Cleaning routines - So many options…

There are so many options from all parts of the world to help cleaning your house.

It makes it hard to choose what option would work for your household or personality.

But why should you pick one type and stick to it?

I think that all those routines are great and should be used by all households depending on the timing and the needs of that household.

In no order of preference, here are the main options I use on a regular basis.

The Marie Kondo

The Marie Kondo option is all about separating your belongings into different types.

You must cover the whole house at the same time for that specific type of item.

Clothing.
Books.
Paper.
Misc.
Mementos.

Suggestion is to follow that order as it takes you from the items that are not as important to you to the most sentimental ones which can be extremely hard to let go.

I would use that method when decluttering.

It took me 2 years to declutter properly and now that my belongings are much less than they feel much more manageable.

But it is a constant battle and I still use that method regularly to keep on top of my “stuff”.

The disadvantage to use the Marie Kondo is that you need time, space, and motivation.

When you start trying to declutter from scratch, it can be extremely overwhelming and discouraging.

The next challenge of that technique is the process of holding the items - hugging them to say goodbye, can be very disturbing at the very beginning as this is not part of our European culture.

But, having forced myself to do it, it is now very natural, and I “Thank” my items before giving them away, it is just something that I do without even thinking about it anymore.

I have to say that giving gratitude to what you let go is extremely rewarding and humbling.

Acknowledging the usage and helpfulness that this item had provided in your life even if it is not needed anymore it allows to recentre your needs and your wants.

The 30 minutes rush cleaning

This one has different options within the category of cleaning.

Option 1 - Quick run through the house

· Walk around the house and pick up any items that do not belong to the room where they currently are.

· Put those items where they belong.

· Hoover the whole house and clean the floors if possible.

· Clear out your hot spots.

Hot spots are the places where items get dropped.

Mostly any flat surfaces big enough to hold more than one item.

It is amazing how fast those get crowded and messy.

Option 2 - Item based

· Decide everyday on tackling different items.

o Clean windows and mirror

o Clear out and clean all tables and flat surfaces.

o Change sheets and do a washing machine – ironing – laundry.

o Dust shelves and wax wood tables and furniture

o Dust cobwebs, clean lamps, and wash walls….

The list can go on and on and depending on your household can vary.

Option 3 - Visual based

· Look around the house and decide what room need the most attention.

· Clean, declutter and complete that room as much as possible and ignore the rest of the house.

The idea is that you decide to use 30 minutes every day to go through the house and to do as much as you can.

I think this routine is great when your house is already pretty clean and organised.

If not, it makes you fall behind because it will allow you organise or clean but not both.

Option 1 allows to keep the house tidy but not necessarily fully clean.

Option 2 allows to clean properly a few items in the whole house every day, but the house as a whole might still look messy.

Option 3 allows the deep clean and tidy one room at a time but by the time you come back around, no all rooms are always tidy and clean at the same time.

Still a good way to stay on top of the house cleaning.

The warrior all day cleaning

I have to admit, this is my favorite type of cleaning even though it is time consuming, require lots of energy and time.

The idea is to start in the morning and have a working day about 6 to 9 hours of cleaning.

During the day you will go through the whole house starting at one end and finishing at the other end.

Each room will be decluttered – tidy – and cleaned thoroughly.

The idea is to reset the whole house so that the 30 minutes rush cleaning can be used during the week and keep afloat.

It will also allow to dedicate one a month or a quarter to declutter and clean those areas that are ignored regularly such as attic, shed, garage….

The “fly ladies”

I have heard of that technique on You Tub.

It is about doing a little bit everyday by items or rooms, I will research further on that and write a more details blog about it.

But I know there are few items such as making your bed everyday, shining your sink every evening….

It seems a very good option but I have not used that option yet so will try it and come back to you.

The priority lists – Routine for children

This is something I am trying with my kids with different degrees of success.

But it is all about keep pushing and not giving up.

You write a daily, weekly, and monthly list for the kids to follow.

Not too many items and following the age range.

The challenge is not to step in and keep on asking to complete the task until it becomes a habit.

Examples of tasks

· Over 10

o Empty dishwasher, put dishes away, fill the dishwasher - DAILY.

o Clean the table, set the table, clear the table - DAILY.

o Pick up toys and put them where they belong, fix the toys when damaged - DAILY.

§ Can need cleaning, sewing, stitching…. MONTHLY

o Make bed, remove sheets, put new sheets on. DAILY/WEEKLY

· Under 10 over 5

o Empty dishwasher, fill dishwasher. DAILY

o Set the table, clear the table. DAILY

o Pick up toys and put them where they belong. DAILY

o Make bed, remove sheets. DAILY/WEEKLY

· Under 5 over 2

o Fill in dishwasher. DAILY

o Set the table for dinner. DAILY

o Pick up toys. DAILY

o Pick up shoes. DAILY

o Make the bed. DAILY

So now that you have a good understanding of all the different routine:

· Declutter (Marie Kondo)

· Daily 30 minutes rush/Kids routine

· One day warrior cleaning

It’s all about balancing the different options to suit your life.

My perfect routine would be the 3 of them weekly but let me be honest, as I am writing this blog sitting in the sun on the garden, my house is inside out, not tidy and definitely not clean.

I will have to do a warrior day to reset and try to keep on top of the daily tasks but each time days do not match your routine day; it throws the routine out.

Going to the park for a picnic, means that that night routine is not happening. Should you feel guilty about it or just enjoy that picnic knowing that you have 2 choices:

1. Stop doing other things that your daily routine.

2. Enjoy the other activities and prepare to clean up more at a later stage.

It’s all about priorities and mind set.

Until the next time, wishing you all a wonderful week….

Cleaning-The different routines