Clean Home Plan: routines & assignments

A few days ago I shared with you my desperate need to form an action plan for keeping my home in working order. After leeching information, tips, and how-to's from friends and internet sources (see below), I have written up a rough plan for creating a clean and efficient home. To start, I have developed a routine for both the morning and the evening. These routines are designed to help me maintain an orderly home as well as to ground me with a plan for success.

I have always scoffed at plan-makers and goal-setters, only because I have been insecure of my lack of ability to make plans and set goals myself. Alas, those homemakers are the ones who I now aspire to, recognizing their wisdom and practicality. After all, how I run my home effects more than just myself.

I have also assigned chores to each day of the week. This way, I can say with confidence that I have in fact cleaned my bathroom this week, and I can rest assured that no one day is left with hours of catch-all cleaning. A little here, a little there, and done.

Here are my routines and chores. I am using this week to faithfully stick to the routines and see how they work. I am counting on needing to tweak them a bit after this machine has had it's first run.

P.M.

Goal:

Going to bed with a deep sigh of relaxation, and to wake up with a "ready" advantage.

After 7:00, when the kids are down for the night . . .

- pick up all toys and books

-clean and put away all dishes

-clear off counters, everything finds a home

-prep any foods for the following day's meals

(includes soaking grains, thawing meats, making kefir, etc.)

-wipe down counters, stove, and sink

-sweep entry way and kitchen

-fold and put away laundry (if for some reason this didn't get done)

-Relax! Enjoy a quiet, clean home.

-Go to sleep between 10 and 11:00

A.M.

Goal: Get up! Have a formed plan for the morning

that accomplishes the "must do's" so my afternoons can be filled

with "want-to's"

-Out of bed at 6:00 a.m. (yes, this will be the greatest challenge for me!)

-Shower, dress, hair, & make-up

-2 minute wipe down bathroom

-quiet time with God, prayer with husband

-(kids wake up around 7:00)

-serve a hot breakfast

-clean up breakfast, wipe down counters

-dress kids

-daily chore + vacuum living area

-(kids nap)

-read, study, internet

-prep lunch

Daily Chores

Sunday: rest

Monday: clean bathrooms

Tuesday: dust

Wednesday: deep clean kitchen

Thursday: vacuum all rooms

Friday: organize all closets, pantry, and desk, mop floors as needed

Saturday: laundry catch-up

Everyday chores: maintain tidiness through a.m. and p.m. routines,

laundry as needed

(about every 3 days)

We'll see how I do this week!

Here are some blogs I gleaned wisdom from:

www.flylady.net

www.passionatehomemaking.com

www.keeperofthehome.com

www.inspiredtoaction.com

Tweet

A clean home is a peaceful home

I awake to this scene:

My open concept living area, littered with clots of dirt hauled in by our puppy, books , books, and more books lined as a trail to the kitchen. The kitchen counters covered in coffee mugs, unsorted mail, a half eaten bowl of stale popcorn, two dead moths (ew!), and a cobweb on my windowsill. The highchair tray has yesterday's (or two day's ago?) remains of breakfast crusted on, and there are dirty socks under the table.

This is humbling and embarrassing to write, declaring to all of you that I am possibly the world's worst housekeeper.

I am a trail-leaver, always leaving this and that behind me. With me, stuff rarely finds a home, other than the kitchen counters or an unoccupied nook in our desk.

My personality is a dueling portrait of perfectionism and chaos. What to do when I can't seem to keep clean yet melt down over every mess?

My solution is to learn to keep a tidy, organized, and clean home. Learn. This must be learned, as it is anything but natural for me. Yet now, with two little ones and a growing heart for hospitality, I see this need written in red.

So I am setting an action plan of learning and doing, cleaning and maintaining a tidy and guest-ready home. Even with two babies and a puppy. (I'm beginning to sweat a bit . . .)

Why is this so important to me? Consider the scene I presented earlier. Starting my day in a home that is not only unpleasant to be in but is also hindering anything productive from happening in my day to come is not a good thing. Time is limited. I desire to spend time reading with Rafferty, going on a prayer walk over this mountain land, baking apple-spice cookies, and writing.

When my home is orderly, I can breathe deep, quiet my heart, and have peaceful, intentional days. When my home is dirty, untidy, and unorganized, I feel pressure to get it clean quickly, overwhelmed by the clutter, and frazzled. Frazzled leads to stressed in a quick beat, stress leads to short tempers, complaining attitudes, and unsettled, chaotic home.

I believe the home is of great value. I want our home to be a Christ dwelling refuge for my children, as well as for my husband and myself, and anyone who walks through our door. I want beauty, reflective of God's image, to be clearly seen in this atmosphere. And that is truly what I am set to do; I want to build an atmosphere fit for seeing Christ and the beauty he brings to a home.

Mess distracts. A clean home can enhance the atmosphere, bringing life and peace.

I am working on plans for how to make this happen, searching for tips and how-to's. I will keep you posted with what I am learning and how I am setting this plan into action on a practical level!

Tweet