The Secret to Keeping Up with Laundry (and Dishes)

I learned this tip by observing my mom.  When my mom visited me when I was a newlywed she would always ask if she could turn on the dishwasher when it was only half full.  It used to drive me nuts!  It seemed wasteful to run it half empty!  A year or so after I was married, I went to her house and was struck by how she has never has dirty dishes piled up in the sink, and there is never a pile of dirty clothes in front of the washing machine.  I finally made the connection.  She doesn't have dirty dishes and clothes everywhere because she runs the machines when there is only a little bit to wash!  The key to staying on top of laundry and dishes is to wash smaller loads.  Don't wait until you can load it completely full, because then chances are, there are other things that need to be washed that won't fit!

Housekeeping- Make it a Habit!

I used to sleep on dirty sheets.  I admit it.  I would sleep on them for several weeks without washing them.  Gross!  This summer I had had enough.  I knew I needed a system to clean my sheets once a week.  It's not like it's hard to wash them.  You just throw them in the washing machine, switch them over to the dryer, and then remake the bed.  Not really a hands-on chore.  It just requires some forethought.  So, I made a decision to toss them into the washer every Monday morning.  That way I could definitely get them dry before bedtime.  Now, I sleep on clean sheets!  Mission accomplished. 

Do you have a chore that you need to do on a regular basis?  Start a habit!  If you can make it part of your routine, it'll probably stay there. 

What housekeeping chore do you struggle with?

Linked to WFMW.

Take Care of Yourself- Clean the House!

As a mom of two kids 2 and under and wife to one picky man, I sometimes feel I spend the whole day taking care of everyone else and no one is taking care of me.  I start feeling sorry for myself for having to act like a grown up!  I begin remembering the 'good old days' when I had little real responsiblity, lots of free time, and my mom's credit card.  I could go get a manicure whenever I felt like it, and while I was there I might get a little neck and shoulder massage to soothe myself. 

Now, here is what I see when I go out my front door:

The nearest nail salon is 60 miles away.  So what's a girl to do?

Clean the house of course!

Having an orderly home lifts my spirits.  Especially the kitchen.  I love cooking, and I love cooking in a clean kitchen.  When I don't feel like cleaning the stove and counters I remind myself how much I love a sparkling space in which to pursue one of my passions.  Doing that second load of dishes at night instead of waiting until the next morning allows me to start my day on a fresh note.  Filing paperwork reduces clutter on the counter and in my head. 

Even if you don't live in the middle of nowhere, you probably can't go get a manicure whenever you feel like it.  But you can make lemonade when life hands you lemons! 

So go ahead, give yourself the gift of a clean house.  You deserve it!  

Linked to WFMW

How do you motivate yourself to do things you'd rather not?