it's that time of year
Hello lovelies! It’s that time of year…cleaning season! Spring cleaning has arrived even if it doesn’t feel quite like spring yet! I like to clean…some things…other chores I absolutely loathe! Over the years, the process and products have changed, but I feel like sharing some ideas I have to make it as painless and even as fun as possible! Of course, enlist some help from any littles that may be bouncing around the house!
I remember back in the seminary days, I finished class for the week early afternoon on Fridays and gave our tree house apartment a thorough cleaning in one short afternoon. Brett was at his internship and by the time he arrived home from work, we were ready to go out to Chick-fil-A (we loved it and it was affordable for two kids meals) and hang out in Kansas City for the evening. I loved turning on an old black and white movie and listening as I moved from room to room dusting, vacuuming, and straightening. Let us fast forward a few (ten) years.
We have come a long way since then, and many aspects of life have changed, particularly children with mountains of laundry, less time, and of course, less QUIET than I had when cleaning before. I think the piles of laundry that literally never end, really blow my mind! My sister who visited last weekend, laughed that the entire week, something was always spinning in the washer and dryer. True story! From college students to moms and grandmas, I have some ideas for you!
Let us start with the bathroom today. So simple. Each bathroom I have contains a bathroom bucket that holds all cleaning supplies for that location. Let’s be real. The less convenient, the less likely I am to do it or use it. This way, I never have to go grab anything I need since it’s all contained right there! Talk about saving time! I use the ones with handles like I used in my college dorms to haul my junk back and forth to the hall bathrooms. They hold up well and are big enough to hold all my cleaning supplies. I keep them tucked out of sight in the cabinet.
What is helpful to keep in said bucket? I keep toilet bowl cleaner for the obvious, Lysol spray for the counter and tub/shower, Lysol spray, glass cleaner, roll of paper towels, sponge and toothbrush in a plastic cup to catch drips, and container of Lysol wipes. Since we moved to Nashville, we now have two and a half bathrooms but I can literally clean them before breakfast one morning per week. Of course, the rule is to clean methodically from top to bottom. I begin by spraying the toilet bowl cleaner so it can work its magic while I clean everything else first. I start with the sinks and tubs by spraying some Lysol cleaner, scrubbing the fixtures and drain with a little toothbrush, then finish up with wiping down with a sponge. Same with the shower – scrub the fixtures and drain with the toothbrush and wipe it down from top to bottom. If I happen to be barefoot, I just stand in the tub, wipe it down, and rinse it off with warm water. And, ahhhh, it already smells cleaner! I spray the mirror and wipe it down with a paper towel – no sweat. Now for the toilet. I scrub it with the toilet bowl brush and flush, but I have a thing for keeping toilets clean, especially since little girls who live with me like to hang out in the bathroom and tend to lean on the toilet constantly. I take a Lysol wipe to that white throne and wipe from the top to the bottom and around the base near the floor. I hate dust that collects and turns to gummy junk in the moisture so I keep that off! Gross. Now I feel better when little hands touch the toilet as they get ready for bath or just want to hang out in there for moral support for another. I like to Lysol aerosol spray the handles and light switches just for good measure. After all, it is cold and flu season currently. As for the floors, a quick once over with a mop does the trick. Let me point out I am NOT a fan of mopping – getting a bucket, filling it up, dragging it around the house…nope, probs not gonna happen often…until now! I must give my husband a bit of credit where it is due – he bought the OCedar mop when we moved and it is a life changer! Silly as it sounds, we have super clean floors now because I actually use this little baby! It is light weight and the mop solution is a bit of PineSol mixed with water that is kept in a container on the mop itself. I squirt the handle and move it across the floor. Bam! Done! Smells good too! Call me lazy or smart, but I keep one upstairs and one downstairs. Like I said, I am more likely to use it if it is convenient!
I hope this has been a little motivating for you. I always like to hear about other peoples’ lives and take in ideas from them, even on simple chores! I will be back next time with some other ideas for this cleaning season that save time while staying efficient! God bless and have a great week.
Love, Charis
Just a side note, if something does not make sense today, I laugh, as I am helping a four-year-old learn shapes in her book, a three-year-old trace numbers in her book, get crayons for a two-year-old, and hold a bottle for a two-month-old. Did I mention I am drinking green tea out of a cool fox mug for my sore throat too? Yep, it’s a Monday! Love you all!
