Get a handle on cleaning

Having a room cleaning system for your home is a great way to make the chore of keeping a clean house easier.

When the children get up to about 8-10 years old or so, I use these written out plans for cleaning rooms that are their responsibility to clean each week. Room Cleaning Systems are handy! Not only do they help a child remember what to do first and next, they can be a great check list for moms or dads who are cleaning.

If you’re anticipating company for the holidays, Room Cleaning Systems can be a great help in getting it all done.

These are two of my Room Cleaning Systems. If you use a RCS, just tailor it to your own room and your own style.

Living Room Cleaning

Monday through Friday, & Saturday**

1. Pick up and put away everything that does not belong in the living room
2. Put away all videos and DVDs
3. Put away all books
4. Run the vacuum
5. **Straighten the bookshelf
6. **Straighten the lamp table and dust it
7. **Dust the desk
8. **Put away everything off of the little table, dust it and clean with Lysol water.
9. Straighten the sofa and chair covers OR if the covers aren’t on the furniture, run the vacuum on the furniture.
10. **Use a clean, damp cloth to clean the baseboards, doorframes and window frames
11. **Clean off the computer desk, clean it with a clean damp cloth
12. **Dust the bookshelves over the computer desk
13. **Dust the pictures and decorations on the walls
14. **Dust the TV with a clean damp cloth
15. **Run the vacuum hose over the tops of the curtains

Bathroom Cleaning

Monday, Wednesday and Saturday

1. Gather supplies; 4 cleaning rags, cleaning spray, Lysol, window cleaner, broom and dustpan.
2. Make cleaning solution using one large bowl of HOT water and about ½ cup Lysol.
3. Wipe down (with cleaning solution and rag #1), and put away, all bottles and containers.
4. Wipe down all other containers and items from the sink, commode and tub, and place them on the floor.
5. Spray the commode, inside and out with cleaning spray.
6. Use Lysol water and rag #2 to clean; sink, tile on wall, both of the doors, cabinet front and tub (inside and out). Wipe down the top of the tile where it meets the wall.
7. Use rag # 2 to clean commode, inside and out. Clean inside using the commode brush, if needed. Rinse out the rag if necessary.
8. Use rag #3 to dry surfaces that are too wet.
9. Replace all items from the floor on the tub, sink and commode top. Sweep the floor.
10. Make a new bowl of cleaning solution and use rag #4 to clean the floor. Clean especially well around the commode and corners of the room.
11. Open the window. Pour ½ cup bleach around the base of the commode. Let sit for about 10 minutes, wipe up with a rag or paper towels.
12. Replace rug.