The best tool I have found to getting all of my housework done each week is a:
SCHEDULE
My 2010 Weekly Schedule looks like this:
Mondays – Menu and Market Day
Tuesdays: Toilets, Tubs and Towels Day
Wednesdays: Wash (laundry day)
Thursdays: Dust
Fridays: Floors
This schedule has been so easy to follow since the task matches the first letter of the day. It takes me no more than 2 hours a day to complete the daily task (usually it takes only an hour – but on laundry day and grocery shopping day it takes 2 hours). I do not follow it rigidly – so if you bump into me at the grocery store on a Friday – do not be dismayed! I use my schedules as guides to be sure I get everything done every week.
It’s easy to write a schedule -the hard part is following it! It takes discipline, diligence and eagerness to get it all done every week. I am reminded of Proverbs 31:13 which says “she works with eager hands.” Do you have eager hands today? We must role model this eagerness for our children and train them to have eagerness also – the home is a classroom for our children and mothers – we are the teachers. So pursue an eager spirit as you take care of your home today.
If you have a weekly schedule – please share it in the comment section – you never know – it might become my 2011 schedule lol!!
Walk with the King!
Courtney
Come visit me over at Women Living Well!
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What an easy schedule! Using the matching first letter is so creative! I pretty much do a load of laundry every day. Although I actually like sorting and washing the clothes, I’m not a fan of folding it. So, breaking it down into small chunks helps quite a bit.
I use the same concept! Having 4 kids it’s nearly impossible for me to clean the entire house in one day! I do the following::
Mondays: Moppin mondays (all floor surfaces)
Tuesdays: Toilets and tubs
Wed: Washy Weds (extra chores like wiping down the walls, special organization projects)
Thursdays:My rest day, no BIG cleaning project other than the norm;)
Friday: Foliage (outside sweeping, patios, raking or cleaning up the back yard with all the kids toys!
Of course then I have laundry and straightening everyday!
Oh I LOVE your schedule! Thanks for sharing it!
Courtney
Thank you Courtney!!! I’ve been wanting to make a housecleaning schedule for awhile now, but have been intimidated by the thought! I think I’ll implement this one this coming week! God bless!
I’ve found a schedule to help immensely. Mine has constantly evolved. Now that I am overseas, it has to be more flexible. (Certain tasks I can only do when the generator is running, etc.)
A few things I do pretty regularly though. We tidy and pick up every morning and evening- this is a never ending job, but as the kids get a little older they are able to do more of it themselves.
Monday- Bake Bread
Monday evenings- Room inspections for the kids. Their rooms have to be cleaned to my satisfaction and their things picked up from the rest of the house. (The lady who dusts, sweeps, and mops for us comes Tuesday morning, so the house had to be ready for her.)
I also do a planning time on Monday evening. If my husband is home he puts the kids to bed so I can start at 7:00. If not I start after the kids go to bed.
Tuesday- Bake bread & ironing- we have to iron almost everything, and this depends on generator power.
Wednesday- Market Day- This is my favorite.
It’s more of a challenge than in the US, but much more entertaining.
Thursday- Bake bread, ironing, and some financial type work for us and the mission.
Friday- Bake bread, catch up on what was missed and computer time.
Of course, I follow this schedule very loosely. I’ve learned that almost no 2 days are the same here, but it does help me to have some structure. Otherwise, I might not get anything done.
Look at you baking bread daily – beautiful! My husband would love for me to add that to the schedule!
Thanks for sharing your schedule!
Courtney
Here’s mine:
Monday – kitchen/dining room
Tuesday – towels and bedding get washed
Wednesday – laundry
Thursday – bathrooms
Friday – dust/floors
Saturday – laundry
I try to clean one room a day.
Monday- Bathroom
Tuesday- Kitchen (this is a deep clean- move everything, cabinet fronts, etc.)
Wednesday- Kids Room (Reorganize so they make make it through another week- my kids are 2 and 4 so I have to help once a week, but they are responsible the rest of the week)
Thursday- Daddy & Mommy’s Room
Friday- Living Room and Van
Everyday- beds made, sweep, mop, dishes, and laundry (1-2 loads)
Thank you for sharing! I am going to use this as a guideline!
I like that you included a day for the van. A great idea to actually put that in the schedule. Thanks!
You asked for our weekly routine, so here is mine:
Monday – wash white laundry, yard/garden work;
Tuesday – wash dark laundry, clean bathroom, mop floors;
Wednesday – wash colored laundry, vacuum, water indoor plants;
Thursday – iron clothes, dust;
Friday – finances, grocery shopping and errands.
This, along with daily making beds, tidying the house, washing the dishes, and sweeping as necessary, keeps our home fairly clean. Some days I don’t finish everything, but at least having a routine gives me a goal to shoot for each day. Laundry used to be overwhelming, but it’s manageable when I spread it out over three days.
Then there’s gardening, mowing the lawn, cleaning out the refrigerator, vacuuming up the dog hair…
Great idea to have a schedule, though. I always work so much better with a schedule!
Our refrigerator is the easiest to clean when it’s time to do the shopping. I wipe down the shelves and make sure what’s left in there is in the right place. When the groceries come in, I wipe the bottoms of everything before putting it in to make the next wipe-down as quick as possible.
Hi Courtney!
Well, I can’t pursue my schedule full-time yet, being single and working full time in an office. But, here’s how things are shaping up for me:
Monday – Laundry
Tuesday – Kitchen deep-clean
Weds – Writing and sewing projects
Thurs – Clean bathroom
Fri – Bills, outside chores (sweep garage, clean patio doors, etc)
Sat – early morning grocery shopping, other misc tasks
Sun – Sabbath!
Right now, ‘Kitchen deep clean’ means doing one kitchen cleaning task (like scrubbing floors, sorting a drawer, organizing the pantry) for the day. When I eventually get married and stay home full time, I’ll tackle it more fully. Right now I’m so tired after work!
I’m not doing all of these each week, but God is slowly teaching me! He’s more concerned about my striving heart, because all the organized cleaning in the world is nothing if not done with a secure, know-I’m-loved heart!
Blessings!
As a fellow single woman, this is such a blessing to me! Thanks for the encouragement. I think it would be really helpful if I was on a daily schedule too. I tend to let things pile up till Saturday and then it’s a mad rush to do it all. lol
I’m with you, Courtney! We need a schedule. I find that when I know what’s supposed to be done that day, it makes me far less likely to goof off, but ironically it also gives me some time to myself, because when I’m finished the work for that day, I can relax!
I would also add that I get kids to do chores starting at 3, so that helps with the load.
Thanks for posting!
Sheila from To Love, Honor and Vacuum
Sheila – you hit the NAIL ON THE HEAD! Some people think that a schedule is too rigid (and it is for some personalities) but for me personally – it’s so freeing. I know if the laundry is piled high – no fear – Wednesday is coming and it WILL get done. I know if the floors are starting to get grimy to spot clean and hang on cause Friday is coming and they will soon shine!
When my one hour of work is done for the day – I can read a book, blog, etc guilt free because I know the next thing on the list will get done in less than a day or two.
Ironically, I’ve found freedom in a schedule! But I know this does not work for everybody – so no pressure to those who prefer other routes
!
Courtney
I recently started a Home Management Binder and have one page dedicated to chores. I have the list in a plastic page protector and am able to use a dry-erase marker to put a dot next to what is done. Having the schedule really helps me keep things in order. I don’t have things listed by specific day, but have them listed in Daily, Weekly and Monthly chores.
Daily:
Make beds, tidy bedrooms, wash-dry-put away one load of laundry
Dishes, tidy paper clutter on counter, wipe kitchen counters, take out compost, take out recycling
Wipe bathroom counters, swish toilet bowl, scoop litter box, wipe faucets and mirror
Sweep main level, spot mop, vacuum
Weekly:
Dust bedrooms, organize closets and drawers, mop bedroom, wash bedding
Wipe outside of toilet, clean tub, organize bathroom closet, empty bathroom trash, dump and refill kitty litter
Clean kitchen appliances, wipe kitchen cupboards, clean out fridge, take out trash
Dust living room, cull old newspapers and magazines, clean sliding glass doors
Collect items for thrift, organize homeschool area
Mop main level
Monthly:
Clean out sunroom, wash baseboards, organize kitchen cupboards, clean out under sink
Very neat thinking!! Love the way you set up your schedule to be the first letter of each day! Thanks so much for sharing.
My weekly schedule:
Mondays: Cleaning (I use the Speed Cleaning methods and can get the whole house cleaned in about an hour. I find it easier to do the whole house at once.)
Tuesdays: Laundry and bills
Wednesdays: Outside work (yard, etc.)
Thursdays: Meal planning
Fridays: Grocery shopping, other errands
We have only one car, so I do all my out-of-the-house errands on one day, so I only have to drive my husband to work once a week. I schedule orthodontist appts, etc. for that day (Fridays). Fridays can get a bit hectic, but it really saves me a lot of time the rest of the week. We always have the same easy-to-make supper on Fridays (pizza), so that helps.
I also have a half-hour each day dedicated to “household projects” (following the advice of “Managers of Their Homes”). That’s when I tackle the “heavier” chores (reorganizing cupboards, etc.) I find it helps to know I only have to do it for 30 minutes at a time!
What are the speed cleaning methods? I have not heard of that before.
I have a loose daily schedule, but you’re so right – it really does help.
Mine is:
Monday – laundry. When my husband is home over the weekend, I don’t usually do laundry. But if I tackle it on Monday we go into the week caught up again.
Tuesday – floors. I detest digging out the vacuum and cleaning my floors. But I love being able to cross something off a list. So, I try really hard to get this done on Tuesday. This is one of those things that also has to happen throughout the week of course, but I try to do it on Tuesday no matter what.
Wednesday – clean the bathroom and refrigerator.
The trash people come first thing Thursday morning, so if I do these things on Wednesday, I can get all the old food out of my dumpster immediately, and I’m not really sure why I started doing the bathroom on that day…
Thursday – ideally, this day is used kind of for catching up on things that might have fallen behind, and for ironing. I try to keep one or two dress shirts available for my husband at a moment’s notice. This did not happen yesterday, so I’m going to do it today. haha
Friday – dust, and prepare for the weekend. My husband being off work is the whole focus of our weekend, so I like to have meals planned/prepped, and any odd jobs done on Friday so we can spend all of our time together when he is home all weekend.
We keep it simple around here. I like a clean kitchen every night before bed and I do one load of laundry each morning to keep up. Here’s a basic run down of how we keep house.
Monday – Laundry
Tuesday – Paperwork
Thursday – errands and groceries
Friday – House cleaning day! The kids clean their bathroom, the toyroom and vacuum the upstairs of the house. I clean the other bathrooms, mop and vacuum downstairs and dust.
Thanks for sharing this unique way of getting things done. A few years ago, I found a wonderful website full of home organizing/management tips! Its http://www.flylady.net. Flylady is a ton of fun..makes housework more like an adventure!
Great ideas! Of course, for me to save all laundry for one day would mean washing laundry, quite literally, ALL DAY! We’ve got 7 people and 3 furry people in this house. Same for floors – once a week wouldn’t cut it. But you’ve inspired me!
Yes, for larger families – this would not work – maybe two laundry days would be better.
But I do start my laundry day bright and early. The kids help me sort and then the first load goes in and I set a timer. All day long the timer goes off every hour reminding me to rotate and take 5-8 minutes to fold. It’s all done in 7 hours (that’s 6 loads) if I set the timer and keep it going all day long.
Courtney
With having 11 people in our family most rooms need cleaned every day and sometimes several times. Each of my children have a room (front room, living room, dining room, foyer) each child has their own room and in each room I have a schedule posted of what is to be done every day or sometimes several times (picking up toys,putting items away,sweeping,dusting ect.). The other chores that are done but once a week like sweeping up the stairs I write down on pieces of paper and the children draw the extra chores that are not assigned to do every day. Since we are a large family we do laundry every day just about all day long. But I have a schedule for that too. Mondays-parents clothes and towels and little ones laundry, Tuesday-big girls laundry and towels from kids bathroom, Wed.- big boys laundry, Thursday-special wash items and Friday-bedding. Bathrooms are done every other day and they are assigned to two different children. The kitchen is everyone’s area and we all work in there together everyday. I hope this helps someone.
Christina
W#ow! You have a crowd – 11! And you have such a neat system! Thank you for sharing this! It inspired me!
Courtney
Here is my schedule:
http://www.halleethehomemaker.com/my-schedule/
there’s a management system that is fantastic for those w/ houses, garages/attics and lawns and several ppl to help w/it like some older children or a husband. written by a homeschooler with several children herself. it really helped me over a period of several weeks customize a schedule for EVERYTHING needing doing, even once or twice a yr things like clean out the garage or wash the windows outside or wipe down doorknobs. of course, several times a day thing were included too—washing dishes, homeschooling, sweeping the floor. it went the whole gamut.
it was soooo thrilling once we about 2 months into it and things were really getting done that hadn’t been done in years, if ever! LOL my only kids at home are little now so it’ll be a few more yrs b4 i start it again but i’ll see if i can dig it out and post the name–i think it’s something like “all things done decently and in order” by kathy riordan (from western NY state).
Helene, Id be very interested in more details about thta resource. Thank you! SaraA
I can’t seem to lay my hands on that home management system but I’m pretty sure now it’s called Decently and In Order. I googled it already lol, no luck. If someone wants to email me for when I find it, I’ll let you know. “watdouwant2010@yahoo.com” is my email addy.
We have a small house so my schedule is basically I start at one end on Monday and work myself through.
Each room I dust, wipe down baseboards, lights and light fixtures, clean windows and get under furniture.
Monday I clean my bedroom and our laundry closets(we have a
seperate closet for the washer and another for the dryer)
and my three children share one big room so they are all
responsible for cleaning that themselves
Tusday I clean the living room
Wednesday I do a quick run the whole house and then I garden
Thursday I clean the dining room and kithchen
Friday I do light yard work and clean our van
I daily clean our bathroom, sweep, and do laundry.
I do not have a set schedule to go to the grocery as we don’t always go once a week.
My girls handle the upkeep after each meal and our son handles the pets and trash.
This has been our schedule for some time and has worked rather well for me.
I’ve been thinking about doing a schedule like this, but haven’t and you just did it for me, thanks! It already fits in perfectly with my other schedule activities.
I recently read the Messies Manual and applied her “Flipper” system to my schedule. It has worked beautifully and by spending only 2 (sometimes 3 if I am slow or got a little behind) hours a day, I can have my entire home cleaned top to bottom, inside and out in a month. This includes windows, curtains, all the bedding, mattress pads, etc., managing coupons, and so forth. It’s a great system for me. We still have 5 children living at home, and I home school, but I finally have found time to do sewing, baking, and other crafts because I have spare time.
Here is the link for the flipper system as taught by Sandra Felton. http://messies.com/journal/2009/08/31/flipper_club_for_beginners_and_1/
Thanks for the encouragment of your website.
Here is my schedule: MONDAY-just a quick cleanup from the weekend, make sure everything is back in it’s place..this takes about 15 min. TUESDAY-dust/clean living room kitchen and bedrooms, I live in a 1200 sq ft house so it only takes me about 1-2 hours. WEDNESDAY: Clean both bathrooms , change bed sheets. THURSDAY: Vacuum whole house and mop. FRIDAY:Clean up both patios, make sure all patio furniture is wiped clean. And outdoor rugs are vacuummed. EVERYDAY: I do one load of laundry a day, except Sundays.
I follow along with http://www.flylady.net for most things, but everyday:
Reboot laundry (load a day keeps it down to a dull roar, and I don’t feel tied down by load after load all during one day)
Vacuum floors
Beds made
Toilet and sink wiped down
Dishes done and sink shining by day’s end
Pick up, feather dust
During the week, it changes according to whatever zone she happens to have us working in, but no matter what, Thursdays are errand days.
Check her out!
Our house is owned by my husband’s church. They built it in 1908, and it’s HUGE. It can be rather difficult to clean (worn out surfaces, uneven floors, etc), but we love it. Here’s my current attempt at keeping it clean:
Sun: Wash rags and towels, menus, and homeschool prep.
Mon: Clean upstairs, wash linens, and shopping.
Tues: Wash adult laundry and work outside.
Wed: Clean downstairs.
Thurs: Wash kids’ laundry and desk work.
Fri: Pick up produce from CSA, catch up, prep for Sabbath.
Sat: Sabbath
It never all gets done. We work in what time we have, and then we stop. We try to pick up what we left next week. We’ve been out of whack for a few weeks, so hopefully this reminder will get us back to it. Thanks! Jennifer
I don’t clean!!
My kids do!! I simply rotate from chore to chore training each child during “cleaning time.”
“Their” cleaning schedule starts as soon as their school work is done. The weekly cleaning chores usually get done in about 1/2 hour with the 3 older kids (ages 10, 9, and 6) and myself working. Many of the daily cleaning chores like sweeping, picking up, and feeding the dog all get done right after dinner. We call it “10 minute pick-up.”
I don’t even know the schedule in my head. It’s posted on their cleaning chart. It helps them to remember… and me! The chart is made with hanging tags for ease in rotating the chores to different days or different siblings if they want to trade. At the end of the week, if all the tags are moved over to the “completed” column then they get to choose a coupon card… stay up late, make momma do one of your chores next week (my daughter likes that one for bathrooms), extra video game time on Saturday, go on a walk with momma/daddy…
One thing I will say, Bathrooms and dusting can’t rotate. They always get done on Friday so that the house can be at least superficially clean for the last minute weekend guest.
Monthly cleaning chores are on a separate chart and are paid jobs that they can do during their free time… wash the van, clean ceiling fans, washing out fridge, washing out trash cans…
I love having a weekly schedule as well. This year I started caring for 3 children on weekdays, in addition to our 4, and I REALLY need it!
Mondays: dust, water plants, vacuum (2 of my extra kids don’t come on Mondays, and one of them doesn’t like the vacuum, so I make sure to do it at least that one day). I also usually grocery shop Mondays, if I need to.
Tuesdays: Clean the bathroom (yes, only have one
)
Wednesdays: Mop (most of the house is laminate flooring) and make those phone calls I put off
Thursdays: Church office work, Launder bedsheets
Fridays: Bake, budget, meal plan (when the flyers come, so I can plan meals/grocery lists accordingly and have plenty of time to finish before shopping on Monday)
Laundry is a daily task that I do when the weather cooperates for drying on the line, and I get the yard work and gardening done while the kids are playing outside.
I use every 2nd Saturday, on the weekends my husband is working, to do bigger chores or help the kids with their bedrooms if they need it. I find I really look forward to those weekends now too, as well as the ones with my husband.
Mine has been working really well for us!
Monday–kitchen/dining room day (a bit more deep cleaning than usual)
Tuesday–errand day (grocery shopping, library and anything else that needs to be done)
Wednesday–bedroom and bathroom day
Thursday–laundry and clothes day (this can include closets and dressers as needed)
Friday–fun day
The girls are in charge of cleaning the living room every day before daddy gets home as well as their regular chores (their room, playroom, personal care,etc) and every day I do the dishes, pick up the entryway (mail,etc) and straighten our room.
They HATE errand day, but knowing it’s only once a week really helps. I try very hard to stay HOME on the other days if at all possible and make Tuesday our only day of going going going.
Laundry on one day doesn’t work for a large family, unfortunately. I do laundry every day. If I think I am caught up and take a break, it’s usually a mistake! Eek!
What a great idea! I sort of fumble around with my housecleaning at this point. I’m trying to remember to clean up the kitchen and bathroom before I go to bed each night. It makes it much nicer to wake up in the morning! I have a laundry sorter, so I basically do a load when the bin is full (dark, light, towels), plus about every other day for my daughter’s diapers. The rest of the house gets done sort of ad lib, (i.e. sweeping when someone is coming over, or we get popcorn all over the living room floor!) I’m trying to spread out my grocery shopping at this point, to be more organized and save money, so I don’t always go the same day of the week. I do plan a menu, however, when I do go. You’ve inspired me to try a weekly schedule for some of the other chores. Thanks!
I work full-time so I hired a maid!! lol But I do clean up before she comes – lol! I do have somewhat a schedule for some tasks.
Sat – plan menu and maybe shop
Mon – Sam’s trip
Thurs – eat leftovers, clean out fridge and take out trash
Fri – clean out the car
The older kids have an assigned laundry day to do their own. And at one point, an assigned day to cook dinner.
I do need to be more diligent and your suggestions will help! Thanks for a great post!
I have used a myriad of schedules through the years, but the one I use now, I really like. I divided my house into areas rather than by chore so that I can put my son in one area for a bit and work. Plus it isn’t as boring since I do a few different tasks. I also like it because my goal is to get that one spot super clean one day and just maintain as the week goes on.
Here’s my schedule:
MONDAY
Kitchen – Unload dishwasher (if needed), reload dishwasher (if needed), clean out fridge, wipe down countertops, table, appliances, and cabinets, sweep/vacuum/mop the floor
Powder Room – Clean sink, toilet, and mirror, sweep/vacuum/mop the floor, restock toiletries
Living Room – Straighten up (if needed), dust/glass clean furniture, vacuum floors and couch
Dining Room – Dust, sweep/vacuum/mop floor (I DON’T DO THIS EVERY WEEK – I just check to see if it needs it as this room isn’t used much)
Hallway – Sweep/vacuum/mop floor
Stairs to 2nd Floor – Vacuum floor
Laundry – Casual darks
TUESDAY
Master Bedroom – Straighten up (if needed), dust/glass clean furniture, vacuum floor, change sheets
Master Bathroom – Straighten up (if needed), clean sinks, toilet, mirror, tub, and shower, vacuum/mop floor, change towels, refill toiletries
Laundry – Master sheets/other whites, towels
WEDNESDAY
Office – Straighten up (if needed), dust/glass clean furniture, vacuum floor
Nursery – Straighten up (if needed), dust/glass clean furniture, vacuum floor
Guest Bedroom – Straighten up (if needed), dust/glass clean furniture, vacuum floor
Guest Bathroom – Straighten up (if needed), clean sinks, toilet, mirror, tub, and shower, vacuum/mop floor, change towels, refill toiletries
Laundry Room – Straighten up (if needed), wipe down appliances, vacuum/mop floor
Hallway – Vacuum floor
Stairs to 3rd Floor – Vacuum floor
Laundry – Husband’s work clothes – khaki pants and shirts – IRONING DAY
THURSDAY
Son’s Bedroom – Dust/glass clean furniture, vacuum floor, change sheets
Bonus Room – Straighten up (if needed), dust/glass clean furniture, vacuum floor
Son’s Bathroom – Straighten up (if needed), clean sinks, toilet, mirror, tub, and shower, vacuum/mop floor, change towels, refill toiletries
Hallway – Vacuum
Laundry – Son’s sheets, casual darks
FRIDAY
Free day (just straighten up, wipe down basics)
I can switch Free day around to match that week’s schedule
I can do extra laundry if needed on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, but I really try to keep those low-key days.
I go to the grocery store with my husband on Sunday after church and Wednesday night.
WOW!
I started my schedule about 4 years ago when my 2nd was a new baby, made the transition a few years later from 2 to 3 kids a lot easier!
I do a load of laundry every morning, and I make bread and dessert every other day (because they both tend to last 2 days). I also do a whole house pick-up with the kids before bedtime.
Adapted from the Flylady routines, I have broken my house into sections and I do one a day.
Mondays – kitchen/front hall
Tuesdays – living room/dining room
Wednesdays – both bathrooms
Thursdays – bedrooms (wee one #1 does his own room)
Fridays – basement/porch/gardening or shoveling
It takes between an hour and an hour and a half to do each section – with the exception of gardening or shoveling (depending on the season of course), that takes about 2 hours. I do the whole thing in each room, including the floors, the baseboards and corners. But it’s not awful because it’s done every week so it’s mainly just a wipe down.
I am very, very blessed and thankful to say that my husband does all of the grocery shopping and errand running because the man LOVES to drive, and loading all of us in the car just to unload us at the store is way more trouble than it’s worth.
We have an ongoing menu plan, and just keep a list on the side of the fridge that is added to as soon as we use something.
Saturdays I usually take the kids out to the park or an indoor playspace or something else fun in the morning and we’ll do crafts or board games in the afternoon. Saturday night a few of my dear friends come over and we knit or play board games or sometimes have a movie night.
Sunday we go to a family dinner at my grandmother’s house with my whole family, my parents, sister, aunt and uncle).
I have always kept a schedule for housekeeping with a detailed list of things to get done on each day. However it seemed I just used the list to beat myself up for the many things I wasnt getting done. Lately I have turned to a more laid back approach. Our schedule looks very similiar to the one in the book, “House in the Big Woods”, by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Hope you enjoy…
-Sabbath Sunday (keep work to a minimum starting Saturday night through Sunday night. On Sunday I clip coupons & check out the deals for the week.)
-Mow & Make Monday (hubby does yardwork & I pick up some of the special deals I found in Sunday’s newspaper. Then I make meals & freeze some meals for the future.)
-Totally Clean Tuesday (Today we do a thorough housecleaning)
-Wash Wednesday (do laundry)
-Tend & Mend Thurday (Iron & make repairs as needed, plus I tend to the bills at night)
-Foraging Friday (Today is the day for getting farmers market finds & get extra groceries we need)
-Simplify Saturday (Today we do any needed repairs or jobs we missed. We also use this day to organize as needed. However usually we use this day to simplify our lifes by sharing in family time & going on adventures.)
OH my word!!! I LOVE this schedule – it has alliteration too!!! Thank you SO much for sharing it!!! And it’s in the Little House book – I don’t remember it – I gotta go check that out! Thank you for sharing!
Courtney
I remember reading in Little House how they had their baking day, wash day, etc. When I was little I embroidered tea towels with Sunbonnet Sues performing the different chores for each day. They wouldn’t be quite as cute now..can you imagine a Sunbonnet Sue scrubbing a toilet or running a vaccuum
Each person in our family has a laundry day so that I only have to do one or two loads a day. It really does make it easier to know that all I have to do that day is the one or two tasks I’ve assigned to that day..then I can have time to goof off, too!
Hey Courtney Friend! Love your easy schedule! I’m all for schedules.
Monday- Laundry
Tuesday- Dust
Wednesday- Floors
Thursday- Bathrooms
Friday- Misc./Fun Family Day
I love the Fly Lady’s tip about taking a few minutes a day to go around and pick up stray things that I can either throw away/donate/sell. That helps to keep things tidier.
I’m going to post a copy of my chore chart for my girls below. Know in advance that it will be long, but I think it will be much easier for you to see than for me to try to explain. My list is very detailed; that’s because I found if it was too general, things were forgotten. I hope is an encouragement to someone.
Please know that this doesn’t happen every week, but it is our goal. If we are all doing our part it doesn’t take us more than an hour to an hour and a half.
Routine & Chore Chart
Morning Routine
Get dressed
Make bed
Fix hair
After Breakfast Routine
Morning chores
Brush teeth
Take meds
Sarah take bath
Before Bed Routine
Take bath & wash hair (except Sarah)
Brush hair
Pick out clothes and iron
Brush teeth
Pray
Lights out
Daily Chores
Make beds—everyone
Pick up clutter in bedrooms—everyone
Straighten hall bathroom counter—Sarah
Straighten Master bathroom counter—Sarah
Dishes:
Breakfast: Rachel
Lunch: Caroline
Dinner: Hannah
Counters:
Breakfast: Hannah
Lunch: Rachel
Dinner: Caroline
Table:
Breakfast, Lunch & dinner: Sarah
Floor:
Breakfast: Caroline
Lunch: Hannah
Dinner: Rachel
Chairs after dinner: Sarah
Stove & hood (after dinner): Caroline
Trash can (after dinner): Caroline
Feed birds & vac under cage: person who’s assigned month it is
Clutter in family room (after Lunch & Dinner): S, H, R, & C
Daily Chores (Cont’d)
Swiffer family room (after lunch & dinner): Caro
Bathroom counters cleaned before bed: Hannah
Bathroom clutter picked up before bed (both bathrooms): Rachel
Catbox:
Breakfast: Hannah
Lunch: Rachel
Dinner: Caroline
De-Cluttering Spots
Sarah: Bathroom Counters
Dining room table
Hannah: Island
Kitchen Counters
Rachel: Sewing Machine Table
Desk
Caroline: End Table
Entertainment Center
Monday Chores:
Laundry- Hannah (wash your linens & hang to dry) (Wash 3 other loads)
Family Room:
Straighten & dust shelves, school cabinet & tops of shelves: Rachel
Dust & organize ent. Center: Hannah
Dust keyboard: Hannah
Dust lampshades: Hannah
Pick up clutter: Sarah, Hannah, Rachel & Caroline
Org. library books: Hannah
Water in fish tank: Hannah
Clean desk & computer monitor: Rachel
Clean under desk: Rachel
Vac out couch & loveseat: Caroline
Clean under couch & loveseat
Dust ceiling fan: Caroline
Clean & organize end table: Sarah
Sweep & damp mop floor: Rachel
Clean windows & sills: Hannah
Clean mini-blinds: Hannah
Dust & straighten pictures: Caroline
Wipe walls & switch plates: Sarah
Polish Sewing machine table: Caroline
Dust speakers: Caroline
Vac computer chairs: Caroline
Entry
Clean windows on front doors: Sarah
Wipe down door: Sarah
Sweep & mop entry: Rachel
Wipe walls & switch plate: Sarah
Tuesday Chores:
Laundry: Rachel (wash your linens and hang to dry and wash 3 other loads)
Hall Bath:
Scrub toilet inside & out: Caroline
Scrub sink & counters: Caroline
Clean mirror: Hannah
Straighten under sink: Hannah
Empty trash & put in new trash bag: Sarah
Straighten shampoo rack: Caroline
Shake mat: Caroline
Sweep & mop floor: Caroline
Dust & straighten pictures: Hannah
Dust & wipe walls: Caroline
Master Bath:
Scrub toilet inside & outside: Rachel
Scrub sink & counters: Rachel
Clean mirror: Hannah
Scrub tub: Hannah
Empty trash & put in new trashbag: Sarah
Shake mats: Rachel
Sweep floor & mop: Rachel
Dust & straighten pictures: Hannah
Dust & wipe walls: Rachel
Wednesday Chores
Laundry: Caroline (wash your linens & hang to dry) (Wash 3 other loads)
Bedrooms:
Straighten shelves: Sarah, Hannah, Rachel & Caroline
Organize dresser drawers: Hannah, Rachel & Caroline
Dust: Hannah & Caroline
Clean out birdcage: whoever’s month it is
Clean windows: Rachel & Caroline
Vac or clean sill: Rachel & Caroline
Clean mini blinds: Rachel & Caroline
Sweep or vac floor & mop: Hannah & Caroline
Organize bed & personal belongings: Sarah, Hannah, Rachel & Caroline
Closet: Hannah & Caroline
Take mats out & shake: Hannah & Caroline
Organize personal shelves: Sarah, Hannah, Rachel & Caroline
Thursday Chores:
Laundry: Caroline (wash & hang to dry Sarah’s linens & 3 other loads)
Utility Room:
Change cat box: Hannah
Sweep & vac: Caroline
De-clutter & straighten cleaning boxes: Rachel
Wipe down appliances: Caroline
Wipe down walls: Sarah
Hall:
Straighten books: Hannah
Clean air filter: Caroline
Dust Shelves: Hannah
Sweep & mop: Caroline
Dust & Straighten pictures: Rachel
Wipe down walls: Sarah
Friday Chores:
Laundry: Rachel (wash Mom & Dad’s linens & hang to dry & 3 other loads) (Wash kitchen curtains)
Hall Bath:
Scrub toilet inside & out: Caroline
Scrub sink & counters: Caroline
Clean mirror: Hannah
Scrub tub: Hannah
Empty trash & put in new trash bag: Sarah
Straighten shampoo rack: Caroline
Shake mat: Caroline
Sweep & mop floor: Caroline
Dust & straighten pictures: Hannah
Dust & wipe walls: Caroline
Master Bath:
Scrub toilet inside & outside: Rachel
Scrub sink & counters: Rachel
Clean mirror: Hannah
Straighten under sink: Hannah
Empty trash & put in new trashbag: Sarah
Shake mats: Rachel
Sweep floor & mop: Rachel
Dust & straighten pictures: Hannah
Dust & wipe walls: Rachel
Kitchen:
Refrigerator: Inside: Caroline
Outside: Sarah
Top: Rachel
Stove: Drip pans: Rachel
Clean food out of cracks: Rachel
Inside of hood: Rachel
Counters: Clean canisters: Hannah
Clean appliances: Hannah
Clean drainboard with vinegar
Microwave inside & out: Hannah
Straighten Pantry: Rachel
Clean canister jars: Caroline
Check potatoes & onions: Caroline
Dust China Cabinet & Corner cabinet: Caroline
Sweep & mop floor: Hannah
Clean trashcan inside & out: Rachel
Clean windows & sills: Hannah
Clean mini-blinds & steam curtains if necessary: Hannah
Wipe down cabinet doors & island sides: Sarah
Clean outside of appliances: Sarah
Dust & straighten pictures: Caroline
Wow! Now this is ORGANIZED and impressive! Thank you for sharing!
Courtney
YES! These routine charts are one of the keys to “Decently and In Order”. I have before-meal charts, after-meal charts, morning-lists (for each child, like get dressed, read bible, tidy up room BEFORE they can eat brkfst) and a routine chart for how to clean a bathroom, step by step, how to clean the garage, etc. Makes checking their work so much easier. It’s specific too so it’s not you nagging them…they really didn’t do A, B or C –it’s there in black and white–and you know which child didn’t do it. Then you can rotate jobs too among the kids.
Thank you so much for sharing. I am 13 weeks pregnant and the past 6 have been spent surviving the nausea. Now that I am starting to feel better, I am also noticing EVERYTHING that was neglected during that time. It’s been overwhelming the past few days. But after I read your blog about making the bed and then this one about designating days for certain tasks, I have been so much more productive. My bedroom looks amazing again (no longer an extension to the laundry room) AND by focusing only on certain tasks, I’ve been less distracted/overwhelmed. Sure I still rabbit trail my tasks but today it was so easy to remind myself to focus on the floors. I’ll get the other stuff on another day. I think this will be a great system to have in place before my sweet bundle comes along. Thanks again. Looking forward to joining the mommy club!
Patty – this so encouraged me – thank you for being transparent and sharing!
Courtney
This post is great and all of the comments are so helpful! I am just now finding my “groove” in the cleaning world since getting married 3 years ago. It’s much tougher than I imagined to keep up with it all – but the reward is great
. I am going to nursing school this August so I’m thinking I’ll really need a schedule to keep me on track 
Wow Guys! Your schedules and tools have been SO fun for me to read! Thank you so much all of you for sharing your schedules – as you noted – the laundry day does not work for large families. I have 2 children – so for a family of four I can run all the loads in 7 hours (that’s 6 loads total – 4 of clothes and 2 of towels, sheets, misc. I set a timer to go off every hour and TRY to fold them as soon as they come out of the dryer – it only takes 5-8 minutes!) Large families have to use a different system – whether it’s doing it everyday or 2-3 times a week etc.
Also, you may note that this means the whole house is never clean at the same time. That’s a down side. Also, what is not seen in the schedule is my children working – they do assist in all of these tasks but they are too young to complete any of these chores on their own YET
Someday!
I keep a daily schedule also where I include my quiet time, exercise, homeschooling, sleep lol! etc. Right now we are on a loose summer schedule – but When school starts I’ll share that as I’ll have to revamp last fall’s schedule.
Thanks everyone for sharing – this was really fun for me!
Courtney
This is so motivating. I have to do laundry, floors and cook everyday. The rest I kind of ignore as long as I can, lol. I absolutely despise grocery shopping – it is my least favorite chore. But, we have to eat. Any ideas on how to make it more enjoyable, or at least tolerable?
Keep a running list on your fridge so you can quickly note what’s needed as you notice it. Also, even a loose menu for the week or month (however you do your shopping) lets you be able to have all your ingredients needed. Take the recipe cards with you if you want to double check. Don’t bring kids if at all possible. For someone that doesn’t like to shop, that seems to be a big help. Don’t kill yourself going to 3 diff stores either.
I LOOOOOVED reading these!! My cleaning style has had to evolve since I work a lot, and I was ill for a year (which really threw things off). I have 5 part time jobs…
I am a freelance photographer
A soap and candle maker (keep the local antique stores supplied)
My hubby and I are Worship Pastors at our church
We have a small farm (I DO count that as a job)
And I do financial aid, and earch for scholarships and grants for our kids for college (57,000 dollars just last year for college!) and it really is a part time job
My parents also live with us, so my laundry schedule is a little different.
Sunday: Sabbath-rest & family time
Monday: Hubbys day off-minimum houswork
Tuesday: Laundry, Bills, My Business, light cleaning, work at church
Wednesday: Laundry, Paperwork-am, Errands, Groceries-pm
Thursday: Laundry, work at church, bathrooms
Friday: Floors and Farm Day-am, free day-pm
Saturday: Bigger projects
I do have the dailies: Dishes, barn chores, etc
My mom does all her laundry on Monday, and she cooks dinner on Monday and Wednesday. My daddy cooks dinner on Friday, and I cook dinner Tueday, Thursday, and Saturday.
My kids help out a lot, especially during the summer when the older ones are home from college.
We’re like the Waltons……..but with a microwave!!
Hmmm. Haven’t been a scheduler for the house chores but I’m rethinking it. This post and the comments have been inspiring. And I can totally relate to the part about a schedule being “freeing”…as long as I can limit myself to only doing the current day’s chores. I’m a major multi-tasker, which isn’t always a good thing ;(
I totally agree! A schedule is so helpful. It keeps you on track and it feels so good to cross something off the list.
I use the Motivated Mom’s planner. Little tidbits to do each day and it helps keep the once in a while chores on my mind. I blog about it here: http://oldhousekitchen.blogspot.com/2010/04/boost-of-motivation.html
It’s been a lifesaver for me! Just my 2 cents.
Blessings!
That sounds great in theory but there is no way I would only do the bathrooms, floors and laundry once a week. As a mother of 4 (soon to be 5) if I did laundry once a week I wouldn’t catch up until 2 years after they all went to college? I guess every family is different and there is no substitute for making my own schedule. Thanks for the guideline! At least it’s motivated me to look at my largest chores and assign them to a specific day.
This is very similiar to an idea my husband had. I was complaining about not being able to keep up with the house (I only have 1 kid — it shouldnt be THAT hard…) And I had read about routines. So he helped me plan out one:
Monday – Kitchen, Laundry: Lights, Dishtowels
Tuesday – Bathrooms, Laundry: Darks, Bath Towels
Wednesday – Bedrooms, Laundry: Whites, Sheets
Thrusday – Livingroom and Study Room, Laundry: Jeans, anything needed over weekend
Friday, Entryway, Laundryroom, Errands, Laundry: Rags
I can’t follow a schedule at present because I have to try to keep the noise down for my husband (who is just finished his Divinity studies) however we are waiting for a call to wherever the Lord would have us to be so it is just kind of patiently waiting and just trying to learn to cope. It is a small place for three littles so really easy to keep clean…just difficult to get access to the bedrooms and bathroom because they are close to my husbands study. I find laundry is practically a daily occurrence due to three littles 3 and under. I definitely like schedules, and hope that I’ll be able to incorporate this when we have our own home/manse Lord willing.
I use a similar schedule, and it is very helpful! The children join me and we clean whatever room we’re in together!
I’m not a fan of housework, I hate doing it! I get very intimidated if there are a lot of undone projects or if the house is just a mess. It’s like my mind doesn’t know where to send my body first! I also have 2 small “helpers” at home while my oldest is at school, so I don’t have time to really spend an hour or so just doing housework. So, I came up with a schedule/system based on doing things 15 minutes at a time. I have a schedule of things that need to be done each day, but I attack those things 15 minutes at a time.
Monday: Wash mom & dad clothes/clean the living room
Tuesday: Wash kids clothes/clean family room
Wednesday: Wash bathroom towels/clean bathrooms
Thursday: Wash kitchen towels/deep clean kitchen
Friday: Wash sheets/clean bedrooms
Saturday is family day, work in the yard day, projects around the house day, etc. Sunday is the Sabbath. I rest.
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