Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Panic Cleaning (tackle it Tuesdays

I hate to admit this but this happens to me to often. I am getting us on a schedule but it is not as fast as I would like. Tomorrow is the day the church is coming for Thanksgiving dinner here so I have to be busy around our home.
Here is the panic cleaning list I like to follow. I just love the flyladies site. I know some do not like it but I am a BIG list person. Always have been so her site is great for me.
Dear Friends,
I can hear the panic in your voices. "In a few days, we have a ton of company coming, what am I to do?" If you want a crash marathon cleaning session, I can help you, but be warned, without the routines, your home will be trashed again in a day. So you have to listen closely.

GO GET DRESSED ALL THE WAY TO SHOES, HAIR FIXED AND FACE MOISTURIZED OR MAKEUP PUT ON. DON'T QUESTION ME ON THIS. JUST DO IT NOW. Put on some good working music. Not too fast, just slow and steady. peppy, but not aerobic. Light a candle that has a good scent or put on some spices on to boil on a very low heat.

We are going to start in our kitchens. As the kitchen goes, so does the rest of the house.
Set a timer and spend 15 minutes in the kitchen. If your sink is not clean and shiny, then shine it first, then you can fill the sink up with hot soapy water and start to clear off the left and right counters. Empty the dishwasher, When the timer goes off. Stop what you are doing and go to the living room.

Set the timer again and do 15 minutes cleaning off the coffee tables or picking up toys or newpapers. Concentrate on one thing. Not all of it. Get a laundry basket and put the things that don't belong in the living room in the basket. Take a garbage bag with you too. Start throwing away the trash. Don't get caught up in the guilt we have about recycling this stuff. Just bag it up for now. As you get your home in order there will be plenty of time to recycle. For now we are focusing on getting the home presentable. You can't do this if you are hyperfocusing on sorting and recycling. So get over this perfectionism attitude. When the timer goes off, head back to the kitchen.

In the kitchen set the timer for 15 more minutes, continue to work on clearing the counters. DO NOT GET SIDETRACKED AND WANT TO CLEAN OUT A CABINET. WE ARE DOING ONLY SURFACE CLEANING.

Now take a break and walk around and look at what you have accomplished in just 45 minutes. Set the timer for 15 minutes and drink a cup of tea or coffee or whatever you love and just relax. When the timer goes off. You are back in work mode for 15 more minutes.

This 15 minute session is in the bathroom. Clean the bathroom sink first, swish the toilet, then pick up towels and dirty clothes and put them in the hamper. DO NOT GET SIDETRACKED AND START A LOAD OF LAUNDRY. I MEAN THIS. LAUNDRY WILL COME LATER!

When the timer goes off, you are back in the kitchen. For 15 more minutes. We can do anything in 15 minutes. Keep working till the timer goes off. Then you go to the living room once again.
In the living room, continue to pick up and put away.

Every 45 minutes take a 15 minute break. Do you understand this?

Adapt this schedule to fit your physical limitations and children's needs. But you get the picture. Stay focused on one job for 15 minutes. You are going to be so surprised at how much you get done in a day's time.

My timer is my best friend.

You can do this. Now turn off the computer and get to work!FlyLady

10 comments:

Karen said...

Hey, this is great advice. I will have to give it a try! Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
Love,
Karen

Jamie Stroupe said...

I like this idea, even though we go to my moms, my home is still needing a little bit of order. I have used some of fly ladies stuff, but I am not one to go just by her schedule. I just might have to change my mind. :P Another thing she hit right on the nail, I do tend to try to organize things when I just need to get the surface stuff done. Thanks for the post.

Jamie

Mrs.B said...

Karen~Thanks for the comment.
I have found alot of great advise at flylady.

Jamie~I know what you mean about trying to just clean the surface. I get into organizing and do not get the surface stuff cleaned.
My absolute favorite is www.motivatedmoms.com When I bought and followed her schedule Ben even wondered what had happened and how did I get into cleaning the house. I love the schedule. Works well for me.

Blessings to you on your journey
In HIS Keeping,
~Mrs.B

Susie said...

Great tackling advice:-)

Jamie Stroupe said...

I wanted to take on your tackle. If you do not mind while my little ones are down napping I thought I might try your tackle, and then post about it on my blog.I would like to ask for your permission first....

Jamie

Anonymous said...

Been there before...

Mrs.B said...

Jamie

Feel free to go right ahead

Heidi Boos said...

I love working at things a little at a time. I do get distracted easily so it's often hard for me to get the task done. I'll have to remember to set that timer and stay focused!

Sharon said...

Great idea! I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving!

the voice of melody said...

I've never used a timer but I do writelists and try to keep a schedule.

Flylady is just the best at coming up with easy and concrete ways to get it done. Love this post!

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