Monday: Change and launder all the sheets (that's a lot of sheets!). Water the houseplants. Dust and vacuum the front of the house (sitting room, living room, sewing room, kitchen). Boys vacuum their own rooms, empty the wastebaskets, and wipe fingerprints from doors and mirrors.
Tuesday: Sort out the fridge, clean where necessary. Bake bread and other cooking projects. Scrub kitchen in detail--counters, light fixtures, appliances, pantry, etc.
Wednesday: Clean my own bathroom, dust and vacuum my room. Get groceries (and pizza for lunch!). Catch up the laundry room--clothesbaskets emptied, ironing caught up, and laundry room dusted and vacuumed. Quick vacuum of the front of the house. Bake a dessert for our Bible study group.
Thursday: The girls and I pick up their rooms and their toy room, vacuum those rooms, and clean their bathroom. Errands in town.
Friday: Vacuum the front of the house (again! It needs it all the time!). Dust and vacuum thoroughly the boys' rooms. Clean those two bathrooms.
That's it! In addition to what I've listed, my kids have various daily chores that include doing quick cleaning in each bathroom, dusting specific areas, etc. And of course I'm doing laundry every day, and I keep on top of the kitchen. This plan allows each part of the house to be attentively cleaned once a week, and kept adequately well the other six days. Sticking to a sensible plan pays endless dividends--the house is never a pit, I always know what to clean instead of wandering around aimlessly, and doing a little every day is good for both me and the house.
Thank you very much for sharing this helpful schedule.
ReplyDeleteAnna, may the Lord bless you greatly for your generous spirit! I feel so inspired with this list, and somehow everything is so simplified the way you break it down. Often I feel overwhelmed, and the hardest part is just not knowing where to start. I am going to print out your list as a reference/starting point for me each day. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteIdalia
Would you share your bread recipe with us?
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your cleaning plan, Anna. I also do specific jobs on certain days and I vacuum several times a week, as needed really. My children are wonderful helpers, too!
ReplyDelete~Kelli
Thanks so much Anna!
ReplyDeleteWow that is a lot of sheets! You set me to counting. Am I right at 6 sets? Gosh you raising 5 and me stopping at the 2 makes me feel so selfish. You are such an amazing human being. God Bless, Patty
ReplyDeleteWhew. I feel very challenged (in a good way!!) ... I tend to let it all get on top of me. And I'm amazed at the amount of sewing / craftwork you fit in as well. I'm going to give it a go ... thanks for the guidance!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for posting this. I was never taught how to approach house cleaning, and never really knew what I was doing. This is so very helpful!
ReplyDeleteWe're about to put our house on the market, and I was just thinking yesterday that I need a new cleaning schedule. My oldest helper is only 6, but it's amazing what a 6 year old can do when I'm desperate!
ReplyDeleteThanks for passing on this list--your blog is a ministry for all of us who value home so much.
I also find using a housekeeping schedule immensely on so many levels. It is great because I don't have to think each day about what is important to do...I just do what is on the schedule for that day and, as you said, the whole house gets clean over the week. I used to think of cleaning the house as just that, cleaning the WHOLE house. In a one bedroom apartment that was alright, but with a larger house and three adults and three kids...it is just too overwhelming to do it all at once. And when I feel overwhelmed, nothing gets done! Thank you for posting the schedule that works for your family. We get pizza for lunch when we do our grocery shopping too!! :).
ReplyDeleteAmy
I visit here all the time, but fail to comment often. I really enjoy your blog and have followed all of your beautiful sewing projects. I have just received my first (used) sewing machine from my mother. I haven't used a sewing machine since 8th grade Home-Ec and remember nothing of it. I want to be able to make beautiful, sturdy and feminine clothing for myself and other items for my home and family. I was wondering if you have any suggestions for getting started. I would love to find a good book to follow and maybe some advice on materials, patterns, etc. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteMrs. S
That is a really workable plan Anna. Thanks for sharing it...I need to get a plan like this, for those exact reasons you shared.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful Easter!
I apologize if you covered this, but how does this fit into your homeschool day? About how much time do you take? I find I can either "do school" well and the housekeeping suffers, or have a clean house but skimp on school. I'm having a very difficult time fitting it all in. Thank you so much for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting your weekly routine. You know, for all the homemaking sites I've read yours is about the simplest schedule I've seen. I think I could just put a different day to each of your routines, so suit my own schedule and run with it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiration Anna.
Thank you for such a helpful breakdown of a working housekeeping schedule! Whenever I read housekeeping books, I wonder if their plans actually work in real life. It's nice to have a plan that's been proven. Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom in this area -- it is both encouraging and inspiring.
ReplyDeleteYours in Christ,
Shannon
Anna, thanks so much for sharing. www.flylady.net is also a good source for cleaning schedules.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed- and jealous. In the midst of morning sickness with number 5 and 4 little ones to care for and homeschool, my house is a "pit" and I feel like it will never be clean again!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, I've created my own weekly list now and copied some of yours...this is very helpful. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you Anna, I was sent here from a commenter when I posted that I needed a doable cleaning routine. I'm taking this and adapting it to our home. A plan - just what I needed - thanks!
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