One-major-cleaning-task-a-day challenge for this week?

[Smokering]

Today's Monday, and I cleaned out the pantry. I even finally got around to donating the attachments for the food processor and steamer I never use. Will I ever "hard-boil" eggs in the steamer or use the food processor to juice citrus? I doubt it. So out they go. I feel liberated.

For the rest of the week, I want to do at least one of these tasks every day:

- Declutter/tidy the sewing "room" - the niche where I keep all my fabrics, thread and so on, plus the vacuum cleaner and oil heater and a bunch of other unpleasantly messy stuff. I need to figure out a decent system for storing my fabric scraps, possibly according to size?

- Cull and store my "memory box" - old diaries and the like.

- Clean the fridge. I did the freezer last week, so this should be a breeze by comparison.

- Shift the dirt and compost into our new veggie garden and order more garden mix to fill it up.

- Finish knitting my current project (a baby sweater) and make a hat to match, using the Magic Loop method which I have not yet tried.

I also need to go to the library today, make some cornbread to freeze, go to the toy library tomorrow, write a bunch of articles, go to Bible study on Thursday (with my homework done for once, preferably), go walking on Friday with my mother's group, bake for singing group on Tuesday, cook dinner for Tuesday night's guest, "do" low-carb this week, bake for Bible study on Thursday, and go to the supermarket and fruit & veggie store. Oh, and figure out what to eat on date night.

Anyone want to join me for a week of cleaning which will hopefully make the house look noticeably cleaner?

[dbsam]

I’m in!
I seem to get caught up in the repetitive daily activities and never get around to the larger projects so my list grows. (My husband gets so many projects done and has recently started on my list. It makes me feel horrible when he comes home and never sits down - not that I am lounging!)
So, I am going to try one project per day and limit my other cleaning and activities this week. My projects will not necessarily make the house look cleaner but will make us more organized ‘behind the scenes’. Chaos causes us stress. Unfortunately, I have enough projects to continue doing this through the end of the year! Hopefully this thread will make me accountable to my ‘To-Do List’.

Monday – Clean and organize the playroom and one of the closets in the playroom. (The other closet is filled with Christmas decorations and I am not ready to tackle that!) Also, clean and organize the garage. We do this almost weekly but we have a small garage that gets messy quickly.**completed**

Tuesday – Organize the art supplies in the workshop.

Wednesday – Organize the master closet and take items to donation drop-off or put them in the rag bin. I keep the children’s closets organized perpetually and it is so nice. I keep a donation box in the back of the car and add clothing as they outgrow it and drop off the box when it fills. I need to do the same with my closet. I keep, and wear, stained torn clothing. Not sure why I hold a higher standard for my children and allow myself to be a slob.

Thursday – Begin splitting and moving within the landscaping. My husband weeded and mulched all weekend so I have great clean beds to work with.

Friday – Too busy of a day to take on a project but I am hoping to have the house clean, laundry caught up, and the lawn mowed so we can relax a little over the -weekend.

I did nothing as scheduled but am trying again this week!

[sunnysandiegan]

Considering I *just* (a few minutes ago) found out I am hosting a party Friday morning, yes, I think this challenge is right up my alley!

Here's the list of what I would like to accomplish this week:

~ In the front of the house, I would like to get the bulbs planted that we removed yesterday from the backyard. Also, sweep the doors, walls, and walkways. This isn't a high priority, but would be nice.

~ Figure out how to wash our wool foyer rug and let it air-dry. It is currently in the backyard and not doing our house any good trapping dirt/grime. This is probably the highest priority so the cleaning inside will be of value, but I cannot effectively do it until the next two tasks are completed. (I have vacuumed the main level of the house multiple times recently and it needs it DAILY without this rug. Ugh!) - WASHED TUESDAY (I used Dr. Bronner's Baby Mild soap outside...it is still air-drying...and it is now Thursday night...sigh...I moved a different rug to the foyer yesterday morning to stop the insanity.)

~ Transplant the house plants that need it and clean them all (leaves and top of soil) and wipe down the pots and put them all back in their proper homes inside. I probably need to take inventory before starting this project. I may need a few more pots or supplies. All the plants are currently in the backyard because we were doing the Fall gardening yesterday and I had high hopes of finishing this task, too. Ha! DONE - MONDAY

~ Finish the Fall gardening project and clean up the backyard. This involves starting some seeds indoors and outside (the seeds that needed to soak from yesterday); washing the sliding doors (outside), awning, and patio chairs; photographing the garden (weekly photojournal project); rearranging the shed; and moving plants and items around due to sun requirements. I think everything is planted at this point (besides the aforementioned seeds), but I do have one empty outdoor decorative container and that will not do...LOL...so I bet I find another veggie or herb to plant before the clean-up.... Mostly done on TUESDAY, shed was on MONDAY (quick job, could use a complete emptying & sweeping, but it is perfectly usable), and I photographed for my project on WEDNESDAY.

~ The kitchen needs an overhaul after this past weekend. We'll all work on this in short bursts for a few days. DH put away the clean dishes and refilled the dishwasher with dirty dishes and ran it. I handwashed most of the other dishes. I also cleaned the stool and floor where two plants live. - MONDAY
Another round of emptying and filling the dishwasher and handwashing. All caught up now. - TUESDAY
I cleaned the microwave (inside and out) and the microwave cart. Dishes are done and floor is clean now. - WEDNESDAY
I spot-mopped the kitchen floor and scrubbed the counters and the four items we keep on the counters. We cleared the table off and expanded it and moved it to accommodate all of us. I even threw a pretty tablecloth on it. - THURSDAY

~ Dusting and vacuuming and taking out trash are usually ordinary upkeep, but not right now due to the major schedule changes and activities we've been doing lately. Also need to mop entire downstairs (cork) and upstairs bathrooms (lino). The good news is the downstairs (except kitchen) is rather tidy from regular upkeep. The upstairs will require some concentrated tidying.
The downstairs is picked up, dusted, vacuumed, and spot-mopped. I also cleaned the powder room and laundry room (every item was washed and dried). It was DD's day to clean the litter box and she also swept and vacuumed. The upstairs didn't really need as much tidying as I expected. DD straightened up her room (only her nightstand and closet needed any work). DH has helped me put away the laundry from the drying rack in our bedroom each evening. I dusted and vacuumed the entire upstairs. DD cleaned her bathroom. DH cleaned ours. - THURSDAY


Geez. This is usually all stuff I would do on Mondays (housecleaning) and/or Wednesdays (project day -- gardening in this case, but ANY type of project). I usually do paperwork and finances on Tuesdays and that category has its own set of projects right now. -- I did finances and some of the paperwork on TUESDAY and the rest on WEDNESDAY. -- Thursdays are my DD's early day at school, so we usually spend 2-3 hours doing something special together. I'm going to have to look more closely at my calendar for this week and figure out how to fit everything in.

In any case, I think I am going to start with breakfast. In the time I started and finished this reply, I've had a neighbor stop by and we walked around the community with her dog and toddler and we've been in my backyard and front yard. After I eat, then I am going to begin assessing the houseplants and digging in the shed. Then head to the store, if need be.

[Smokering]

Fridge: DONE! Ha! And I've knitted a fair bit of my knitting.

I just found out I'm hosting a (small) party tomorrow. So tomorrow morning I need to make a birthday cake (carrot with cream cheese frosting) and maybe some brandy snaps. I also have to bake and ice my nephew's birthday cake for Sunday... I think it'll be a train.

[dbsam]

I was so excited about getting projects completed but so far I've accomplished nothing.

Yesterday I came home to dog mess all over the laundry room. (When we are gone we keep one of the dogs in there on rubber backed rugs because he slips on tile and wood.) So I ended up washing the laundry room, dog rugs, beds, and the dog. The groomers came today so the dogs will be extra clean.

While venting to my husband about my disappointment about finishing no projects, he said 'two elderly dogs and two six-year-olds are your projects!'. Many days that is true.

Well, I'm getting back on track and hope to finish something off my list.

[sunnysandiegan]

I am moving along!

While not everything is exactly how I would like it to be, I could easily throw the party now. The kitchen is clean enough and the backyard is usable again. Our main level is tidy, but could use a cleaning. I'll do that on Thursday, so it is fresher. Today, I am going to focus on the upstairs for our own enjoyment...along with laundry and small sections of the kitchen.

For Mommy & Daughter Day, I am going to propose we make DD's bedroom curtains. That'll give me a completed project and her something she wants (finished product) and will get her ready for her sewing class on Saturday.

[sunnysandiegan]

I mostly did laundry today with a bit of kitchen cleaning and small tasks.

[Turquesa]

[sunnysandiegan]

It's Thursday! I am going to turn on the stereo (loud) and bust a move all over the house for an hour (timer). I wonder how much I can get accomplished...

[sunnysandiegan]

I got 1.5 hours on the timer before walking to pick DD up from school (early day). I got the entire downstairs thoroughly cleaned, including little details I wouldn't ordinarily do on a weekly basis. I decided to spot-mop the little areas that the regular mop doesn't get today and then I will mop AFTER the party on Friday. The whole downstairs is sparkling clean!

When we got home, I finished a project I found in the little project basket. DD fixed us lunch for the first time mostly by herself!!!! (Grilled cheese and all I had to do was watch her light the burner - automatic, but still - and flip the first sandwich to remind her how. SO COOL!!!!) I replaced plastic light switch covers with the wood ones I painted myself back on Labor Day weekend. I also fixed one I had done a couple years ago.

[sunnysandiegan]

It is Thursday night about a half-hour from my bedtime and the whole house is sparkling clean!

I have tea and scones to make in the morning for the party and I'll sweep the front of the house, as well.

As I explained to my DD, after the kitchen and backyard were cleaned up, I was ready for the party. Our friends don't care about every little thing being clean; they just needed places to sit and to have counter space. All the rest was for me and my family. It was a nice reason to get the whole house all clean at the same point in time since I usually do a little every day and it is never ALL clean at the same time.

After the party, my project is to prepare for my weekend class and pull together all the equipment and food I need to bring. It is an overnight camping training and I am in a group with 7 other women; most of whom I do not know... Should be FUN!

[Smokering]

Acch. The latter half of last week ended up being a bit of a bust, due to sickness and cake-baking (and decorating) and other such interruptions. I have *nearly* finished knitting the kimono top, though - I just have to knit one more i-cord, seam it all up and figure out how to finish off the neckline (3-needle bindoff, help!). Then I'm planning to knit a hat to match.

Today's "project" is going to Spotlight to buy fabric, which is more of a mission than it sounds as I don't drive. Four buses. Oh joy. Still, the fabric's for a dress to wear to my sister's wedding, so that's exciting.

I have to cook mince for tonight's nachoes, so I'm cooking a triple batch to freeze the other two. And I should get started on a cake and/or ice cream for tomorrow night, and figure out what to feed tomorrow night's guest... probably chicken curry... and do my Bible study homework... and plant out some spinach seedlings. If I get all that done today, yay. I want to prewash some fabric too, but the weather won't cooperate.

[1pomegranate 1jar]

May I join?

Tomorrow: Scrub the bathroom from ceiling to floor.

[mummy2jess]

this sounds like a great idea
today I have cleared out the shelves in the office (we are turning it into a play room) the rest of the week I need to:
wash the chair covers
clean out the coat cupboard
clear the huge pile of "somethings" on the fireplace
take down and move the couch in the office

[sunnysandiegan]

Friday's party was lots of fun!

Friday was a crazy day with the party (Mom's Morning) going well into the afternoon and then having impromptu guests in the evening. My projects that day (in addition to cleaning up after the party) were:

1) Gather all the supplies my DD needed for her five-hour sewing class on Saturday that DH was taking her to and show her how to use the sewing machine a friend was letting her borrow.

2) Gather all the supplies and gear I needed for a weekend camping training (overnight).

I was gone all weekend. It was fun, but exhausting.

So, for this week I'll stick to easier cleaning projects....

~ Clean up and put away all the camping and sewing gear/supplies from the weekend's activities.

~ Plant the bulbs from the backyard into the front yard. Sweep the walls, doors, and walkways.

~ Breeze through the entire house in one hour...tidying and cleaning along the way.

~ Scrub at least two pans thoroughly. We have stainless steel cookware and they require some deep cleaning every once in awhile. It is time for ours, so I'll do a couple each week until they are all sparkling and shiny inside and out.

~ Clean off my desk and around my desk in our family office.

[kate42]

DD's room.

The emoticons are pretty good indicators of how I feel about this task.

I'm about a third of the way done.

[1pomegranate 1jar]

Originally Posted by kate42

DD's room.

The emoticons are pretty good indicators of how I feel about this task.

Oh, I'll be there by the weekend I think. Oh dear.

[Smokering]

OK. I cooked my triple batch of mince (need to freeze it today), bought the fabric - a four-hour errand, if you don't mind - defrosted the chicken for tonight and steeped fresh ginger in cream for the ice cream. Didn't get any knitting or planting done, but I did make and freeze a double batch of cornbread so - yay.

Today my big task will be finishing the knitting. I also have to:

Make chicken curry
Plant out spinach seedlings
Do at least *some* Bible study homework
Publish at least one article
Make a cake or something for singing group tonight.

[1pomegranate 1jar]

I did it! It's ready for fall. I scrubbed every inch of that room. I even sanded where necessary (It's a raw wood room), and re-oiled the floor.

[Smokering]

Well, I finished my knitting - yay!