When I first became a wife almost seven years ago, I had no
idea how to clean and keep a home. Like zero, nada, not a clue. It overwhelmed
me to work all day just to come home to a house that needed tending to, and it
was JUST the two of us. Fast forward three years, I became a stay at home mom
to our oldest and was laying flat on my face trying to keep up with the
housework, cooking and taking care of a baby. But of the three, the hardest by
far was keeping up with cleaning the house. I was embarrassed to have friends
over, I always felt like I was in a rush to pick up clutter and I never felt
comfortable in my own home. And I loathed Spring cleaning. I desired a perfectly clean home all year round; but
we all know how unrealistic that is. One day, I decided that enough was enough,
I had to get a plan together. With my type-A personality, I knew I needed
something that gave me a scheduled sense of responsibility and a feeling of
clean comfort in my own home; and a place where my number one priority was being
with my family, not crazy cleaning.
idea how to clean and keep a home. Like zero, nada, not a clue. It overwhelmed
me to work all day just to come home to a house that needed tending to, and it
was JUST the two of us. Fast forward three years, I became a stay at home mom
to our oldest and was laying flat on my face trying to keep up with the
housework, cooking and taking care of a baby. But of the three, the hardest by
far was keeping up with cleaning the house. I was embarrassed to have friends
over, I always felt like I was in a rush to pick up clutter and I never felt
comfortable in my own home. And I loathed Spring cleaning. I desired a perfectly clean home all year round; but
we all know how unrealistic that is. One day, I decided that enough was enough,
I had to get a plan together. With my type-A personality, I knew I needed
something that gave me a scheduled sense of responsibility and a feeling of
clean comfort in my own home; and a place where my number one priority was being
with my family, not crazy cleaning.
And then the 30 Minute Mommy Cleaning Schedule was born.
The schedule runs on a 4 week rotation; kitchen and dining
room, living room and porch, master bedroom/bathroom, kids and guest
bedrooms/bathrooms. The goal is for you to have 30 minutes of scheduled
cleaning each day, plus one day a week of “power cleaning” which adds an
additional hour to that day. My goal in designing this plan was for there to be
as little house work as possible that would interfere with my staying home
while raising our kids and loving on my husband, but this certainly works for
those of you who work as well. My other goal was for our home to not be
perfect, but to be picked up, presentable and comfortable, not having to hide
in embarrassment behind closed bedroom doors and to have a home that was
regularly organized; there’s nothing worse than not being able to find
anything. I’ve explained my method to many of my friends, and they have said it
has worked wonders for their frazzled cleaning hearts.
It may all seem a little overwhelming at first, but if you
will just hang with me for a month… give me 4 weeks of breaking it down 30
minutes a day… I promise you it will change your home. It will bring you the joy
and comfort that you’ve been looking for without being “that crazy cleaning
lady.”
will just hang with me for a month… give me 4 weeks of breaking it down 30
minutes a day… I promise you it will change your home. It will bring you the joy
and comfort that you’ve been looking for without being “that crazy cleaning
lady.”
So here we go. But before we start, put on your favorite
music, light a yummy candle and grab your apron. Because those things make
cleaning happier.
music, light a yummy candle and grab your apron. Because those things make
cleaning happier.
Morning cleaning
routine:
routine:
·
I normally run my dishwasher at night, so the
first thing I do in the mornings is unload it while my coffee is brewing.
I normally run my dishwasher at night, so the
first thing I do in the mornings is unload it while my coffee is brewing.
·
Make the beds.
Make the beds.
·
Start a load of laundry. I try and do one load
of laundry per day and “wash” my washing machine once a month.
Start a load of laundry. I try and do one load
of laundry per day and “wash” my washing machine once a month.
Mid-day cleaning
routine:
routine:
·
Quick toy and clutter pick up (I usually do this
before or after lunch).
Quick toy and clutter pick up (I usually do this
before or after lunch).
Nighttime cleaning
routine:
routine:
·
I spend about 5 minutes each night doing a quick
pick up of the girl’s rooms and the living room. This is basically toy pick up,
putting dirty clothes in the hamper, etc. This is not detailed cleaning, just
putting things where they belong so we can find them the next day.
I spend about 5 minutes each night doing a quick
pick up of the girl’s rooms and the living room. This is basically toy pick up,
putting dirty clothes in the hamper, etc. This is not detailed cleaning, just
putting things where they belong so we can find them the next day.
·
I wipe down my bathroom surfaces. Again, this is
not a super detailed clean, just enough to get all the hair, toothpaste and
gunk off the vanity, sink and toilet. It only takes about 2 minutes but makes
all the difference in the world!
I wipe down my bathroom surfaces. Again, this is
not a super detailed clean, just enough to get all the hair, toothpaste and
gunk off the vanity, sink and toilet. It only takes about 2 minutes but makes
all the difference in the world!
·
I sweep my floors every evening. There is
nothing worse than walking across my floors and crunching on crumbs early in
the morning. This is also great because I have a toddler who still puts
everything she picks up in her mouth.
I sweep my floors every evening. There is
nothing worse than walking across my floors and crunching on crumbs early in
the morning. This is also great because I have a toddler who still puts
everything she picks up in her mouth.
·
I wipe down my kitchen countertops and cabinets
with a wet rag and make sure my sink is empty and washed out. I hate waking up
to a messy kitchen, then having to start making meals for the day in a mess.
I wipe down my kitchen countertops and cabinets
with a wet rag and make sure my sink is empty and washed out. I hate waking up
to a messy kitchen, then having to start making meals for the day in a mess.
·
Run the dishwasher.
Run the dishwasher.
·
Repack diaper bag.
Repack diaper bag.
·
Tidy closets.
Tidy closets.
Weekly Routine, these take about 15-20 minutes each
Monday: Sheets and
towels day, clean the bathrooms
towels day, clean the bathrooms
·
Strip all the beds in your house, gather the
towels, rags and hand clothes and get them washed. So many ladies I have talked
to rarely wash their bedding, not
knowing what a wonderful feeling it is to have regularly clean sheets. And
there is no better way to bless your family than with a clean, comfortable
place to sleep. I also clean my bathrooms on this day.
Strip all the beds in your house, gather the
towels, rags and hand clothes and get them washed. So many ladies I have talked
to rarely wash their bedding, not
knowing what a wonderful feeling it is to have regularly clean sheets. And
there is no better way to bless your family than with a clean, comfortable
place to sleep. I also clean my bathrooms on this day.
Tuesday: Errand and
outing day
outing day
·
Sometimes, taking care of our homes require us
to get OUT of them. If I can, I try and plan one day a week to do as many of my
errands as I can. This includes making a list of what needs to be done, trips
to the grocery store, doctor appointments, haircuts, trips into the city. For
some people, I understand that this doesn’t work, but for our family this seems
to work the best and gets in the way of nap time the least.
Sometimes, taking care of our homes require us
to get OUT of them. If I can, I try and plan one day a week to do as many of my
errands as I can. This includes making a list of what needs to be done, trips
to the grocery store, doctor appointments, haircuts, trips into the city. For
some people, I understand that this doesn’t work, but for our family this seems
to work the best and gets in the way of nap time the least.
Wednesday: Scrub the
floors
floors
·
I prefer to hand scrub my floors once a week. To
me this is something I’m very particular about, so I know that not everyone
will be as excited about it as I am. But for me, I like walking across my
floors and not having them all sticky and goopy. I use a 4:1 ratio of water and
vinegar for my maple hard wood floors and it cleans them beautifully! I also
wipe down my baseboards in my hallways, kitchen and dining room while I’m on
the floor. If you aren’t so into hand scrubbing, a spray mop will do just
great! If you don’t like the smell of vinegar, a few drops of lavender or lemon
oil gives a yummy smell.
I prefer to hand scrub my floors once a week. To
me this is something I’m very particular about, so I know that not everyone
will be as excited about it as I am. But for me, I like walking across my
floors and not having them all sticky and goopy. I use a 4:1 ratio of water and
vinegar for my maple hard wood floors and it cleans them beautifully! I also
wipe down my baseboards in my hallways, kitchen and dining room while I’m on
the floor. If you aren’t so into hand scrubbing, a spray mop will do just
great! If you don’t like the smell of vinegar, a few drops of lavender or lemon
oil gives a yummy smell.
Thursday: Power
Cleaning (one hour of cleaning)
Cleaning (one hour of cleaning)
·
This can be done any day of the week, I simply
chose Thursday because it’s the day that we host Bible study in the evenings at
our home. This hour of cleaning includes cleaning the bathrooms and their
floors, vacuuming the bedrooms and living room, emptying the trash cans, wiping
down the trash cans, wiping down living room furniture, sweeping the floors and
scrubbing our dining room table.
This can be done any day of the week, I simply
chose Thursday because it’s the day that we host Bible study in the evenings at
our home. This hour of cleaning includes cleaning the bathrooms and their
floors, vacuuming the bedrooms and living room, emptying the trash cans, wiping
down the trash cans, wiping down living room furniture, sweeping the floors and
scrubbing our dining room table.
Friday: Rest day
·
Just being honest… I’m tired by Friday. I like
to take one day a week and not have anything scheduled. I still do my load of
laundry, but sometimes it’s just nice to not have anything to do. On this day
if it’s nice out, I like to open the windows and let the fresh air in.
Just being honest… I’m tired by Friday. I like
to take one day a week and not have anything scheduled. I still do my load of
laundry, but sometimes it’s just nice to not have anything to do. On this day
if it’s nice out, I like to open the windows and let the fresh air in.
Saturday: Outside and
the van
the van
·
On Saturdays, I like to sweep off the deck and
front porch, wipe down my front and back entry doors and pay a little attention
to my van. With two toddlers (and a husband) our van can get really messy really
fast! This is a good chance to get rid of trash, clean up the toys and find
whatever might be looming in the back seat. We all know how bad those back
seats can get.
On Saturdays, I like to sweep off the deck and
front porch, wipe down my front and back entry doors and pay a little attention
to my van. With two toddlers (and a husband) our van can get really messy really
fast! This is a good chance to get rid of trash, clean up the toys and find
whatever might be looming in the back seat. We all know how bad those back
seats can get.
Sunday: Fridge clean
out
out
·
Yep, the part that no one likes to talk about
happens on Sundays at our house. Once a week I go through the fridge, throw out
what doesn’t belong and wipe down the surfaces, inside and out. No one likes a
gross fridge!
Yep, the part that no one likes to talk about
happens on Sundays at our house. Once a week I go through the fridge, throw out
what doesn’t belong and wipe down the surfaces, inside and out. No one likes a
gross fridge!
4 Week Rotation Schedule
In addition to daily cleaning, these items can be done all
in one day (not recommended) or slowly add them into your daily schedule one at
a time. Most of these take about 5-10 minutes each.
in one day (not recommended) or slowly add them into your daily schedule one at
a time. Most of these take about 5-10 minutes each.
Week 1: Kitchen and
Dining Room
Dining Room
·
“Wash” dishwasher, clean stovetop, hood vent,
microwave and oven, vacuum out lower drawers, check and restock cleaning
supplies, wipe down baseboards, remove everything from countertops and scrub
them, scrub backsplash, deep cleaning of table and chairs, wash kitchen and
dining room windows, clear cobwebs from corners and light fixtures.
“Wash” dishwasher, clean stovetop, hood vent,
microwave and oven, vacuum out lower drawers, check and restock cleaning
supplies, wipe down baseboards, remove everything from countertops and scrub
them, scrub backsplash, deep cleaning of table and chairs, wash kitchen and
dining room windows, clear cobwebs from corners and light fixtures.
Week 2: Master
bedroom and bathroom
bedroom and bathroom
·
Pick one or two drawers in bathroom per day to
organize and purge, scrub toilet from top to bottom, clean mirrors, wash
bedroom and bathroom windows, dust bedroom furniture, wipe down baseboards, remove
clutter from bedside tables and dressers, clean TV if you have one in there, wipe
down all doors and door knobs, vacuum fan and vents.
Pick one or two drawers in bathroom per day to
organize and purge, scrub toilet from top to bottom, clean mirrors, wash
bedroom and bathroom windows, dust bedroom furniture, wipe down baseboards, remove
clutter from bedside tables and dressers, clean TV if you have one in there, wipe
down all doors and door knobs, vacuum fan and vents.
Week 3: Living Room
and Porch
and Porch
·
Wipe down baseboards, move couch and chairs and
vacuum under them, wash living room and front door windows, purge toys in the
living room and THROW OUT the ones that are broken, clean TV, organize DVD’s,
dust furniture and picture frames, wipe down all doors and door knobs.
Wipe down baseboards, move couch and chairs and
vacuum under them, wash living room and front door windows, purge toys in the
living room and THROW OUT the ones that are broken, clean TV, organize DVD’s,
dust furniture and picture frames, wipe down all doors and door knobs.
Week 4: Kid’s and
Guest Bedrooms and Bathrooms
Guest Bedrooms and Bathrooms
·
Wipe down baseboards, pick one or two drawers in
the bathrooms per day to organize and purge, scrub toilets from top to bottom,
clean mirrors, wash bedroom and bathroom windows, wipe down furniture, purge
toys and books, wipe down all doors and door knobs, vacuum fans and vents.
Wipe down baseboards, pick one or two drawers in
the bathrooms per day to organize and purge, scrub toilets from top to bottom,
clean mirrors, wash bedroom and bathroom windows, wipe down furniture, purge
toys and books, wipe down all doors and door knobs, vacuum fans and vents.
So there you have it; the 30 Minute Mommy Cleaning Schedule.
Taking 30 minutes a day doesn’t seem like much, but if you stick with it, you
WILL notice a huge change in your home and the way it feels. Happy cleaning!
Taking 30 minutes a day doesn’t seem like much, but if you stick with it, you
WILL notice a huge change in your home and the way it feels. Happy cleaning!
**THIS POST WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN BY LAUREN EBERSPACHER AND PUBLISHED AT HER VIEW FROM HOME**
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Is there a PDF or chart available for me to save or download with this cleaning schedule info on it?