What is your #1 housework tip?

[minkajane]

Mine is commercial cleaning. I turn the TV on and sit on my butt when the show's on. I surf the internet, read, crochet, whatever. Then on the commercials, I get up and clean something. My rule is that I have to keep cleaning the whole time the commercial break is on. You can get a surprising amount done in those few minutes. I don't get frustrated and overwhelmed because it's only a few minutes, then I get to sit down. And since I have to keep going until the show is back on, after I finish something, instead of quitting, I have to find something else to do to finish the commercial break or for the next one. It really helps couch potatoes like me get going. I use the same trick for working out.

What is your #1 best housework tip/trick/method?

[Elecampane]

Mine is a small thing, but I have a policy of never leaving a room without doing something to improve it. Whether that is picking up something that doesn't belong or straightening the couch throws, I always try to do a little something each time I leave the room. I read this in a book once and even though I am a terrible housekeeper otherwise, this stuck with me.

[MamaFern]

Originally Posted by Elecampane

Mine is a small thing, but I have a policy of never leaving a room without doing something to improve it. Whether that is picking up something that doesn't belong or straightening the couch throws, I always try to do a little something each time I leave the room. I read this in a book once and even though I am a terrible housekeeper otherwise, this stuck with me.

im like this..though i think its more OCD then anything else
really i saw your user name and had to peek in. i love elecampane we use it so much in my home.

[Elecampane]

Originally Posted by MamaFern

im like this..though i think its more OCD then anything else
really i saw your user name and had to peek in. i love elecampane we use it so much in my home.

Do you grow it? I have had very little luck growing it in my garden. I'm hoping this year will be better!

[Alyantavid]

Just do it.

My dh totally puts off picking up anything, because he'll "do it later." Drives me insane. If I walk into a room and see something that doesn't belong there, I put it away. It takes 2 seconds and it's done. And it saves cleaning up a bigger mess later.

[ArtsyMomma]

Originally Posted by minkajane

Mine is commercial cleaning. I turn the TV on and sit on my butt when the show's on. I surf the internet, read, crochet, whatever. Then on the commercials, I get up and clean something. My rule is that I have to keep cleaning the whole time the commercial break is on. You can get a surprising amount done in those few minutes. I don't get frustrated and overwhelmed because it's only a few minutes, then I get to sit down. And since I have to keep going until the show is back on, after I finish something, instead of quitting, I have to find something else to do to finish the commercial break or for the next one. It really helps couch potatoes like me get going. I use the same trick for working out.

What is your #1 best housework tip/trick/method?

I used to do that!!! It was an awesome way to get things done while still doing something I wanted to do!

I don't do it now because I got rid of cable and watch very little TV these days. Still a great tip!

[ArtsyMomma]

I made a priority list of cleaning. The rooms that are the easiest are at the top of my list. Every day I run the list through my head - once my bedroom is spotless, I move on to the bathroom. Since I start at the top of the list, there is usually very little to be done in each room and it only takes me a few minutes. I keep a white board with a list of other jobs to do that week, things I wouldn't normally do each day - like clean the fishtank or shampoo the rugs.

[choli]

NEVER leave stuff in the sink. Wash it immediately, or rinse it and put it in the dishwasher.

This goes along with never leave a cup, glass or plate around when it's empty.

[Danidama]

Be mindful of each thing you do.

There is no need to rush through any chore or errand.

Slowly wash each dish in mindfulness, feeling the bowl and the feel of the water and bubbles and sponge. Breathe.

Mindfully and slowly wipe down a counter, and around the edges of the kitchen floor.

Being present in each moment allows you to fully enjoy and live life. Chores don't have to be a burden, but a happy and relaxing experience (especially with your dc).

A couple quotes from Thich Nhat Hanh that I love:

"Whatever the tasks, do them slowly and with ease, in mindfulness. Don't do any task in order to get it over with. Resolve to do each job in a relaxed way, with all your attention. Enjoy and be one with your work."

"... Prepare a pot of tea to sit and drink in mindfulness. Allow yourself a good length of time to do this. Don't drink your tea like someone who gulps down a cup of coffee during a work break. Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the whole earth revolves- slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. Live the actual moment. Only this actual moment is life. Don't be attached to the future. Don't worry about things you have to do. Don't think about getting up or taking off to do anything. Don't think about "departing"."

[IntuitiveJamie]

Something in my hands at all times. I rarely go from one room to another without picking things up and putting them back in the right place. This is not cleaning per say, but it's the only way my house stays picked up and neat while having small children in the home.

[ParisApril]

Put things away as soon as you are done using it. Everything has a place so put it there.

Unfortunately DH isn't as good about this as the kids and I are. He has a 3'x2'x2' pile of things on the floor in our room right now beside the back door and a pile on the chair in our room as well.

[leavemealone]

Mine would be to not leave things for later - go ahead and do it now. It will be much quicker to do it now than to leave it all for later. DH will leave his empty Diet Coke cans on the counter instead of throwing them into recycling right then. It drives me nuts.

[Brigio]

I talk on the phone and clean- I barely realize I'm doing it and after I have to think about whether or not I did something!

[meandk0610]

: i need tips. i feel like i'm always running around trying to pick up after everyone and never really cleaning.

so i guess my tip is to declutter first!

[wendyland]

Originally Posted by Brigio

I talk on the phone and clean- I barely realize I'm doing it and after I have to think about whether or not I did something!

I listen to podcasts. The time goes by so fast. I especially love Radio lab and the moth.

[griffin2004]

Originally Posted by minkajane

Mine is commercial cleaning. I turn the TV on and sit on my butt when the show's on. I surf the internet, read, crochet, whatever. Then on the commercials, I get up and clean something. My rule is that I have to keep cleaning the whole time the commercial break is on. You can get a surprising amount done in those few minutes.

My mom did this, too, and I learned it from her. It is amazing how much you can get done!

Originally Posted by Elecampane

Mine is a small thing, but I have a policy of never leaving a room without doing something to improve it.

This is a great idea. I'm going to incorporate it starting today.

My house is 2-story. I never go up or down the stairs emptyhanded. There's always something downstairs that needs to be upstairs (ex: pkg of toilet paper; placemats, napkins, and dishcloths for the laundry) and something upstairs that needs to be downstairs (ex: full trash can; empty coffee cups). No wasted trips!

[lotus.blossom]

I pop my kid(s) in the tub and clean the bathroom. My laundry is also in there so I fold a load or two while they play. Or if the laundry has buily up I take a couple loads and have my 3 yr old sort it for me into 4 piles (one for each of us). Then we fold and put away.

[suziek]

Knowing how long things actually take helps me to just do them. Emptying the dishwasher takes less than 5 minutes. Loading a full load of dinner prep and dinner dishes takes 5-10 minutes with my child helper and five minutes alone. Taking a load of clothes from the dryer and putting kids' clothes on the kids' shelves and the grown up clothes in the bin to be folded later takes 5-10. Cleanin the fridge takes 15 minutes.

Taking the time to teach my kids how to do chores properly is probably my best housekeeping practice of all.



I love Danidama's post. My approach is a long way from hers but I do have an attitude of contentment about housekeeping. It's part of life and pleasure can be found in keeping order and making our surroundings beautiful.

[hollytheteacher]

Originally Posted by choli

NEVER leave stuff in the sink. Wash it immediately, or rinse it and put it in the dishwasher.

This goes along with never leave a cup, glass or plate around when it's empty.

Yep! Do you do flylady? I'm so obsessed with my dry, shiny sink! haha I've yelled at poor DH a couple times for leaving water spots on the sink or putting a spoon in the sink and not just putting in the dishwasher immediately! lol

[mikanmom]

thank you for this thread!

ParisApril- Put things away as soon as you are done using it. Everything has a place so put it there.


Dandimama-Be mindful of each thing you do.

If I did this I probably would have much less of a mess in the first place. I've been working on it today....being mindful of putting things away as soon as I'm done using them and I realized how I have a really bad habit of not putting stuff away...coffee cup, left on the table, ingredients, wrappers etc.


it's going to take mindfulness to change my habits



got some decluttering done in my kitchen thanks to this thread. I put away the blender, juicer and mini-food processer and after freeing up that space I felt energized and decluttered and organized some more.

I guess cleanliness attracts cleanliness as clutter is a magnet for clutter



I use google calendar and have a housecleaning one where I enter what i do so I can keep track of when the sheets have been changed, floors mopped etc.

(not related to cleaning but it's also great to keep track of what I've made for dinner or want to menu-plan , you can cut and paste links to recipes and look back to see what I've made before when i can't think of anything, I keep a seperate meal calendar)