Tired of seeing my house look like a tornado plowed through it, the other day I started a new program. I call it Project: Clean Slate.
My house never looked cleaner than when we moved in and everything was put away in its proper place. So I decided to pretend this was a new-to-me house and started putting things to right.
I am doing this one room a day so it doesn't feel like a monumental task. As I go, there is no surface that doesn't get wiped, disinfected, or scrubbed.
Since my laundry room is the room that collects most of the clutter, I tackled that first.
Here are my steps. These can be used on every room.
• Remove everything that's on the floor or counters and move them out of the room. My hallway was littered with stuff I dragged out.
• Open up the cabinets and organize everything in the order of tools and products you use most often. (My cabinets were in good order so I didn't have to do this step.)
• Dust the ceiling light and/or fans
• Sweep and mop
• Get down on those knees (Ouch!) and scrub the baseboards until they sparkle.
• Wipe down and disinfect the counters and appliances.
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| Approved by Inspector Tank |
• S-L-O-W-L-Y examine and return anything that truly does belong there, and then put it in its proper place.
This is the part that took the longest because my laundry room was a catch-all for stuff we were too lazy to put away properly. I thought long and hard before I brought anything back in.
• Give the room one more pass with the mop.
• Voila. Clean room!
Do it with me, guys! Today, I am tackling the kitchen. That may turn out to be a two-day job. I know I have to clean out the fridge. Oy.
12 comments:
Angelina Rain said...
Great post. Tank looks so cute in that picture.
For the most part, my apartment is clean. I only moved in in December so I didn't have the time to fully clutter it, but there is a cabinet that I use to store important document that has now become the "random stuff I can't find a place for" cabinet. I need to go through it and organize it, throwing out things I don't need.
Maria Zannini said...
Angelina: I probably should've taken that picture AFTER breakfast. He was a little distracted.
Ref: clutter
It doesn't matter if it's a cabinet, a closet or a whole room. Most of us have at least one spot were we throw all the stuff for 'later'.
I try not to let mine get too big but sometimes I fail.
Mike Keyton said...
Have fun : )
We do 'the clean' when we have guests. Whenever the house looks cluttered or tired we invite someone. We haven't yet asked our guests to join in
Maria Zannini said...
Mike: Ref: Whenever the house looks cluttered or tired we invite someone.
Ha! That's our running joke at our house. It's the one true way to stop procrastinating.
raelynbarclay said...
My house definitely is due for a major declutter but, quite frankly, I'll be waiting until the wee beasties head back to school. No point in doing a major cleaning just to have them following in my wake to undo my hard work. But cleaning the fridge, yeah, that's on my to-do list this week as well. Cyber hugs :)
Maria Zannini said...
Raelyn: I pull my hair out with just one guy. I can't imagine how you cope.
For some reason I always put off cleaning the fridge. It's time to suck it up--after yoga. :)
Angela Brown said...
You are a busy beaver with that cleaning. Because it is just Chipmunk and me, I try to do a a good clean up at least twice a month and do a decent upkeep each weekend with the Chipmunk helping because she insists she is a good helper :-)
Now if I can just get to the base boards.
raelynbarclay said...
Got my fridge done...did you? :D
Maria Zannini said...
Angela: The one time I was alone without a husband or dogs, my house was immaculate. So now I know where to point the finger. LOL.
Maria Zannini said...
Raelyn: Agh! I did not. It completely slipped my mind. Fortunately, my leftovers are nearly gone so maybe I'll do it first thing in the morning. I have to write two guest posts before I go to bed.
Nadja Notariani said...
I had to laugh when you mentioned cleaning the ceiling fan...I cleaned mine recently - OMGoodnessssssss... it was disgusting.
I live with three sons and a husband. I have to clean the fridge every week before I grocery shop. My boys slop everything in the fridge!? How do they manage to make such a mess in that contraption???
One semi-costly purchase I must recommend is the Shark Vacuum/Steamer (the all in one model). I have hardwood floors in the bedrooms, and Pergo flooring in my kitchen. It does a beautiful job. I don't regret spending the money on it at all! (and it saves the knees...lol)
Maria Zannini said...
Nadja: Ref: Shark Vacuum
Really? Greg was looking at that a few months ago, but I didn't want to buy another machine.
I have lots of hardwood floors. Maybe I should take another look.