Ok folks! I am finally back! So, let’s see….where to begin?
Well, seeing that cleaning out an over flowing spare room was a big kicker for
me getting back to the blog I will start with a cleaning challenge I “followed”
recently.
Cleaning challenges….GROAN!! I have a rhythm to cleaning the
little farm house. And it works for me. But what happens is I neglect the same
handful of spaces that need more than just a dusting or a mopping. So I came
across several cleaning challenges on Pinterest: 21 day cleaning challenge, 30
day challenge, and clean house in a week (ha! That’s so laughable). My biggest issue with the challenges was they
didn’t fit me and my house’s needs. Nor did they work around the idea of having
a very energetic two year old that can undo a clean space in the blink of an
eye. So, I had to make a list of areas to clean to fit my house’s needs, and
fit my ability to clean said spaces all the while taking care of the kiddo and
the everyday chores I had to do. I started out on January 2nd. Well, by January
5th I had already missed a few tasks.
Call it lazy, call it life, call it what you may….I lacked
the motivation. I had more fun planning the areas to clean. But then once I
finalized my list, there it was glaring at me to get with the program and get
things crossed off. And sometimes….being told what needs to be done makes doing them a hard
thing to do, even if you are the one saying to do it. I was giving into my own
laziness. Making excuses. And since I was my own “boss” I totally understood
that I had other things to do and my excuses were very convincing to myself….
Then I had a great idea. On my New Year’s Resolution list
was my most favorite resolution: do more crafts and use ideas off my Pinterest
boards. So I started paring up the tasks I had listed for the cleaning
challenge with crafts, tips, and tricks I had pinned. Next thing I know, I
actually got them all done!
So here are my “tips” for setting out on a cleaning
challenge.
1. Don’t follow someone else’s list completely. Just use it
as a guide. There were places on the lists I found that I hadn’t even thought
of organizing. Jewelry box, for example. Then there were places to clean that
didn’t exist in my home..garage for example. Then there were tasks that I nearly fell on
the floor laughing at: clean windows on outside…. Sure! Its only 12 degrees and
snowing, no bother!
2. Don’t designate areas to a specific day. Just write them
on a list and give yourself a set number of days to complete them. I have certain
days I must do regular household chores, and those chores take up the whole
day. So there wasn’t a way for me to tackle “cleaning the computer room” on the
day I am swamped with laundry. Also, for those who work 40 (or more) hours a
week…you might not have the time to do them. And why should you not be afforded
the joy of completing a cleaning challenge?
3. Include small tasks that go along with every day cleaning.
Using the above example…with my big laundry day in mind I put on my task list
to clean the washing machine. (A tip I found on Pinterest) I was already there,
washing a million loads of laundry, so why not clean the washing machine.
4. Think of the time frame it takes to complete a task you
want to include. On one list I saw “Clean Attic” Well, for starters I don’t
have an attic. And secondly…in my opinion that would take more than one day and
with a two year old running around…. Yeah let’s not go there… So, pick time
friendly tasks. Like clean the microwave. Only takes a few minutes.
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| Lemons and Rosemary: My simmer pot reward for the task of deep cleaning the stove. Made the house smell fantastic! |
5. Pick a reward for EACH task. Yes, yes the biggest reward
is a clean and organized space, but if you are like me…I need a bit more than
just that to get me going especially if its stuff I have been neglecting for a
long time. If completing the task itself was a reward option for me, then I wouldn’t
need a cleaning challenge to get it done. My reward for organizing the shelves
in my laundry room was to paint a sign inspired by a pin on Pinterest. Your
reward doesn’t have to match the task. You could reward yourself with a movie
night because you dusted all the cobwebs throughout the house. I chose crafts
and Pinterest inspired tips because that kind of stuff suits my fancy.
Ok, so there…a fun and executable way to tackle a cleaning
challenge.
So, now that you might have fun doing a cleaning challenge,
and actually get through an entire list of areas to clean…what do you think? Do
you have any tips or pointers?
Happy cleaning and God Bless Y’all!
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