So this might be something everyone else already thought of, 😀 but I finally divided my house into “zones” for deep cleaning–15 zones not including mudroom (because I can’t go in there) but including windows as the 15th zone.
(This also doesn’t include the bathroom, because the bathroom gets deep cleaned every week.)
In the Loop Scheduling, I listed each zone on the monthly list. When I get one zone done (whether it takes a day or a week), I move onto the next one. This is working extremely well for me!!! Sometimes I ask the kids to help, sometimes I don’t. Most of the time, the dog and cat “help.” LOL For some reason, they love swishing rags, moving brooms, stuff I’m organizing which they think needs to be sniffed.
(Here they are quietly watching a bunny outside, but I wanted to add this photo just because it is so cute. 🙂 )
So far, it’s worked well because each zone has only taken me a day or two. If I start hitting the end of the month, I will probably reduce (merely dust and straighten the zone rather than completely re-organizing it) or skip (who cleans all windows every month, right? LOL)
Each month would give opportunity for doing more in a zone–getting to another drawer to clean out, etc. Yet, with the goal of getting at least somehow through each zone in a month, one zone does not bog me down and stop me from making the whole house nice.
With a 1,200 sq. ft. house, each of the 15 zones is small, which is what makes it manageable. I love this, because it’s easier to work on each small zone thoroughly. I like being thorough but just do not yet have the stamina to be thorough in a large spot or whole house at once.
And maybe getting through everything will help me find those Columbo DVDs I somehow lost!!! 🙂 How I could lose them when we really don’t have that many places for them to be, I don’t know. LOL
Anyhow, I learned from some wise and experienced ladies about cleaning–start at the top and go down. As I dust and organize high shelves, stray dust will be taken care of as I dust and clean and organize right down to the floor and sweeping.
I remember a lot of great, organizing ideas from my Mom, who is so good at this. Put like items with like items, get rid of unnecessary items, find containers for small things, put most-often-used stuff in the handiest spots, etc.
I like cleaning, so that and the exercise for me are added bonuses. I feel grateful.
I guess it’s like the old saying: “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”
Christa Upton   Black Hills Picture Books   Edgemont, SD 57735
