Welcome to my world

Welcome to my "OCD tendencies world". The other day I was talking to my friend Lori, and we were talking trash...cleaning trash, that is. She asked me how I kept my house clean all of the time. First of all, it isn't clean all of the time. Like now. Sundays are a day of rest, ya know? But the fact is, I begin to panic if my house gets too out of hand. I begin to break into a cold sweat and my heart begins to race. It's a sickness and, I'm a freak. It's not a pretty sight. And I blame my genetics. It's a well known fact that there is several of us, that carry this fanatics gene.

I am constantly striving to become more organized and keeping my household clean. While talking to Lori, I told her that I have mapped out my cleaning schedule for the ENTIRE year. Yup, I am a freak. I told her that I was thinking of posting my schedule on my blog and giving little tips here and there. Then I began to think to myself, "I'm not an expert! What the heck am I thinking?"

Well, she said I should do it. Blame her for this dorky post. So if you want to enter my freaky world or if you would just like to dabble in it here and there, you are more than welcome to. And hey, I'm always looking for more tips and ideas, and will be more than happy to read them! I may even post them! Unless, it's such a great idea that I just don't want to share with anyone, because I'm selfish. Kinda like when you have a great recipe that always gets wonderful accolades and you want to be the only one to be put on that special recipe pedestal.

I began my "schedule" on Saturday and left the 1st and 2nd of this month to take down Christmas. I thought I'd just share my organization and deep cleaning schedule. I really don't think you'd be interested in my daily cleaning schedule. Besides, I'm pretty sure everyone already has an established cleaning schedule. If you really, really, really, want to know... just let me know.

I try to spread out my deep cleaning tasks through out the year, a little at a time. Now that Conner is a toddler, it is just impossible to do too much at a time. He won't let me. I think he's plotting against me. :)

On Saturday, I cleaned the closet near the front door. I purged, I wiped down the walls, I cleaned the floor, and I gently placed our necessary nick knacks in their containers and places. Awwwwww! Inner peace.

Here's a little tip! I keep a flashlight in every closet of our home. There's nothing more annoying than looking for a flashlight when the power has gone out when it's dark.

Today I am having the carpets cleaned. I schedule them when the carpet cleaning company is have a "deal". This is also when I use my carpet rake. It fluffs up my carpet pile and opens up the fibers so when I have the carpets cleaned, they get more of the embedded dirt. I try to use the rake once a month, but a lot of the times, I forget. See, I'm not totally crazy. I schedule my carpets to be cleaned every 6 months. Don't worry, I've mapped it out in my future schedule.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) I will also be cleaning my entry way's door, walls, baseboards, and shelf thingy above the closet. You can make your own wall cleaning solution of warm water, ammonia, white vinegar and baking soda. Personally, I just use a household product, diluted with warm water. I also have a close personal relationship with the Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. Shhhhh. Don't tell my husband. They are wonderful and clean crayon marks, dry boogers (not that my kids would ever do such a thing), scuff marks, and I have even cleaned black permanent marker off of my bathroom wall! You can't even tell where my neighbor's boys wrote on the wall with the permanent marker! They are, indeed, Maaaa-gic. (insert twinkling sound effects)

*Tip: you can also get rid of the stubborn crayon marks, by spraying a little WD-40 on a rag and wiping the marks off with it.

To prevent water dripping down your arms to your pits (isn't that a lovely sight?), wrap dishtowels/rags around your wrists and secure them with a rubber band. See, I read that tip on some Internet sight. Start cleaning from the ceiling, down. You don't want to have to wipe the water drips after you just slaved over the walls. Riveting, I know.

I have vaulted ceilings and I'm afraid of heights. You will not be catching me on a ladder. So I use my window washer, with an extension pole! I bought it at a janitorial supply store. The craft stores and the janitorial supply stores are my havens. I break out into song, every time I enter them. By the way, the squeegee part is detachable.

Someone also said that they use a Swiffer wet mop to clean their walls. What a good idea! That would be perfect for the lower ceilings and walls.

I know what you are thinking, how do you clean the shelf thingy above the closet? And if you weren't thinking that, I bet you are now. Well, that's why I had kids. My husband brings in the heavy ladder and then I send Conner up with a clean rag to wipe everything down. Naw, I'm just joshin' with ya. I do get brave once in a while. I can ask my husband, but I don't want to have to wait a month.:) You did not just hear me say that!

My daily schedule also includes, the usual. You know? Making beds, dishes, vacuuming, picking up clutter, and changing poopy diapers. Oh joy. I clean my master bedroom bathroom once a week, the downstairs bathroom once a week, and the hallway bathroom (the one that my son uses) at least 2 times a week. Those of you that have boys, know why. The hallway bathroom usually gets a daily wipe down with Clorox Wipes. Darn those little boys with bad aim.

Saturday I will be making a DI trip also. Gotta get rid of the old clothes, ugly candle holders, and jello molds that have never been used. I cleaned out my storage rooms in November, and have a truck load to donate!

I will let my fellow OCD-ites what wonderful plans I have scheduled for next week on Sunday! I know you just can't wait.

So there you have it. Happy cleaning and organizing fellow OCD-ites!