Things to Clean at Home: What Am I Missing?

A few weeks ago I wrote in about housekeeping and how hard it is to keep up. The women on this site were so fantastic about helping me I felt really cared for.
Many told me about FlyLady so I joined. It's wonderful. No I don't do everything she tells on the site but I have learned to wipe down the sinks everyday which really helps with kitchen and bathroom clean-up. It takes just a few minutes and its clean all the time.
Also found that her hint to do 15 minutes of clutter removal in a specified area has cut the clutter down to size.
I read what FlyLady sends every day finding the reminders very helpful. I also have an everything book which I write down the chores of the day, shopping items needed, work related things I have to do, appointments, phone calls to make, people to e-mail and about what. As I finish each thing I cross it off.
Even if I have to do it daily it goes on the next page once it's done. Whatever doesn't get done is as my on the That's what Tomorrows are for list.

We did a list of "daily" "weekly" and "monthly" chores b/c let's be honest it doesn't all get done every day! Some things that I didn't think about until I actually sat to write the list:
- clean the garbage cans
- vacuum the HVAC vents and celing fans (if you have them)
- wipe down the door handles with clorox wipes
- make the beds
- fold/put away clothing
- wipe down the inside of the fridge (ledges, drawers and the air vent)
- cleaning wood furniture
- vacuum the sofas and chairs
- lint roll the lamp shades

You aren't missing anything per se but maybe need to break a few down...exactly what does kitchen mean? Dishes (washing, drying, putting away, load/unload dishwasher), counters, stove/oven. What does laundry mean? (in the hamper, wash, dry, fold, put away). Etc.

You don't have to list each one separately but you will want to clarify.

A chore chart for you? How funny because I created a "chore chart" for myself too but I shredded it years ago! I know what I have to do and I do it and to have a piece of paper constantly laying around to remind me of the things I have to do when I don't feel like doing them on the day I'm supposed to them drove me nuts. I ended going to bed at the end of the day feeling guilty and inadequate because I failed to "do my job" on that given day. With me, just about any surface needs to be cleaned...if it's obviously dirty or messy...or both. I clean my baseboards and floors on the same days. The dust those boards collect is something else, huh? Ceiling fans, tops of cabinets, cabinet doors, inside the cabinets, boy those shelves can get so dusty with those doors being closed most of the time. I like my drawers cleaned (they too get dusty) and re-organized from time to time. Have you ever pulled up the cushions on your couches? I vacuum under those a few times a month and if your hubby is a strong man, the lining UNDER the couches get so dusty! I just had my husband lift up the couches the other night and I vacuumed the lining that is under the couch. Wow, they were dusty, you wouldn't believe it. I'm sure if you look around, you'll find some surface that needs some tending to depending on how helpful your kiddos are, perhaps you can get them to help you.

dusting fans, baseboards wiped down, wipe down walls and doors. HTH

Refrigerator wipe down inside and out along with stove top and oven.

I guess it all depends on who is doing the cleaning and who the chore chart is for. I find for my younger children I need to have smaller jobs that can be done quickly to match their attention spans...for the older ones they can do jobs that involve a little more work and time to be complete. The younger kids are going to need specifics....not just bathroom.....what do you expect for them to do in there type of specific. That way you are going to be frustrated because they aren't doing their chores, and they aren't going to be frustrated because they feel like they did it and don't know why you are still nagging them to do it.

Outside - sweeping the front walk/back deck, weeding, yard, etc.

any pets that need to be cleaned up after or fed?
yard work ~ shovel snow, clean up flower beds (spring), mow
cars ~ clean out garbage. wipe down dash. vacuum.
one thing I have to do occasionally and my 6 y/o loves to help is to "clean out" the pantry and double check exp. dates and get it reorganized so you can actually find what you're looking for.

Clean ceiling fans~remotes~phones~blinds or curtains~clean & vacuum windows~vacuum beds~wash shower curtains~clean & vacuum vents