A Clean House - The Impossible Task

It is pretty much impossible for us to keep our house in tip top shape.  Since I have been on maternity leave I have tried so hard to keep it up but it is just daunting.  We don’t have a large house but something about keeping every space clean just seems impossible.  One week our upstairs will be in tip-top shape but the downstairs is a mess.  The next week they seem to flip flop and we can live a happy and clean life downstairs but the upstairs seems to have been hit by a tornado.  To try and pace myself and keep everything in better shape I created a cleaning list that is divided into tasks that are done daily.  I have been keeping up with this for about a month now and although it isn’t perfect I feel like we are getting a better handle of the house.  My cleaning list has a lot of details and while it make seem petty and over detailed to some, for me it is necessary.  If I don’t list specific tasks to be accomplished and leave a place where I can check them off (it’s the little things that make me happy!) then they most likely won’t get done.  I love making lists and I love checking them off so for me this is the start to a great system.

The biggest issue I am having with this schedule is that I am very motivated at the start of the week but by the end I move like a slug when it comes to cleaning.  That is why I have put my least important tasks towards the end of the week.  However, those tasks are getting neglected in a big way.  Maybe I need to try and flip flop the list every few weeks and change the order of tasks so that everything gets done.  Maybe I just need to get off my rear and persevere and get it all done!  All I know is that the weeks where it gets all (or mostly) done I feel fantastic and really enjoy being able to do other activities without the messy house weighing on the back of my mind.  What do you do to keep your house tidy (or at least livable) with your busy schedule and demanding life?

Here is the cleaning schedule that I made:

MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY
Bedrooms and Upstairs     Change All Sheets o   M&M’s Bed o   I’s Bed o   Guest Bed Change All Towels o   M&M’s BR o   Guest BR o   Downstairs BR P/U bedrooms o   M&M’s Room o   I’s Room o   Guest Room Dust Upstairs o   M&M’s Room o   I’s Room o   Guest Room o   Hall/Book Area	Bathrooms and Trash     M&M’s Bathroom o   Wipe Down Counters o   Clean Toilet o   Scrub Tub & Shower o   Take out Trash Guest Bathroom o   Wipe Down Counters o   Clean Toilet o   Scrub Shower o   Take out Trash Downstairs Bathroom o   Wipe Down Counters o   Clean Toilet o   Scrub Shower o   Take out Trash Take Out Trash o   Kitchen o   M&M BR o   Guest BR o   Downstairs BR o   Diaper Trashes o   Upstairs Office o   Craft Room	Laundry, Kitchen and Downstairs   Bring Down All Laundry o   M&M’s Room o   I’s Room o   Wash o   Fold Dust Downstairs o   Kitchen o   Dining Area o   Living Room o   Craft Room Kitchen o   Wipe Down Counters o   Wipe Down Cabinets o   Dishes o   Clean Out Fridge	Floors     Vacuum or Sweep o   Downstairs o   Upstairs Hallway o   M&M’s Room o   Guest Room o   I’s Room o   Stairs Mop o   Kitchen o   Living Area o   Downstairs BR o   Laundry Room o   Guest BR o   M&M’s BR o   Stairs	Straighten     Downstairs o   Living Room Tables o   Dining Room Table o   Tall Table o   Side Entry Desk o   MA’s Desk o   MT’s Desk o   Laundry Room Clean out Honda o   P/U Trash o   Vacuum o   Wash Outside o   Wash Inside Clean out Truck o   P/U Trash o   Vacuum o   Wash Outside o   Wash Inside