How to Clean Your Bathroom in 11 Minutes

I hope you all linked up your Organize Cleaning Schedule already to my Organize your Life Party!  I LOVE reading about cleaning schedules! :)  It is so motivating, isn’t it?

Today, I want to introduce you to a sweet blogger!

Her name is Cara from The Picky Apple.  She is the wife to The Picky Apple and Mama to a spirited three year old. She is a lover of cooking and baking, an avid reader, an arts and crafts enthusiast and a planner and list maker.

Since we are talking about cleaning this week, I thought I would show you this really neat post that Cara  wrote on cleaning her bathroom in 11 minutes! 

This is what she wrote…

CLEAN in 2011: How to Clean Your Bathroom in 11 Minutes

This post could also be titled how to clean TWO bathrooms in 22 minutes or less, because that’s actually what I did.

If you’ve checked out my Cleaning Calendar, you’ll see that every Wednesday it says “Clean Bathrooms”.  And every Wednesday, I cringe when I see that.  Cleaning bathrooms (particularly toilets) is pretty low on my list of desirable cleaning tasks.

This week, I saw that I only had 25 minutes before it was time to leave the house and instead of reading blogs for 25 minutes, I decided to see how much of the bathrooms I could get cleaned.

Here’s what I accomplished:

• Sprayed and wiped the mirrors
• Disinfected the counters and sinks
• Scrubbed hard water stains on sinks and faucets
• Disinfected the toilet lids and seats
• Scrubbed toilets
• Swept the floor
• Steam mopped the floor

In TWO bathrooms!

I was amazed at how much I was able to accomplish in such a short time!  You’ll note that the bathtub and shower didn’t get cleaned, but for a quick, weekly clean, this was very encouraging!  And I’ll share more about the products I use for cleaning sometime soon, but after reading Bonnie from House of Grace rave about Shaklee, I gave some of their products a try.  They ROCK!  I have some new favorite cleaning products!

Here’s a breakdown of how I did it all, and what I used for each task:

1.  Clean mirrors: I used Shaklee Basic H2 in a spray bottle and a cloth (Room Essentials brand from Target, purchase in packs of 5 or 6)  Time Spent: 1 minute

2.  Disinfected counters and sinks:  First moved everything (toothbrushes, hand soap dispensers, pictures) off of the counter.  Sprayed the counter and sinks with Shaklee Basic G, then wiped counters first, then sinks, all with the same cloth used for the mirror.  Time Spent: 2 minutes

3.  Hard water stains on sinks and faucets: Time for the detail work!  I used a scrubbing brush and Shaklee’s Scour Off Heavy Duty Paste to scrub the water stains.  Time Spent: 2 minutes (2 sinks)

4.  Disinfected the toilet lid and seat: Start at the top and work your way down.  I used the same cloth I used for the mirrors and the counters, along with Shaklee Basic G.  I sprayed and wiped the lid (top then bottom), then did the same for the seat.  Total Time: 1 minute

5.  Scrubbed the toilet: I used the Scrubbing Bubbles Fresh Brush to get the job done.  Time Spent: 1 minute.

6. Sweep: I swept using a basic old broom and dustpan (am I the only one who still uses a broom?!).  Time Spent: 2 minutes

7.  Mop: I use a steam mop, which is great for a quick clean!  Time Spent: 2 minutes

Total Time: 11 Minutes (per bathroom)

Disclosure: I have not been compensated for endorsing any of the products mentioned in this post, and all opinions are my own. These are just some products I’ve been using lately that work for me!

WOW…GREAT JOB CARA!!!

Cara is sooo motivating, isn’t she?!?!

Do you have 11 minutes to clean and bathroom and 22 minutes to clean 2 bathrooms?

Thanks Cara for writing this!!!

Cara is very organized so I also thought you would enjoy THIS POST about her cleaning schedule too.

Dailies

Remember my list of Dailies?  Those are the things I need to clean each and every day.  Well, I’ve revisited that list and simplified it a bit.  Here are my current dailies:

• Dishes
• Spot Sweep
• Make beds
• Clutter Control
• Laundry
• Wipe surfaces

I’m more or less staying on top of these.  I’m particularly proud of how clean I’ve been keeping the kitchen on a daily basis.  I know most or many people already do this, but it was something I struggled with!

Weekly

My Weekly routines include the things that are done once or twice a week:

• Menu Planning
• Grocery shopping
• Change sheet and towels
• Vacuum (2x a week)
• Sweep
• Mop
• Dust (2x a week)
• Clean bathrooms
• Clean kitchen
• Throw out old stuff

Instead of trying to do all of these on one day, I’ve spread this list out over my week in a way that works best for my schedule.

You’ll note that I’m vacuuming and dusting twice a week now, due to my severe dust mite allergy. (I probably should be doing this daily or every other day, but that just isn’t going to happen…not yet anyway!)  I just ordered a new vacuum (highly ranked by Consumer Reports), and I’m looking forward to using it!

The Picky Apple asked why I included Menu Planning and Grocery Shopping on my list of cleaning tasks.  Well, I feel like those are a vital part of household maintenance (and yes, I realize this argument could be made for other things as well, like bill paying and budgeting), and they take up a big chunk of time on the days I do them.

Zones, Deep Cleaning and Decluttering

Lastly are the Zones for deep cleaning.  A concept used by FlyLady and others, but I’ve adapted this to suit my needs and my home.  My zones are:

1. Entry/Hall Closet/Dining Room/Living Room (I realize that’s quite a bit for one Zone, but the Entry is small, the Dining Room mainly sits unused and empty.  It’s the Hall Closet and Living Room that will be the focus here!)
2. Kitchen
3. Loft/Playroom/Office (all upstairs)
4. Bathroom Zone: Powder Room/Master Bath/Finn’s Bath
5. Bedroom Zone: Master Bedroom/Finn’s Bedroom (I realize some of you may have more bedrooms than us.  We’ve got 4 but currently using 1 for the playroom and 1 for the office!)

I’ve seen the deep cleaning done in several different ways.  Some jump from room to room in the same day (for instance, clean the toaster, declutter the bathroom sinks, clean the top of the washer).  But once I get in a room, I want to focus on THAT room for a while, so each week my deep cleaning will be focused on a particular zone.  Many systems also tend to declutter a room first then clean.  And while I wholeheartedly agree that you can’t clean clutter, I’ve mixed in a little of both based on the things that are bothering me most about each room at the moment.

Right now I’m keeping  Zone work to 30 minutes or less, 3-4 times a week.  As much as I need to do some serious deep cleaning and decluttering in certain rooms like the office and hall closet, I’m easing my way in to this.  I’ll add more as I get a better grip on the routines themselves and have a better feel for long each task on my Master Cleaning List actually takes (I’ll share that another time).  For now, I’ll be completing one or 2 Zone tasks on days when The Littlest Apple is in school or with the grandparents.

She also has her own cleaning schedules for each month. 
Here is her March schedule.

Cleaning-Calendar-March (1)

Cara has a great blog,  The Picky Apple! 

Please go visit her, follow her and leave her leave a comment! :)  You can let her know that you are coming from here.  She is so sweet and organized! :)

If you buy Shaklee from me and have a cleaning post that you would like to be featured, please email me at donahuewellness@hotmail.com! :)

Have a great day!

How to Organize your Cleaning Schedule

Welcome to Week 3 of our Organize your Life series!

To read the 1st week’s post, on Organizing your Mind, click HERE!

To read the 2nd week’s post, on Organizing your Schedule, click HERE!

If you are just joining in, please link up your blog here so we can all help motivate each other…PLUS, there is still time to win the book, Organize Now!.

I am reading and using the book called Organize Now! by Jennifer Ford Berry to help me organize my life.

This week is…

Why Make A Cleaning Schedule?

• No More Crazy Cleaning – You will not have to worry about cleaning or run around cleaning it before someone comes over.
• Less Stress – When my house isn’t clean, I always feel relaxed. I know what day I am going to do each chore so I can relax and know there is time in the schedule to get it done.  This allows me not to be thinking of cleaning while I am playing with my kids!!  This is the greatest feeling EVER!!! :)
• Better Time Management – You can manage your time because you are on a schedule.  With this being said, I call fall off or jump ahead of my cleaning schedule and not worry. Remember, it is only cleaning!  (Oh, did I just say that?)  If I miss a week at something, life goes on.  Please don’t obsess over your schedule.
• Control Procrastination – It is easy to put off cleaning but a schedule can keep you motivated and on track.

How to Make a Cleaning Schedule

• List your tasks. Make a list of everything that you can possibly think of that needs cleaning.
• Determine frequency of tasks. To determine the frequency that you need to do a certain task, think about what makes sense and what is reasonable for you.  Do what makes the most sense to you. I love having sparkling floor to start my week, so I do them on Monday.  Then, I like to clean my bathrooms next, so I do those on Tuesday.  Then I make my week a little easier and dust on Wednesday (which is also my shopping day) and vacuum on Thursday.
• Gather your cleaning supplies.  Not having your cleaning supplies ready is a big waste of time  and distraction.  So before you get started make sure you have what you need. This is what my cleaning bucket looks like.

My kit includes…

Basic H spray bottles filled with Basic H and water

Basic G (Germicide)

Household wipes

Disinfecting wipes

Scour Off

Sponges

Scrubber Pad

Microfiber Mirror Cloths

Microfiber Cleaning Cloths

• Use an all-purpose cleaner.  I use Organic Basic H for almost everything in my house!  I don’t need to carry a different bottles around for each surface.  You can use Basic H on all washable surfaces plus it will save you time because I believe it gets the job done quicker and it will also save you money because it is concentrated.
• Control your Clutter. There is nothing worse than a bunch of clutter. Get rid of ALL clutter!!! Do don’t need STUFF!!!
• Assign people to tasks. Give each family member a chore if they are old enough.  I even have my kids do little chores.  You cannot start them too young, right? :)
• Put it in writing.  You can document your schedule however you like. You can make your own, buy one or get a free printable online.  (Below, I will show you Martha Stewart’s printout.  I love Martha!)  Use whatever works for you. 
• Stick with it.  Feel free to reward yourself for staying on track!  This is not an easy thing to do so please do something for yourself!!!

Below are great checklists for things that you should do everyday, weekly and monthly around the house!

CLEANING 6 THINGS TO DO EVERYDAY

CLEANING WEEKLY CLEANING

CLEANING MONTHLY CLEANING CHECKLIST

Here is my My Cleaning Schedule

Daily

• Wash/Disinfect the counters
• Sweep/Vacuum the hardwood
• Vacuum the family Room (most days)
• Laundry (I try to do at least one load a day)
• Pick up the family Room toys
• Wipe down appliances
• Dishes/Dishwasher
• Stovetop
• Pay bills (I try to pay them, the same day we get them)
• Make the beds

Weekly

• Wash the hardwood floors- Monday
• Bathrooms- Tuesday
• Dust house - Wednesday
• Vacuum – Thursday
• Organize the kids rooms- Friday
• Organize the fridge- Wednesday (when I shop)
• Garbages- Tuesday

When Needed

• Shampoo the carpet (about 4 times a year)
• Dust fans
• Wash walls/doors
• Dust baseboards
• Wash the couch
• Wash the Windows
• Wash the mirrors the house
• Wipe down furniture
• Vacuum lamp shapes
• wipe down lamps
• Wipe down cabinets
• Dust/Wash vents
• Dust blinds
• Deep clean appliances

How I Clean

I named this post A Different Way To Clean because I have NEVER bought  a Fantastic, a 409, a Pine Sol,  a Lysol, Clorox Wipes, a Tide, etc.  I have never used a toxic cleaner since being married!!  I clean differently than most people.  I only clean with ALL natural products.  I did this even before it was  cool to be green!  At first, my only reason to do this was because it was cheaper.  I used and still use Shaklee Get Clean products.  Now, after being more educated on why it is so important to be toxic free,  I am really glad that I have been using these the whole time!!!  Toxins are dangerous, as in hurtful, as in not very clean at all.
When most people think of green cleaners, they think: expensive or lack of quality.  With the Get Clean products that I found, nothing is further!  These are CHEAP!!!!  And they WORK!!!!  '

Let me tell you what I use and how!

Kitchen

Let’s begin with with the  Kitchen because we spend most of out time in there!  I feel like I am in there all day!  As soon as I am done cleaning up a meal, it’s snack time!  Does that happen to anyone else?  I run my dishwasher everyday and I always  try to wipe the stainless steal appliances down every night.   I HATE going to bed with a messy kitchen!!!  I love waking up and coming down to a clean room.  I am in a better mood when there are no dishes out, the stove is clean and their are no fingerprints on the fridge!  I also like to sweep or vacuum the floor everyday (several times a day under their high chairs).  
In the kitchen I use…..

Basic H2 Organic Super Clean Concentrate and my super microfiber cleaning cloth for the appliances, cabinets, counters and walls.

Scour Off Heavy Duty Paste  for my sink and my appliance deep cleaning.  Click

HERE to see how I clean my oven!

Basic G- Concentrated Germicide for disinfecting my sink, counters, knobs, floor and whatever else I want germ FREE!

Dish Wash Concentrate for washing pots, pans or anything else by hand.  I only use 1 drop per dish!  This stuff is really powerful!!!!

Dish Wash Automatic Concentrate for my dishwasher.  I only use 1 teaspoon of this stuff and I NEVER pre-rinse  my dishes.  CHEAP!!!!

Here is a before and after of the fridge…

Here is a photo of my polished sink using Scour Off…

Here is a before and after on my window…

Bathrooms 

Next,  I’ll tell you about the bathrooms because everyone likes start with the grossest area and get it out of the way.   I use…

Basic H2 Organic Super Clean Concentrate for the windows and mirrors.

This stuff works…..with NO streaks!!!   I mix 2 drops of the concentrate to my 32oz. water spray bottle. (It costs $.02 per 32oz.  That’s right, it costs me only a 2 PENNIES  for a 32oz. bottle)  CHEAP!!!! I told you. 1 bottle of Basic H²equals the cleaning uses of 5,824 bottles of 26 oz. Windex. WOW!!!!

Here is a picture of the awesome window and mirror super microfiber cleaning cloth that I use.

Here is a picture of my mirror.  NO STREAKS!!!!

Basic G- Concentrated Germicide for the sink, toilet, floors and bath/shower.

I really like to disinfect!!!  I have three kids who put there hands everywhere and I don’t want germs everywhere!!!

I wrote more about Basic G HERE!

Here is a picture of my bathroom cleaning bottles. I put this  on the door.  I have these bottles in every bathroom.  It is simple , neat and easy!

Scour Off Heavy Duty Paste for the bath/shower, floor and sink when needed.

This stuff takes off rust, mold, hard water residue and other build up.  And it SMELLS like cherries!!! And totally safe!

Here are before and after pictures of some hard water residue on my sink drain. (I know it’s gross!  Don’t hate me!)

WOW!!! Look at that sparkle!!!

I think that is pretty much it for the bathrooms, lets move on to floors

Floors

I try to vacuum or sweep everyday.  I don’t know if it is just my family but we REALLY need to do this everyday!  We get kinda totally dirty here!  I found a floor duster that I really like and the dusts the baseboards too!  YAY!!! 

It is by o-cedar.

Here is a picture of it at work!!!

I also love to use my BFF aka my Dyson vacuum.  I love it!  Now that my son is crawling and trying to eat everything he sees, I have just been leaving it out all the time.  Anytime I see something on the floor, I just turn on my Dyson and suck that baby up before my son finds it!

I use the attachments to get baseboards, lamp shades and furniture.

I have the Dyson Ball Slim and it’s great because it is so easy to move around and it’s lightweight!

For washing my floors, I use…..guess…..

Basic H2 Organic Super Clean Concentrate

This awesome no rinse, no residue, streak-free formula works great on any floor!  It seriously makes my wood shine.   For floors,  mix 1 tablespoon of Basic H + 1 gallon of water.  Apply to floor with sponge or mop.  I just put it in a spray bottle, spray it on the floor and wipe it with a microfiber mop.

Here is my little helper!  Look at the floor shine!

Dust

Now, how do I dust?  I don’t!  LOL, I wish!  This family makes a lot of dust or at least we see it more because of all of our dark wood  floors and furniture.  Usually I dampen my super micro fabric cleaning cloth with my Basic H.  I also use a really long duster to get my fans, vents, light fixtures, stair railing, walls and ceiling.

Here is another picture of my helper.  I find it best to give the kids their own set of cleaning tools to keep them busy.  It’s never too early to teach the art of cleaning!

Laundry

Laundry for 5 is not an easy thing to do!  I have a system that works for now until I can get the kids to do their own.  Right now I put ALL the the dirty laundry  form everyone in our family in my side of our closet.  I have 3 laundry baskets for  whites, lights and darks and 1 basket on my hubby’s side for his work clothes.  I also keep a laundry basket in my laundry room for hand towels, wash cloths, etc.  All of my laundry products are concentrated and NON-Toxic.  It is totally safe for your skin.  It is great for sensitive baby skin!

I use…

Fresh Laundry Concentrate
Soft Fabric Concentrate
Soft Fabric Dyer Sheets
Nature Bright

I can’t say enough about the laundry products!  A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!!! They get the stains out EVERYTIME!!!

Here is a picture of the baskets in our closet…

Here is a picture of our laundry room basket…

Extra Tips

Have your kids ever drawn on your furniture with pen?!?!?  Mine have,  a normal mom would probably freeeak out! But not me.  Basic H gets it right out!!!!  AND in less than ONE MINUTE!!!!!  I just put in on straight and scrubbed in right out!

Here is a before and after of my chair with pen on it…

I also really like the Magic Eraser for scratches on the furniture. 
Here is a before and after of white paints scuffs on my dresser.

And that is how I clean and what I use!!!!

I also showed you ALL MY CLEANING POSTS OF 2010 HERE!!!!  Go check them out for more cleaning ideas and tips! :)

For more tips, please read this book!

 

I can’t wait to read about your cleaning schedules!!!!

Have a great day!

 

Also, don’t forget that you can get a FREE SHAKEE CINCH SAMPLER KIT (over $100 value) with the purchase of a Shaklee membership (a $19.95 one time fee to save you 15% off ALL orders including your first order) or ShakleeDistributorship ($39.95) AND a $70 order at member price (MN).  To get this special,  place the products in your cart, and then it will tell you that you qualify for the free Cinch Sampler Kit at the top.  After that, sign up as a member or distributor. You DO NOT need to place the sampler kit in your cart…it is automatic, just make sure to check if you qualify.   Please note, if you become a Gold Ambassador, you do not need to place an order to get the free kit.  Please email me at donahuewellness@hotmail.com for any questions.  ***Plus, I will let you know of ALL OF MY NEW MEMBER SPECIALS!!!***  You can read about my Cinch results here and my sister’s amazing story here.

How to Organize your Schedule

Welcome to Week 2 of our Organize your Life series!

To read last week’s post, on Organizing your Mind, click HERE!

If you are just joining in, please link up your blog here so we can all help motivate each other…PLUS, there is still time to win the book, Organize Now!.

I am reading and using the book called Organize Now! by Jennifer Ford Berry to help me organize my life.

This week is…

Organizing your Schedule

Having an organized schedule is an essential!!!  Time management is actually something that I have struggled with in the past.  I would go on spurts.   Sometimes, I would feel in total control and other times, I had to really push myself to stay on track.  By controlling your schedule, you can choose how you spend your time!! :)  I feel way may relaxed and calm when we are following our daily schedule!

Here are your goals for this week:

Get a daily planner.  You can make one with printables and a binder or buy one.  I just use printables that I made from Word or that I made myself.  Use what works for you!  Everyone is different and so should is their planner.

Plan for the month.  Figure out your monthly schedule, dinners, babysitters, appointments, errands, monthly chores, etc.

Here is a free weekly meals planner that I found here that I thought was simple and useful.

Weekly Meal Planner

Make a master To-Do list.  This is a list of EVERYTHING on your mind!  Just write it here. 

Master To-Do List

Sort your To-Do List.

A.  Today list- Then go through your master list and then prioritize.  Make a daily to-do list.  Fill it with things that you need to do today like… pay a certain bill, register for a class, etc.

DailyTo-Do List

B.  Weekly list-  This is a list for things that  you need to do this week, like…use a coupon, send a thank you note, buy a gift, etc.

WeeklyTo-Do List

C.  Future list-  This is for things you want to do in the future, like...a playdate, a night out, etc.

FutureTo-Do List

Schedule your families appointments.   Get all your families appointments scheduled and done with! (Dentists, Doctors, hair cuts, etc.)

Get a small notebook by bed.   This is a great idea because I always feel like my brain comes up with great ideas right before bed and then I can right them down.  I keep a notebook in my nightstand for this.

*tips*

Be realistic.  Don’t try to do more than you can handle!

Schedule downtime.  You and your family needs this! :)

Schedule pampering.  This is important…make the time!

Schedule dates.  Schedule dates with your hubby, kids, friends and family!

For more tips, please read this book!

Ok, I get a lot of email from people wondering my personal daily schedule…so here ya go!

First, I have to say that it seems like it is always changing…nap times change or go away, breastfeeding or not, school, summer break, homeschooling, private school, not working out, working out, husband working really long hours or on time, ect.  There always seems to be an altar in our schedule.  We will get on schedule and then something happens and we need change up the routine again.  That is just part of life with 3 young kids, I guess.  It keep it from getting boring anyway! :)

My Schedule

6:00-  Wake Up.  I wanted to wake up at 5am but I am just too tired so 6am it is.  I get up and get ready for the day.  I get dressed, apply my make-up, brush my teeth, make my bed, pick out the kids clothes and then start breakfast.  Also, I like to start a load of laundry!

7:00- Eat/Clean.  We usually always have eggs or a shake for breakfast with a fruit.  You should always start your day with a quality protein.  Sometimes we will have bagels and cream cheese or oatmeal instead.   After breakfast, I clean up the kitchen an do all the dishes.  I also get the kids dressed and make Grace’s school snack.

8:00-  Off to school.  This is about the time that we start getting our jackets on and hop in the van to bring Grace to school.  During the drive to school, we say our morning prayers.  After we drop her off we drive across town to my gym.  All this pretty much takes the whole hour.

9:00-  Workout.  I drop the boys off at the gym nursery.  They actually LOVE it there and they get a ton of exercise there.  They run around and play in the tubes and slides.  I can’t believe that I bring them there because I never thought I would let the boys play around those germs, but they are fine!  They seriously beg to go there and I wash their hand like crazy before we leave.  Anyway,  I LOVE going too!!  Since I have been on a real exercise routine,  I feel great!  I feel better about my self and have more energy too!  I workout for about an hour 4-6x week.  I try to lift weights twice a week, and do kickboxing, pyloxing, yoga, step,  zumba and the elliptical.

10:00-  Errands.  After I workout, I get the boys, wash their hands, put on their jackets/shoes and get back in the van.  Then we run any errands that need to get done including going grocery shopping.  If we don’t have any errands, we just go home and snack, lol.

11:00-  Pick up.  Time to pick-up Grace.  That was quick!  Actually, I need to leave at 11:15.  I go get her, talk to the other moms and drive home.

12:00-  Lunch.  We eat lunch at noon everyday!  We usually have leftovers, sandwiches, salad, pasta or something like that.  I also make sure that we eat a fruit and veggie too!  I then enjoy my cup of coffee while I read or do flash cards with the kids. We like the Your Baby Can Read flashcards!   They love when I read to them and so do I.  They can actually pay attention to me because they are still in there chairs/highchair.  After this, I switch my load of laundry and clean up after lunch.

1:00-  Nap/work.  I give Matthew naps everyday still.  He is almost 2 and he loves needs his naps.  To put him down, I change his diaper and clothes, give him a sippy cup and read to him.  After that, I lay him down in his crib, say his prayers, turn on a little fan (to block the noise) and walk out.  Next, I get Grace and Michael started on worksheets or crafts, get out a toy and they can watch a movie.  Since Matthew is sleeping, this is my only time to get any real work done.  I finish the laundry and get all my chores done for the day.  I will share my cleaning schedule with you next week. :)  I forgot, sometimes the kids help me with the chores.

2:00-  Shaklee/Blog.  This is when I work on Shaklee and blog.  I also take my pictures during this time.

3:00- Learning time.  This is when I like to sit with the kids and do crafts, worksheets, numbers, letters, read, sing songs, homework, etc.  We LOVE this time! :)  The kids love to do workbooks and color.  We also LOVE all crafts for kids!! :) Matthew usually wakes up sometime during this hour.  This is one of my favorite times of the day!!!

4:00-  Clean-up/Make dinner.  This hour is my “prepare for hubby hour”!  I like to have all the toys picked up, house spotless and dinner ready on the table before Scott comes home.  My mom always did this for my dad so I was just used to that idea and my husband really appreciates it.  I start by preparing and cooking dinner. The kids LOVE helping me cook! :)  While the food is cooking, we do a quick run through the house and pick up everything!  I straighten all pillows and throws, turn the lights on, and try to look good.  Yes…I fix my make-up and sometimes change my clothes.  I love wearing yoga pants all day but my hubby likes me in jeans so sometimes I will change.  This can be a hectic hour but totally worth it.

5:00-  Eat dinner.  Dinner and clean-up usually takes the whole hour.  We eat together as a family every night and never watch tv while we eat.  We love to talk about our days and enjoy the family.

6:00-  Play/Read.  Every night, after dinner, we spend quality time as a family!  LOVE this! :)  Since it is cold out now, we play inside games.  We love board games, cards or other educational games.  This is also a great time for the kids to spend quality time with their daddy!  After games, we read to the kids on the couch and then one parent takes Matthew and the other takes Grace and Michael.  One person will get Matthew ready for bed and the other will get the older kids ready.  (You know…brush teeth, jammies, etc.)  Then we read to them…Matthew in his room and Grace and Michael in Michael’s room.  Matthew’s routine is the same as his naptime routine.  For the other kids, we start by having Grace read aloud and we read to them.  After that, we say prayers and tuck them in.

7:00-  Hubby time.  This is when me and the hubs can hang out and talk, read, watch tv or whatever.

8:00-  Shower.  I like to shower at night after the kids are in bed.  It also saves me so much time in the morning.

9:00-  Work.  I get back to work answering emails and writing posts.

10:00-  Bed.  Pray and go to bed!  :)

So there you go!  I hope it was not too long.

To be honest, this was a little scary writing all this.  Now, I feel like you know A LOT more about me.  I know everyone’s schedule is different and different routine’s work for different people.

I might of missed stuff, but that is a normal day.  Of course, everyday is not the same.  We also have play dates, visits the the library, etc.   I feel that there is enough room for downtime and I also feel that this is pretty realistic.  Sometimes I stay up way to late and sometimes I don’t workout.  This is my guideline that works for us now.  This summer, we will change it again, lol!

For more tips or organizing your mind, please read Organize Now!

So please try to organize your schedule this week and tell us how you did that. 

How did you apply these goals to your life?

We love reading about this so please share all!!!! 

Please grab a button if you are joining.

<center><a href="http://creatingahouseofgrace.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Organize your lif" src="http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv204/bonniejane03/organizeyourlifebutton-1.jpg" /></a></center>

Link up your challenge below.

Now it is your turn to share your schedule!!!! 

 

 

HOW TO CLEAN WITH SHAKLEE’s GET CLEAN LINE

I had such a great response with my BEST OF 2010 BLOG PARTY that I thought I would show you my cleaning posts all summed up into ONE HUGE (the longest post you ever read) POST!  I think this is all anyway, lol, I might of missed some.  Anyway.  I provided links to the actual post.  As you probably already know, I am a Shaklee Distributor.  I have been using Shaklee products since I was younger because my mom started us on them.  I LOVE SHAKLEE so now I share it with others.  I showed you my TOP 10 SHAKLEE products here but I want to show you the different ways to you the non-toxin cleaning line called Get Clean.  I am still impressed with these products after all this time, plus it’s saves us money and helps keep our home toxic free. 

WARNING: LONG, LONG, LONG POST!  LONGEST EVER!!!

I showed you how I clean, what I use and how often.  This is one of my most popular posts!  I showed  how I clean my kitchen, bathroom, laundry, etc.

I showed you how I  used Shaklee's all natural Scour Off Heavy Duty Paste to clean my oven.  (I love this stuff, I use it in my shower, bath and sinks too!)

Here are some before pictures.....

After.

I also want to let you know that you can put your range hood vent in the dishwasher.  Here are some pictures of that...

BEFORE

AFTER

I showed you my spring cleaning list.

I showed you how I clean my refrigerator.

I showed you my secret and favorite cleaning product!  I guess the secret is out now…lol.  Seriously,  I LOVE this stuff and use it for EVERYTHING!  We mom used it when I was younger and that’s ALL we use now.

I showed you how I clean my kitchen sink.

I showed you how I wash my floor with Organic Basic H.

Before.

(It doesn’t usually get this bad EVER, so it makes a great before)

After.

Before.

After.

It’s even safe enough to let your little ones help!

I showed you how to deep really dust your house.

I showed you how I clean my tea kettle.

Ewww!  Gross, sorry to show this to you but it gets better.  (and this is after I put it in the dishwasher.)

I just wiped it down with my scour off.

And now it looks brand new again.  And within less than a minute!

I showed you how I get off grass stains easily and naturally.

Before.

 

After.

I showed you how I gave my van a spring cleaning.

I showed you in my under the sink makeover how using Shaklee’s cleaners are simple and clean looking.  You don’t have to use a whole cabinet of stuff to clean your house.  You only need an all-purpose and scouring cleaner!  That’s ALL!

I showed you cleaning green in general can save you money.

I showed you the cost comparison of Shaklee’s Get Clean products vs. leading  and other green brands.

Get Clean Cost Comparison 2009 -- MN

I also posted some green tips.

I showed you my HOT household tips.

This first before and after is obviously my oven door.  I took a wet sponge and dipped it into my Scour Off Paste and scrubbed for about 5 minutes…..and…….

  it turned out beautiful!!!  Just like new, without any harsh fumes (oven cleaners are one of the worst for your health) and it only took 5 minutes!!!!

Here is my fridge. I have no clue how it got this bad.  My kids are learning to get there own water this summer and they are always making a mess with the water, plus, if I don’t keep it locked, my 18 month old can push the water button and make a huge mess and FAST!!!

I just sprayed this with my all-purpose formula of Basic H and wipe with my window and mirror micro-fiber cloth.

Here is another example of doing the same thing on my dishwasher.  Basic H work awesome on stainless steal and it leaves no residue.

Ok, here is my kitchen table after a party with a lot of kids (we have those often.)

I just sprayed my degreaser formula of Basic H and wiped with my all purpose  micro-fiber cloth.

That turned out great except now you can see that I need to paint over that cup mark, lol.

I did the same thing on this chair.  Basic H is totally safe to use on furniture and painted furniture.

I does a great job of cutting grease.

   Ok, this is a little embarrassing!!! I was in my bathroom getting ready and the kids were quiet….I little too quiet, so I opened the door to find my boys drawing on my chair with a PEN.   ARGH!!!!

So I sprayed my degreaser formula of Basic H and let sit…..

  and wiped and it ALL came out perfectly.  Basic H is safe to use on fabrics.

Here is a picture of both so you know that I didn’t just switch the chairs, lol!

This is another example of Basic H on wood.   (It also works GREAT on HARDWOOD FLOORS-see here for pics)

I just sprayed all-purpose Basic H and wiped down with my all-purpose micro-fiber cloth.

Basic H works GREAT on windows, mirrors and glass.  Do you see how foggy this lamp is here?

I sprayed with my windows and mirrors formula of Basic H and wiped with my super window/mirror microfiber cloth and it turned out beautifully!  I can also make a gallon of window cleaner with Basic H for LESS than 1 cent!!!!

         Here is  a picture of my sink with a huge rust stain on it.  Yup, I came home from my vacation to Canada to find that I left my cast iron pan in the sink.  It was there for a WHOLE week.  I had the whole house spotless before we left, don’t ask me how I forgot this one!  Anyway, Scour Off was there to save my day (and my sink!)  I did have to scrub a little harder than normal but it only took a couple of minutes until it looked like…..

this!!!!  Look at it shine now!!!!

Here is a full view, if you look carefully, you can see the Scour Off that I used.

I showed how I dust my refrigerator coils.

I showed you what and how to disinfect your house naturally.

I showed you how I wash my cabinets.  I usually wipe them down weekly or when needed but they were pretty bad today so I got out my Basic H and went to work.  I just sprayed on the all-purpose solution and wiped off. 

Before:

After:

I showed you my fall cleaning schedule.

Fall Cleaning Schedule

 

I showed you how I wipe down my walls.  After I wiped it down, It looked like I just painted again!

I show you how I got crayon off our doors.

I was so impressed….it only took a minute or two for each door and it was all off!

I showed you how I clean my garage for winter.

I showed you how I clean my carpet.

Last one..I promise!

I showed you how I get permanent market off my granite countertop.

Before.

After.

I sprayed Basic H and G on it and it came off in 30 seconds! 

OK, Are you still here? lol

I know that was a LOT of info! 

I hope that you learned a couple of things…or at least got motivated to clean!

If you liked what you saw and and are thinking about investing in some of your own Get Clean products.  Here is link to my website.   Shaklee is offering FREE LIFETIME SHAKLEE MEMBERSHIPS with a order over $70 (member price) until December 31st.   A Get Clean Starter Kit qualifies! Although, if you get this kit, I would recommend adding Scour Off and Basic G to your order.  A membership gets you 15% off all Shaklee products and there are no minimums to keep your membership!

START GOING GREEN AND SAVING GREEN THIS YEAR WITH SHAKLEE!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!