A Traditional Housekeeping Schedule

How do you keep your home clean, tidy and running smoothly? I am infinitely happier and enjoy my day-to-day so much more when our home is humming. Doesn't that word just fit? In my mind, a humming home is one that is not just clean, but also well-organized, cozy, inviting, well-stocked and truly tidy. Since my unemployment ended, J and I have rearranged our lives so that I'm at home and not working at all. It's the best thing for our family at this point, and it definitely won't be forever, so I'm embracing it fully. I have decided to master the art of being a homemaker. Or, domestic engineer if that sits better with you. 

I was remarking to my mom that I want to set up a routine where I change the beds and wash all the bedding on Monday, clean the kitchen on Tuesday, clean the bathroom Wednesday, dust, vacuum and mop the bedrooms Thursday and dust, vacuum and mop the living room on Friday. In addition, I'd like to do one or two loads of laundry and two declutter/tidy pomodori per day. That way, with a couple of hours each day, I can maintain a humming home without ever letting it become a complete pig sty or having to spend five or six hours cleaning on a Saturday while J takes the kids on a hike and I miss out. My mom's response? "It's just like the song we sang when we were little. 'Monday is for washing...Tuesday is for dusting...'" to which I responded with a probing, inquisitive look and immediately Googled "traditional housekeeping schedule."  

So...it turns out this is totally a thing! And now I officially feel like a 1950's housewife. Yikes! But, in all seriousness, I have been wanting to get a schedule going like this ever since Coco was about Theo's age. Now that we have two little people making messes and generating laundry, it's more necessary than ever. 

I've found schedules like this one, but I'm not interested in including the weekends. (Heck no!) I also found this one which is intriguing and includes a day for grocery shopping and errands. But I need to tweak so that it fits with Theo's naps, Coco's ballet class, school drop-off time and includes the kids. I realize that now when they're tiny is the time to get them involved in household chores. And, lest you're worried about J's involvement, just know that he cleans the kitchen every evening after dinner; he also does the bath and bed routine every night; he participates in the general tidying daily; and he makes me coffee every morning. So don't think for a second that he gets a hall pass on cleaning just because I'm at home. ;)

I'm working on a schedule that's going to work for us in the hopes that it will make life easier and more enjoyable for everyone, but mostly me. I want a dedicated time for everything so that nothing gets overlooked and I have a plan in place at the start of each day. Doesn't that sound lovely? 

Some day, I'll go back to work and this won't be my reality any longer, but for now I'm totally geeking out on my domestic engineer position. ;) Help me out! How do you manage your household - cleaning, errands, laundry, tidying? How do you involve your children? I really do have to laugh out loud. It's like playing house, but with real children!  

(Gorgeous kitchen photo via La Mini Maison)

Comments

  1. I am no help at all, but just wanted to say that I need a schedule!! Thanks for the ideas!

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    1. Ha!! As I work on this, I realize things I overlooked, like J's evening classes and my hope to get back to yoga class, and the night he goes skiing, and, and, and... So much to juggle with a family of four. ;)

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  2. No help here either, except to say that this idea sure resonates with me! I start my first day of a year long maternity leave tomorrow (first baby due in a few weeks - also, I'm in Canada) and I think something like this would help me feel a little bit more stable and in control of this huge change. Having said that, I know that it will take many months for any semblance of a routine to happen! ~K

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    1. Huge congrats!! My best advice is to clear your plate and just focus on that baby. It's the most delicious time, but it's all-consuming. It sounds like you've already accepted that, so you have a good shot at really enjoying it. Come back to this post in a year or so. ;) I'm so excited for you! xoxoxo

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  3. These are some great ideas to keep everything in order. I will definitely follow your routine.

    flats at korattur

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  4. My first impression was that this is a reaction to feeling guilty for "not working". Maybe not true in your case and you truly feel like you want to do all this cleaning, but some people feel like they have to "prove" their worth when they are the stay at home partner. I know I have at times. With two littles underfoot, I mostly just lowered my cleaning standards and choose to spend more time playing.

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    1. I think that when it was just Coco, I felt a little guilty for not working because it wasn't that hard for me to keep everything under control and I quite enjoyed myself a good deal of the time, too! :) But, now, I'm a grumpy, mean mama and an angry partner because it really has a negative effect on my mood when the house is a mess. So...since I don't like, I'm finding a way to change it. No one else cares when things are in total disarray!! But I can't stand it. I know everything won't be perfect. But orderly is a must. ;) xo

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    2. I am 100% with you, Lindsey! When my house is tidy and organized, I am in a fantastic mood, which makes me a much better mother and partner. Lately I have noticed myself saying things like, "Sorry, Hunter, mommy has to clean X, so I can't play with you now." And then getting all moody when he interrupts me. I work so much better when I have a schedule. If I have a cleaning schedule that I stick to during the day, then I will be a much happier momma when I pick Hunter up from school!

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    3. Oh, yes! Turning down play time in order to clean is a major source of mommy guilt. But, sometimes it's true and it's good for children to know how to entertain themselves, too. Finding that balance is so hard!

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  5. I outsource my housecleaning :) I'm a work-from-home, stay-at-home mama to 10 month old twins. I'm fortunate that my husband is a work-from-home, stay-at-home papa, and my mom is our daily nanny, but I still don't have time to actually really clean our house. I *do* do maintenance cleaning on the off weeks when the cleaners don't come. The kitchen gets cleaned every day after dinner, and the kitchen floor often gets swept and washed (because two tiny eaters + dog cleanup = ew). We also often vacuum in the living room where the kids play all day.

    Probably the best thing that I've started doing is a load of laundry a day. When we put the kids to bed, I grab the laundry from there room, toss it in the washer, and either hang it or throw it in the dryer before bed. When the adult laundry has gone a few days, I'll add that. SO. MUCH. BETTER. than 83983648 loads on the weekend. Plus, if I didn't do that, I can't even imagine how many bibs we'd need!

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    1. I wish I could do laundry in the evening. Our neighbor who we share laundry with works all day, so I agreed to do mine during the day. But sometimes it is so much easier once the kids are in bed! Oh well!!!

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    2. If we were both working, we'd definitely outsource the cleaning, too. We did last year, and it was awesome. :)

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