Hints for a Mommy

This one took a while.

It took a lot of thinking.

You see, when it comes to cleaning, I am not willing to spend a lot of time on my hands and knees.

I try to find quick, easy ways of cleaning things.

Well, I found some...

Tip #1: Buy white everything. 

White towels, white sheets, white pillow cases, white blankets, and white shower curtains.  Why white?  You can bleach them.  I bleach everything that can be bleached.  I love bleach.

Tip #2:  A shower curtain, liner, and the rings at the top (still attached to the shower curtain) can fit in the washer. 

"What?" (I know you just said that in your head)

See the attached picture.

I take my shower curtain and liner off the rod (with the rings still attached) and put it in the washer with a cup of bleach.  No, I don't dry it.  I hang it up (hehe) in the shower to dry!  I do this every few months. 

Tip#3: Wash the shower when you're taking a shower. 

This is what I do:  I spray the entire shower with cleaner about 10 minutes before I want to take a shower.  When I get in, I take a sponge with me and scrub the shower.  Just remember to do this before you actually wash your body.  I do this once a month. 

Tip #4:  Keep a small trashcan in all rooms. 

Keep a few extra Walmart bags in the bottom for when you need to empty it. 

Tip #5: Clean one thing a night (on weekdays). 

I, like most mothers, do not have the luxury of paying someone to clean my house.  So, during the week, only worry about one thing each night.  For example, last night I dusted the living room.  That was it.  Tonight I will clean the coffee pot.  Tomorrow I am washing the shower (when I shower).  On the weekends, clean your ass off.

Tip #6:  Put a glass with one cup of CLR in the dishwasher once a week. 

Only have that glass in the load.  This will prevent nasty buildup (especially if you live in El Ghetto and have orange tap water). 

Tip #7:  Once a week (I do this on the weekends) fill the bathtub with bleach water (include a little dish soap), and throw everything in it that you can. 

I put baby toys, baby bathtub, bath toys, razors, potty chairs, trashcan lids, toothbrush holders, etc. in there.  Get rid of all those germs.

Tip #8:  Have your husband's side of the bed be the side that's away from your bedroom door. 

That way, when we have visitors, they can't see his disgusting mess that I refuse to clean up.

Tip #9: Keep a bowl full of pacifiers available.

Wash the used pacifiers once a week (or when necessary) in the dishwasher.

Tip #10: Get your kids involved.

Diesel has 5 chores that he does everyday.

Everyday that he does them, he gets paid $1.

You might think that's a lot for a three year old, bu this is what we do:

Every Sunday, he gives $1 to church.

That leaves him with $6 a week.

Once a month he goes to a gas station and picks out one candy.
He pays for the candy with his money he made that month (around $24).
He learns about spending money that he earns.
Then we go straight to the bank.
He deposits the rest of them money (around $22) into his college account.
He watches the bank teller take the money.
At the bank, they give him a sucker.
He's as happy as can be.
He talks all the time about saving his money for college.

Yes, a three-year-old.

And, you know what?  I don't mind giving him $1 every day.

By the way, I change it up.

Give him a one dollar bill one day, four quarters the next, 10 dimes the next... that way he learns about different types of money.

Diesel even has his own spray bottle.

I put a little bit of vinegar in the bottle.

I fill the rest up with water.

He has a blast cleaning on his own.  And he thinks of things to clean that I've never thought of.

Tip #11:  Organize all your chores on a calendar. 

 See mine below. 

 

When I get a chore done, I write it down on the next day that it needs to be done on.  For example, when I get done washing the floor, I cross it off and write it down for 7 days later.  Here's my list of what I do and how often I do it:

Once A Week

Disinfect and clean bathroom

Wash and disinfect sink

Wash and disinfect counter

CLR the dishwasher

Wash coffee pot and coffee maker

Sweep/mop (I wish this could be done on 2 seperate days, but it cannot)

Change Scentsy wax

Done Once Every 2 Weeks

Wash throw blankets

Wash Mommy and Daddy sheets

Wash kids' sheets

Dusting living room

Dust dining room

Water plants

Wax my face (yep, sure do)

Done Once a Month

Wash large blanket on bed

Fertilize potted plants

Wash rugs

Trim my arm, eyebrow, and nose hairs (yep, sure do)

Change air filter

Change contacs

Use ceramic cleaner on oven top

Dust bedrooms

Wash and disinfect the shower

Done Once Every 3 Months

Add toilet tab to back of toilet

Change razor

Get haircut

Wash outside of car

Wash inside of car

Wash carseats

Vacuum car

Wash shower curtain




You may think I'm strange, but it works for me!