Hey-a, Folks! I have a confession. For the last 4 or 5 months I have been a bad housekeeper. Keeping the house tidy used to be something I kinda actually enjoyed, but then things got busy. I’ve been spending a lot of time focusing on the blog, gardening and hanging with the kids, avoiding the daily cleaning chores that used to bring me peace and calm. I especially avoided the deeper cleaning aspects of keeping a tidy home.
When we decided that I would stay home with the kids part of the arrangement was that I would be responsible for keeping the home (aka cleaning up). I know that kind of sounds old fashioned but the entire reason that I was staying home was so that I could be with the kids during the day, and it would allow us all more time together as a family on nights and weekends. I had been managing a restaurant for a long time, and those were not typical or family friendly hours. This was a chance for us to be together more often, and we wouldn’t have to spend our precious family time cleaning.
We just recently got a new vacuum and my love affair with keeping a clean home has been reignited. We had a long run with a more affordable hoover wind tunnel. It broke a few years ago and we spent almost as much money as it would have cost brand new to have it fixed, at the time we didn’t really have the dough to go out and buy a new vacuum. We promised that the next time the vacuum gave out we would use a little rainy day money and invest in something that would last. After much research and debate we decided on this Miele S6270 vac (not sponsored or anything b-t-dubs) and so far it’s been the best.
What I really like about it is that it does an awesome job cleaning the hardwood floors, and it’s easy to get under furniture. It even sucks up the little dust pieces along the edges of cabinets, dirt our old vac was to clunky to get at. I hardly use the broom anymore. I also love that it’s a canister vacuum and I can tuck it away in the mudroom cabinets instead of downstairs in the basement. Now it’s always within reach.
In celebration of the new ‘cuum, I decided to go back to an old tradition that I hold near and dear. Weekly chore to-do lists! I used to live and die by these things people. For me, having a list like this makes cleaning really easy and not so daunting of a task. Besides the laundry, most of these chores take me less than half an hour per day and leave me with a really happy and clean home that the fam and I enjoy being in. I’m back to the old tidy me!
Look, I love how it tucks into this cabinet! I’d love to hear your housekeeping tips, do you keep lists too, do you have an awesome method for keeping a tidy home? Lay it on me my Type A homies!
where are the white bins in your closet from? They look like Ikea, but I don’t remember them..
yes please tell me!
ah, they are ikea: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80182237/
(VARIERA Trash basket, white)
Hey, you guys! I am the worst lately, sorry it took so long to respond. Yes they are from Ikea, you can find them in the kitchen section – they are like 2 bucks a piece.
This is timely…..we have an electrolux that was a hand me down from DH’s grandparent’s. I LOVE that thing (one time I wrote a poem about it. For real), but we just paid to have it fixed for the second time in a couple of years, and now it’s broken again. It’s probably 30 years old by now, and I think it’s time to let it go, so I might be in the market for a new one and was planning to look into Mieles. So glad to hear good things!
Hey Gretchen! Wow, that is so great that your vacuum has lasted so long! Wow. So far so good with the miele. I really hope that it lives up to all the reviews – I am beyond impressed with how much better it does compared to our old vacuum.
I love my Miele. I have terrible allergies and my eyes used to swell up anytime I vacuumed. I got the Neptune with a HEPA filter and now I (practically) dance around with it singing like a Disney Princess while I clean. I don’t know why I waited so long.
Shannon! That’s what everyone says about the Miele – it’s really good for allergies. My youngest has trouble with allergies, so I’m really glad I got it for his sake.
I stayed home for basically the same reasons you did: I was a UNIX admin which was 40hrs/week + oncall, some nights, and weekends. We didn’t feel like it would leave much family time, so I’m home. Now, we can do WHATEVER WE WANT evenings and weekends. Except with my son in sports and stuff, it feels like we’re going to all his events. All a part of the fun.
We have a nice Kenmore vac we keep on the 2nd floor, it’s just too kludgy to run up and down the stairs easily (our old house in Tx was one-story). I picked up a Shark Rocket stick vac for the 1st floor and basement, and I LOVE IT! So easy to get out and clean up all the various messes. I think when/if the Kenmore dies we’ll just use the Shark for everything.
Yes, totally Stacey! Isn’t it good to have family time during normal hours? I bet the shark hides away nicely too – that’s always half the battle I think.
Excellent timing as I’ve been researching vacuums. Miele has consistently found its way to the top of my list (backed by Consumer Reports). You’ve inspired me to stop my perpetual research loop and buy it!
I felt a little stuck too, reading all the reviews and such. I just decided I had to pick something, and Miele really had me at the easy storage. Hope you find something you’re really happy with!
Love the Miele brand! I will be buying one of those suckers when my Dyson bites the dust. Europeans know a thing or two about quality home appliances and machines. My mom was in Germany a few months ago and nearly every appliance she saw was Miele.
Yes Emily! That’s what I’ve heard about the Miele too. We even have a licensed repair guy in the area so if it needs a tune up, we have someone locally we can depend on. I hope this baby lasts a long time.
I agree, a good vacuum can change your life! We have a dog (my first time having an indoor pet) with wooden floors and being able to just pass the vacuum to pick up dirt and hair is such a time saver. I used to use endless boxes of Swiffer cloths… Also, I really like your cleaning chart. I use a magnetic white board with these little magnetic labels I found at a teacher supply store. I wrote with a permanent marker on the labels all the things I typically do (laundry, grocery shopping, play date, etc.), and made three columns on the board: To Do this Week, To Do Today and Done. Before bed, I move over the labels that are my “goals” for the next day and as I do them I move them into the Done column. And if I find myself done with everything I had hoped (ha!) I pull from one of the labels in the weekly column. It’s a new system but so far I’ve found it to be helpful at keeping me on track. I’m easily distracted…
I want to know where you found those white bins as well!
Wohoo, Michelle! Cleaning charts rule. It really helps make it seem manageable, and I NEED a tidy home, or I lose my mind. I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who has a cleaning chart ;)
That looks like one awesome vacuum! We just moved to a new home and installed mostly hardwood floors and I’ve been using my lil old vacuum from college. Chore charts…I think I seriously need me one of those!
Jennifer! If you ever get a new vacuum it will change your life. I swear. But maybe that college vac is doing the trick – I dunno. Congrats on the new home!
I just hope everyone in the house has one of those sheets! I think it’s really important for every family member to have chores! I think kids need to see Dad doing house chores too. My kids have been doing their own laundry (we each have a day) since they were 7. Initially I was the foreman but not for long. Honestly, as a Montessori teacher, I say, “don’t do for them anything they can do themselves.” Love your blog.
Thanks so much, Kate – glad you enjoy the blog! Our 3 year old helps with tidying after play – that’s as much as he can do right now, but our six year old helps with chores all the time, and finds a lot of satisfaction from it. He’s my front garden weeder! Don’t worry, I don’t do it all :)
Yesterday, while I was at work, my cousin stole my iPad and tested to see if it
can survive a 40 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now
broken and she has 83 views. I know this is totally off topic but I had to share it with someone!