Spring has Sprung

You know what that means??? It's time to clean. Clean, clean and declutter.

At least that's how it goes down in my house.

The semi- annual, get crazy and get cleaning party is about to start. Well it's not really a party, since it's mostly just me, myself and I that get down and dirty, but I SHOULD enlist the help of others. My husband got the backyard and our "slope" on his mind, so that's his spare time project, as well as the garage. Getting it back to a state of "happiness" so that I park can in there once again. Oh, that will be so lovely. I can't wait. I'm not going to get overly excited though, sometimes, he takes years to finish a project, and I'm not exaggerating one bit. I wouldn't do that. Well, not about him finishing a project, I would maybe about something else. And Bubba, he could help too, but I do most of it while he is at school in the morning, pre-afternoon hours when I have my groove on and can get things done.

So, back to spring cleaning. This is the time of year, that for me this is what I do.

1. Windows need washing. (vinegar and water works great- just cheap plain white distilled)
   
2. Baseboards and walls need a good scrub down, (vinegar and water is also my favorite on this)
   
3. Cupboards are cleaned out, wiped down, sorted through, expired food trashed. That sort of thing. (I use vinegar here too, to wipe things down. I use vinegar actually for A LOT of things. It's a great go to cleaner.)
   
4. Plants, trees and shrubs are pruned and cut for the new growth. (I do the plants; I let my husband do the trees.)
   
5. Clothes. Go through the clothes and take out long pants, long sleeves, sweaters, and that sort of thing. I now put them on the other side of the closet. My boys have double sided closets, before I used to pack them up and put them in a bin if I didn't sell, or get rid of them, now I just move them to the other side of the closet. Since Mother Nature likes to be sneaky and all the sudden we'll get a cold day in the middle of HOT days and no clothes are to be found, I now keep them accessible, at least a few things. {Important fact: I didn't even know this, but this year is El Niño, which means for us in California, it gets more wet than years in the past. I guess this happens every 7 years, and this year is THE year, so I'll keep rain/colder things on hand.}
   

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. These are the things that I do, twice a year to keep in some "Deep" cleaning and get things organized for the upcoming warm and summer months!

Happy Cleaning! If you have any tips and or ideas, please share! I love to find new ways organinzing or cleaning things. It makes my heart sing.

Cleaning Tips

1. Clean the shower or bath while you are in it. Of course if you do my other tip and shower or bathe with the kids, then this is NOT a good idea. Repeat; do NOT do this with children. Of course I guess unless your cleaning supplies are organic and kid friendly, but if they are not, spray down the shower before you go in, I let it wait maybe five minutes and then I go in and scrub it down and then scrub myself.
   

Kills two birds with one stone, in my opinion.

1. Schedules?
   

People ask if I have a schedule with my cleaning. I don't really. By Monday the house needs to be put back together after the weekend and boys have been home, (AKA older son and husband) so that is pretty much what my Monday consists of, but for me, I don't schedule out my cleaning, because then it gets mundane I think and turns into work and not fun. Yes cleaning for me is fun in a sense. It releases things that make me feel good and I like the result of something, anything, after it has been cleaned.

I like to do things by rooms more so. I do it when I see the need. I will vacuum, dust, pick up, organize, and clean a certain room all at once. Then I can move onto another room, and by the end of the week, I've gone through the whole house. I like to see an accomplishment, so just vacuuming the whole house and dusting it, I can't necessarily "see" a difference. If I do a room, I can. I like visually seeing, WOW! This looks soo much better!! Make sense? K. Cool.

And my 3^rd and final tip is: Turn on some music to help, but more importantly, do it at a time that is good for you. Early in the morning, or once my older son is off to school and I have the baby home, is my good time. I can clean away for a few hours, while the baby is up, and then while he naps. For me, this is a good time. I can also pick up or clean later at night, when the kids and hubby are asleep, thus, no interruptions! But sometimes I just want to rest and veg by myself, so if I wait until then, it doesn't always get done. Afternoons, I am TIRED, and kids and hubby are coming home and so it's not the best time for me. Pick a time slot for you that works, and do it then, and make it enjoyable, and upbeat with music, TV, or movie in the background. Something that will get you moving!!

Ok, that is all for now, Enjoy and Happy Cleaning!!

PS. St. Patty's is right around the corner, so look out for a Green, Green, Green Giveaway!

Here's a few more tips on cleaning & organizing

Hope you enjoy them and it helps save time or effort somewhere along the way.

Enjoy!!


FIFO- “first in first out” in the cupboards and pantry. I do stack the same kinds on top of each other or behind each other to rotate the food use. What is oldest gets used first and then you know what’s in your cupboard without going through everything.
Bath time- double up kids to shower and bathe together. If they ages or genders work you can kill two birds with one stone. For me with the baby, I bathe with him or him with me. Once a baby can sit in the chair by themselves, have them get in with you. This was shared with me by my friend Jill and it saved me with my first, when I was afraid to be out of his sight. Bath time got both of us clean and time spent together having fun. I know take my little booger in the shower with me. He sits and plays at one end, while I take an actual shower, not the 2 minute rinse offs, I’ve never been a fan of those, and we are both happy. Then once I’m done, I pick him up, and wash and bathe him. Layout their clothes, lotions and diapers beforehand so when you get out, they can get dressed right away.
Delegate the responsibilities-“chores” Didn’t you hate that word as a child? Now I get it though as a mom. It’s too much to do it all yourself, and your kids need to be taught to work and understand responsibility too. Start with little things for the young-ins. My first boogers first task was putting his underwear and socks away. He had two drawers for each, and after laundry was done, and I made a pile for him, he knew it was his time to put his things away. Now he can put most of his clothes away as he got older. He can also empty the dishwasher, set the table, and LOVES to use the vacuum. Sweet for me, fun for him!
If charts work for your child, make a chart so they can see what they are “in charge” of or responsible for. Kids enjoy accomplishing things and feel pride in taking care of their things. Chuck E Cheese dot com has great charts to use for kids awards.
We pay for “extra” chores that are done throughout the house. Some kids will do more, some none and that’s ok. (Unless you’re like us and only have one that can really do chores, then maybe it’s not so OK.) It’s like the sales force out in the world. Teach them that work =pay. As much extra work that they do , they will be rewarded. Pay a dollar, .50 cents, $5 per task. Whatever works in your household. It also helps them to be responsible and start to understand the value of money. (Tips soon on teaching kids about money)

A few more tips on organizing and cleaning

1. If you are the one paying the bills. Do it twice a month. (or weekly if that works with your pay schedule.) I separate everything into two dates. The 5th and the 20th. Make an excel worksheet with those dates on them and list the bills due under the specific date. Go through the list and put a check or “X” them when you have paid them then you know you are done and move on. This helps me to know what and when I pay things and sometimes I will put in confirmation # or check # there as well, if I need a reference.
2. Have a place for everything. If you don’t have a place right now, make one. Ex. My car keys. Every time I come home, I open up the drawer in the credenza and put them in. I know when I need to leave again, right where they will be. You can spend waste many hours trying to find things. I know, I see it in people daily and it drives me batty. Some people will just not be able to accomplish this but give it a try, at least with one thing and see how it works out! I like the kids backpacks and homework things kept somewhere especially.
3. Along the same lines with my daily dishes and laundry duties, I say anything else that comes your way daily, do it right then. Ex. The mail. If it is hard for you to go through it all, try doing it right away so it doesn’t pile up. I do not go through junk mail. This saves a few minutes a day and really adds up. I own a shredder and everything that has specific information on, I shred and dispose of. When the bills come in the mail, open them, then sort them in your 5th pile, or your 20th pile (As explained in #1 tip). I have a ticker folder and put them in there right away.
There, that’s all for now. I think just a few steps, can help you on your way. Remember inch by inch it’s a cinch, yard by yard it’s hard. I try to keep all the inches in my life that I can.

Follow up on a few things

I have to tell you guys, Just so I feel better about myself. Just so you don't think I'm a slob. I worked my tail off yesterday. I literally thought I had dropped about 5 pounds. No such luck. I cleaned from 10 am to almost 10 pm getting all of our Christmas things put away, and stored away and the rest of the house put in order. Boy, That was a chore. With a baby around, it's hard to do just all one time. But now, it's gone. Phewww!



I am Happy to report that the piles I posted about earlier.... You remember right?


This table............. Is now a table again!!
My ornaments............. Bye, Bye. I have a carpet now with just the HUMUNGO TV on it.

And the dishes......................... Well the dishes did of course get done, but after dinner tonight. Waaa-laa! A whole 'nother pile of them. These things are never ending.

I tried again tonight, the whole: I cook, you clean ?? approach. My hubby said, Oh yeah, I clean up a storm in my dreams.
OK, whatever that means? That's Ok. He gets up in the morning at 4:30-5 to get to work. I'm still in my dreams by then and still will be for another 3 to 4 hours. He can have that corporate America anyday. I'll take the sink of dishes. The one chore if you will, that I loathe more than anything, dishes. I will take that sink and many others over going to corporate america 5 days a week. These dishes can sit here for another day, or two, or ten. They never will, not with my OCD, clean freak, guilt that my mother would see it, call it whatever you want, personality; (it's causing me anxiety right now, just sitting here typing about it and not cleaning them. Well, I'm not that bad. I was at one point in my life, but not anymore. I've been "broken" in.) Anyways, what I'm trying to say, is that, I'd rather clean dishes. Period.
I wouldn't ever complain if someone wanted to help and actually did a load of them, some time in their life, (are you reading Booger??) but I can't complain. Oh, I kinda just did huh? Ok, I won't complain again. Sorry. He can have his corporate america "stuff", I'll have my sink(s) full of dishes pile.

And the bills pile......... the kids pile......... the laundry pile......... the yardwork pile...... oops, my hand just started typing without my brain stopping it. Sorry. Love ya Baby!

OK, off to get some dishes done before I have a panic attack.


Oh yeah................. I asked Santa, and these neat things.

They are at Michael's. At least, to the best of her ability to remember. You can also use them for a toothbrushing session timer. We are diggin' it around here!