Any Ideas for an Organized Housekeeping Plan?

yup yup! Flylady is the way to go!

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I HIGHLY recommend www.flylady.com!

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flylady.net It is a bit overwhelming at first but she is really big on developing habits!
Good Luck, K.

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Have yout tried the FLYLady yet? I have foudn it to be an enjoyable way to try to get it together, so to speak. She has a website, www.flylady.net, and alsoa book called, "Sink Reflections". Basically, the whole gist of it is this--take things in 15 minute increments and don't try to do everything at once. Good luck! I am still trying myself and hoping to get it "right" one of these days, but we don't need perfection, we just need to do it!

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you can make up a chore chart for your girls and thats what they have to do for the day.
you can also do that for yourself.
there is the timer method too. its good if you are overwhelmed. you get a timer and set it for 15 minutes. set the timer and do all the cleaning you can before the timer goes off. you'll be amazed at how much gets clean. you can do this a few times a day.
everyone is recommending flylady but in my opinion she is too overwhelming and unrealistic. she recommends one room a day and my whole house needs cleaning everyday.

Try breaking up your cleaning into some each day, consistently during the week. It only takes a few hours each day that way. My schedule is living room/dining room/study on Mondays, kitchen and bathrooms on Tuesday, bedrooms on Thursday, laundry on Friday. Instead of spring cleaning, I try to pick up a little each week, like one kitchen cupboard or drawer each week. We give the kids, ages 9 and 11, certain chores each week, some are tied to their allowance.

Check out flylady.net This is a great, free site that encourages us to love ourselves and take care of our homes, 15 minutes at a time. Many of us get overwhelmed, but Marla lets us know we can do anything for 15 minutes. Might work with your children too! Tell them to clean their rooms for just 15 minutes - it will probably be all clean before time is up!

I agree- buy "Sink Reflections"- I got my copy at B&N. then I printed out little lists and taped them inside cabinets- like in the bathroom I have : Mon: toilet; Tues:mirrors; Wed: tub ;Thurs: floor ;Fri: re-stock ;Sat: Organize and wash towels and I wipe the sink every day and I rest on Sunday.

The homeschool building bookstore in Wyoming has a book/system called "Choreganizers" which has these little pockets that hold cards, each one describing a chore and how it's to be done. My kids pick out their chores for the week over the weekend, then they have five days (five chores) to complete them. There's this Monopoly-money they get in return for doing them, which they can turn in for real money or whatever you want to use (time alone with Mom, I used Matchbox cars that I got at a garage sale, etc.) Works for us! The charts go right on our refrigerator door.

What I really try to do is focus on one room at a time. I always start with my kitchen. when I finish that and put dishes in the dish washer, I usually wait for it to be unloaded my my daughter who is 11 can help. That is one way for her to help out. I always try :0) to start laundry in the morning and try to keep up on it, it feels so good to have everything cought up. As moms though I know we are busy even if we are Stay at hm moms. I also just need time to reflect and pray in the morning and focus on me. Cleaning is always there, Everywhere you look. So I just have to pick a battle when my life is busy and say what needs to be done and what can my kids help me on after school. Which is my son who is 8 takes out trash and cleans his room. My first focus when they get home is too have a snack and do homework after that they have two chores to do and then we either have sports to go to or they have free time to play outside. Then usually on the weekends we try to all help mom including Dad :0) who sometimes can just be as messy as the kids. Just to help mom and keep it somewhat stress free. I hope this helps.

T. H.

Hi J., First of I wish you all the luck in the world on your writting career. Now If you have the girl to start to clean after them self and/or Give them a diffrent thing to clean up everyday or maybe 4 times a week you will fine this helpfull. I f they did make their owe bed in the morning start letting them try it. Have them to put them morning dishes in the sink or dishwasher. Try this and see if it works. They are never to young to start cleaning.

I have joined a group onlone called Flyladys. They give you daily emails with tips and ideas for keeping up with your housework. Good luck!

J.,

Now that I'm back at work (full time...) I have a cleaning lady. But when I was on maternity leave I made up a chart, I listed each room in the house on one column and each cleaning activity across the top (sweeping, moping, vacuuming, dusting, etc.). As I had time I would begin a task and could then cross it off the list.

My 4 year old loved to help and I would give him a dust rag (dry) or let him sweep/vacuum (to keep him out of the way basically).

The system worked surprising well...I'm a bit OCD so I was able to stay organized and clean.

J. -

Check out the website www.flylady.com. I think you'll find what you're looking for.

K.

Hi J.,

Check out www.flylady.net. Its a cute website that helps you to declutter your house. When you join, they send you daily emails that have challenges for the kids to help.

Hope this works for you! I have been using this for two months now, and I feel like I have more control!

Enjoy,
-K.

If you can stick to things better than I can (and most can) visit flylady.net - they set out to get you organized and help you set schedules. I LOVE that site, problem was - my hubby is too much of a "NOW" person and couldn't wait 2-3 months for me to get myself together and the house cleaned to his satisfaction. I am a person who needs the support and vocal appreciation of what is going on - or I tend to quit with the thoughts of "Why bother - I can't do it right anyway". It sounds like you are further than that.

Give fly lady a chance, here is the link:

http://flylady.net/index.asp

Good Luck and have fun!

K.

I really really like the solutions on Supernanny. That girl is so creative and a miracle worker.

So, in the shadow of JoJo, get a poster board, decide what chores your kids are capable of helping with, who does which one, write it on the board. My kids took turns emptying the dishwasher, for instance, and yes I did have to mark it on a piece of paper, or they would. We'd have to alter it sometimes, but it really worked. For several years. Even washing dishes. My son knows how to use the washing machine and dryer. It doesn't take much. A little instruction from you, and you're always there if there's a question. And then at the end of the week big rewards for not only job well done, but also that you so much appreciate the help.
Consider this: what if you weren't able to get around? Their help would be so much more vital. I can attest to that personally. My youngest and I get the shopping done, and he hauls out the wheelchair, puts it back in, fetches the electric shopping carts for disabled for me, hauls in the groceries when we get home. He's a god send. And I will miss his help when he graduates high school and leaves for the air force.
But it teaches kids to help around the house, that it isn't a totally free ride, it teaches responsibility. When they grow up and can't wait to move out, they'll need the skills to maintain a home.
Good luck.

So good to get your kids involved! I can't believe the number of kids I know who do nothing to help at home except maybe grudgingly shovelling out their rooms when Mom has had enough! Kids need to learn what family is all about, how to keep their home - boys too, though I know you have girls - and how to pick up after themselves. A lot of adults are lacking these skills. Is your husband involved too? He sould be and they should see that you are all in this together. They will tell you that their friends don't have to do this, and that may very well be true. How sad for these other families where kids are not getting these basic, life lessons. I used to try to do everything while my kids were at school, then they had no idea how it got done nor any appreciation for my hard work. They made messes and assumed it would all be taken care of for them - that's fine for a 2 yr old, but even toddlers can dust and wipe surfaces and help do things. White vinegar is a good, nontoxic, disinfecting cleaning solution for children to use. Good job, Mom!

Hi J.! Good for you working on getting this nailed down now! and wanting to model well for your girls!

Do you want a tool that eases you into routine? Are you the kind of person who will set-up a great routine and then feel guilty because you don't keep it?

I have a friend (we have the same kind of Home-based business)who uses "Managers at Home" She describes herself as you do. However, by learning to use this tool she is able to homeschool 8 children and successfully run her business. It is very schedule based.

Another one that I like is Fly Lady.

Wishing the best on your adventure! Let me know if you want anymore information.
M. G

I had that same issue, what I did was make a schedule, so to speak, I did certain things on certain days. I did the daily things, like clean up after meals etc but the "big" stuff I did on different days. (if something happens like a spill that needs to be vaccuumed then of course do it)For my kids, I made a chart for them what they "get" to do when they get out of school, this way they will not fight over what they get to do everyday, and I change it everyday also, for exapmle, one day one gets to sweep the next day the other gets to. They loved helping me and that was the easiest way for me to keep straight who does what. I also found that I could do extra things for cleaning, things that I normally wouldnt do, like I wiped down the walls in the living room from floor to ceiling, because I wasnt overwhelmed with doing everything at once. I hope this helped some, good luck and God Bless.

I have five kids, but only three that can really do chores. I have the kids rotate the main chores. They have to keep the basics done, like bedrooms, shoes and coats cleaned up. They rotate the kitchen, bathroom, and two living rooms. They eat dinner and then do their jobs. But on weekends they are in charge of their area all day. If they whine about it, they get another chore. They have learned to work together and have stopped leaving big messes. I have learned to leave their chores for them and not do them. That was hard, the first time we showed them what to do. Then I do all the laundry on one day, the next day is for ironing. I have a day set aside for washing the bedding and for dusting. The kids have to dust their job area, but it alway's needs another day. I just save a day for one or two things and not everything. Having baskets for rooms helps also. If I am downstairs, I throw all the things that go upstairs in it and then take it up. Then vis versa. I also have folders for the kids keep things in the kitchen. These help me, but it seems like I still have lots to learn. There are websites that give good advice also. Good Luck, you are right for wanting to involve the kids.

I have gone to the website www.menus4moms.com You can sign up for emails that will give you a daily task to do and they say to only do what you can for 15 minutes. Each week is a different room and they give different tasks each day. I think it's great. It's not overwhelming at all and you feel good because you are doing something productive.

Hope this helps!

I too have been looking for ways to be more organized, more efficient and just get more done in my hours. I read a program on Focus on The Family where they interviewed a lady named Emilie Barnes she is the author of a number of home organizing books. I went to the library and checked out "500 time saving hints for every woman" she has quite a few other titles relating to home organization though. I just got it and have not had a chance to read it yet, but I think it will be helpful!

Check out this great website:
www.flylady.net
She has the methods that we are all looking for to help keep us on track with keeping our homes in order. It has a lot to do with developing habits that stay with you to get things accomplished.

Flylady.net is great and she has a great companion website I for kids www.housefairy.org. that I have heard rave reviews about also. She has some other companion site to help with meal planning, exercise, and even your wardrobe. There's a lot of great information on the website but please don't get overwhelmed and just start one baby step at a time. Good luck.

Flylady.com
or
theorganizingspecialist.com