Photograph Credit: Flickr (stst31415)

When cleaning, I often wonder if I make the process more difficult than it needs to be. Following the marketing push to need a different product to clean each item in my home, I find I have a shelf full of products. Seeing my stash as normal, I’ve been considering unconventional or back to the basics alternatives for cleaning my home.

My Cleaning

Coming as no surprise, I use all the products I have in my cleaning closet, and they work great. Of course, I purchased all of them on sale and paired most of them with coupons or received FREE samples or products – saving our family money. My thought process here is not about the money spent, but rather the investment of time in using multiple products.

Though I am not abandoning all my supplies, I am considering a better way to using time wisely. My time might be better spent if I had fewer products to gather at the store, transport from room to room, and switch from within one room.

I know many make their own cleaning supplies and use one or two products to clean everything in their homes. If that works for you, then great! I am not against making my own, but I am still brand loyal and find my Lysol, Fabuloso, Scrubbing  Bubbles, and Windex time-savers for me.

My Discovery

Recently, I used about half a bottle of white vinegar to clean my tea maker. (Let’s just say, it had been a few years since I had given this well-used appliance a good cleaning.) With the entire container of vinegar costing less than $2, I was pleased with the results and the cost.

After that success, I was chatting with my mom about her house renovations, and she mentioned how soaking her shower heads in white vinegar overnight completely cleared out the mineral deposits and debris in the holes. As I shared my success with white vinegar with my tea maker, we had a discussion about cleaning products.

Shortly after that discussion, I found 150+ Household Uses for Vinegar from Reader’s Digest. With this topic on my mind, I have started looking at white vinegar for other uses around my home. For example, the grass or weeds that grow in the creases of our driveway and sidewalk are eliminated with a day when sprayed with white vinegar.

In evaluating my cleaning supplies, I am amazed at the unconventional or back to the basics alternative found in white vinegar. With my interest peaked with other uses for a less-than-$2 bottle of white vinegar, I am learning.

Still embracing my tried-and-true cleaning supplies, I am on a mission to using time wisely. This journey is on-going, and I’m not opposed to trying something new.

Pleased with the progress had with white vinegar, I am more open to other uses which may be the start of a new cleaning style – only time will tell. Keep on using time wisely, and happy learning!

Question: Have you found a new discovery causing you to consider why you do what you do?  

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Ever get stuck in a rut or a routine? I have maintained the same type of cleaning routine for about 16 years.

I would clean top to bottom every room in my house every 6 to 8 weeks. The rest of the time, I would keep it picked up and wiped down.

With the increase in trips to and from school this year, I have fallen further and further behind in my cleaning routine.

So, I decided to try something different because my current routine was not working.

Preparing for a new routine

I took almost 2 weeks and deep cleaned my entire house. Let me tell you, I was exhausted from all the scrubbing and moving of furniture, but my house was almost spotless.

Maintaining the new routine

Now, I spend about 2 hours one day a week to re-clean my upstairs and about 1.5 hours another day during the week to re-clean my downstairs.

Planning for changes to the new routine

This new routine has been working for me this month. Our home stays clean and picked up. I’m excited about going into the summer with a new game plan for keeping our home clean.

Having to remind myself to clean is a bit different from my previous system, but the results are worth the extra effort. I like the morning weekly cleaning verses the 3-day monthly cleaning that completely tires me out.

Realizing that seasons of life produce changes in our routines, I am willing to try new ways of doing the same thing. In using time wisely, I am enjoying this new routine.

If you are struggling with a system you have had for quite some time, mix it up by trying a new routine. You might surprise yourself while saving energy and time. Happy trying!

Question: What changes have you made to your routines?

Photograph Credit: iClipart

In training our children to help around the house, this series continues to encourage me to make cleaning fun.

I get caught up in just doing it myself because I can do it faster and better than waiting for my kids to figure it out. However, as I teach them and mentor them, there are six more hands working. In the long run, we can accomplish more together while having fun.

Thus far in this series, we have seen how creating a game for laundry and pickup and providing a tool make cleaning fun for children.

If you have older children who are not interested in these games or using the cleaning tool, then maybe a non-monetary reward will spur them on to motivational cleaning.

Part 3: Give Non-monetary Rewards

Most children – no matter their age – want to know how much they can earn for doing chores. Some families instill an allowance system or a reward chart for completing designated tasks. You may or may not choose one of the options, but children of all ages need encouragement.

My children are young, and rewards are a big deal to them. Wanting to reward them, Paul and I have an allowance system in place, but we also reward along the way with non-monetary awards. Some of our choices include the following rewards:

Family Walk

My kids move so quickly to finish picking up when they know the reward is a family walk through our neighborhood. Loving to go outside, my children desire to ride their bikes, push a baby stroller, or take a stroll as a family. Again, this reward may or may not work with older children. I’m not quite there yet as my children are ages 7, 5, and 2.

Movie Night

All curled up in Daddy and Mommy’s bed under the covers with a bowl of popcorn and a fun movie motivates my kiddos to complete the task requested.

One-on-One Time

Getting the privilege of going grocery shopping, getting nails painted, baking, cooking, or playing a game alone with Daddy or Mommy is a special privilege in our house. Though we try to spend one-on-one time with each of our children each day, Paul and I give extra time as a reward which gets chosen more than the other rewards offered. 🙂

Planned Outing

With numerous outing opportunities, we sometimes choose a reward as a family. Keeping our home looking nice is a group activity. So, when we finish the tasks, we enjoy celebrating our accomplishments together. From a museum visit to a bounce house session to entertaining friends, we find a group reward just as beneficial as an individual award.

As you encourage and teach your children how to clean as part of the family, those sessions don’t need to exude boring and dreaded tasks. Learning along with you, I am trying to make cleaning fun for children and adults.

Life is too short to hate what you are doing. By making a game, providing a tool, and giving non-monetary rewards keeps my children interested and my house maintained.

In using time wisely, keep trying ways to include your children. As they feel part of the family and contribute towards its workings, they will enjoy the rewards, and hopefully, find the process fun. Happy playing!

Question: What rewards do you offer in your home?