Summer House Clean- It's About Time!

Please tell me I'm not the only homeschooling mom who gets to May and thinks, "How in the world did I let the house go this badly?" Conditions are sanitary and mostly organized, but paint chips, black smudges, and errant Sharpie markers from overly-zealous 4-year-olds have taken over.

I was bemoaning this phenomenon years ago when it was new to me, and a seasoned homeschooling mom pointed out, "You've been cultivating relationships and focusing on school with your children. It's a better thing to let the house go than to let them go." YES. But now it's time.

By way of example, let me give you a little tour of pending projects. First, I give you the family room cabinets:

"Where are the doors?", you ask. Well, the doors are in my office, awaiting painting. It's been two months.

And then there are the temporary drapes that are pathetically too short. I need to go fabric shopping. It's been a year.

 Paint chips, missing. I don't remember how long these corners have been this way. Mighty Joe has added his signature. In red.

 

The couch. We bought it cheap, knowing it would be used by a bevy of kids, but we didn't know it would only last for five years. Egads. I don't even begin to know how to fix that.

But. I do have a plan! Here's the thing with plans, though, my friends. Hold them loosely. I'll set out to accomplish this list all summer long, but if we hit September with some or even most of the list unfinished, it's okay. We've been busy cultivating relationships.

Summer Housekeeping List ♥

Week One

Family Room- vacuum upholstery, touch up paint, clean baseboards, empty and wipe down cupboards, re-organize cupboard contents, clean out sliding glass door track, mop cabana, clean fireplace tiles, dust fan

 Week Two

Guest Room- wash all linens, clean out closets, vacuum and dust closets, vacuum under bed, clean out under-bed boxes, touch up paint, clean baseboards, clean fan

Week Three

Living Room- vacuum upholstery, touch up paint, clean baseboards, dust palms, replace curtains

Week Four

Dining Room- touch up paint, clean baseboards,  clean glass top, clean chandelier, dust cabinet, wash all glasswear and dust all pieces and books, fix broken chair

Week Five 

Kitchen- touch up paint, clean baseboards, clean chandelier, clean pendants, empty and wipe down cupboards, re-organize cupboard contents, clean out fridge

This is a huge week because the kitchen is such a big task.  I tend to schedule this week when I know I'll have the time and the energy to tackle it. 

Week Six

Abby's and Joe's Room- touch up paint, clean baseboards, dust blinds, clean out drawers, re-organize closet, wipe down dressers, dust fan

This is an easy week and I schedule this room purposely after the big kitchen week to give myself a break.

Week Seven

Linen Closet- sort through all the holiday stuff and get rid of unwanted items, dust down shelves, sort through other boxes

Master Closet- sort all clothes, re-organize shelves, mop, clean baseboards, clean mirrors

Week Eight

Laundry Room- touch up paint, clean baseboards, wipe down washer and dryer, clean out dryer vent, vacuum out hampers, empty and wipe down cupboards, re-organize cupboard contents, clean out lighting fixtures

Week Nine

Master Bedroom- touch up paint, clean baseboards, clean out sliding glass door track, dust down and oil armoire, re-organize drawers, wash windows, clean out bathroom cupboards, dust fan 

Week Ten

School Room- touch up paint, clean baseboards, clean windows and screens, dust bookshelves, empty and wipe down cupboards, re-organize cupboard contents

Week Eleven

Kids' Rooms- touch up paint, clean baseboards, make lists with the kids of what needs to be done and supervise them

Office- touch up paint, clean baseboards, clean windows and screens, dust bookshelves, empty and wipe down cupboards, re-organize cupboard contents, clean lighting fixture