Well-trained Homes February edition: for those who want to level up their housekeeping game, but aren't Flybabies

[Laurie4b]

New thread for February!  Sorry I was late posting it!

 

If you're new, this is a thread for those of us who could use a little support and accountability in leveling up our housekeeping game. There is already a dedicated Fly Lady thread going, so if that works for you, check it out. 

 

This thread is meant to be eclectic. Whatever works for you! Share what is working, check in to encourage others, and if you want accountability, post what you are doing and how it's going. 

Edited February 1, 2018 by Laurie4b

[Laurie4b]

I let the kitchen go last night, but used the time the oil was heating up for my afternoon popcorn snack to get stuff in the dishwasher or in the sink for a soak. I'll go in there and wash it in a few minutes. 

 

I have managed to skip decluttering for around a week or so. Some days there were reasons, but today there is no reason I can't do it. 

 

I will check back in to post when the 15 min decluttering & dishes are done.... cuz since I posted it, now I have to do it!

[Laurie4b]

I will check back in to post when the 15 min decluttering & dishes are done.... cuz since I posted it, now I have to do it!

 

Done!

 

Off to the gym!

Edited February 2, 2018 by Laurie4b

[aggieamy]

50% of kids are in bed.

Dishwasher is running.

Laundry is put away.

DH is at board game night.

DD is picking up her room.

And I'm off to clean the bathroom.

 

Just a wild and crazy night around here!

[EMS83]

I organized under BOTH bathroom sinks today!  Sterilite boxes and everything.  The master's cabinet is packed, because we don't have any sort of linen closet or pantry where I'd normally put extras (like 12 bars of soap, 2 big things of mouthwash, 5 extra deodorants, etc.).  We'd die if we had to bug out, but I so win hygiene if we needed to shelter in place.  :D

 

Technically I did this in January (yesterday) but our master bedroom looks like a bedroom.  Clean surfaces, no clutter.  It's amazing.  And I kept it that way today! 

 

This month is going to be my stick-to-the-chore-routine month, as well as maintain-new-habits month.  Dishes done after dinner (about 2/3 of the time so far), clean up the kitchen, keep the master looking like it does now...  we'll see how it goes!!

Edited February 8, 2018 by CES2005

[cjzimmer1]

This week has been focused on financials - taxes, FAFSA (cause I forgot to do it earlier but DS has to have it on file for the scholarships from the CC even though he doesn't receive any government aid), the kids yearly renewal for Medicaid, end of month bill paying/reconciling etc.  So not much on the decluttering front. However, I've been able to maintain my habits of keeping the bathroom counter clean, getting the kids to fold their laundry every single day it's washed,running two dishwasher loads every day (which also keeps the counter clean enough that I can then actually wash it of every day), and keeping the floor of my room cleaned and all laundry either hung up or in my hamper.

 

Not doing quite as well at keep the kitchen tale clear and wiped off or sweeping the kitchen but overall the place doesn't look like a bomb exploded so I think I'm doing okay.

 

I have started thinking more about the idea of setting a certain amount of space for things and everything that doesn't fit there gets tossed.  So even though I haven't been cleaning, I'm mulling around some ideas of things to change that will hopefully improve things.

[xixstar]

yay for the link in the other thread - I kept coming here looking for this one and getting distracted before I found it. :)

as for house stuff, yeah, lets not talk about that at this moment.

 

[Laurie4b]

I still continue to be amazed by how much I can get done by working while I'm waiting on something in the microwave or on the stove (cooking quickly.) It's such a painless way to keep the kitchen clean. 

 

This morning though, right after I put my fritatta on and had the thought go through my mind about how productive it was, I remembered something I hadn't done and slipped out to deal with it on the computer... until I smelled what was on the stove close to burning! (I am sooooo distractible.)  So not only does the clean while I cook method help me to keep my kitchen clean, it also results in a dramatic drop in burned or almost burned meals! 

 

Did not get to decluttering today. Ds and his fiance came over in the afternoon unexpectedly and I got in my gym workout, but otherwise cooked dinner and visited. 

[EMS83]

The week was pretty good until today. Not as much tidying happening today. Sink's still full of dishes, laundry isn't folded.

[aggieamy]

I'd love to know what everyone's favorite cleaning products are. Right now I'm just using water and a microfiber cloth because I'm out of everything. Some good quality glass spray bottles and vinegar are on my shopping list though. I have a Purify EO to add to it.

[cjzimmer1]

Sunday I wasn't feeling well and managed to go to bed without even thinking about loading the dishwasher (and Iv'e been doing that before bed for at least 10 years).  When I go up Monday I was actually surprised to see how many dishes were in the kitchen (which is when I realized my mistake the night before).  I had plans to sneak an extra load in during the day.  But failed there too.  Ran the dishwasher right after supper because we were overloaded. 

 

Monday is bathroom day.  I had already decided I would push it into Tuesday since I didn't feel good but when I went in there at 11 PM, I discovered my littles had smeared toothpaste all over the counter and the floor.  So I ended up cleaning it up before it dried on and of course once you've cleaned that much you might as well keep going.  So I did end up cleaning the bathroom even though I totally wasn't planning too.  I haven't worked cleaning the bathroom floor into the routine yet, but overall the bathroom is doing much better.  

 

Of course starting cleaning the bathroom that late kept me up late enough the dishwasher had finished and cooled off enough, that I had DS unload it and quick reloaded it so I did end up catching up on that too.

 

My last new curtain is coming in today so I'm hoping to get that installed tonight (and if I'm super ambitious I'll get the one installed in the toy room that has been sitting there for a month waiting for me to put it up).

Edited February 6, 2018 by cjzimmer1

[Mrs_JWM]

I've gone back to nursing school full-time, so I told my family they need to help out around the house. After 12 years of my labor, they need to take some responsibility, too! My husband and I only have one daughter and she's pretty helpful. I did get a sweeping Roomba and a mopping Roomba to take care of the cat hair that accumulates, so they vacuum twice a week or mop once a week - huge help! My husband also bought a better vacuum for the carpets, which the Roomba doesn't handle as well as I'd like, and it's cordless, so it's easy to grab whenever we need to use it.

 

Everyone is also keeping their clutter contained! That makes a huge difference in how you everything looks. We've been keeping up with everything for about a month now and I love it!

 

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

[Laurie4b]

I have been maintaining the kitchen reliably. Dh has noticed that the house looks better. Lots of "life" happening and that decluttering is not I am not really concerned about that though at this point. Much more interested in maintaining the kitchen and keeping the LR within a 10 min clean-up window for guests. I have tutoring clients in my home 4 x/wk, so that helps too. :)  

[Angie in VA]

I've gone back to nursing school full-time, so I told my family they need to help out around the house. After 12 years of my labor, they need to take some responsibility, too! My husband and I only have one daughter and she's pretty helpful. I did get a sweeping Roomba and a mopping Roomba to take care of the cat hair that accumulates, so they vacuum twice a week or mop once a week - huge help! My husband also bought a better vacuum for the carpets, which the Roomba doesn't handle as well as I'd like, and it's cordless, so it's easy to grab whenever we need to use it.

 

Everyone is also keeping their clutter contained! That makes a huge difference in how you everything looks. We've been keeping up with everything for about a month now and I love it!

 

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

Oh, these are on my wish list! We have some things to do financially before we can get a Roomba. One day!

 

I'm working a lot of hours (much needed) and I'm exhausted every night, but I am keeping up w/ the kitchen and staying up on laundry. 

 

I haven't decluttered much, but I went to a thrift store today looking for 2 specific things and found one of them. It was on sale. Thrift stores used to be my downfall, but I'm much better now. 

[Junie]

Today's fun project:  Removing blue toothpaste from a white shirt.

 

It is my theory that whoever invented blue toothpaste didn't have kids.

[MrsRobinson]

Many have said having people over regularly helps keep the house clean. I don't disagree with that, however I have discovered a less pleasant way to ensure a clean house...

 

THE FLU!! :scared:

 

Dh has the flu and I really don't want to anyone else to get (though, with how bad it is this year, it may be inevitable) so I've been cleaning like crazy! I wash the table, kitchen and bathroom counters, and living room tables with antibacterial spray every day (multiple times), put all dirty dishes right in the dishwasher (which has been running 2 or 3 times a day with the sterilize feature) and wash all hand wash dishes immediately in super hot water. The kids do the light switches, door knobs, cabinet and drawer pulls, remotes, phones, stair rails, plastic toys, and more everyday with Clorox wipes. I've been going through wash cloths, cleaning rags, and towels like never before and those go in the washer on the Oxiclean sanitize cycle with dh's clothes he's been wearing.

 

The kids have had some interesting things to say with all these shenanigans:

 

"Cleaning is fun!" Uh, ok, where's that attitude when its time to clean your room?

 

"I like this smell of cleaning supplies." :glare: Sorry, kid, I only break this stuff out when nessesary, once this is over you'll have to put up with the smell of vinegar again.

[EMS83]

dishes done, laundry folded & put away, living room mostly tidied, master bedroom kept tidy.  One bathroom more or less clean & tidy.  :D  Nevermind the three scooters hanging out next to the kitchen table... ;)

 

When we get a good stretch of weather and down time, I have a 4x6 plastic shed thing I need to put together so the scooters can disappear.

[EMS83]

I'd love to know what everyone's favorite cleaning products are. Right now I'm just using water and a microfiber cloth because I'm out of everything. Some good quality glass spray bottles and vinegar are on my shopping list though. I have a Purify EO to add to it.

 

Vinegar and water.  Clorox to clean toilets, just because it makes me feel better.   :laugh:

I cut up a microfleece jacket of my youngest's and I dust with those, or sometimes one of the assortment of dusting apparatus(es?) I have. 

How do you pluralize that?!  :svengo:

[Clear Creek]

I have been kind of following along, even though I haven't been posting. Last month I successfully got my bedroom clean enough for guests to see into without any embarrassment on my part. It mostly involved shoe organization and lots of under-bed storage (off-season clothing, shoes that don't get worn often, etc.). I finally have a bedroom that looks like adults live there, lol, not teenagers.

 

This month I am working on decluttering with a vengeance. I mean, who needs six coolers?? And tons of old military gear that no one has worn in years. I have already gone through my off-season clothing and bagged the items that I don't like or never wear and set it aside for Goodwill. Schoolbooks that I haven't been able to sell locally and the game cabinet are next up.

 

I found the secret to keeping my kitchen clean. My dishwasher broke down a couple weeks ago, so I have been militant about getting every dish washed as soon as it is done being used - so dishes are being done while a meal is being cooked, and the sink filled with soapy water after every meal so that each person can wash their dishes. I have found that I really like having a kitchen with no dirty dishes in it ever, and I don't know if I want to go back to using a dishwasher. It was practically impossible to get the kids to load their dishes when they were done using them, but for whatever reason they will handwash them??? I think it might actually be the smell...if everyone dumps a dish in the sink and leaves it for someone to load later, it really smells bad, but if a dish is scraped off and washed immediately, there is almost no smell involved at all.

 

I'd love to know what everyone's favorite cleaning products are. Right now I'm just using water and a microfiber cloth because I'm out of everything. Some good quality glass spray bottles and vinegar are on my shopping list though. I have a Purify EO to add to it.

 

Mrs. Meyer's products are my favorite. The tub & tile cleaner gets my glass shower doors sparkling clean (and I have extremely hard water), the multi-surface cleaner gets pretty much any kitchen surface clean, and the cream cleaner removes any stain and buildup.
 

[EMS83]

We're having a little birthday gathering today, so the living room is totally decluttered, except the scooters, which I'll shuffle off to the kids' rooms.  :D  I'd like to keep it this way.  Although doing so will mean all the stuff that was hanging around was stuffed in the master...   When I'm done touching up paint, I can pack some stuff back into our storage unit.  This house was not meant for 5 people plus pets.   :glare:

[Junie]

I have been working on de-cluttering the house.

 

We have a huge pile in the basement of things to take Goodwill.  I got about half of that ready to take -- probably about 10 trash bags.

 

I also organized some things that I am going to sell on consignment.

 

Also, ds17 and I have been selling things on ebay.  He helps me with taking pictures and carrying boxes.  In return, I give him 50 percent of the profit to put toward his college fund.

 

 

 

 

[Junie]

I'm just doing maintenance cleaning again this week. I should declutter more books.

 

No kidding about the books.  Ds17 and I have sold more than 100 books on ebay just since the beginning of the year.  And there are still more!!

[Laurie4b]

I've been staying pretty faithful to doing something in the kitchen while something is in the microwave or cooking for a short period of time. That's working well. 

 

Yesterday, I did 15 min maintenance cleaning in the MBR and 15-30 min decluttering. Today I also did 15-30 min MBR decluttering.

 

Dishwasher is taken care of, but there are some pots and pans that need washing. I'll save those until I get back from the gym. 

[aggieamy]

I did a ten minute tidy of the upstairs after both kids left for school and was amazed at how productive I could be when it was just me!

[EMS83]

Had a few nights of lots-of-dishes-in-the-sink, but I rectified that tonight.  Things are generally staying tidier.  :)  I may get to export the bikes and scooters this week.

[Angie in VA]

I forgot to run the DW before going to bed last night. I woke up at 1am and realized it, but was too tired to get up, go downstairs, and run it. When I woke up again in the hour of 4 (2 hours before we normally get up), I had to go to the bathroom, so I went down and ran the DW. I was glad the dishes were clean when I came down in the hour of 6. 

 

Doing well at the keeping up, but things have been so busy here that decluttering has not progressed at all. 

[Junie]

I looked for this thread earlier and couldn't find it.

 

I decided to clean while I cooked rice in the microwave last night.  I didn't realize the rice would take 20 minutes to cook!   :svengo:

 

So, I cleaned out the junk drawer, wiped down the counters, the stove, and the sink, and swept.

 

By the time the rice was done, I had a clean kitchen and I made myself a sushi bowl as a reward.   :thumbup1:

[Junie]

I cleaned the kids bathroom while dd7 took her bath.

 

I should probably go clean the 1/2 bath downstairs, but I don't wanna.

[EMS83]

The nutty weather decided to turn nice, so...the scooters and bikes are FINALLY out of my house and in a shed I put together with only a smidge of kid-help. 

Ok that part's not impressive really, because it was mostly just driving a million hundred annoying screws, but still.

 

:hurray:  :hurray:  :hurray: 

 

Also, I reorganized one of my clothing drawers a la Konmari.  I do this for DH's stuff and some of mine, but one drawer just gets things stuffed everywhere.  

 

The master is still clean and tidy, and we've gotten back on track with dishes.  The trade off: we've hardly done our weekly chores this week.  One kid did their daily chores one day, and I vacuumed once, but it needs it again.  Oh well.  :)  There's no longer a 200 lb. box of shed parts on my front porch or things with tires in my living room, I'll live with dust another day or two.   :coolgleamA:

[regentrude]

No kidding about the books.  Ds17 and I have sold more than 100 books on ebay just since the beginning of the year.  And there are still more!!

 

is that worth it? Seriously asking. Do you make enough money selling books to warrant the hassle?

 

[Junie]

is that worth it? Seriously asking. Do you make enough money selling books to warrant the hassle?

 

 

We've been selling the books in lots.  We started with the series books that we were no longer interested because I wanted to get rid of large chunks of stuff quickly.  

 

The seven lots of books that have already sold have gotten us about $130.  Not a lot of money, but I feel like it's worth doing.

 

Our post office is only about 5 minutes away, so this makes shipping really easy for us.

 

We've also been selling some toys and other stuff that has been accumulating around the house for a long time.

[Laurie4b]

After some travel this past weekend, I slacked off. The kitchen is now back to where it should be, floors swept, but the MBR needs some work. Will focus on that this weekend. 

[Laurie4b]

 I am posting here to give myself some accountability for today's plan. 

 

I need to catch up on maintenance in MBR andMBth .Big dent in it, but I've spent 30 min. 2 ds's are home from college today so I'm going to go out and get something for dinner so that I am home when the 3rd arrives, not out running errands. If need be, I can bring stuff from the MBR out to the common area to sort and still be with them. 

 

Run dishwasher (we had company that left late. I don't run it while we're sleeping.)  DONE. I thought I could get the pots from yesterday and breakfast pans from this morning done in about 15 min. It took 30. 

 

If the above takes 45 min or less, HAHAHA.  I think I should just guess how long it will take, then double that. I'd at least be close that way!  I'm going to do 15 min of sorting through things stored in MBR.  

Edited February 24, 2018 by Laurie4b

[Ottakee]

I spent the week emptying out MIL house as she moved to assisted living Tuesday. This alone is a huge motivator to dejunk, pare down, reduce, donate, etc.

 

Now the issue is that I have a van and horse trailer load of stuff to go through, sort, etc fir my house. Much of it we will keep and put in our house and then take out stuff we had here we will then no longer need.....ie, keep the nicer dresser from Grandma and donate a different dresser, etc.

[Garga]

Oldest son had friends visiting today. Both bathrooms are sparkling and the floors are all freshly vacuumed. And I wasn’t the one insisting on it. My sons were the ones that wanted everything clean for the guests. :)

 

If only we weren’t introverts, we’d have guests every day and the house would sparkle so much we’d have to hand out sunglasses to the guests when they arrive.

[aggieamy]

Oldest son had friends visiting today. Both bathrooms are sparkling and the floors are all freshly vacuumed. And I wasn’t the one insisting on it. My sons were the ones that wanted everything clean for the guests. :)

 

If only we weren’t introverts, we’d have guests every day and the house would sparkle so much we’d have to hand out sunglasses to the guests when they arrive.

 

 

I'm impressed. My DD had friends over this weekend and after seeing her bathroom I'm embarrassed for her. Gross. 

[Junie]

We have hard water in our house.  I saw a youtube video that recommended Mrs. Meyer's Tub and Tile.  I bought some and tried it out on a corner of the shower.  Finally, something that is really going to work!

 

My RA is flaring right now, so I'm not cleaning the shower.  I told dh that the product is there and I'm hoping that maybe he'll have time to do it next weekend.  :)

Edited February 26, 2018 by Junie

[Laurie4b]

We have hard water in our house.  I saw a youtube video that recommended Mrs. Meyer's Tub and Tile.  I bought some and tried it out on a corner of the shower.  Finally, something that is really going to work!

 

My RA is flaring right now, so I'm not cleaning the shower.  I told dh that the product is there and I'm hoping that maybe he'll have time to do it next weekend.  :)

 

That's good to know. We do, too but it shows up mostly in our toilets in a ring where the water line is. So far the only thing I've found to get it out is pumice. So fun. 

[MrsRobinson]

Its been a while since I've posted. I am pretty happy with the state of the house overall. I've been running the dishwasher every night and every afternoon after lunch. I set up the washer on an 8 hour delay at 10 pm every night so its ready to go in the dryer when I wake up in the morning. And we've been doing a 10 minute pick up in the school room when we are done for the day and the kids do a 10 minute pick up in their rooms before bed. I away have swept the kitchen after dinner but now I'm also vacuuming the main floor carpet as part of the same chore and it is making a huge difference.

 

My room and the garage are a different story! :glare: And I think the toddler is ready to move up to the next size of clothes so the switch is always a big project.

[Angie in VA]

Its been a while since I've posted. I am pretty happy with the state of the house overall. I've been running the dishwasher every night and every afternoon after lunch. I set up the washer on an 8 hour delay at 10 pm every night so its ready to go in the dryer when I wake up in the morning. And we've been doing a 10 minute pick up in the school room when we are done for the day and the kids do a 10 minute pick up in their rooms before bed. I away have swept the kitchen after dinner but now I'm also vacuuming the main floor carpet as part of the same chore and it is making a huge difference.

 

My room and the garage are a different story! :glare: And I think the toddler is ready to move up to the next size of clothes so the switch is always a big project.

 

Well done!  :hurray:

 

Great idea to extend the sweeping job to include vacuuming another room. And the 10 minute pick ups? You rock!

 

What fancy washer has a delay function? That is brilliant!

[Junie]

I just washed the hardwood in the foyer.  There is still a lot of ground-in dirt.  Sigh.