The idea behind these seven days is to bring back some order to your home. You will tackle an area or room of your home each day. These are quick surface cleanings, not deep cleaning. To make this program work you should keep up the order in your home by putting things away and doing the daily duties such as washing dishes, laundry and making beds each day. Start off your morning with a clean slate.
So let’s begin.
Have a piece of paper and a pen or pencil handy. This is where we will keep notes on small items we can hopefully find in the surplus (we all have excess don’t we?) of our homes or if not pick up at a very reduced cost (think Dollar Store here) to help the room along.
You should also make note of and put aside any items you know you would like to get rid of. Don’t overdo it, we’re just cleaning here but if something catches your eye have a central place to keep it until Saturday or go on and dump it.
Monday: The Kitchen
Empty the sink of dirty dishes. Fill it with warm water. Put all the dishes (that can fit) back in the sink to soak.
Take the top off of the garbage and place it in the middle of the kitchen floor. This is where you will be depositing any trash or debris found on the counters as you clean.
Start putting things on the counter away. When you come to something you know needs to go dump it in the garbage. If it’s a dirty dish then put it in the sink.
Open the fridge and toss all expired foods. Empty the plastic with expired foods and dump the plastic in the sink that is full of soap hot water.
Empty the dish drainer and/or the dishwasher. Start washing and rinsing those dishes.
Counters clean? Sink empty? Get a bucket and add a teaspoon of dish washing liquid and a dash of your favorite all purpose cleaner. Get two to three cleaning cloths.
Wet a cloth with the solution and start wiping your counters and cupboards from top to bottom.
Go over the fridge with one of the cloths. You have more than one. If one gets gunky place it to the side and get the next one.
All done? Now dump the cleaning cloth in your now less than pristine cleaning solution.
Sweep up and food and debris on your floor and toss it in the garbage.
Move the garbage outside of the room if possible or off the floor under the cupboard if that is where it normally goes.
Now mop your floor.
End your mopping at the door, turn out the light and pat yourself on the back.
So did you notice anything you might like to have to help the kitchen along? Small baskets to help the junk drawer the cupboard of the refrigerator (small plastic organizers are great in the refrigerator)? A lazy susan for the spices? A basket for teas? Add it to your list to be on the lookout for. Not too much. Our goal is to enhance the room not overwhelm it.
Tomorrow the Living Room and Dining Room….
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7 Days to a Cleaner More Organized Home – Part 1
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7 Days to a Cleaner More Organized Home – Part 2 – Living Room and Dining Room
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7 Days to a Cleaner More Organized Home – Part 3 – The Bathroom
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7 Days to a Cleaner More Organized Home – Part 4 – Bedroom
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7 Days to a Cleaner More Organized Home – Part 5 – Odds and Ends
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7 Days to a Cleaner More Organized Home – Part 6 – Rest and Recovery
The Author:
O Quinn is a stay at home organizing mom. Visit her at Homemaking Organized. For monthly tips and articles.