Habits: A Clutter-Free Kitchen

Our challenge this week was

to tidy up the kitchen to clutterfree each evening before going to bed. 

This is not my first kick at this particular proverbial can. From courses I've taken at Simplify 101, I've learned two things:

1) As Abby advised, if you hate something...do it often.

Say what?

But if you do the dreaded task--before it becomes a gigantic dreaded task you can avoid all the discouragement and overwhelm that comes with just thinking about doing the dreaded task. And, of course, it's the only way you can avoid this:

 This is what my kitchen counter looked like on May 13, when I began the course. I think that is every dish we own. On the stove, you can bet there was every pot we own. 

Doing it more often makes it more manageable, hands down!

2) It works! 

I found that if I did the dishes--if even only once--before dinner, doing the dinner dishes was a snap. And there's no excuse not to do something if you know it takes less than 10 minutes. No excuse. Even better-- other people in my house did up a few dishes here and there. Here, my daughter--without prompting from me-- looked after the dishes she used to make Mac 'n' Cheese for a pot luck.

Yes, from scratch!

Other things I learned this week:

3) Clutter attracts clutter.

The day before, I had cleaned out the fridge. I had left these cherries out of the counter as an invitation to people to eat them. Instead, a certain member of my household took it as an invitation to leave out his breakfast things. 

4) A tidy kitchen is essential.

I have been doing a lot of thinking about what is essential this year. I've been trying to figure out what those things are which I absolutely have to do in order to feel like my life is ok.... And by OK, I mean, not spinning out of control, not casting me into despair and helplessness.

Yes, well, not going there would definitely be a plus!

The standard is a bit higher than that (but I seem to have only two settings on my internal gauge.) I was thinking about this: what do I need to feel like my life is OK?On the right track? As trite as it sounds, I came up with what my Grandmother told me, what I tell my kids and random facebook strangers. "As long as you do your best., you'll have done all you can." And so that's the new daily standard. Do my best, every day. And do what is best for my life, every day.

And cleaning up the kitchen is one of those things. The rest of the house can be in chaos (actually, this week, most of it was) but if the kitchen wasclean--even just before bed-- I found that I could think more clearly and I was calmer than, say, the week before, when it wasn't. A tidy kitchen is essential to my peace of mind.

5) It brings me joy. 

Actual caught-in-the-throat joy.

More than a tidy dining room (where I spend all my time), or a tidy bedroom (where I am in the habit of making my bed every day) or even a clean bathroom (though that's up there), a clean and tidy kitchen is essential to my happiness. I have actually felt joy as I have looked at my kitchen every night this week. And that feeling was worth overcoming the pull towards bed at midnight more than once. (I worked late shifts this week.) 

And so, my joy-filled week in review:

 There is no Day 6 because I was heading up to bed--without doing the kitchen! and I thought I'd just do one thing...and then I did another...and another...and before you could say "I am so tired I can't even remember Jack Robinson's middle name" I had tidied the kitchen...and gone to bed.

On Friday, I grabbed a few things still hanging around in the garage from previous decluttering sessions. Previous YEARS, I mean. This course has been amazing that way--pretty much everything I've gotten rid of is stuff that has survived past purges. This time, I'm looking at it with fresh eyes and wondering, "why?" So, out it goes!

These are all books from the bedroom bookshelf purge of January 2015. I confess, I did fish out two books to keep. But only two.

The mirror for the bathroom is still bedeviling me.

From a Cleaner Kitchen to Emptying the Outbox: January Cure Assignments 10 to 20

Half the Cure.

My goodness, I hadn't realised I had had that much to catch up on!

The thing is, of course, I have been doing something...just not everything I wanted to do and certainly not everything I'd planned to do. This weekend was the end, though. I really need to focus on doing my daily four housekeeping chores.....and let January go. I am giving myself until Wednesday.

Here's what I've done.

Assignment #10: A Cleaner Kitchen.

I worked hard the weekend it was assigned.

I cleaned the spice rack:

It's always disheartening when the after doesn't look all that different from the before. But at least the canisters feel better. They get greasy right here beside the stove. 

Behind the stove:

And behind the fridge, though you'll have to take my word for it!

I cleaned all the open shelving, the garbage can, the side of the fridge, the side of the stove and the baseboards.

I washed the top of the fridge, the top of the microwave, all the cabinets, the stove top and the table.

And then I made a pie. To declutter some apples. Of course.

Finally, I washed the kitchen floor just this Saturday.


Assignment #11: Get a Get Together Together.

This introvert never does this Cure assignment.


Assignment #12 Cabinet Clear Out:

Removed one bottle of barely expired calamine lotion.


Assignment #13: Work on Your Project.

I haven't even finished the list of projects I want to complete this year!


Assignment #14: Lighten Up the Living Room.

I did this just yesterday, too. My son walked in and said, "nice job on the living room. The wall looks different without the mirror there."

A-hem.
The mirror has not been there for at least two years. That Value Village painting has been sitting in its place on top of the mantel since.

But I think he's a minimalist at heart. In fact, right after making this comment, he went right to his room and began cleaning and clearing his shelves.


Assignment #15: A Better Bedroom

I had such tremendous intentions. On the floors weekend, I'd spent the entire Friday night up in this room, going over every inch of the floor.

Last weekend, my husband and I flipped the mattress (flip with the Solstice, rotate with the Equinox) and I washed the mattress cover, pillow covers, bedding and couch cover.

Again, this weekend, I spent Friday evening picking up and tidying. But it wasn't until Sunday that I got around to dusting, (vacuuming up the dust!) and changing the sheets and duvet cover.

But, boy oh boy, is it worth it!


Assignment #16: Catch up Day.

Well, it's sort of catch up weekend, isn't it?!


Assignment #17: Bathroom Blast.

I did this Saturday, too. Spritzed all the porcelain, mopped the floor. The room really needs a full day, though, to wipe all the mold off the tile, the grout and the ceiling. Yes. The moisture problem in there is absolutely out of control. And frankly, we have done all we can at the moment, so I have been procrastinating the chore to clean it because it will just have to be done again, and again.....until we know what to do to fix it.


Assignment #18: Landing Strip

All I needed to do here was wash the floor and put down my new entry rug.

In time.

Assignment #19: Surface Sweep

I do this as a regular part of my daily four. I set the timer for 10 minutes and just go through the main floor and pick up and put away everything lying about on various surfaces.


Assignment #20: Empty the Outbox.

And here we are. This weekend's assignment. The last assignment.

There's more in the car!

I wondered why Janel had scheduled an entire weekend for it and also ended the Cure, leaving the last two days of the month completely unscheduled. But now I think I know why. Not only did I need to take the weekend to catch up,  I have five different places to go to to drop things off. I am going to want the time Monday and Tuesday to go to the second hand store, the animal shelter, the Eco-centre, Re-Store (Habitat for Humanity), and H&M (for textile recycling).


So, I figure I'm done...... Except for the floors in the hallway and the dining room, oh and emptying the outbox and I almost forgot, the list, the darn list I have no faith will be completed this year at all...well, except for those things, I'm done.

I am glad I did this. Adios until next year!

Cleaning Day is like Ground Hog Day*

 *The movie. Not, actually, you know, February 2nd.

It really is, isn't it?

There aren't any "before" photos in this post. I didn't take them. I am actually getting pretty tired of showing pictures of my messy, dirty house. It didn't used to bother me, but I've realised a couple of things since I started blogging my "before and after" cleaning frenzies, as Melissa calls them. (Not an affiliate link.)

1) Everyone has messy rooms. I didn't used to know that. How could I know that? But I joined a decluttering facebook group where, once in a while, people will post a challenge to clean the house, 20 minutes on, 10 minutes off, and away they go. On breaks, each lists what they got done in their 20 minutes. It is incredibly motivating. But I realised I am not the only one with a messy house. Who knew?

2) If they are depressing for me, they might be for you too. I don't know. Pictures of shiny, sparkly homes can be off-putting. All the afters with never a "before"  can feel intimidating and discouraging or worse, fake, and artificial. I don't want that either! Can the "afters" uplift and motivate all by themselves? You tell me.

I want this little corner of the blogosphere to be all about creating a home that delights and inspires. Yours and mine.

I didn't know if I'd even blog about my day spent cleaning. I'm not sure what belongs on the blog, quite, anymore.

I do know I want this blog to encourage all of us to live in the best homes we can, whatever our circumstances and limitations. 

And a clean home, ahem, a clean kitchen is delightful. And inspiring.

I left those bowls for my daughter to do as she promised she would after a bout of baking last night.

So, there might be more than a little light housekeeping around here soon, for sure. Maybe even a deep clean.

But, never fear, I will still be the same, doing the same things. Or sort of the same things. We'll see.

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AT Cleaning Report, Week 4. Days 22-29: Hit and Miss.

I like following lists. I like making check marks beside the task completed. I love the feeling of accomplishment. But a list--especially a list from an expert--does so much more. It makes me feel in control. I feel like everything is going to be all right --cos I'm doin' the list.

But an odd thing starts to happen. If the list doesn't meet my needs, I struggle. Should I modify the list? Would changing this task for that one be OK? If my day is really busy, can I just double up the next day? How much can I fiddle with the list until chaos begins to reign again? That's the real question.

And what about  things which I can see need to be done--but they are not on the list? What about that? Do I do them--or do I stick to the list? Again, how much can I mess with the list before things start to get out of control?

********

22. Surface clean bedrooms

Instead of doing this, I did the next day's assignment. As you can see I grappled with the questions of the sanctity of the list right away. I decided--my stairs really needed a good sweeping!

23. Sweep and vacuum all floors in the house

I did this on the 22nd, as I mentioned. I do not sweep my floors nearly often enough.

I actually skipped doing housework on the 23rd, and the 24th. I did these tasks on the 25th.

24. Clean linen closet, straighten towels, sheets or regular closet if not applicable

Yay! I found a big bottle of soap I'd forgotten I had. We need it, too. Wasn't much to do in here, really.

25. Surface clean living room and kitchen

10 minutes in the kitchen barely made a dent, but it all counts!

So, I did three assignments, today. The bedroom, the linen closet and the kitchen/living room. I found myself wanting to continue. When I went into the bathroom--I noticed the basin needed a wipe down. I debated with myself. I decided the point of the list wasn't the list--but a clean house I enjoy spending time in. Since I had five minutes--I wiped it down.

26. Deep clean kitchen (scrub appliances, wash trash cans, base boards, wipe down and straighten cabinets)

I skipped this one. I did this not too long ago.

27. Surface clean bathrooms

Done. Both.

28. Surface clean bedrooms

now if I can just remember to wipe off the lens before I take a pic!

Done. Again. My bedroom has never been so clean for so long! And great news--my daughter cleaned her room!

29. Clean one item you've been meaning to get to and haven't (deep clean your stove, wipe down all light fixtures, tackle a particularly unruly area)

I am skipping this one, since there are only 29 days this month and doing the next task instead.

30. Sweep and vacuum all floors in the house

Hubs did the vacuuming, I swept.

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As I write this up to post--I'm looking around me and it is odd. For some reason--for someone who has been cleaning her house all month (almost) --I have a pretty messy house. Things are out of control. It's pretty crazy that I can spend more than 2 hours a week cleaning my house--and still be ashamed to let anyone through the front door.

But honestly? There's no mystery. This is not a plan for people like us. There is no provision for people like me, my husband and my children who don't always clean up a mess right away, put things back where they belong and generally tidy up after themselves. We don't do those things. We're messies.

This plan doesn't allow for messies.

I need the ten minute tidy back in my life.

I also need to commit to doing the dishes (and cleaning the kitchen) every night before bed.

Then a list like this might make sense. So, I'm going to do both, next month. I'm going to tweak things just a bit and we'll see how it goes. Thanks for sticking with me through this experiment.

If you'd like to see how we rocked this list throughout the month, check out these posts:

The AT Cleaning Report Week 1: A (Very) Partial Success
At Cleaning Report, Week 2. Days 8-14
The AT Cleaning Report, Week 3: Days 15-21

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AT Cleaning Report, Week 3. Days 15-21

So, I'm still at it. I'm following this cleaning schedule from AT and blogging about how it is and isn't working for me.  It promises I can complete each task in 20 minutes a day.

Sometimes that's true--but mostly it isn't.

Here's what happened last week.

15. Surface clean living room and kitchen (pick up stray items, dust, sweep, vacuum)

In my house, it will be impossible to do both these rooms in just 20 minutes. I went back to the original list and started reading through the comments. I discovered the creator of this list also spends 20 minutes a day cleaning her kitchen. So, in that context, this makes more sense. 

I vacuumed the living room rug--and then I got on my hands and knees and started scrubbing it. Not what was intended, I'm sure! But I am still deep cleaning the living room from last week.

In order to clean the surfaces in the kitchen, I did the dishes three? four? times. I also wiped down the counters and stove and swept the floor.

16. Deep clean bathrooms (clean inside drawers, inside of trash cans, tops of mirrors, tile, mop)

True Confession time: I didn't do a thing. Cleaning the tile is going to take hours and I just couldn't face it today.

17. Clean all door knobs, phones, entertainment equipment (remote controls), switch plates, banisters and other things that are repeatedly touched.

I have NEVER done this. Why aren't we all sick all the time?

Speaking of sick, I took the day and went to see a doctor about the pain in my hips. He diagnosed arthritis in my lower back and both hips. Then he sent me for x-rays and prescribed an non-steroid anti-inflammatory. I am also doing my best to stay away from sugar.

18. Clean out the refrigerator, take stock of food, organize pantry

Well, I cleaned the fridge on the 15th.  I was scheduled to work a really long day today.

19. Clean entryway, sweep porch (if you have one), clean out car (because they're often our home away from home)

I cleaned the back steps (because why not? They were dirty) and vacuumed the front hall carpet.

20. Surface clean living room and kitchen (pick up stray items, dust, sweep, vacuum)

Good heavens, again?

Oddly enough, both rooms needed far more than just a surface clean. Since my husband was thoroughly ensconced in the living room, I decided to tackle the kitchen.

It was a disaster.

But.

I worked on it until I figured it was at the point where a ten minute "surface clean" would be appropriate.

And yes, ten minutes is plenty when all you have to do is wipe down the stove, table, and counters and sweep the floor. I even had a minute to put out a clean table runner.

I carried on and mopped the floor, wiped down the cabinets, and washed every last dish I could find--including the coffee maker!

It was wonderful!

21. Surface clean bathrooms

Interesting. The downstairs bath really needed the floor mopped.

Right on schedule.

Next week will be the last week. Will I carry on after that? We'll see.


In case you want to read more in this series, you can.

AT Cleaning Report, Week 1. A Very (partial) Success.
At Cleaning Report, Week 2. Days 8-14

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The AT Cleaning Report, Week 2. Days 8-14

As most of you already know, one of my biggest challenges in life is cleaning. It is a repetitive, thankless task without lasting payoff.

Checklists (and blogging about them) help. When I finished the January Cure, I wanted a way to keep the house clean--so I decided to use this cleaning schedule from AT. It promises I can complete each task in 20 minutes a day. Sometimes that's true--and sometimes it isn't.

Here's what happened last week.

8. Sweep and vacuum all floors in the house (don't forget stairs)

To get it done in 20 minutes, I broke a sweat running around the house like a madwoman with the broom in hand. I switched to the swiffer to do our bedroom--changed the little dusting cloth twice, it was so bad.

9. Surface clean bedrooms

I had no idea what this meant. It shows up a couple more times this month, too. I decided it meant I should put away a few clothes, make the bed and dust. This time.

10. Deep clean living room (mirrors, baseboards, dust artwork)

This was my assigned weekly task for the Spring Cleaning Challenge hosted by a Bowl Full of Lemons. And, as it was a day off, I took the day--never mind 20 minutes. But I tackled

it on the 11th!

11. Clean bathrooms.

It's official. 20 minutes is not enough time to clean both bathrooms. I started with the powder room upstairs since the floor really needed my attention. (Our toilets are not flushing properly and we have floods fairly regularly.) When I was done, I had only three minutes left on my timer--just enough to swish and swipe downstairs. (Running in between floors isn't counted in my time.)

world's tiniest "master ensuite."

12. Clean out closets (hang up clothes, mittens, jackets, hats)

This was the weirdest one yet. I opened my coat closet, looked inside, and grabbed a mop (and spare mophead) I'd been meaning to get rid of since the New Year. I took it to work and tossed it in the dumpster there. Other than that, I was at a bit of a loss.

13. Surface clean "extra" rooms

I decided that my extra room is the dining room. It could also be my laundry room. I was in a huge hurry, so I wound up merely sweeping the floor.

14. Deep clean bedrooms (organize drawers, check under bed, tidy closet, dust artwork, fans, lights, mop)

Already this week, I've swiffered the floor in here, dusted, tidied, and cleared off the surfaces. I wasn't sure what else to do, really. I decided to change the sheets even though it wasn't suggested by the list. That took me my twenty minutes. Then I dusted and swiffered--and put away a laundry hamper of clothes. That took another ten. I honestly don't think my bedroom has ever been so clean! (Though I did forget all about the fan blades!)

I switched to the red because: Valentine's Day. But I'm thinking the plaid was not a great choice!

So, here we are. Another week begins tomorrow. I am already thinking of ways to tweak this list to make it better for me--but a weird thing is happening in my brain as I do that. The list loses its authority, somehow. It loses its status. It becomes just another thing that I do--rather than THIS THING I'm doing. As a result, I feel less inclined to do it. 

Am I making sense--even though it makes no sense, no sense at all?

ETA: When I got home from work this evening, my husband Chris had cleaned up! The dishes were done, surfaces were clear--the laundry had even been taken down to the laundry room. I was most impressed. I have to say that sometimes the pay off to committing myself to cleaning is more than just a clean house. I am so grateful.

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The AT Cleaning Report: Week 1. A (very) Partial Success.

When I finished the January Cure, I wanted to make sure I wouldn't fall back into my slothful ways. A fellow curer mentioned the AT 30 Day Cleaning Schedule. I copied it into my Bullet Journal and promised myself I would begin February 1st.

ahem.

I forgot all about it, actually, until Saturday, the 6th. I briefly thought about doing all the days previous just to catch up--but I was in the middle of doing the entry ways, so I consoled myself with the thought that it will all come 'round again.

Indeed it will.

The schedule includes 16 tasks spread out among 30 days. It also stipulates doing dishes and a load of laundry every day. My favourite thing about it though, is that it promises you can do these 16 tasks in just 20 minutes a day. And if that's true--then this is doable.

I started on the 6th with the assignment to clean the bathrooms. So, I did.

I set the timer for 20 minutes--and I stuck to just the downstairs bathroom (which really needed it!).

On Sunday, the 7th, the assignment was to clean all the windows (inside side only) and the mirrors. I had no idea I had so many mirrors in the house! Essentially, I have one in every room except the dining room and my son's bedroom, though we won't count the two in my daughter's room.

Let's see. On the main floor, there's the bathroom, of course and

the Living Room:

Kitchen:

Front and back Hallway:

Upstairs, there's the bathroom,

the three in our room,

and a little set of square stick-on mirrors from Ikea which I put in this space between the arch and the second floor. There is a south facing window, opposite--you can see the light from it so clearly! I simply wanted more light on the stairs. I love it.

That is the main reason I have so many mirrors--to bounce the light around.

I set the timer and I sprinted round the house--and at the end, I even had six minutes to devote to this beast:

So, it was doable. And it felt great.

I plan on posting about this weekly.

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Day 8 & 9

Working on the house this weekend. I really need to find some nice shrubs which will work, here!

Day 8 (Saturday)

I worked eight hours ending after 9pm.

When I got home, I wondered if I'd walked into the wrong house! The kitchen was beautiful. The counters were clear, the stove was shiny --and no pots!

The living room was tidy, too--which is a major accomplishment given my daughter had had a sleepover in there with two friends the night before.

How did I do with the checklist?

1. Make the bed. 
Yes! 

8/8

2. Swish and swipe the bathrooms. (Full bath on the main floor and the powder room upstairs)
No.

4/8
 
3. Put away dishes in dish rack while coffee brews.
Yes. 

8/8

4. 15 minute pick up throughout main floor.
No. 

3/8

5. Pick up the principle (formerly, master) bedroom
Yes. it involved folding and putting away the shirt and shorts I wore on Friday. 

8/8

6. Laundry:
Wash one, dry one, fold one, put one away. Not necessarily the same one.
No. Someone else may have done some laundry, though.

6/8

8. Do the Evening Dishes.

Yes! My husband did them.

7/8

Day 9 (Sunday)

I tried to sleep in--my first day of vacation! But there are too many rabbits in the neighbourhood and the beagle was intent on greeting them all with loud vigorous barking.

But, once I had my coffee, I started to get excited about getting some projects underway.

My son and I got started on taking down the popcorn ceiling in the back hallway.

I painted our front door from red to blue.

Hooray for one coat coverage! That's Behr Marquee "Island Dream" on the right.

I even painted the short wall in the stairwell. I went from yellow-green to blue-green. It is so calming (more later).

But, this is about the housekeeping checklist. How did I do?

1. Make the bed. 
Yes! 

9/9

2. Swish and swipe the bathrooms. (Full bath on the main floor and the powder room upstairs)

yes.

5/9

 
3. Put away dishes in dish rack while coffee brews.

Yes. 

8/8

4. 15 minute pick up throughout main floor.
No. 

3/9

5. Pick up the principle (formerly, master) bedroom
Yes. 

9/9

6. Laundry:
Wash one, dry one, fold one, put one away. Not necessarily the same one.
No.

6/9

8. Do the Evening Dishes.

Yes. And I should do more. 

8/9

I had one of those wonderful putz about the house days eating leftovers for all meals.

And pie.

Sweet.