I know this is supposed to be a blog about dolls and sewing and fun things like that, but when I did yesterday’s post on organizing my closet (HERE) it got me to thinking about those of you out there whom cleaning and organizing comes natural to. After all, if we have a clean house and our dinner is on the table at the right time and our hubby’s are happy, we will have more time for our dolls…which is what we all want, isn’t it? You might want to PLAY with your dolls and I certainly want to SEW for YOUR dolls…so it’s a win win situation…
When my sister was here a few days ago, we did a little talking about how we were going to be better this year at cleaning our houses, doing our laundry, and being consistent at keeping everything in place. We talked about the methods we have used in the past… Flylady, by Marla Cilley, who teaches you to clean in zones and work on your hotspots (areas that get things dumped on them)…(her best book is called Sink Reflections) and another book, called Sidetracked Home Executives, where you use the index card method with things written down and file them away when they get done. We talked about schedules…we’re PRO’s at schedules… we’ve been doing them since we homeschooled our kids… every home school mom has to have a schedule… But following through with the schedule is quite another thing…
There is the method where you spend 10 minutes in each room, or do 3 rooms a day, or just do things on the weekends…There are charts, and schedules, and plan books and organizing calendars by the hundreds out there…
I KNOW there are some great housekeepers who read my blog and I would love it if you would share how you clean your house… It doesn’t even have to be in paragraph form… just do fragments or use bullets and one liners… Seriously, inquiring minds want to know!!!
But I’d (we’d) love to hear from you…and how you do it… and even if you’re not perfect at doing it all the time, let us know what you’ve tried and how it works… I’m game for anything…and what better time than the first few days of a new year!
I have been working on my top three 2015 customer’s gifts and hope to get them out to the winners on Monday…
I hope to get LOTS of responses today!!!!!
Blessings, Jeanne
Everybody has their own way that works best for them, so I can’t think we all do it the same, but here goes for me! I always change sheets on the beds and towels on Monday, get them washed and put away. There are a few times when that can’t happen, but at least I try to keep a sheet on a bed 7 nights. Nothing magical about that number, but when you lose track of when you did it last, well, you plain lose track!
I try to keep clutter away, no unnecessary stuff laying out, mail sorted when it comes and maybe thrown away on the spot, if necessary. No clutter on my countertop in the kitchen, everything put away where it belongs so you can find it! You would be amazed if you see how much more energized you are in a clutter-free house compared to one that is littered with everything scattered about. If you don’t have room for all the things you have, you have too much! Since I’m older now, I have a lot of things, and really don’t NEED anything, but if I bring something new into the house, something has to go!
I don’t think I need to say how much I simply HATE to grocery shop, but I do. I cannot get myself to go and take a big chunk of my day just doing that, so I go once a week after church!! I’m dressed and really not missing anything when I go, since we get up early and go to 8:00 mass, so by 9 we are home, I go straight to the store, and the shelves are full and hardly anyone there! Just once a week for me grocery shopping! That leaves the rest of my week free to do other things. I know that time won’t work for some, but if you have a certain time to go anywhere, stick to that time and get it over with!
Not much “cleaning” tips” here, but scheduling is my way to get the things done that I have to in a timely way so that I have time for what I WANT to do!
Hi Linda,
Thank you for all of your comments. I am hoping to get enough advice from people that I can glean something from everyone.
I think having certain things done on certain days will help. You give me hope!!! Great hope!!
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne,
I am NOT a great house keeper by any stretch of the imagination, but I love a clean and orderly house. I organize (or straighten) all the time, really, bit by bit. I don’t let clutter take over, too overwhelming. As far as actual cleaning, there are things that bother me the most, and so those things get done; some on a scheduled day and others when they are simply needing it. The things that I can tolerate usually don’t get cleaned. I also have a husband and daughter who help out immensely. I would love to have a sparkling house from the floor to the ceiling, but then I wouldn’t have time to make anything for the dolls, I’d be cleaning nonstop. I found a plaque at the antique mall about housework which I’ll upload soon. It says it all. Have a nice Sunday, Jeanne.
Hi Cindy, I LOVE a clean and orderly house too and I am very fortunate to have a hubby like yours who helps out a lot!
My problem is I would rather be creative than clean…so it gets me in trouble and behind…
I have a plaque too..I should have taken a picture of it…it would have been perfect!
Thanks Cindy…
Blessings, jeanne
Hi Jeanne,
I got caught up with the days I missed on your blog and really enjoyed the organization topic. I’m an obsessive recycler so I fuss over everything and anything that can be recycled. My husband and I don’t like clutter so we put things away after using them. Every thing has a place.
Before we left on our trip, my niece and I went through my clothes closet- what no longer looked good on me or didn’t fit well, went into a donation pile- this includes purses and shoes. I have three sections of clothes now- and not an overload- 1) everyday work house clothes 2) run to the store or errand clothes where people see you and then 3) dress up clothes.
There use to be a really neat show on that dealt with clutter and clean up…sorting and deciding what to keep and what not to keep. The leader of the team was from Australia and he helped the organizing process. I do his process all the time. An example is one year I culled out 80 Barbies…knowing I would allow myself to keep 12 only…it was a fun process of elimination like what they did in the show. I still try to get rid of something of the same when I buy a new item…same with the dolls: get a new one, pass on an old one.
For Christmas my boys got me the Asian doll with long black hair and bangs. Not sure where she will fit in. (Kay Kay) I really didn’t get to play with her since we left on our trip early this year but when I get home, I need to pass on another doll to balance the amount I have.
I’m also looking forward to more decluttering as well as organizing my doll room this spring when we return home again. It’s such a wonderful feeling having a lighter load and someone else benefiting from items that are still nice.
HI Paula,
It sounds like you and your hubby are a perfect match… recycling and all! It’s nice when you both don’t like clutter…
You sound REALLY organized… and someday I hope to be in your shoes… :o)
The Australian guy you’re talking about sounds like Peter Walsh…right? I love to see him do his magic on peoples rooms in their homes. He can come to my house any day!!!
Oooooo…a new dolly for you to play with… is her brand name Kay Kay or is that just what you are calling her?
I have to agree with you about it being a wonderful feeling to let go of things you don’t need or want anymore! Congrats on the Barbie culling…
Blessings, Jeanne
Unfortunately, I have no schedule for cleaning as I work out of town a lot and also sometimes long hours. I would like to have a clean house, but it never seems to happen. That’s why I take most of my vacation in December and January (our slow months at work) and do as much purging and reorganizing as I can. If I could do it on a more frequent basis, it probably wouldn’t be such a chore. I’m pretty good at not buying things I don’t need, except when it comes to fabric! I really need to find a way to manage my fabric stash. So, I don’t have any good advice, but I will be interested to see what tips your other readers can offer on house cleaning.
HI Carolyn,
Don’t give up hope on having a clean house… maybe someone will suggest something that will fit into your busy schedule and be “just right” for you!
I was going to drag out all my books and do them and then my sister suggested that maybe I just do my cookbooks first…one category and go from there. It seems more realistic to me. That way I can still get a small project done, and keep sewing… :o)
Thanks Carolyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
Must start organizing and cleaning! Ha!Ha! Well, at least I did take down the Christmas decorations and put them all away. Took forever too…
All of the organizational tips are so helpful.
Been looking at patterns for AG Bitty Baby. Think I would rather think about making something for granddaughter’s new dolly instead of cleaning. Bad me.
HI Joy,
I’m like you…sometimes I have dishes in the sink or supper needs to be made, but I just want to sew…WAAAAHHHH….. guess what usually wins out? Those dishes can wait… and supper is generally done… and sewing gets done too… Maybe I have a plan, I just don’t know it… :o)
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Early on I realized I wanted to sew more than anything else so I made the decision I could not sew until all my other work was done. I often said that my house was neater than clean. .I put everything in its place before bedtime. I once did have special days for several tasks. In retirement, tasks got done when I felt it was time. My husband does most of the work now as my schedule and ability changed. I help when I am able.
HI Jan,
I’ve done what you do…only it just didn’t last for me… I found myself sewing on something when I should have been cleaning… I’m going to figure this out… this year!!!!
Aren’t hubby’s like ours wonderful? Mine never ever complains when things aren’t done… he knows it’s hard to clean and keep sewing and he knows how much I love to sew, so he never says anything… thank you Lord!
Blessings to you Jan,
~ Jeanne
Everything in our house has a place as well. From our homeschooling days I had a schedule of housekeeping chores that happened on a certain day of the week. I do laundry on Mondays and change bedding on Fridays. Vacuuming Is a Tuesday activity etc. I also have chores that are completed monthly or quarterly.
I like having things in it’s own place for ease of finding ( a real time saver) and knowing what I have in general. During our school days I also tried to make each month special with craft projects etc, so as a carryover from those days I have a three ring binder for each month where I put craft things I would like to do, special recipes for that particular holiday such as Christmas or Thanksgiving. That way if I see something in a magazine I want I just tear it out and put it in that binder for future reference.
My favorite saying I saw once was ” Dust and pet hair give our home a warm and fuzzy feeling”. I dust each week, but the pet hair has a mind of it’s own.
Hope to find time to sew something over the winter for my Caroline and Marie-grace who have become my Civil War girls. I don’t care for Lea, but then again. I’ve never cared for a GOTY ( my love of PC historicals in deeply ingrained as Felicity was brand new when I first saw the catalog and swooned over the darling clothes and historical accessories. I am looking forward to seeing Melody, but if a do get another doll at some point, I’m wanting a German Addy like my daughter had and sold for college money. I wish I had had dolls then and thought to keep her along with Samantha. We’ll see, but I think five PC/AG girls just might be my limit as I fell pretty hard for a fair amount of Felicity and Samantha’s clothes and PC trimmings which may not exceed the three underbed boxes.
OH Laura,
I can only hope to be as organized as you are someday! A place for everything and everything in its place! What a nice motto that would be!!!
I may break out my old schedules and revamp them again with certain days being designated for certain chores… When we homeschooled our kids we did have more of a schedule set so I think I could revive it again…
I like your idea of the binders with the various subjects and when you find a page or a idea you put it in there… nice!
I hope you end up finding your German Addy…I wouldn’t know her if she came up to me and introduced herself to me… Are they ever on Ebay? I’ll have to keep an eye out for one… Do they have the white bodies even on her darker skin?
Well, I better go get something done…I’m inspired from all this cleaning talk…
Blessings to you Laura,
~ Jeanne
Hi Jeanne! Your post is very interesting and I would like to share about my cleaning procedures too. What I do basically is that I try to keep my home clean and organized all the time. I never leave my chores for the next day or other time. Greetings and I wish you look in the new year:)
Thank you Bethany,
Your way is what I am shooting for…keeping my house cleaned up all the time.
Thank you so much for your comments!
Blessings to you this new year too…
~Jeanne