Dealing with the Daily Mess
Dealing with the Daily Mess
People ask me all the time how to deal with the daily mess of family life. Most say it is almost impossible to keep up with everyday housework. The biggest problem is that the “mess” can get out of control very quickly. I believe there are several things you can do to feel more in control. Try doing these five simple jobs every day for a week and you should see a huge difference.
Before you go to bed
1) load your dish washer and
2) tidy up your family room.
In the morning before your leave for work
3) make the beds
4) put breakfast dishes in the sink
5) wipe down the counters.
It is that easy… try it!!
Travel Tip
Preparing for a trip is incredibly stressful because there is always so much to do, especially if you have kids. There are certain things you need on every trip no matter what your destination. Whether you are a major jet-setter or the ‘weekend get-a-way’ sort, you always need toiletries.
I believe you should invest in travel size bottles of all your favorite/necessary products and medicines. Find a toiletries bag or dopp kit that you like and pack it up now, not when you are getting ready to travel. Keep the kit packed all the time and stored in your suitcase. Place a quart-sized plastic bag in the kit so that if you need to carry it on an airplane you are ready. Here is a link toSeatguru if you’d like to see more info on TSA travel rules.
One of the side benefits to this toiletries bag is that you will always have back up products if you run out. When we run out of shampoo or toothpaste and my kids are yelling, I go straight to my toiletries kit and emerge as SUPER MOM!!
The Quick Clean… A tidy house in 10 steps
Your house is a mess. How do you make it look fabulous in the shortest amount of time? Try the quick clean. It is fast and the steps are already prioritized so you can stop when you run out if time.
1) As quickly as you can, move everything into the room in which it belongs. Just throw toys and clothes on beds, glasses and plates in the kitchen, dirty clothes to the laundry room. Close the doors to all the rooms that are messy.
2) Focus on the living and dining room first because these are the rooms you live in and no one likes sitting in squalor. In the living room, fluff cushions, fold throws, stack papers, straighten curtains/blinds, adjust books, candles, vases, etc. Open a window to freshen the room.
3) In the dining room, wipe off the table, straighten chairs and fix centerpiece. If there are papers or computers, stack everything neatly.
4) Go into kitchen. Put away all the trash and recycling into cans, all the dishes into the sink and wipe down all the counters. You may have dirty dishes, but the room looks orderly.
5) In the bathroom, wipe down the mirror and toilet, straighten the towels, fix shower curtain and shake out the rug. Put away all cosmetics, medicines, and blow dryers.
6) Check the entryway and front walk. This is your face to the world.
7) Now start on the bedrooms. Make the beds!
8) After you have made the beds in each room, go back through the rooms to hang up and fold clothes and put away shoes, toys etc. Open shades or adjust curtains to let in some air and light.
9) If you have time, go back to the kitchen and put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher and laundry in the washing machine.
10) Last but definitely not least, take a moment to fix yourself up because your house is clean and you can relax.