Dust House
Tuesday is dusting day. Rule #1 for me with dusting is to keep out things that we love and need. If it just collects dust, it's not worth moving every week to dust under. Especially with little kids, I have a minimal amount of "stuff" on display just so I don't have to worry about anything happening to it. I love antiques and vintage things, but some will just have to stay in storage for the next couple of years.
Here's a picture of my dusting arsenal:
I only use microfiber cloths and a dusting mitt for dusting. I use a large extendable reach duster for cobwebs and hard to reach ceilings and I have a couple little feather duster type things that the kids use as we dust through the house, but no Pledge or any other dusting products. I have a beeswax polish that I love to dust with once a month or so, but that's pretty much it. I work from top-down and quickly go through the house dusting all the hard surfaces, staircase and railings, tvs and furniture.
Then the daily tasks....Sweep Floors
(quick sweep of any hard floors that need it - I concentrate on my kitchen)
Wipe counters
(wipe down kitchen counters, make sure sink is clean and dishes are in/out of dishwasher)
Clutter
(quick declutter of any areas that need it - mail, toys, shoes, clothes, etc.)Laundry
(do at least one load every single day)
So tell me dear readers, how are you doing with the cleaning a little bit every day routine?
(quick declutter of any areas that need it - mail, toys, shoes, clothes, etc.)Laundry
(do at least one load every single day)
So tell me dear readers, how are you doing with the cleaning a little bit every day routine?
Ohhh so fun!!! My kids use old socks to dust with but I do have a microfiber dusting rag that I L-O-V-E. We are going grocery shopping today so I think I just might let each kid pick out a mini duster so they can join in all the fun I've been having so far. I just wonder how long it will take them before they are saber sword fighting, ha ha!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm really not a big fun of the dusting task, but I do love how the house feels once it has been done! Unfortunately for me, I love to have all my thingies on display, and very little in storage.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right. A little bit each day makes things so much easier. Also, I've realized that when you dust and clean more often, the task itself is easier and not a huge drawn-out warfare that takes and entire day, because it's clean! Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI've been getting a little done everyday, though not the whole list. In addition, I didn't get the bathrooms done yesterday - I need to have them cleaned on Tuesdays(babysitter night), so in the coming weeks I'll probably switch it with the Tuesday specific task. I also need to go get some microfiber cleaning cloths.
ReplyDeleteI do think about the age old question of cleaning vs. spending time w/ kids. I have 4 littles 5 & under, including twins that are 18 mths. It is such a difficult thing to balance, especially at this stage. I wish there was a clear answer.
I clean bathrooms on bathnight whenever that is. This way I am in the bathroom with my kids to keep an eye on them and I am not feeling like I am just sitting there. Then when the kids are out of the tub I spray down the tub and let it sit till the kids are in bed when I scrub it down and rinse it. Takes no time at all. My own bathroom gets a wipe down every other day when I get out of bed in the morning and take a shower. I spray counters, shower, spray shower, wipe counters, get ready and dressed and then scrub shower. Takes me no more time than just showering and getting ready in the morning.
ReplyDeleteI rarely dust! So this is a task I need to tackle. I'm not a knick knack person, but there are several areas that need attention. So I'll try it today. I love the cleaning routines. They are working for me!
ReplyDeleteI love that you are doing this! I needed a plan so I'm cleaning with you. It felt great to get the bathrooms done last night before bed. My least favortie task is dusting and I always dread it...but today I will conquer the dust. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteSo far so good! I taught my 3yo son to clean toilets yesterday! Today will be dusting lessons! ;)
ReplyDeleteI just found this today and I am soooo excited!!! I can't wait to go get started for today!!! THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat about wood blinds? Do you have any suggestions for those. I swear they are dusty right after I dusted them. They drive me crazy! Plus they are everywhere in my house so it takes forever.
ReplyDeleteHeather- I try to include the kids when I can and if something doesn't get done, I don't worry about it. My family is #1 and cleaning is #15 :)
ReplyDeleteMauri- I use a blind attachment on my tank vacuum cleaner for the blinds - works better than anything I've ever tried. If you have a hose on your vacuum cleaner, look and see it you have a small brush type of attachment....
xo, Becky
Wahoo! So far so good. I'm even paying extra attention to wiping down my counters after meals so it doesn't get sticky. So much easier with a little a day! Thank you for doing this!
ReplyDeleteThank you Clean Mama for personally addressing my question!! I so appreciate this!! I agree w/ including the kids. They help with windows, dusting, cleaning walls & emptying silverware. If they are genuinely interested I let them help with anything.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm off to buy my microfiber dusting cloth and dusting mitt because I know it will go so much better! But first, sweeping, counters, clutter and laundry!
ReplyDelete