40 Bags in 40 Days

I came across the blog White House Black Shutters two days ago while browsing my Instagram feed. A friend posted this photo:

I have been putting off decluttering and purging my house all year and seeing this was just the motivation I needed! It all officially started yesterday with the idea of decluttering your house and life during the 40 days of Lent. I don't normally observe Lent, but I do need to declutter my house so I'm in!

Yesterday, I got busy cleaning out my youngest daughters' shared room, my master closet and half of my laundry room. I ended up with 6 bags of stuff to donate and 2 bags of garbage!

I know this makes me sound like I never clean out closets, etc since I have all of this stuff to get rid of, but I do this several times a year! I have know idea where we get all of this junk!? 

Today I managed to clean out the junk drawer in my kitchen and declutter my mail station despite being gone all day, so I'm feeling good about my progress. I need to take before & after pictures but so far I've been too excited to get started and have forgotten to snap pictures. 

What room in your house needs to be decluttered?

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5 Benefits of a Clean Home

There are so many posts and pins and websites all about cleaning and how to clean, what products to use, methods to carry out the cleaning in your home, as well as, cleaning schedules. We are not lacking in information on cleaning, that's for sure. But, why should be clean and have a schedule for cleaning, etc. etc.? I've been thinking about this as I've written my last few posts. There are many reasons to keep your house clean and I thought I'd share my top 5 reasons.

1. A clean house reduces stress.  Monday mornings at my house are sometimes stressful. Why? Not because it's Monday. When our weekends have been really busy and the cleaning/laundry/dishes haven't been properly and timely taken care of, it's a bad start to the week. I loathe coming downstairs on a Monday morning to be greeted by a sink full of dishes, a living room disheveled, walking on a floor that hasn't been swept....AND to top it off, having to try to work around all of that to make lunches, get the girls ready for school, etc. It's just plain stressful and unnecessary. Take some time on Sunday night to empty out the dishwasher, clean the dirty dishes, put the living room back together, etc. Enlist the help of the family so that they (especially the kids) understand that someone has to pick up the mess and it shouldn't always be Mom.
2. A clean house allows you to rest.  Think about how you feel when things are all out of place, rooms need to be cleaned, laundry is piled up. It prevents me from being able to really rest. I feel overwhelmed by everything that needs to be done and if I'm unable to do it for one reason or another, I cannot rest. Sometimes it's better to stay up just a little later to do a few things than to leave it.
3. A clean house is a healthy house.  I love when my house is sparkly clean. I love the smell of a clean house and the look of a clean house. There's something so satisfying knowing that for now the germs have been killed. The odors are gone. Floors are clean, toilets and sinks are clean again, the kitchen is sparkly. There is less chance of sickness in a clean house. (I realize some germs help us build up immunity, but we'll never get rid of all germs no matter how much we clean.) If it looks dirty, smells dirty and feels dirty, it IS dirty - and you can bet that it is also unhealthy. (After typing this, I feel like I need to get up and bleach a few things.)
4. A clean house is a happy house.  I don't know if you've noticed this in your home, but at my house when everything is clean the family is happy. The moods are much brighter, there's no dread of being told to 'Go clean your room' which makes for some happy children at my house! My mood is a lot better when I know my house is clean. Part of that is because of the satisfaction I've received from actually doing the cleaning, but there's something very happy about a clean house.
5. A clean house is a welcoming house.  When my house is clean, I have no problem welcoming people to my home. Sometimes, it takes me inviting people over to really get motivated to deep clean. But, when your house is clean and someone either shows up unannounced or with short notice, it can still be a welcoming environment. I want my house to be a place where people feel welcome and I think having a clean house is the first step.

Does having a clean house affect your mood? Or can you block it out and ignore it? Have you ever had a visitor unannounced when your house wasn't clean?

This is part of my 31 Days of Home Economics series. You can find the whole series at the tab above {Home Economics}.

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Thank you for reading along today! I think I'll go scrub a toilet or two....just in case.

The Best Window Cleaning Tricks Around {or so they say!}

I love a good cleaning tip. As I sit here typing this, the sun is streaming through my window showing off big filmy streaks where I'd last cleaned them. From up close it isn't visible, but from where I sit it's ugly. Time to clean some windows so those vibrant Fall colors can be seen in all their glory. Dirty windows are probably my biggest pet peeve. I clean once a week at my church where there are tons of windows that inevitably get fingerprints - LOTS of them. The only problem is that even way up high where no one can reach without a 10-20 foot ladder, there is a dusty film. I have found some great ways to clean your windows without streaks.

1. For crystal clear glass, use coffee filters to wipe down the windows instead of a paper towel or clean rags. {Source}
2. Go here to find a natural recipe for No Streak Windows!
3. And this list has several homemade glass cleaners on it that look easy and effective.

And THIS is the BEST Outdoor Window Cleaning Trick EVER. I've been looking for this forever. Windex once had a great outdoor window cleaning system that came with a long-handled wand. The disposable pads went on the wand with the cleaner on them. You just had to spray the windows with the water hose, then, scrub with the wand and rinse the windows off again. The windows would be sparkly clean. Then, I think they discontinued them because I've never been able to find them again. And then I found this recipe from Raining Hot Coupons and I'm so excited! Visit her to see her other window cleaning tips, as well!

How To Easily Clean Your Windows
Ingredients:
8 Cups Warm Water 1 Tablespoon Liquid Jet Dry 2-3 Tablespoons Laundry Detergent or Dish Soap
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients until well combined. Next rinse windows with hose or spray bottle to get off any dirt or dust. Brush solution onto the windows and doors making sure to cover all areas. Windows will now air dry, streak and dirt free. No need to dry off or wipe. You should be left with sparkling results!

Do you have window cleaning tips that you swear by? Do you make your own cleaners? Or do you buy a product that you can't live without?

This is part of my 31 Days of Home Economics series. You can find the whole series at the tab above {Home Economics}.

Thank you for coming over to visit today! I hope you'll come back soon.

The Easiest Way to Clean a Ceiling Fan

When I first discovered this idea, it was one of those Ah-HA! moments. I'd been straining and stretching and fighting the vacuum hose for years and when I saw this idea I knew my life would change - and my ceiling fans would get cleaned more often! No more furry fan blades for me!

Maybe you clean yours this way? I seem to always find things way after they're already widely used.

{Source}

Take a pillow case from your linen closet.

{Source}

Open it up. Slide it onto one of the fan blades. Kind of secure the open end around the blade and putting one hand on top and one on bottom, slide the pillowcase off the the blade. While doing this, you're wiping the dust of the blade and catching it in the pillowcase at the same time, preventing dust from falling all over the place.

How do you clean your fans? How often do you clean them?

This is part of my 31 Days of Home Economics series. You can view the whole series at the tab above {Home Economics}.

Thank you for stopping by!

How to Clean the Top of Your Cabinets Once & Never Do it Again

Do you ever wonder how the tops of your cabinets get so dusty AND greasy? It's a part of my kitchen that often gets neglected and very rarely cleaned. I just don't make it a habit to climb up on the countertop and peek over the cabinets. I don't store things there because of this greasy problem, but just because I neglect it doesn't mean it isn't there. I was talking with my mom on the phone as she was cleaning the tops of her cabinets and she told me my grandmother gave her a brilliant idea for keeping the tops clean. I couldn't believe how simple it was or why I didn't think of it on my own, but here ya go...
First, you must climb up there and take a peek. If you haven't done this in awhile, prepare yourself. It's going to be a shock. Here's what I found.

It looks like just a thick layer of dust, at first. But when you start to wipe it off, you'll see just how deep it is and you'll find a nice, disgusting layer of grease underneath. It will not wipe off with a paper towel. Nope. Here's how I cleaned mine off.

Fill a bowl or your sink with hot water and add a couple tablespoons of Dawn dish detergent. I figured it cuts the grease right off those dirty dishes, it can surely get the grease off the tops of my cabinets. And it did.

You've heard of the phrase 'Fight fire with fire?' The only way you can fight grease is with a little elbow grease. It does take a little extra umph to get it off, but I found that if you soak your dishcloth in the soapy water and squeeze it out, but not all the way out, it'll come off pretty easily.

Then, take a napkin or paper towel to wipe up the big chunks of greasy dust that form from all the wiping.

Once you've done that, wipe again with the soapy water just to be sure all of the residue is gone. Let it dry or wipe it dry. Then, you're ready for the next step.

Get your old newspaper or some wax paper or foil, etc. and cut it or fold it to the size you need and lay it up there on top of the cabinet. It will collect all that greasy junk now and leave your cabinet top nice and clean. Next time, just throw away the paper and put up some new. It's as good as new!

Have you ever used this method? Apparently, it's an old trick. Why am I just now finding out about it? I'm definitely using it from now on!

This is part of my 31 Days of Home Economics series. You can find the whole series at the tab above {Home Economics}.

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Thank you all so much for stopping by today! I hope you'll come back soon! Until next time...

The Well Managed Home: How to Delegate

This is a topic Hubs and I have been discussing a lot lately. It's a great idea and even a very welcomed idea, but why is it so hard to do? Just this morning, as we were heading out the door for school and work, Hubs and I noticed a few cheerios on the kitchen floor {clear evidence that the girls had poured their own cereal this morning}. He sighed and said, "Ugh, cheerios on the floor again!" {You can tell this is a common occurrence in our house.} So, I said, "Don't worry about it. I'll get it later." Then, he said to me, "Why you? Why not leave it and let them get it when they get home?" On any other day, there's no way I could leave that. It would be bothering me all day, but today I was leaving and wouldn't be here to look at it. So, that's what I did. And guess what is awaiting them when they get home from school? Cheerios on the kitchen floor.
I don't know what stage of life your kids are in, but mine are very capable of doing some big chores and taking care of their own messes. I just have a hard time letting them do it when I know I can do it faster and without whining {well, most of the time}.
So, in my quest to continue learning ways to delegate to my children and become more of a home manager {and not just the housekeeper, cook, seamstress, kisser of boo boos, homework enforcer, taxi driver}, here are a few things I am going to start around here in addition to Family Dinner responsibilites.
The Daily Work Planner Chart. I got this idea from one of my all-time favorite books ever, More Hours in My Day by Emilie Barnes. My copy is an old one, but she has made revisions recently.
The DWPC is perfect for letting each member of the family know what his/her responsibility of the day is. I love this concept and have tried it with other charts and print outs, etc. But I lack consistency. So, here I am clinging to the end of my rope and tired of doing it all myself and I'm starting this today! Well, I'll make my chart today and start it fresh in the morning. My sweet little minions girls are now going to be team players! {They are usually willing to help, it's just their mom who can't get her act together.}
An example chart {from the book} would be like this:

You could just assign the chores from the week to each person and rotate them OR you can make it fun by writing all the chores for the week on a slip of paper and letting each child pick from the jar. Whatever they pick is the job they get. They can't complain, either, because they picked it - it's their own fault. And they get to live with it for a week. {evil laugh} But doing this is teaching them teamwork. They are part of a family unit and we all work together to accomplish the goals of the family. At the end of the week, if everyone has done their job well, reward the family with a trip for ice cream or a picnic or movie night or something. This builds unity and lets them see there is something worth working for.
Some examples of chores to delegate depending on age of children:

• setting the table
• separating laundry
• folding laundry
• vacuuming
• mopping {mine all fight over this one}
• cleaning bathrooms {or even splitting it up and having one do the sink all week, one do the toilet, one do the bathtub.
• dusting
• water plants
• empty trash cans
• wash windows

I know sometimes the weekdays can be crazy {or Cra-Cray, as my 10 yr old says}, but one chore per day seems very doable. If not, make Saturday your big cleaning day. I personally don't prefer that. The house gets messy during the week. I mean, we LIVE here. So, my house needs rescued just about every day. And boy, am I glad you can't see it right now!

Here are some other helpful chore charts/cleaning schedules I found that you might like. Click the link below each one to print.
Daily Cleaning Checklist - I love this one from Real Simple. It's not a deep cleaning list, but one to help you keep your house surface clean. It gives you a plan instead of being overwhelmed by it all.
Fall Cleaning Checklist - Deep clean this Fall with this great checklist! You'll have it done in no time!
Print these free printables to help you keep that cleaning on track.

{source} 

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Do you clean once a week? Do you delegate or do it all yourself? Have any great tips for me? I could use them!!

This is part of my 31 Days of Home Economics series.  You can find links to the rest of the series here or at the top of this page titled {Home Economics}.

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Fall Cleaning Schedule {a free checklist + app}

What's your favorite thing about Fall? The beautiful colors, the cooler weather, pumpkin spice lattes and so much more makes me so happy about Fall coming! I even like {not love} Fall cleaning. I think I'll like it much better this year with all the kids gone to school. It's a little easier having the house to myself.

 

I've been using a cleaning method for a few years now that really helps me stay on track and get it all done! I love lists, but sometimes it's more fun to make the list than actually do the cleaning. I love that Real Simple has made the checklist for me and it's pretty detailed so that you are sure to get everything done that needs some attention. Click here to get your free checklist!

And if you are more into having your checklists handy at all times, click here to get Real Simple's To-Do app for your iPhone or iPad.

These are a few of the categories of lists on this app that are very helpful and are so convenient when you're out and about and you need to pick up a few things or what-have-you.

When you click on the 'cleaning' icon, you'll see this come up. These lists are pretty exhaustive and they let you check off the items as you go. It's really very convenient! You can also customize the lists by adding your personal to-do items to it.

I also love that you can set a date to have these done by. It is motivation to get it done in a timely manner.

Another great feature is the 'delegate' feature. You can actually delegate a certain task to anyone on your Contact List in your phone. Too bad none of my kids are old enough to have a phone. We'll still have to do this the old fashioned way, but I might try it on my husband! {wink}

 

What are your favorite things to help you accomplish your cleaning goals and To-Do Lists? Have you used this app?

 

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The 5 Minute Pick Up

The hardest places in my house to keep clean are my kids' bedrooms. That's where they play, get dressed, sleep, rest, etc. We have no playroom or other play area in the house so their rooms are where all the action happens - and where the piles and clutter grow rapidly. So, when they hear the words, "Go clean your room." they feel slightly overwhelmed. {I know the feeling.} Looking at the big picture, it seems impossible, but I started implementing a technique I personally use often and there has been much less drama and a lot more confidence in their own cleaning skills around here.

If you map out your day from the time you wake until the time you go to bed, you'll see that you do have periods of time {maybe even just minutes} where you're just wandering or sitting idle or waiting or doing nothing. Wasted time. I try to be conscious of those times and get short chores done. For instance, while the kids are brushing their teeth at night, I'll throw in a load of laundry to wash {otherwise I'd just be sitting and waiting on them}. Then, in the morning after my shower I'll go throw those clothes in the dryer real quick before I head downstairs to pack lunchboxes. Both chores took just a few minutes and saved me time. I didn't have to wait for the clothes to wash because I was well on my way to dreamland. In the morning, I didn't have to wait for them to dry because I put them in the dryer just before a busy time for me. By the time I'm ready to fold clothes, they will be dry.

{photo source}

Throughout the day, I take 15 minutes and go through one room and pick up anything out of place, hang up clothes, dust or whatever needs to be done. The time frame of 15 minutes is a challenge to me to get as much done as possible in that time frame. And believe it or not, you can get a lot done in 15 minutes!! I do this same thing when I get a phone call from my mom or sister. Otherwise, I'd just be sitting there talking when my hands could be working. It's really quite effective.
So, I decided to teach this to my kids. Since they are mainly responsible for their own rooms, I give them 5 minutes on the timer and have them run through their rooms picking up toys, putting clothes in the laudry, hanging up clean clothes, etc. They typically come out with a sense of accomplishment and pride in how their room now looks. This can be expanded as they get older, but for now 5 minutes at a time is a good fit for us. So, next time they say, "I'm bored!" they'll be sent to their rooms with the timer.
What 'tricks' do you use to get your kids cleaning?

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