So far we have talked about everything having a home and creating some routines for our household management. This week we will tackle cleaning. Some people naturally settle into a cleaning routine and others have to work a little harder at it (ahem – putting my hand up). Some people want an immaculate house and some aim simply to keep up with the basics. The key is to tap into what works for you and do it consistently so that it rarely (if ever) builds up and becomes a major effort to clean.
What is your minimum standard cleaning routine?
One key to simplifying your cleaning systems is to decide on your minimum standards. This is such a personal thing that it is critical to be honest and figure this out for yourself. Decide what this looks like for you and commit to meeting those standards on a weekly basis. If it is a good week you go beyond that minimum level and tackle some additional tasks and chores, but if a week is bad / busy / crazy you can let go of the “extras” knowing you met your minimum standards.
An example of this for me is I unload and reload the dishwasher every single day without fail as part of my minimums, but have no problem letting go of mopping floors if my week is busy or I am not operating at 100%. For someone else it might be they always stay on top of vacuuming and mopping, but they let go of things like dusting if need be (and still others would say “dusting? do people dust?”). The trick is to find what works for you rather than worrying about some list someone else created or a standard set by your mother or mother-in-law or an ideal you have in your mind of what a home “should” be like. Striving to reach a standard set by someone else is only complicating your life. You can choose a high standard if that is what you want for yourself. I am not proposing everyone suddenly operate at my minimum standards all the time etc.
A person who chooses a more relaxed approach to cleaning is not a lesser person than one who maintains an immaculate home. It comes down to values and priorities which are personal. One person might choose a more relaxed standard in order to allow for a calmer home, more time for other things or simply it is what makes them feel comfortable in their own home. Another family might thrive on a space free of clutter or need a spotless home for health reasons, etc.
What is your cleaning approach?
Another key to the cleaning puzzle is figuring out if you like to follow a set routine or clean as you feel it is needed. If you (want to ) have a routine is it a strict do X on Y day approach or a list of tasks to complete by the end of the week? You can have a checklist, follow a system like flylady, set reminders in your phone, use an app, or roll with the changing needs of your family and do more cleaning as needed and go with the flow.
Do you use any systems to save you time and effort with cleaning?
My two favourite ways to simplify cleaning and make it easier on myself are decluttering and batching tasks.
Decluttering and tidying to simplify cleaning
One of the best routines you could invest your time in would have to be daily decluttering and tidying up. I admit I struggle with this one and have to work constantly on “end of day tidying” as my kids are often doing things up to the last minute and then I find I am too tired to deal with it. We work at building in a buffer of the last 15 minutes before bedtime routines to pack away stuff and throw out the random stuff that comes into our house on a daily basis.
If you have ever had someone come to clean your house (or talked to a friend who has a regular cleaner) you know that it is normal to tidy away everything before the cleaner comes. It has less to do with keeping up appearances and not wanting your cleaner to know you are a slob and more to do with efficiency. It is easier to tackle a room that is cleared of clutter and get on with the task of cleaning. If you have not packed away stuff you will be less inclined to whip out the vacuum cleaner or mop as you have the additional task of stopping to clear the space. Regularly decluttering and tidying creates a space that you are more likely to clean consistently.
Batch tasks together to simplify cleaning (and other household tasks)
Much of the effort in household management comes from organising a task, set up, prep and putting things away so it saves a lot of time and energy when we batch tasks together. Some examples are:
- save up your ironing and do 1 big lot each week instead of daily ironing (the exception might be someone with a dedicated space that includes leaving an iron and board permanently set up).
- if you have a house with more than one bathroom consider cleaning them all on the same day in 1 cleaning session
- vacuum your whole house or a whole level at a time rather than 1 room at a time (ie someone who has “clean master bedroom” on their plan which includes vacuuming vs. someone who has “vacuum” on theirs and will get it all done)
- cook double or triple batches of some meals or lunchbox foods and stock your freezer (if you have the space this is very time and energy efficient as it takes only minutes more on prep and clean up)
Challenge for week 28: Consider the 3 questions posed and see what you already do, what works for you and what does not. If you have been struggling to keep up with someone else’s standard you might rethink what your minimums are and what your aims are for each week. If you have no routine at all, and hate operating like that, you might work out a plan and try that for a few weeks and see what works better for you. Basically – this week we are creating or fine tuning our approaches to cleaning. Share your routine or method, any tips you have for simplifying this aspect of home life or any lessons learned.
Find your simple,
Deb
Link up for week 27 (or any posts for SYL you have done)
Image credit: flickr user go_greener_oz
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Ironic that I’m behind in simplifying my life…. but I have not gone. I will be back next week, school holidays are killing me slowly. lol.
Mandy recently posted..To Plant a Tree…. National Plant a Tree Day 2012
We finished school holidays and I am happy to be getting back on top of things – as much as I loved the lazy days I also need my routines and time alone ; ) see you next week xx
Debra Dane recently posted..When mothers return to work
I am very relaxed about cleaning, no set routines and my minimum is very well, minimum. I have done up a list of what I would ideally like to achieve daily and weekly but rarely is it all done and unless someone is coming over when a mad dash big clean is done, it is just clean enough on a day-to-day basis. I used to be a clean freak before 3 kids and struggled with my expectations after the firstborn but have come to terms with lowered standards and feel better for it.
Stacey-Lee recently posted..Taming The Nightowl and Becoming a Morning Person
your current approach pretty much sums me up too
Debra Dane recently posted..Starting to return to work + career Mums book giveaway
Had to laugh. I canceled a fortnightly cleaner (to my mother’s horror) as it was just too much to have the whole house cleared and decluttered for her to do. I am now loving doing it all myself (as I did tend to say ‘oh, the cleaner is coming next week, better leave her something to clean!’). Now it is so much easier doing a little at a time. And while I am at it, Simplifying My Life, I am now trying to use up all the ‘products’ the cleaner wanted me to get… reverting back to the good ole’ baking soda and vinegar. Simpler. Easier.
Kate recently posted..Stop and smell the roses
I am using up all my products too kate as i have wanted to try the green and simple approach but don’t want to throw away all the stuff I already have.
Debra Dane recently posted..Simplify your life {Week 26: Everything has a home}
“it is normal to tidy away everything before the cleaner comes. It has less to do with keeping up appearances and not wanting your cleaner to know you are a slob and more to do with efficiency.”
No….no I really think I’m just a slob, but wouldn’t want people to know. I hadn’t even considered the efficency factor.
Oh, and 6 yr old saw the ironing board today and asked me what it was. STELLAR moment for me, I tell you.
Oh, and cleaning around these parts is a family affair. Mister does the dusting, 11 yr old does the vacuuming, 6 yr old cleans toilets and mirrors/windows. I do laundry, (clearly not ironing, though), shower/tub, kitchen. It gets done in approx 2 hours (bungalow), except the laundry.
You cracked me up hon! thankfully mine know what the iron and board are for but they only ever see it because hubby takes it out to iron all his shirts in 1 big hit – i think someday they will marry and will say to their partner “women don’t iron, didn’t you know that”
Debra Dane recently posted..Slowing down
I have a cleaner and yes we clear up for her to clean once a fortnight! But I love it…it gives us a reason to tidy once a fortnight. She can’t clean over the clutter and would be spending all her time tidying…we don’t clean for her – just tidy. Without her the motivation to tidy isn’t there as much (I want it to be – we just don’t have it)
Bec S recently posted..Home challenge – catch up – weeks 24-27
Definitely – my point with the cleaner is more so that this is the way it works – you tidy to make cleaning easier – whether it is for the cleaner or yourself, you don’t want to clean around mess etc!
Debra Dane recently posted..Moving from paper to digital
I love the permission to do things our own way, which as others have commented, is often missing from such advice. My mother in law was excellent at all things domestic. My own mother had OCD spells – so either cleaned between the floorboards or had to do nothing at all to avoid overdoing things, during those times. Consequently I’ve adopted the ‘good enough’ concept. But I do liek your cards (which I found on list of tasks..). There were times when they would have been very useful. We’re almost to the empty nest, but I might recommend them to others…
Good enough is right! (it is relative to who you are anyway so one person’s standard of good enough will be different to another’s but everyone can be satisfied in their own way)
Debra Dane recently posted..Moving from paper to digital