Housework Schedule.

How can you tell that you need a Housework Schedule?

Are you struggling to get and keep your house clean? Do you feel like you work at it all day but nothing ever seems finished?

Ding, ding, ding!! You DO need a Housework Schedule! And I’m here to help.

One of my favorite everything-to-do-with-the-home books is called “House Works” by Cynthia Townley Ewer.

She offers tips on decluttering, organizing, detailed cleaning, planning, menu planning and more. It’s a really great book.

Anyway, in one section, she offers some household forms that consist of, among others, a “Daily to-do list,” a “Weekly to-do list,” and a “Master to-do list.”

I’ve taken these forms and used them for my housecleaning and turned them into my Housework Schedule. This is a schedule just for me and the chores I need to do.

I’m not the kind of person that keeps a daily planner. I just can’t keep up with it.

So the “Daily to-do list” is in my head. You know, things like dishes, picking up toys, straightening common areas, etc.

To me, it’s just too tedious to write all that down when I have it memorized.

However, the Weekly and Master lists both come in handy. Here’s how…

Do you ever run across an object or area that you notice needs some cleaning, but you’re in the middle of doing something else at the moment? Or just not in the mood?

If I don’t write it down, I’m likely to forget about it.

So, I take this to my “Master to-do list.”

When I accumulate several items on my master list I start putting items on my “Weekly to-do list.”

When you are doing this, remember, it’s cheating to pick and choose your favorites or easiest from the master list. Simply start at the top and work your way down.

Your weekly list might not allow time for any items from the master list. That’s OK. Do it next week.

So, on the weekly list are my usual items like laundry (twice each week), bed sheets washing, deep bathroom and living room cleaning and refrigerator cleaning. Of course, these are not all scheduled on the same day of the week.

When I plan the weekly list, I evaluate if I have time/energy/desire, and start adding items from the master list like sweeping porches, cleaning spider webs, washing baseboards, windows, decluttering laundry room, and on and on.

The key to this Housework Schedule system is to not take on more in one day than is on your list. Make your to-do list realistic and stick with it!

If Monday is your laundry day and ONLY your laundry day, don’t start vacuuming or something else!

This is where the frustration of I’ve-worked-hard-all-day-and-you-can’t-even-tell comes in.

Sure, you’ve accomplished lots, but not any ONE thing is complete.

I much prefer this system when you’ve focused on one area and when you’re done it shines!

Of course, the surface has to be taken care of each day – that’s where kids doing chores comes in so handy!

They might not be able to give the toilet a scrub. But they definitely can pick up and wipe the surface of whatever area is theirs.

I CHALLENGE you to make a Housework Schedule and stick to it. I believe you’ll see a big difference and feel like you are finally accomplishing something in the housework department.

BTW, you can print free forms (there are many different kinds and they are great) at Cynthia Townley Ewer’s site, www.organizedhome.com

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