Teaching Kids about Maintaining the House

This week I have really been concentrating on teaching my oldest child how to do the laundry. We have gone over sorting, setting the washer and turning it on, adding detergent, transferring clothing to the dryer, setting the dryer and turning that on as well. When the laundry is done, he brings it up two flights of stairs to the master bedroom, where I will fold it (we will work on folding another time). You may be surprised to know that my son is only seven. At his tender age, he also knows how to vacuum his room, wipe down … Continue reading

Tips for When You Are Overwhelmed with Housework

Yesterday, I posted about how the state of my house was so uncomfortable for me that I felt completely overwhelmed with housework. Whenever that happens, I try to approach things in a way that makes it all a bit more manageable. If you have ever found yourself in the same situation, you may benefit from the following tips. Figure out what bothers you the most and start with that. For me it tends to be a dirty kitchen and bathrooms, although some days I just can’t stand the toys on the floor. Pick one room to start with. Don’t leave … Continue reading

Help, I’m Feeling Overwhelmed with Housework

Most of the time my home is in company-ready condition. It is far from a showcase or spotless, but I can usually open the door to unexpected company without too much embarrassment and at worse, a dish or two in the sink, a couple of toys on the playroom floor, or some mail sitting neatly in the foyer. Today I can’t say that at all. There are toys strewn all over the living room, along with a shopping bag full of presents for a birthday party we are attending, two garbage bags full of boys clothes that were generously given … Continue reading

Things to Do Around Your Home in March

Are you feeling a little bit of spring fever? We’ll be officially leaving winter behind this month when spring arrives on the 20th. Here are some great ideas of things to do around your home in March. Put up a new bird feeder to welcome all of your feathered friends. You can check out the good selection of feeders at a home improvement store, or make a feeder on your own. If you needs some ideas, you can check out the following articles all about birds and bird feeders. Creating A Bird Book The National Great Backyard Bird Count Frugal … Continue reading

Home Chore List: Annual Cleaning Chores (2)

How are you with your chores? Have you been tackling the annual chores that I listed last week? I hope so, since we have the rest of the list to do. If not, don’t worry. Just go back to the articles that you have missed and start there. You’ll find a list with all of the links at the end of this article. Chore lists can be really helpful when you are trying to organize your household and your routine. So far, we have covered most of the bases, from daily cleaning chores to our once-a-year stuff. Now to get … Continue reading

Home Chore List: Annual Cleaning Chores (1)

Wondering what cleaning chores need to be done when? We have been compiling lists as guidelines to all those tasks that need to be done on a routine basis to keep our homes sparkling. It looks like we are finally in the home stretch (pun intended) of our lists. Here are the cleaning chores that should be done on a annual or once a year basis. Wipe down the walls. Dust or wipe down the walls of you home. You can use a dry cloth or a sponge with cleaner, depending on the amount of grime or dust that needs … Continue reading

Home Chore List: Twice-A-Year Cleaning Chores (3)

Ready for the next set of twice-a-year cleaning chores? We are plugging away at those things that need to get done every six months or so. We’ve been in the kitchen and then outside. Here is our list so far: Clean the oven Clean the stove hood and exhaust fan Clean out the freezer Wash all of the plastic furniture and outdoor toys Wash down sidewalks, walkways and driveways. Let’s head back inside now to do something that I have been wanting to get to get to for a long time. Ready? Dust the books and shelves. In my house, … Continue reading

Home Chore List: Twice-A-Year Cleaning Chores (2)

In the previous article, Home Chore List: Twice-A-Year Cleaning Chores (1), we got started on listing all of those cleaning chores that need to be done just twice a year. In general, twice-a-year chores can be a little more involved that the standard daily or weekly cleaning chores, so be sure to allow yourself enough time to complete them, whether you attack them all on a weekend or do a little each day. To review, here is out twice-a-year cleaning chore list so far: Clean the oven Clean the stove hood and exhaust fan Clean out the freezer Yes, those … Continue reading

Home Chore List: Twice-A-Year Cleaning Chores (1)

We might have a tendency to ignore or put off the twice-a-year chores, but getting them done will make a big difference in how your home looks and how clean it is. A good time to do these chores is once time each in the Fall and the Spring, when the weather should be cooperating. However, you can also adopt a four-time-a-year attitude by splitting the list in half and designating a time each time the season changes to get some of the chores done, fall, winter, spring summer. But I would rather get them all over with, if possible. … Continue reading

Home Chore List: Quarterly Cleaning Chores

With the Fall Season officially here, it is a great time to get going on those quarterly cleaning tasks in your home. Hopefully, you have been following along with the previous chore lists that gave us guidelines for daily, weekly and monthly cleaning tasks. If not, you can read or review them through the links at the end of this article. An easy way to get in your quarterly cleaning tasks is to do them the week that the seasons change. This will help you remember to get them done. Also, some of the task may vary just slightly, according … Continue reading