Spring Cleaning - Yearly or Twice a Year? My Tips

Can you feel this ladies pain??

Spring is  getting really close..Day light savings 
time will  be here March 12th. This always signals
that it is time to start spring cleaning.. And our 
Mississippi weather is showing signs of spring.

I have seen lots of different ideas--

1- spring clean early  -doing small jobs through
out the year. thus getting to enjoy the  spring.

2- Spring clean... the entire house and porches..
when the sun comes out and   be through with it?

What is your idea?  Do you spring clean? And when?

I normally spring clean in the spring and again  in the 
fall.  However, I de-clutter  the house year round. Thus,
my spring cleaning,  is not  as hard or  does not take 
as long.

Tips I use for making spring cleaning easier and quicker..

1-  Declutter weekly-   Every week,  I pick one cabinet or
drawer or part of a closet, and  declutter it. Throw away
or donate any thing that we don't need or use or love..

2- I also, do the  "one thing comes in, and some thing
has to go out" rule.. If I buy some thing for the house,
or clothes.. I make sure to go through that area, and
see if I can find something to  "go out'.  It is amazing,
how this keeps clutter at bay.

3-Paper/Mail clutter--- This has always been my worse
enemy..smile.  I really procrastinate with this one.  I 
try to..... when hubby or I  bring the mail in.. Go 
through it right then....... put the junk mail in garbage,
put the bills in my   bill filing folder to pay  or file
as needed. I use to bring it in and pile in a "neat" stack
on the table.ha  With the intentions of  going through it
later.. It never happened. I have found it much easier
to deal with it NOW versus Later.

4- Through out the year [not just spring/fall cleaning
time], I  will  pick a job such as  wiping down all
ceiling fans or lights... or ,  washing down  table and 
chair legs,  or  washing baseboards.  This is not an 
every week job... but rather ... picking a job for the 
week or every two week job.. They change up.. thus,
keeping one job from getting "bad/out of hand".
I don't clean windows or porches until spring is
here, and the sun is out.. TOO    COLD.

These are my extra cleaning/decluttering jobs. It sounds
like lots of work... But,  if you do little bits at a time, after
doing your daily cleaning.. It really maintains the clutter
and makes  less spring or fall work to do.
Note...  I still have the messy days ,as we all do.. The muddy
rainy days and the dirty shoes... The spills ,the  spots on things,
etc.   On these days... I have to tell my self........... Just do it,
Get it back in order............ Life will be easier. smile.
Note-- Sewing... I have been doing a good bit of
sewing,  Just waiting on the  photos to do post.

Pray you have a wonderful week, and  May God bless
you . 

What I am Doing in this New year/New Month.. Sewing & Cleaning Routine

                 January 2017... My  goals [not resolutions- 💗😤] 
                 are to get back to sewing..  The hobby , I love sew 
                 much... And to improve my organizing /cleaning
                 techniques.  I thought I would share whats been
                 done thus far this year..

                             Sewing... for Emily's Mission & Emily

           

3 more Pillowcase Dresses for Emily's Mission
Emily will be taking dresses to the little girls
in the Children's Home.
NOTE: Click on photo to enlarge it ..You
can see it better.
I am also making Emily a valentine vintage 
dress. She picked out the red/white polka dot
fabric [from my stash] . I am working on it
now.. It is a slower process, as she is in school, 
and I have to wait upon her visits, to  get fitted,
etc. Lots of fun.. Hope to share this soon.

Decluttering.. Organizing..  Cleaning

What is your routine? Do you have one? Do you 
wait until  a certain day , and have an "all day"
cleaning, or do you ?-- do a little each day? I don't
think there is a right way or a wrong way?? Just
what ever works for you... For me. I try to keep
things decluttered.. And just maintain a tidy house.
If I do a little each day, it is just about always
presentable.. Here are a few of my  regular 
routines.
1- Making the bed, when I first get out of it.. I use to
not do this.. But, It is so quick and so easy [and a 
habit that I have adjusted to..] It makes the room
appear clean , and for me, it encourages me to  put
everything away [only takes seconds to put things
away..versus laying them on the bed/dresser,etc.]

2-Only  touching  things ONE time.  Found this  hint
on Pintrest. Such a time saver..When coming in, take
coats, purses, bags, etc to the place they go. Do not
leave them on the back of a chair, table ,etc-- to deal
with later/thus having to handle them a second time.
Remember the one touch rule for all things that enter
your house.. and if you don't leave things laying 
around... your house will not look  untidy.. smile

3- Mail/paper items... Oh my.. my mail man brings me
handfuls of junk mail every day.. eeeeh!!!   When it
comes through the front door, I immediately go 
through it, and toss all the junk mail. I put bills 
and stuff that need filing  in a specified place.
Then file and pay bills as needed. This tip, has been
a life saver for  the messy looking paper work everywhere.

4-  Laundry.. This is not as difficult for me now, as 
it was when we had children at home.. I do a load of
laundry as soon as I have one.. Usually, I do  a load every
other day..  Hint... I always fold/hang put away as soon
as I finish.. Remember the one touch rule.. Always
finish.. only touch once. smile

5-I call this hint--- making my footsteps count!!! As I 
walk from one room to another.. I take a quick look
around, If I see any item that belongs to another 
room or area, I take it with me and return to its
location. I have done this so long... it is just habit, and 
I  don't even think about doing it. But, it really helps
to keep the  house tidy ..[with no extra work]

6- Kitchen duties--- No. I don't like to wash dishes or 
clean the kitchen after we eat.. It has to be done.. And 
there is nothing more rewarding than walking into a 
clean kitchen, when you awake in the am.. I  run a dish
pan of soapy water, and clean as I go.. After supper,
I go and put the  dishes in the dishwasher or I hand
wash? I wipe off cabinets.  hint-- set the timer and
see how long it actually takes.. Once you see , how 
quick it is...it motivates you to , just do it. smile

7-  Touch ups...  I love the clorox wipes..  I do a quick
wipe down of bathroom sink, top of tolit and lids. this
keeps the bathroom looking tidy and keeps your
tolit  from getting really BAD... When I do my real
bathroom cleaning.. it is not really bad and disgusting..

8- End of day..5 to10 minute pick up--- Before going 
to bed,  I do a  quick pickup .. Magzines out, blankets,etc.
 I do a quick sweep of the living room , kitchen and hall.
This is the best hint of all... as it ensures you that you
start tomorrow with a tidy house.. and if you have that
unexpected visitor pop in.......... everything is ok..

This sounds like a lot of work.. But, once you get the house cleaned, and  get these habits established, it only
takes minutes to do each.. And your work load is cut
down so much.. When you do your major cleaning,it
is so much easier.

Hope you have a wonderful day.. Hope your enjoying yourFirst month of the New Year.. God bless.

House Keeping Schedule

    After reading   this blog
 http://be-it-ever-so-humble.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-housework-schedule.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2Fhumble+%28Be+It+Ever+So+Humble%29
 It made me want to  redo my housekeeping schedule.  I know that a  schedule
is never  going to work every day..There are days, we have doctors appointmens,
[lots of them now adays,ha], there are days we have company [and that is a blessing]
and there are days, that other chores or errands must take the place of scheduled things.
 But, while having a schedule  to semi-follow, it helps me to  keep things more organized .
And seems to keep the house in better order. Thank you Dianna ,for posting yours.

Judy's  House Keeping Schedule

Every Morning Chores [ Monday - Saturday]

1- put dishes up [either from drain or dishwasher]
2- sweep Kitchen
3- Make Bed
4- Make breakfast [We eat light, such as cereal , toast & eggs,etc] So, very
limited cooking and cleaning.. But what ever..clean the kitchen from this.

Every Evening Chores[Monday- Saturday]

1- Cook Supper
2- wash dishes [either by hand or dishwasher]
3- IMPORTANT ---always take a few minutes , before going to bed, to pick
up and return any thing, that is  out of place [Makes for a much better morning,
and so nice, if you happen to have an "early morning, unexpected visitor,ha]

Monday
1- laundry day-wash ,dry, fold ,put away
2-Mop Kitchen
3-Wash cabinets
4 Vaccumn living room
5- Dust living room furniture

Tuesday
1- Iron[eeh..I hate this  chore]
2- Clean both bathrooms and mop
3- Vaccumn bedrooms
4- dust bedrooms


Wednesday
1 -Clean out refrigerator
2- Clean microwave
3- Laundry- [sheets off beds] dry ,fold ,put away
[any other laundry that needs doing]

Thursday
1- Grocery shopping..Running errands day
2- Sweep Kitchen
3- Clean out  pantry ,before going to  town.
4- Iron..any thing from  Wed's laundry

Friday.. Clean for the weekend.
1- sweep kitchen- mop kitchen
2- vacumn all floors
3- Dust all furniture
4- Clean bathrooms

Saturday
 1-Any chores that I don't get too, during the week.
Outside [when weather permits] chores..sweeping carport,
 cleaning outside garbage cans,  working in flower beds,etc.
2- Clean out closets, or cabinets, or dressers

Sunday
  Sundays are a family day.. Church day, and spending time with Hubby
and hopefully visits from kids and grandkids.. And sometimes some leisure
sewing in the afternoon.

HINT: I read on a blog, that a lady, spent 10-15 minutes a day, cleaning out closets,
chest,  cabinets, etc..She said, by doing a differnt one ,each day, you keep
them tidy and  they don't require as long..[I am going to give this a try??]

Note:  Sewing is an everyday part of my life. So, Nearly every day
I sew.. This is fitted in , after chores are done..It is my time to enjoy
my self. .