Cleaner House, Less Stress!

Hi there.

I have a sister who is 16 years younger than me and juggling work and young children and supporting a partner with a demanding career. She is encouraging me to share my method which has helped her so much. It seems obvious - but it makes such a difference. I promise!

I don't like cleaning!
I tend to put it off until the house is looking horrendous and its become a huge job
I don't have time for "spring cleaning" - windows, Cupboards - you know the sort of thing.
My sister was the same.


Cleaning an be a job that seems never ending - your home appears to always be filthy to you - this is about setting a limit to how much you do and being happier with what you have done. Its also about knowing that your house is cleaned to an acceptable standard and that you can rest!

So I adapted my cleaning list for her that I've used for years. She has found it invaluable and is quite evangelical about it to friends and family.

How to .....

For each room you list all the jobs that need doing including those that you think are spring cleaning jobs - hoover, mop, windows in and out, dust, clean out cupboards, mirrors, sink, bath, shower, doors, skirting boards, dado rails, cobwebs, change sheets, bath the dog, gardening, ironing, etc.

Then you think how often in a month you really need to do each task. The aim is to do each task as seldom as possible (to reduce work and stress) whilst keeping the house at a standard of cleaning you want. For example I feel that most rooms only want hovering once a week but some areas of the house - hall, kitchen, lounge, stairs, which get a lot of traffic might need a second hovering.

The more detailed the list - tasks broken down into small units - the more you will want to do them as in just a few spare minutes you can choose a few very short jobs to do and then. enjoy crossing them off  your list.  By the end of the week you will be amazed at how much you have achieved by just a few minutes at a time.

Some jobs you may want to set a manageable time limit to to encourage you to do it little and often -for example half an hour in the garden.

Sometimes you may also want to set yourself a time target per day for cleaning - for example half an hour. Setting a small amount of time often means you get more done. Not setting an amount of time often means that it takes ages and more and more appears to need doing as you look critically around your house.

Keep the list on your computer so you can print a new one off each month and adapt as you need.

Below is an excerpt from my own list you might like to use as a template.

Do give it a try - it makes such a difference!

Let me know if you found it helpful

JOBS TO DO

Wc monday	Wc monday	Wc monday	Wc monday	Wc monday
Kitchen Surfaces and sink Dust Wipe chairs vacuum mop Clean out a cupboard	Kitchen Surfaces and sink vacuum mop Low cupboard fronts cobwebs	Kitchen Surfaces sink vacuum Mop Windows	Kitchen Surfaces and sink High cupboard fronts Vacuum mop	Kitchen Surfaces and sink Vacuum  mop Skirting Doors
Landing Handrails vacuum	Landing Door vacuum	Landing Dado rail and light switches, vacuum	Landing Skirting, vacuum cobwebs	Landing Pictures, book case, vacuum
Stairs Vacuum skirting	Stairs vacuum Handrail Wipe over carpet	Stairs vacuum Skirting Marks on walls	Stairs vacuum handrail	Stairs vacuum skirting
Vacuum round	Vacuum round	Vacuum round	Vacuum round	Vacuum round
ironing	ironing	ironing	ironing	ironing

Remember yourself!

Paperwork	Paperwork	Paperwork	Paperwork	Paperwork
Interests	Interests	Interests	Interests	Interests
Relaxation	Relaxation	Relaxation	Relaxation	Relaxation
Social	Social	Social	Social	Social
Exercise	Exercise	Exercise	Exercise	Exercise
Crafts	Crafts	Crafts	Crafts	Crafts

Key words: clean, stress, family, children, cleaning, dusting, vacuuming, save time, efficiency, juggling, self help, spring clean. happy. chores, time saving, reduce stress, cleaner home, home. lifestyle, "work life balance" "reduce stress" housework