Beautify My Home Mondays Week 1 (4/11/11)

"Who's coming over Mom?" Have you ever heard those words come out of your kids mouth? You are running around the house trying to get things in order, because you just got a call from your friend, telling you she needed to come on over and talk to you. You being the kind woman you are couldn't say no, but asked her to give you 15 min. "That's what we need 15 min. and we can shove everything in my room and make this house look decent enough".
If we are honest, all of us have been in this situation at one time or another, I made it a habit and hate it, until I came across a system that finally worked for me. I have changed it a bit to fit my family and that is what I will share with you today.


Beautify My Home Mondays is exactly what the word beautify means: Improve the appearance of.
You will NOT be doing any deep cleaning this will come at a later time. The rest of the week you will just maintain. I will post other cleaning tips at a later time to help take care the rest of the house.


What you will need:
*A Timer
*Your Favorite Cleaners
*Some Cleaning Rangs
*Vacuum
*Duster
*Clean Bed Sheets
*Trash Bags

"You can do anything for 15 min. except Whine!"

 You will be setting your Timer for 15min. at a time for each task 

(there will be some tasks that will take you less time) 
The "Secret" is to work as fast as you can!

1. Get your duster and dust from TOP to BOTTOM everything in your house. (Assign this task to one of your kids-Team Work!)

2. Dust under the Sofas  (Kids!)

3. Wash all dishes and put away

4. Fill Kitchen sink with Hot Water, soap and 2 TBS of Bleach. Use one of the cleaning rags to wipe down counter tops, doors, windows, anything that seems dirty.

5. Sweep and Mop Kitchen (Remember this is a quick clean no deep cleaning!) Older kids

6. Sweep and Mop Bathrooms (Remember this is a quick clean no deep cleaning!)

7. Change Sheets on all beds (Kids)

8. Empty all Trash Cans (kids)

This has taken us approx. 120 min. but I can tell you right now that emptying the trash cans did not take 15 mins. that was more like 2 min.  Turning cushions did not take me 15 min either that was more like 5 min.  Do you get the idea? Now, the actual work we Moms "actually" get to do is less, because our kids get to help us beautify our homes.

I hope this helped you and you no longer get the famous words "Who's coming over Mom?"

This is a sign I have in my Kitchen. A personal reminder to not Whine!

Some information taken for this post: flylady More hours in my day and The Gentle ways of a beautiful woman