My Cleaning Process and a $500 Give Away!

This post is sponsored by the makers of Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes, the quick and easy way to clean and disinfect your home!



I get a lot of emails asking about my cleaning schedule after I wrote about my typical day on Joanna's blog. I truly do not love cleaning, but I know that I'm so much happier with life when my house is clean. Don't you feel the same way?

A couple years ago, right after I had Claire and when Gracie was old enough to really start doing some damage, I was feeling like I would never have a clean house again. (I also thought there was a good chance I would never get to sleep through the night again. :) good times) I was picking up the house all week long it felt like, and then I would do all my laundry and deep cleaning on the weekends. That meant my Saturday was completely gone and that the house was totally dirty again by Monday morning. Stresses me out just thinking about it.

Then one time I was visiting a friend's house who had three rambunctious toddler boys. I walked into her house for the first time and my jaw dropped. Her house was CLEAN. Like, I'm not talking about tidy - tidy is not always possible during the day with kids, but it was clean. She is one of those amazing mothers who is really active with her kids, so I knew she didn't spend all day neglecting her boys to clean the house. I was surprised and a little jealous of her sparkly floors so I begged her to share her secret. She laughed and said she kept a chore chart, which I thought was hilarious! What grown woman has a chore chart?! Suddenly I had to have one!

I copied her chart and have been using a slightly tweaked version ever since. I can't say that I'm always following through here, but when I do, my house is practically spotless and best of all, I don't feel like I am cleaning all the time - which honestly was the hardest part for me of being a stay at home mom in the early years.

It looks like a lot, but I think even on the most intense days I'm only spending 30 or 40 minutes in aggregate cleaning (though we live in a 1500 sq ft apartment, so your home might require a little more time). I've listed the chart here below, and here's a simple printable version.


So the basic idea is this: there are daily chores - easy things you should take care of almost habitually in the morning and in the night, and then there is a single special chore of the day. Most of these chores end up getting done once a week (for example, every Monday I do a deep vacuuming of all our rugs. I took only one interior design class in college and I only remember a handful of things from that class. One of them was a tangential comment my professor made about vacuuming. She said that you should go over the same area on a rug SEVEN times super slowly to get it clean. Isn't that just nuts? I don't do that, but I do try to do a slow vacuuming on Mondays.). Friday though is the swing day, where you rotate in chores that need to be done less frequently, like scrubbing the microwave.

I'll walk you through today's cleaning schedule. It's Tuesday. I wake up and make our bed. It won't get done unless I make it as soon as I get up. The girls are getting good about making their beds too. After I finish getting ready I wipe down the bathroom counters and the sink. While I'm making the kids breakfast I empty out the dishwasher.

Then life happens and the house sort of falls apart during the day.

Then at night the girls help me clear the table and load the dishwasher. Michael does the trashes. Once the kids are in bed I quickly sweep or vacuum the kitchen and dining room and I might pop into the living room too. I keep a wet rag with me and as I go I'll spot clean the floor. My goal is fast and furious cleaning!


And here's where my baskets come into play. I keep them everywhere. I really love this basket that I posted about yesterday because it is super sturdy and holds its shape. I zip through my house every night with this basket, throwing in every misplaced item, then going back to each room once and put the things back where they belong. It takes me just a few minutes to pick up a day's worth of clutter this way. No more running back and forth and back and forth from room to room putting things away. Try the basket method - you'll never go back!

Plus - another bonus of having your pretty baskets out in every room? If you have a friend coming over right away, you can just corral everything in the basket super fast and no one's the wiser.


Once the house has been de-cluttered, I do my chore of the day (today was cleaning the mirrors and windows), and then I'm done! It might sound like a lot, but I promise it isn't. When I'm consistent with this schedule, I never have to do one of those marathon cleaning days to get back to ground zero. The house never has a chance to get really dirty, so the cleaning never feels like a true chore. It feels easy and, dare I say it? Pleasant?


So that's my approach to cleaning in a nutshell. I know we all have our special tricks, and I'd LOVE to hear yours!

Today's super-sized give away is $350 to Target AND $150 to the Container Store and all you have to do to enter is leave a comment sharing your favorite cleaning or organization tip. I can't wait to see what you guys do to keep your spaces sparkling! Any other crazies out there with a chore chart? :)

Contest ends March 22. Winner will be announced on the 23rd. Contest rules can be read in full here. Good luck!!

1,936 comments:

  1. I've incorporated doing one load of laundry every day into my routine. It keeps laundry from turning into a huge ordeal when it piles up and has to be done all at once. It also helps me avoid that late night time crunch where you can only go as fast as the machines cycles will allow. I throw a load in in the morning - switch them over by lunch - and then I have all afternoon and evening to fit in the folding and putting away. It never feels like a huge task anymore.

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  2. I have to say that clear plastic drawers/containers are the best way to stay organized and keep everything neat. You can store them away and easily find them later!

    www.absurdlypeculiar.blogspot.com

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  3. I love the chore chart and I am DEF going to use it! One thing I would add to one of the week days, maybe window day, is to dust off the tv with a microfiber cloth. A dusty tv makes the whole room look dirty, and it takes 30 sec to run a cloth over it!

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  4. You're chore chart is inspirational!! My cleaning routine desperately needs improvement. One thing I will say though is I limit what I bring into the house by stopping junk at the door. I live in an apartment building and each day I get home, pick up the mail and head to the recycling bin. Junk mail never has a chance to pile up in the house. I try to purge my purse of receipts and outdated notes while I'm there as well. It makes for less mess to battle later when I'm cleaning our place! Thanks for a chance to win.

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  5. I like using clear plastic shoe containers for my kids' toys. I label them and they can see what goes in what container.

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  6. My favorite cleanup trick is spraying pans that have food burnt on food. It get the pans or dish spotless. make certain it can withstand chemicals. Works great on iron too. Swiffer duster is the best thing created, but i have rather mop with a really good all-cotton mop.
    Before I start cleaning, I pour Clorox in all of the drains. It not only takes the odor away, it helps clean drains.
    Happy Tuesday.
    Teresa
    xoxo

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  7. We keep one CLEARLY marked electric toothbrush in each bathroom. They are fantastic when it comes to deep cleaning small tight spaes, and they make it virtually no work at all.

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  8. I live alone so I don't have to pick up after kids- but I have a ace for everything and make sure that I always put things in their places. Also, I spot clean during the week and alternate the rooms that I deep clean in the weekends.

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  9. Love this chore chart. I used to do that and after baby number four I lost all cleaning organization. That was three years ago:) I try to keep thing under control by having my 9 & 7 year olds empty the dishwasher morning and night. That way I can do other things while they empty and then I'm ready to load dishes in.

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  10. I use vinegar diluted with water to mop the floor because we don't like chemicals.We have a young child and he loves to play on the floor. Usually, I just spray the vinegar and water solution on an area once, then mop the solution away using warm water.

    Jessie
    www.mixandchic.com

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  11. My biggest pet peeve is stuff crammed into the food cabinets so tightly that the things in the back are never seen or heard from again! I've gotten into the habit of pulling most of it out and making sure it stays neatly arranged every time I come home with a load of groceries. That was old stuff doesn't get lost forever in the back, and stuff I use almost daily (like olive oil, spices etc) are easily reached.

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  14. I love your chore chart! My mom always had one for our family and I have one now for mine.

    I think one of the best organizing tools is a couple of trash bags. One for garbage and one for donations. The less stuff you have, the easier it is to keep your home clean and free of clutter!

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  15. I don't have a great solution, but I thank you for yours, Jenny!
    We have neighbor kids who show up anytime of the day, and the first thing they spout off is, "your house is messy" as they proceed to dump every toy bin in sight.
    They once asked me if I have a cleaner, and like a fool, I thought they meant vacuum, so I said yes!
    I found out very quickly that they have a cleaning lady, and that was the question they were asking.
    It is something I cannot afford, and it's quite embarrassing to have 5 year olds call you out, when you spend all day cleaning like a mad-woman after your 3 kids!
    Thank you for your technique, I can't wait to try it out! Hopefully it will make the weekly pop-ins slightly less embarrassing;)

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  16. Keeping the house is by far the thing I am worst at, I am going to try your schedule and some of these ideas from comments!

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  17. I love using baskets, drawers, bins, etc. for collecting misc. items that are all around the house. It only takes a few minutes to collect everything and make it makes a huge impact.

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  18. I am good at picking up clutter - my rooms are generally spotless with everything in its place, but I don't *clean* very well, so I end up having to have a one day marathon every so often!

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  19. I wish I had a trick to share! But I'm going to try the chore chart and basket idea. Thank you!

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  20. I like using clear, plastic shoe boxes to use in cabinets, shelves and closets. They're very inexpensive, you can see what's in them and they're the perfect size to hold small baking supplies or bath items.

    lionsrrroar[at]gmail[dot]com

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  21. Wow, I always voted you as one of my domestic goddess and hero. Since I had a toddler, I suddenly realized I had a cleaning schedule as well. To my surprise, my routine is a lot like yours! Just not written down as set in stone.

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  22. 15 minutes a day. I just set a timer, crank up the tunes, and tackle whatever I have on the list for that day. I also do laundry every day or so. Makes it much less overwhelming!

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  23. 15 minutes a day. I just set a timer, crank up the tunes, and tackle whatever I have on the list for that day. I also do laundry every day or so. Makes it much less overwhelming!

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  24. I clean my kitchen every morning. Sometimes that just means a quick counter wipe down and dishwasher loading session, sometimes it is more thorough. If my kitchen is clean I can focus on everything else.

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  25. Oh I forgot to leave mine cleaning process, I make sure I contribute around 20 minutes of extra chores daily, like cleaning bathrooms. And I will always do my usual chores like washing up dishes, and laundry every day. I have lots of plates, chest of drawers everywhere for tidying toys, small bits away. Almost every corner of our house has storage units.

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  26. 15 minutes a day. I just set a timer, crank up the tunes, and tackle whatever I have on the list for that day. I also do laundry every day or so. Makes it much less overwhelming!

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  27. I mop with my baby attached to me in a carrier -- she gets to cuddle and our house gets cleaned.

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  28. My favorite cleaning trick is hiring a cleaning service once a month! It really helps to have someone come in and deep clean the house (which I really do not enjoy doing).

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  29. I think the best cleaning tip is decluttering, so you have less to clean to begin with and more space to keep it tidy. Thanks!

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  30. I am definitely going to adopt your daily/weekly cleaning schedule. I need it! My tips would be 1) that everything has a place and I return it there when I'm done, 2) get kids involved when they are tiny. When they're little they think it's awesome to help, then when they get older their already used to it, 3)I do all the wash as fast as possible, switching loads immediately & folding & putting away as it comes out of the dryer.

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  31. When I can't seem to get a mirror completely spot and lint free I'll use a coffee filter and rubbing alcohol to wipe it down - the coffee filters leave no lint behind, and they really get squeaky clean.

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  32. Personally, I HATE to clean but...I love having a cleaning chart! It makes me feel like it HAS to get done if it's on paper where I can see it.

    http://britspolkadotlife.blogspot.com/

    Britney

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  33. We use an alternating schedule too-- we spend 15 minutes every day doing home maintenance, and 15 minutes working on a project, although your chore chart is awesome too!

    One of my favorite house tips is to just have less stuff. It's a little hard at first, but we cut down on knick-knacks and a lot of extras (and I know this isn't for everyone!), but we both have a Kindle, and all of our clothes fit comfortably into one dresser/in our closet, and our shoes all fit in the entryway... it makes life much simpler! And cleaning much easier. I rotate our collection of thing through our glass-door-covered bookshelves. No dust, and cleans up with a microfiber cloth. Works for us!

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  34. We use an alternating schedule too-- we spend 15 minutes every day doing home maintenance, and 15 minutes working on a project, although your chore chart is awesome too!

    One of my favorite house tips is to just have less stuff. It's a little hard at first, but we cut down on knick-knacks and a lot of extras (and I know this isn't for everyone!), but we both have a Kindle, and all of our clothes fit comfortably into one dresser/in our closet, and our shoes all fit in the entryway... it makes life much simpler! And cleaning much easier. I rotate our collection of thing through our glass-door-covered bookshelves. No dust, and cleans up with a microfiber cloth. Works for us!

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  36. Yesterday i've been making more chore calendar for the first time. I got it off a cleaning blog. So you should know I'm so happy to see yours!!

    A tip I always do:

    With in each room. I take everything EVERYTHING that is out of place and put it in a large pile. Then I quickly throw baby stuff in one pile, things that go back to the kitchen in another, maybe it's just the way I work but, its seems more efficient because then I don't waste time going back-forth-back-forth.

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  37. ^(sorry)

    Jenny, I just think you are so great. (I loved that post on Cup of Jo, your girls are darling!)

    Lando and I are both full times students- so it's a different kind of busy- and we live in a teeny-tiny apartment that can look clean in 15 minutes but also horrendous in 15 minutes. I have a chore chart too! Literally hanging on my fridge as I type (today was hand-mop the kitchen and bathroom) I think THAT is the best advice, but my second in line is straightening up my closest everyday while I get ready. Color-coding my blouses and straightening my shoes does wonders for my itty-bitty closest.

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  38. I live in a townhome so I really utilize baskets - I keep one on the base of each flight of stairs so that I can easily bring things upstairs vs carrying stuff up piecemeal. Also I use storage baskets under my kids beds for their shoes do they can help put them away. Love your chart!

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  39. I use the Motivated Moms App for iPhone. It has REVOLUTIONIZED my life!

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  40. Wow! I've definitely learned the benefits of doing a little at a time over the years, so this chore chart looks great! Something I do that really helps me (since I don't have a dishwasher) is to do the dishes as soon as I'm finished eating and take my wet soapy sponge to wipe down the kitchen counters and stove at the end. This way, I can skip kitchen cleaning most weeks and just tend to the floors every few days.

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  41. I printed your version of the chore chart-- it's more aesthetically pleasing to the eye and makes it more "fun"!

    I really wish I had some tricks for you, but I am the one who is reading the blogs for tricks and tips!

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  42. I too like everyone else like a clean house. My solution is to pay my son's girlfriend. She likes to clean and hangs out at our house a lot. Even before we started paying her she was always cleaning.

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  43. Love the chore list, but I like to add a daily or every other day laundry load to the the list so Saturday doesn't become overwhelmed with laundry. For example, Monday - sheets, Tuesday - kids clothes, Wednesday - adult clothes, Thursday -towels, Friday - kids clothes, Saturday - adult clothes. With a set schedule it is easier for the rest of the house to help.

    Thanks for all you do! Love your blog!

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  44. I will definitely use your chore chart! One thing I do is to go through the mail each day and get rid of anything that is junk. I find that if the mail and papers get out of order, then it starts everything in a downward spiral!!
    Thanks for the giveaway, I would love the gift cards!!

    paulapositano@aol.com

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  45. I use the Sidetracked Home Executives card file system. I learned from my mom, who has been using it since my siblings and I were in grade school. I also like to make sure all surfaces are clear of clutter at some point each day, as Martha says, "Tidiness begets tidiness."

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  46. Wow, I'm not being judgemental or anything, but I would be so bummed if I had to take such a huge responsibility for keeping the house clean! Maybe it's a national difference (I'm Swedish). Me and my husband have divided the chores (he does trash and recycling, I do laundry, he does all the vacuuming, I clean the kitchen etc.). I tend to think that all "western" countries are the same, so it's interesting to note differences. Love your blog! /Anna

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  47. I love the idea of the chore chart! I'm going to start tomorrow! I've adopted a new little tip in my bathroom. I keep two sets of hand towels in different colors, one for hand wiping and the other for wiping down my sink at morning and night (this is out of guests reach). It totally keep away the gross build up between my deeper cleans.

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  48. I love the idea of the chore chart! I'm going to start tomorrow! I've adopted a new little tip in my bathroom. I keep two sets of hand towels in different colors, one for hand wiping and the other for wiping down my sink at morning and night (this is out of guests reach). It totally keep away the gross build up between my deeper cleans.

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  49. Cleanliness is next to God-liness right! Having a cleaning routine is imperative in today's busy life. I do have help one morning and that really does help. It is worth every penny.
    pve

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  50. Hi, This is really amazing and provide me answers to all my questions. This is really informative. Thanks.

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  51. While it's not so much a tip, I generally just keep on top of cleaning.. Kind of like your cleaning plan! I usually throw a load of laundry in in the morning and hang it up while dinner is cooking. I also make sure that the kitchen is clean before going to bed. Makes a big difference. I've found that if something is clean, it keeps you more motivated to keep it that way!

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  52. i really love this idea. i've heard of it before but always thought it would still be too much. the wat you have it laid out makes total sense and is totally doable.

    my tip is to do laundry almost everyday and fold right away or as soon as possible. what i do is collect all our clothes that night and throw in laundry right before bed. if i am still up when it stops, i then throw in the dryer. i wake early so get clothes and fold then.

    i also spend 30 mins at night and 30 mins in the morning picking up toys, doing dishes, the floors, etc. this way all the chores don't seem as overwhelming.

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  53. I have a three person family, and a three drawer dresser in my front room. Everyone gets a "junk drawer". I don't judge till they get full, then it is time to clean them out. It works for us.

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  54. i pretty much use cleaning wipes on everything - they have transformed my cleaning routine!

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  55. Hi Jenny! Thanks for sharing your tips. Here's mine: I bought a mini vacuum a few months ago and it's changed the cleaning routine in our house dramatically. I felt pretty silly when we bought it since we already have a full size vacuum, but it's been completely worth it. We have hardwood flooring throughout, so dust and hair collect in the corners of rooms and behind doors. Having the mini vacuum to quickly grab from its charging station is a life savor. I can run it along the baseboards in the kitchen to collect crumbs and doesn't leave me exhausted like after lugging out our heavy full size vacuum.

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  56. My tilp is to 'blitzes' during the day where we tidy up for one song on the iPod. It keeps the clutter from overwhelming me.

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  57. Great tips! I have a 3 year old and a toddler and I always felt like I was doing marathon cleaning on the weekends. I finally hired someone to come every other week to do the really nitty gritty stuff and during the week I pull out the broom, spot clean and try to stay organized. I think the key to staying organized is to keep only the things you use around and donate or store the rest. My kids don't have a ton of toys, but they're happy as pie to play with the same things over and over (not buying lots of toys and extra stuff helps pay for the cleaning!)

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  58. I always wondered why my mom did laundry on Mondays, and stubbornly so, and then, as an adult, re-read the Laura Ingalls Wilder Long Winter book. It's in a Mother Goose song! (OK, maybe EVERYONE knew this but I love those origin-y old things that somehow have formulate why we do what we do, and when).

    Wash on Monday,
    Iron on Tuesday,
    Bake on Wednesday,
    Brew on Thursday,
    Churn on Friday,
    Mend on Saturday,
    Go to meeting on Sunday.

    My other secret, in addition to rhymes: microfiber cloths. A lot of them, especially in the bath. A good rub down with one of those and things definitely sparkle up. I also love the "leave a basket everywhere" tactic: that definitely works with Legos.

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  59. what a fabulous giveaway- thanks so much! my 'tip' is to never go anywhere empty handed. chances are god there is something downstairs that needs to go up with me if i'm going, so i take 10 seconds to look around & see what i should take with me. helps keep stuff from piling in the wrong place!
    thanks- have a great tuesday!

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  60. I've never thought of my daily routine as a chore chart, but it sounds a lot like your routine! With 2 kids, I've realized it is easier to do things immediately (like make the beds or fold the clothes in the dryer) than to let it pile up. My favorite cleaning trick is to put pine-sol in the toilets. It makes them smell really fresh!

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  61. Great schedule! I've added shoe pocket organizers to the inside of the doors in my kid's rooms. All the little things can quickly be put away and it keeps their floors much cleaner when it's time to vacuum.

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  62. I take about 15 minutes every day to do a fast pick up and return things to their original home. Helps keep the clutter to a minimum.

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  63. I take 15 minutes a day and return things to their original home. Helps keep the clutter to a minimum.

    fashionable40.blogspot.com

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  64. Every week find 5 things that can be thrown or given away. Sometimes it's something little but more often than not I find something new that we've never used or needed (donate) or outgrown toys, chipped plates or stained clothes (toss).

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  65. I love your chore chart, especially the "Swing Day" for those things that don't need to be done every week. The biggest tip I have is having lots of storage for kids toys, all of those little pieces can easily get out of control! I don't like to see overflowing baskets so all of our storage has covers or the bins that slide into a cubby shelf.

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  66. This post went right to my heart. I love cleaning and organizing. It makes me feel like I've really accomplished something. I likely don't do anything that different than anyone else... but I do have a cat and that litter is a nightmare. It has a habit of trailing everywhere. To try to capture it we converted a Pier One wicker trunk by cutting off a side panel and putting the litter in there with a layer of carpet. It hides most of the mess and looks adorable.

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  67. My most recent cleaning tip is to throw some money at it and hire a cleaning service. Even once a month will make a difference (if you maintenance clean in the meantime).

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  68. My routine consists of kissing my hubby good bye, and hours later having a sparkly clean house. Sadly, my husband was laid off earlier this year, and he is now a house husband and takes care of the household duties while I go to work. I don't know what he does and/or how he does it, but he is doing a fabulous job, so no complaining from me. ;o)

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  69. I love to go around with a Magic Eraser and get rid of all of the scuff marks, hand prints, etc - 3 boys!!! - especially on the stairwells. It makes such a huge difference - looks like a new paint job on the walls. I only do it once a month but it makes me feel better every time I do it.

    Thanks for the awesome giveaway and cleaning schedule!!!

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  70. Wow - Just spent the weekend cleaning everything and feeling overwhelmed again that I can't stay on top of things. Thanks so much for the chore chart. I plan to start using today! I use the basket trick as well. Helps especially with a 2 story house. Thanks for the great advice!!! - Allison

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  72. My best stay clean/organized tip is to get rid of a much junk as possible. I am definitely the type to save everything and shop sales so I end up with a lot of things I don't really need, which ends up being a whole bunch of clutter. I try and go through and purge as often as possible.

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  73. I keep small recycling containers in the kitchen. After I get the mail, the junk stuff goes in there right away. And I try to unsubscribe myself from as many catalogs as possible to minimize that junk.

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  74. I have recently organized my pantry and it makes my life so much easier. All cereals, oatmeal, rice, pasta in glass jars is pretty and functional.

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  75. Love your chore chart! My favorite cleaning tip is the one touch rule. I use the basket thing, too. But the one touch rule says that once you are in the room where things go - put them in their proper place. Don't stage them on the bed, dresser, closet floor, etc. It only takes a few more seconds to put things where they actually belong.

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  76. My three kids still need bathtime assistance. I clean the bathroom while they bathe and shower. This way I'm not bored/impatient while they're splashing about and the bathroom sparkles just like they do when we're all through!

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  77. Flylady .net has been a lifesaver.

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  78. I love to save changing all of the sheets on our beds for Sunday afternoon. It doesn't take that long, and it gives me a little mental boost for Monday to sleep in a super clean bed.

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  80. I love the idea of cleaning little by little--this will really help me with bathrooms, which I avoid. And I love to use baskets for easy pick up. I have a few that are getting worn out. Might be time for some new ones!

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  81. Great tips! I've found that keeping cleaning supplies like windex, comet, and clorox under every sink makes the process smoother. That way, I never have to go to the hall closet or track down the windex when I feel like wiping off a mirror or counter. I can't make excuses when all the supplies are right there!

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  82. Great tips! I've found that keeping cleaning supplies like windex, comet, and clorox under every sink makes the process smoother. That way, I never have to go to the hall closet or track down the windex when I feel like wiping off a mirror or counter. I can't make excuses when all the supplies are right there!

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  83. Love the chart idea. I guess I have my own chart in my brain that I follow each day but I alwats love a checklist! I also love a cleaning bucket so you can just carry your supplies around from room to room as you clean.

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  84. I wish I had a cleaning tip! My work day is a very long one and I'm generally away from the house from 7:45-8:30. There's generally not much energy let but mostly I just get ready for the next day, go through the mail, visit with family before bed. I need more hours at home. Any suggestions?

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  85. I need to go back to a chore chart like this! One of my recent time savings discoveries is to wash my twin teen girls' clothes separately, not together, so long periods of time aren't spent deciding whose underwear and cami's are whose...sounds crazy, but it saves time AND my nerves. :)

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  86. We rent at the moment don't have a lot of storage. I have a long, canvas shoe organizer hanging on the door that leads to the basement that I use for all of our cleaning supplies. It's amazing how much stuff can fit in there! I also use the oxo clear air tight containers for all of my baking supplies. These containers just make everything look tidy and neat. Love them!

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  87. I love cleaning as I go. The kitchen and bathrooms get cleaned almost daily simply bc they are small and I have a toddler who makes a mess everywhere! Love your tips Jenny!

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  88. Flylady.net says keep your kitchen sink shiny.
    This website will break it down for you. No need to reinvent the wheel.
    karlight52@yahoo.com

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  89. We kept 3 baskets at the foot of the stairs - each basket belonging to one child in the family. Anything found downstairs that belonged upstairs went in the basket. At the end of the day, the kids were responsible for emptying their baskets and taking their items back upstairs.

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  90. What fantastic ideas from all the commenters. Your chore chart codifies my weekly chores - thank you for sharing!

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  91. I Swiffer daily, and have a small tray or basket for loose ends in every room. I also just bought a Roomba, and it's changed my life!

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  92. Love the cleaning calendar! I work from home and don't have kids yet, so staying on top of cleaning isn't too hard - but I always try to take 15 minutes between my work day and starting dinner to tidy up (clear desk top, put mail and dishes away, straighten throw pillows and blankets). Honestly it usually takes even less time, and then I feel like I have a relaxing and tidy place to spend the evening!

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  93. Love the chore chart! I also use baskets to pick up after my three kids. It seems like they travel room to room with their toys!!

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  94. The key for me is keeping cleaning supplies and equipment near "point of use" -- bathroom cleaners in every bathroom, an upstairs and downstairs vacuum, etc. Lugging this stuff from room to room and up and down two flights of stairs just adds too much to chores!

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  95. Love the chore chart! I also use baskets to pick up after my three kids. It seems like they travel room to room with their toys!!

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  96. I have a small 4-tiered basket system in the family room for toys. If the toys don't fit, they go to the playroom. I switch out the toys every month to keep it fresh and toss/donate the toys the kids aren't interested in and pack away the toys they've outgrown.

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  97. I've tried a chore chart (multiple times!), but am just not disciplined enough to stick with it.

    My best cleaning tip is to take 5 minutes here & there to make it happen. If I think about cleaning the whole house, I tend to panic & quit before I start. If I take 5 minutes to put away dishes and then 5 minutes later to declutter a room, cleaning doesn't seem like such a horrible chore.

    Thanks for the chance!

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  98. I live with roommates and one of us vacuums at least everyday. I also really like built in storage that can slide in and out of cabinets for cleaning supplies. Easy access helps speed up the process and keeps things organized.

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  99. I use a bleach pen on our grout. I've tried chore charts, maybe this one will stick.

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  100. I do the weekly "chore chart" too! I actually run an in home daycare and moms morning out program so in addition to my two I daily have 4 to 10 extra children aged 4 and under in my home. If you came to my house you wouldn't know it. I also do one load of laundry a day bc I hate if piling up for the weekend. On Saturday I do laundry but it's only the bedding/towels.

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  101. We try to never put dishes in the sink... Straight to the dishwasher! I hate when they pile up!

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  102. great tips! I've started using those washable microfiber cloths to clean with that you posted about awhile back and love them!

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  103. I am totally using this chore chart! Thank you so much for sharing. My morning and evening routines are similar but I like the idea of the daily additional chore. I've started having my 2 1/2 year old do little things to help me (like pick up his toys, take things to certain rooms, and help me unload the silverware from the dishwasher). Its fun for us to work together and is a good learning activity for him!

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  104. I keep a similar system where I clean something everyday and have found that I heavily rely on Green Works all purpose spray and their wipes. I really like their products and their clean smell.

    I'm also a strong advocate for bins to keep everything in place. Especially for the kitchen. Container Store and Target are favorites of mine.

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  105. Love your ideas! I do a load of laundry every day so it never piles up and gets overwhelming. I also go through the mail over the trash can so all the "junk" mail never piles up!

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  106. One of my New Year's Resolutions was to put things back as soon as I'm finished using them - easier said than done, but I'm working on it! It's way too easy to let stuff pile up and clutter your house. And I can't STAND when our dining room table is covered with mail, papers, etc.

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  107. One of the ways I minimize clutter is to sort my mail before I bring it in the house. A pile for the recycle bin, and a pile to bring inside.

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  108. I try to keep the kitchen cleaned up as I go about cooking dinner. Wiping down counters & getting spills cleaned up as they happen is much easier than trying to scrub hardened stains hours later.

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  109. when i come home - from work, gym, school, ect. - i immediately put everything away that is in my bag and on my person (coat, gloves, hat) and tidy everything that i may have left out in the morning. granted i live in a small one-bedroom apartment so it does not take long, but this ritual helps me decompress and keep on top of all the "stuff" that i accumulate daily. that way when i do my saturday cleaning i don't have to spend time putting this random stuff away.

    ~sara
    http://myfantasticdistractions.blogspot.com/

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  110. I am also a fan of the "basket method". My favorite trick, someone shared with me years ago, is do one load of laundry a day. I just toss in a load first thing in the morning. It has been a huge time saver for me. I have a chore chart as well, dont think i could handle it all if i didnt :)

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  111. I've been participating in The Hairpin's Ask a Clean Person challenge of making your bed every single day for a month. This might not sound like a lot but to a super-busy graduate student having that little piece of order restored every morning is motivating me to keep everything else neater as well.I"m good at keeping everything clean since there are no children/ pets and my apartment is small but I'm not great at keeping things neat-looking. My bad habit last semester was getting dressed out of the basket of clean laundry because I rarely put it allvaway.

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  112. We had a serious laundry issue going on around our house. We had no problem washing our clothes, it was the folding and putting them away that was the tough part. Recently, I started sorting our clothes into 'person specific' baskets (plus one basket for linens and towels) immediately after taking the clean clothes out of the dryer. My goal is always to fold and put away one basket per day. Since we have 4 people in our family, plus 1 extra linen basket, I am able to take the weekend off from laundry!

    Thanks for your cleaning schedule tips!!

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  113. I'm hope to get better about vaccuming with incorporating this chore chart!

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  115. I like to do the final pick up after the kids are in bed, helps with that I just picked everything up ordeal, when you are cleaning in one room and they are "uncleaning" in another. LOL!

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  116. Even though I don't have kids, my husband, dog, and I can still make quite the mess! In order to keep clutter at bay, I've learned to put things away when I am done with them. When everything has a place, its much easier to do. Now, if I could just teach this to my husband and dog!

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  117. I set a timer for 3-5 minutes depending on the room. Once the timer starts I get busy in that particular room, but as soon as the timer goes off, I move on to the next room. Keeps me motivated to keep moving and forces me to focus on the biggest messes in each room.

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  118. I'm the worst cleaner ever!!! I don't have any great tips, but I do know that I work better with deadlines - when we have people coming over the house I always run around and clean! So I try to make sure we have visitors weekly - play dates, relatives, etc. Probably not the best way to stay on top of things, but at least its fun;) Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

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  119. throwing away junk mail asap.
    cathycomm@aol.com

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  120. How I wish for weekly vac sessions. However, with three dogs and two cats that does not cut it! I have found that doing a daily dry mop allows me to address the rugs only twice a week. I also try to do a quick survey everytime I leave a room. This way if something needs to be put away I can grab it if I am already heading that way. Cuts down on a few extra trips and makes me feel like a star multi tasker!

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  121. Someone once gave me a great tip for cleaning a microwave--squeeze some the juice of 1 lemon into a bowl of water (2-3 cups) and microwave it for 3 minutes, don't open the microwave--let the steam loosen up the crusted on old food in the micro and 10 minutes later wipe down the interior of the micro with a wet cloth, it requires so little effort! Other than that on Sunday nights after dinner and showers, we all sit down to watch some tv before bed and fold our OWN laundry which is a huge help for me.

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  122. Best thing I ever did was teach my twin boys how to really help with household chores. When we all pitch in, the house looks great in about 30 minutes.

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  123. My favourite cleaning tip is about the ingredients I use to clean my house. Apart from the stove, everything in my house gets really and truly clean with just environmentally friendly dish soap and detergent, white vinegar, water, baking soda and borax. With these ingredients my house not only sparkles, but I can clean without harming the environment.

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  124. This is such a great way to think about keeping a house clean! I am going to have to try it out. My cleaning routine always requires having the sink empty at night. It drives me crazy to think I will wake up and have to do that. I am sure everything else could stand to be completed on a more regular basis. Thanks for giving me some motivation!!

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  125. I have actually put my 2 year old to "work" - he has his own little vaccuum so he can follow mommy and vaccuum too! He also likes to help me dust, so we got him his own little duster tool. This helps me stay on task and not have to chase him around to make sure he's not getting into things! And...he's learning how to take care of his things too!

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  126. I use Dr. Bronners castile soap as an all purpose cleanser. Dilute it- equal parts soap and water. It works WONDERS on soap scum and it smells awesome. Be sure to rub it over your bath faucets and fixtures in the tub and then rinse clean! It will make them shine and sparkle! My fave scent is the citrus, although the others smell heavenly as well. Also, on my stainless steel I use olive oil. Wipe it lightly over appliances with a soft cloth as well as any brushed steel faucets. Pumice stones work wonders for rings in the toilet. With a little elbow grease, your bowl will look just like new again!

    I do a load or two of laundry daily and lightly clean and straighten the house throughout the week. Towards the end of the wee, I run through the house and straighten everything then deep clean from top to bottom. I manage to do this in about 2 hours. There is nothing quite like having your entire home clean and the weekend free!

    Love your blog! I look forward to reading it every morning while sipping coffee. :)

    Ashley

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  127. I also use a chore chart and have found life and the weekends so much more enjoyable without waiting to do all of the cleaning at once. My tip is laundry related... We got one of those nifty 4 segment laundry baskets so the clothes get sorted when you take them off. It is also very easy to tell when I need to do a load since each segment perfectly holds one!

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  128. Love this chart! I just scrubbed my house top to bottom yesterday after we had an episode of the flu, so I totally need to do this to keep it clean. It looks totally manageable too.
    The laundry is the only thing I would need to tweak... I don't know how 4 people make so much, but we do. I generally try to do a load every day or two... its folding and putting away I hate.

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  129. I keep a large stock of clorox wipes in the kids bathroom and while the kids are in the tub every night i wipe down the entire bathroom (and the copious amounts of dried toothpaste that accumlate daily in the sink:)

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  130. I also try to clean a little bit every day to spread the pain. But now that I have a nine-month-old and work full time I've had to hire someone to come in once a month to do a deep clean. There is just no time otherwise!

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  131. I use clear plastic bins for the kids toys to keep things organized. And I try everyday to pick up the small clutter that gets spread around the house. I love your chart. I think I might use that for myself.

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  132. This is really a brilliant post. This blog really superbly written and I must admit I find it insightful to read your blogging. Keep up the good work.

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  133. my favorite cleaning trick is using baking soda to clean the tub. it always makes it spotless!

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  134. I, too, love using baskets to organize and store my girls' toys. I also like to use unconventional furniture to store their things (like our hutch, for example) I don't have a chore chart, but I make sure I do a few different "chores" each day so things don't pile up :)

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  135. Bins, lots of colorful bins for toy storage!!

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  136. I must confess my stay sane trick is to hire cleaning help, but doing laundry every day is also a biggie here! Would love to win the give away!

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  137. Thanks so much for the great tips! Our first baby is due in April, so it's great to have an idea of what works for other moms for this new stage of life we're about to enter. My tip is an oldie but a goodie- sorting mail the second we get it out of the mailbox. A five-second sort is so much more simple than an hour's worth of paper shuffling!

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  138. To keep things organized, I sneak time to declutter and return things to their places during time that would otherwise be wasted - waiting for the coffee to brew, during commercials, when I'm on a mindless phone call about bills, etc... We call them "little white lightnings" and they definitely help day-to-day.

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  139. I do general picking up each day but really should follow a schedule so that I don't spend all day Sunday cleaning the house. Great tips!

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  140. in my husband and my little urban apartment, we've had to learn the art of efficient yet aesthetic use of space. for organizing, i've learned it helps to have beautifully designed baskets, file folders, boxes that match our decor -- which we can quickly sort things into at the end of every day, and which almost blend in as part of our home decor (but hide the mess). for kitchen cleaning, i keep a sauce dispenser filled with water and dishwashing soap, so that after a messy meal, i can squirt the mixture onto dishes and the stovetop. this little move makes dishwashing easier and faster.

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  142. My vacuum just died today (15 minutes ago) and I was thinking "I wish I could win a new vacuum!)" so this would be AWESOME. My favorite cleaning product is vinegar. Mixing t with hot water you can clean your microwave, dishwasher, washing machine and other areas that don't get cleaned often. Other than that, I am working on "clean up time" with my girls so the play areas are picked up before we return to them. Thanks!

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  143. Great Chore Chart!

    My bf and I have a rule that the last one out of bed has to make up the sheets. It helps keep the room tidy and provides a little extra motivation for an early workout.

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  144. I need to get back on a chart type thing, Yours looks great.

    I have a shoe basket. So a family of six doesn't leave 'em all over the place! AND a sock drawer in the laundry room. Am I the only one that constatntly loses one of the pair in the laundry?!

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  145. No chore chart for me, but I try to clean a bit every day. Growing up Saturday's were cleaning day and I despised it, so, instead I clean a bit each day. When my kids were young they were taught to put things away as a game and, in order to start a new activity they had to put the previous one away. It keeps things tidy and teaches responsibility.

    My best tip would be that I put all the items that have to go upstairs on the stairs. When I head up, it's one trip rather than five or six. That includes laundry, cleaning supplies, etc. Also, when I wet mop the floors I do all the floors and the same with vacuuming and dusting.

    Thanks for the incredible giveaway!

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  146. It might seem counterintuitive, but the way I stay motivated to keep our house clean is to entertain a lot! It's a lot easier to live with your own mess if no one else ever sees it...plus, what better reward for all your hard work?

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  147. I've been resisting a chore chart, even though I think it would really make a difference. My biggest thing is making sure the kitchen gets cleaned every night. If I wake up to a dirty kitchen, I am really less motivated to do anything else that day :) We also use a basket to grab everything that has cluttered up the living spaces. We have a 2 and a 3 year old so you know they get messy fast throughout the day!

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  148. I use a chore chart:) I don't always stick to it exactly but like you Jenny when I do my house is almost effortlessly clean. My tip, I chose Thursday, "T" for toilets/ tubs. Friday, "F" for floors. My other days don't coordinate w/ letters but these 2 days help me remember w/ out looking at the chart which is built in to my calendar on my iPad.

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  149. I'm a clean as I go type of person. I tidy up rooms each day and vacuum and do laundry at least twice a week (more vacuuming now with a crawling baby)!

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  150. Jenny,

    I use a chore chart and get the kids involved in the cleaning in order to help keep things running as smoothly as possible. I have a checklist I created for the kids which lists what elements of the room have to be addressed before we can check the room off as being clean. For instance, in their bedrooms I've listed: make up bed, no toys on floor or under bed, clean off dresser, line shoes up, all dirty clothes in hamper, etc. Once each item has been checked off, the room is declared clean. I think it really gives them a sense of accomplishment. However, laundry has always been my nemesis. I can never seem to get ahead of the curve with this one. There always seems to be a load just waiting to be washed. It's like the never ending story here. So I will be incorporating your Weekly and Swing Day Chores concept into my chore plan for myself. It's like a lightbulb went off. Totally makes sense. Thanks!!

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  151. We have an active 2 year old who's favorite hobby is to dump out all his toys. Every night, we have "clean up time" where we tidy his toys and books. It keeps us sane.

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  152. One thing I can get behind on really quickly in my house is ironing my husband's work shirts. Every other day I will do a small load of laundry and iron a couple of shirts. It only takes me about 5 minutes per shirt and this way I am not spending hours behind an ironing board.

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  153. I do exactly the same thing! Simplifying it to one main chore a day is the easiest way to not feel stressed out about cleaning the whole house.

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  154. I dedicate 15 mins a day and try to accomplish as much as possible during that time! Surprisingly, it works wonderfully!

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  155. I keep a stack of old washcloths and my favorite cleanser in each bathroom. After cleaning, stash used cloths in a plastic container (I use a gallon milk jug in which I've scissored an opening) under the sink and tote them to the laundry room on wash day. Washing and disenfecting with Clorox lets me use and reuse these cloths. Clean bathooms, recycling, and saving money -- yay!

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  156. I need to start using this chart! My tip is usin dryer sheets to pick up dust on electronics and other surfaces. A quick and second use for sheets that normally get tossed right away!

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  157. We try to stick to our chore chart. The one thing that helps me is making sure that all of the dishes are done before bed and that the counters are wiped down in the kitchen. Having a clean kitchen, for some reason, keeps me on my toes and keeps the rest of the house picked up. When my husband and I are watching tv, we use the commercials to tackle one small cleaning/organizing project.

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  158. When I really don't want to clean (most of the time), I make a deal with myself: only clean for as long as a TV show is on. Since there is a definite start and end time I dread it much less.

    tbg.tbd@gmail.com

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  159. I think I need a chore chart too so I wont' feel so overwhelmed. So when do you dust? That seems to take up a lot of my time.

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  160. i'm a terribly non-habitual cleaner. this post and these comments are motivating though. mayhaps some tidying is in store!

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  161. Wow, I'm so impressed. It makes sense, but I'd love to hear tips from people with pets too. Most of my cleaning seems to concentrate on dog hair and dirty paw prints!

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  162. Great chart - thanks! I like the idea of cleaning bits and pieces all week, rather than spending large chunks of time on Saturday cleaning things like the bathroom.

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  163. Yes, we have a chore chart, also. It includes one load of laundry (which sometimes morphs into two) each day, one cleaning task, and one household business item (paying bills, etc). I homeschool our 5 children, so our chore chart also includes something every day that my kids can help with. I love having a clean house!!

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  164. I am a big fan of the basket-sweep as well. My other secret weapon is taking 15 minutes with the kids at some point during the day to make sure that their rooms are totally tidy-- they sometimes get overwhelmed by where to put everything, so I direct and they tidy up. That way we never have any black holes of dirty in the house, and it makes it that much easier for me to get in there and clean without having to clean up first!

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  165. I like to spray a think coating of bleach on my porcelain sink. Let it sit for a few minutes, rinse, and it's sparkling clean. No scrubbing!

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  166. One thing I can get behind on really quickly is ironing my husband's work shirts. He is about to be an attorney and works at a firm and likes look and feel sharp at work and dry cleaning is too expensive for us. I now do a load of laundry every other day and while I am in between loads I will iron a couple of shirts. This way, I will only spend minutes behind an ironing board instead of an hours or so.

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  167. My biggest cleaning tip is get rid of stuff! De-clutter. It seems so obvious yet so many people with clutter in their houses and cars. I am on a 40 day challenge for lent( 3 Peanuts idea) I get rid of one bag of goodwill or trash everyday. I am going to post your chore chart on my fridge. Other than waiting until Saturday for laundry , I think it will work for me( 5 kids and one laundry doesn't work, lol) . Thanks for the chance!

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  168. I probably do the woodwork and windows less often but the floors and loading the dishwasher more often. I am a freak about disinfecting the kitchen counters and sink so it happens a lot.

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  169. My favorite cleaning tip is probably from Jordan Ferney, she suggested cleaning the bathroom while your kids are taking a bath. It is a nice use of time :)

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  170. My biggest "cleaning" tip is to use the "furminator" religiously... get the dog hair out of the dogs OUTSIDE so it doesn't go all over everything INSIDE!

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  171. I have a similar chore chart. My new rule is no dishes left in the sink over night!

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  172. Don't be afraid to give your counter-tops a good blasting too when you're blow-drying your hair in the AM :)

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  173. ugghhh cleaning... i generally use wipes and those handy dandy swifter sweepers. also love baskets- now have a mail basket to keep those pesky bills in.

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  174. I have a very similar schedule but I have to do a load of laundry everyday. I also keep a basket in our family room and my kids are responsible for putting their toys in there before their bedtime. Now that my kids are 6, 5, and 4 now I am hoping to give them more responsibility in the cleaning area as well!

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  175. I keep an extra bag or two at the bottom of every trash can. That way I can quickly gather up the trash when I'm in a hurry. - Jen

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  176. I love keeping a stash of cleaning supplies in every bathroom, that way I can do a quick run down of every bathroom and I dont have to take the cleaning supplies with me to every room.

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  177. like you, doing a little bit everyday helps! Especially in the bathroom where there is a quick build up of hair products over everything!.The clorox wipes also are helpful in keeping the germ factor down...(at least in my mind!)

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  178. like you, doing a little bit everyday helps! Especially in the bathroom where there is a quick build up of hair products over everything!.The clorox wipes also are helpful in keeping the germ factor down...(at least in my mind!)

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  179. My biggest thing is putting dishes away before going to bed. Sometimes that means putting dishes away and reloading the dishwasher and sometimes it's just loading the dishwasher. My son (2) helps put away his toys every night and I wipe down the kitchen counters and stove. Doing these 3 things helps keep the house looking nice even if I can't do a deep cleaning.

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  180. Jenny,love reading your blog. When the kids were little I used baby wipes to clean quick bathroom mess (2 boys). I kept wishing someone would invent wipes for cleaning... along came Clorox wipes. I missed my opportunity. I love my Clorox wipes. I also use a Magic Eraser for wall cleanup, baskets for everyone and 5 minute "Molly" clean up, even though kids are 11,18,20. Lucky me, everyone does their own laundry.

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  181. I love the idea of a chore chart - I always just wait until I have a day off & just clean the entire house! Exhausting.

    I love using baskets to organize - they are everywhere: closets, under cabinets, in drawers. I love going through them about once a month and cleaning them out to organize the baskets! ha

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  182. My best advice (which I need to follow myself!) is to get my behind off the computer and actually start cleaning. So much more fun to sit here and read everyone's tips, though :) Seriously, I think better time management on my part would result in a cleaner house.

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  183. I love your chart! I need to improve my daily maintenance of the house, and this chart has really gotten me thinking! One thing my husband and I do is every 6 to 9 months we do a really big decluttering of each room - we stagger the rooms, so it's never a whole house decluttering, which makes it much more manageable and a weekend project. So, we'll basically go through our entire kitchen one weekend and re-organize and clean out the things we don't use with big trash and donate piles. Then a few months later we tackle the basment, then the garage, then the office. We both feel like it helps and keeps us organized. This way each room gets de-cluttered and organized each year. Thanks for the tips!!

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  184. the chore chart is a great idea! my cleaning tip is to get my two boys involved as much as possible. The better they are at participating in the cleaning and doing their share, the more naturally they'll keep their own worlds clean later. (Or at least I like to think!)
    Kate

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  185. the chore chart is a great idea! my cleaning tip is to get my two boys involved as much as possible. The better they are at participating in the cleaning and doing their share, the more naturally they'll keep their own worlds clean later. (Or at least I like to think!)
    Kate

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  186. Love it! The only thing my husband and I squabble about is chores. This is going up on the marker board TODAY.

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  187. I don't have kids yet, but I plan on doing what my mom did: When the house gets a little cluttered, everyone has to stop what they are doing and pick up and put away 10 things. I do think when I am babysitting before I put the kids to bed - You'd be surprised how quickly the mess goes!

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  188. Love it! The only thing my husband and I squabble about is chores. This is happening - TODAY.

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  189. my best cleaning tip is magic erasers, I know that is nothing new, but I think they are fascinating

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  190. I break my house into zones and each day I tackle another zone and clean it from top to bottom. And EVERY day is pick up, deal with mail, & make beds (after allowing them some time to air out!). It's worked really well for me so far!

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  191. Doing the dishes every night. It is a small thing that doesn't take very long(especially because I live alone) but it's a catalyst. If I make myself do just that one chore, I find myself wiping down the kitchen counters, sweeping the kitchen floor, and then tidying up the whole house. This works well for me because my house is small and it doesn't take very long to tidy (or to get messy, for that matter). I find that I actually like being in my kitchen hand washing the day's dishes and I love getting up in the morning to see a clean kitchen.

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  192. I love chore charts! I have a 3 year old and it is so hard to keep the house tidy sometimes. We recently started one toy at at time and that helps!
    Kelly B
    Mrskbj (@gmail.com)

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  193. Chore charts are the way to go for sure! Tuesday/toilets, Wednesday/wash (laundry), Friday/floors - cheesy, but it's how I remember :)

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  194. I'm one of those crazy people who LOVES cleaning a little too much, but my tip is to always have a designated place for things that can pile up (i.e., shoes, cell phones, mail). If you have a designated home for these things, you instantly recognize when they aren't in that place and know where they need to be. This definitely helps my husband know where to put everything to keep me happy and our home organized.

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  195. Your chore chart actually looks kind of fun!! Thanks for sharing. I like to make our bed every morning too. There is something so great & clean feeling about coming home from work to a made bed !

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  196. My mom always said "Making your bed will make the whole room look cleaner" which I think is true and I am going to try making it a habit so my whole studio apartment will look cleaner! :)

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  197. I find that if everything has a home it's super easy to put it away!! I'm also finding the joy of not having too many closets, forces me to really think about what I keep.

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  198. I try to do a little de-cluttering each day. For a clean surface and germ free house, I keep Clorox wipes and spray on hand right where we need them: On the back of the toilets, by the kitchen sink, etc. Oh.... and having the kids clean up their toys allows me to walk through the house!!

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  199. My tip is to do all the cleaning on Saturday. Wake up early, clean the house, do the laundry and then the grocery shopping. That way I can relax all day Sunday and not feel stressed come Monday.

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  200. I like to focus on one or two areas that seem to be a magnet for clutter and never let them get bad. Seeing a clean, empty sink or a cleared off hall table inspires me to keep the rest of the house tidy!

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