in kitchen
see if I have anything to organize in the armoire
weed out/organize loose recipes

Thanks Bubblegum. You are still keeping up the branch, you can see how nicely it keeps the house.

Just reviewed the multi purpose [sewing/craft/wrapping] laundry room currently used staging for change-out from winter to spring/ summer. Several garments awaiting repair, a bag of dog toys that need stitching to avoid Won Li's access to the poly stuffing, sewing machine desk drawers need major de-cluttering and lots of laundry for Monday.

I have to delay this branch for a while as I shall be away for a few days. I can think of plenty to do, though!

I had really did this branch awhile ago when it was whole house. I have went through the buffet but I think I will go through the china cabinet. Also this is where the plants live (at least some) in the winter so I think I will start moving them outside.

The laundry room is so small that I have to keep it up. Dang I wished I had taken DD's dress to her last night. I will Sunday. I do wish I could part with some of my thermoses(sp) but I have a problem doing so. Maybe this go around I can.

Cindy

Dusted/polished the dining room.

Will be working in the dining room tomorrow morning. Laundry room is behind garage and also a storage room so just maintaining it right now.

Did manage to sit down after work last night and make a room by room list of all the "tasks" I want to accomplish in each area of my house.....long and therefore depressing, but also something that can be crossed off as completed to make me smile at progress!

Working in Dining Rm/DH's office this AM. Confirmed items in buffet have all been used in the past year despite our being away for big blocks of time. I was delighted when I discovered rarely used 'sherbert' stemware was perfect for Margaritas! Pulled all the furniture from walls to vacuum, removed jewel colored decor and only have a few pastel colored items on flat surfaces.


DH reviewed his desk's current file; most now filed, several books on the lower shelf of the rolltop desk have been identified to move to lower floor family room's bookcases. DH will choose books to donate to the Firemen's book sale to make sufficient space. Happy to report DH is now comfortable with his electronic reader so more willing to relinquish books.

Worked in laundry rm Monday, while loads processed, cleaned appliances, washed floor, changed out furnace filter and got through some the sewing desk drawer stuff. Repaired garments and moved winter clothes to storage. Bag of doggie toys waiting for repair got two additions. Doggie only has 2 toys and a couple of pull toys left! While I work he thinks it's his job to find a way to open a seam and make puffs of poly all over.

Finished today's routine but have meetings all afternoon.

Well I walk through my dining room and laundry room so does that count for cleaning? Hopefully this weekend I will get something done in these rooms.

We only have today to make through and make up ones and we will be finished until finals. YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cindy