Happy
Memorial Day, everyone, when at 3 p.m. your time we are all asked to
spend 60 seconds, 1 minute in silence, remembering all those who have
made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and all the freedoms we
enjoy.
I know it's been a while but I wanted to
send 1 more email before I end this season of spring cleaning with you
all. I wish I could have stuck more to the daily emails but I know you
all understand with so much I had going with Eliza. We are now getting
what we need for her so just having final meetings and calls to get all
that in place. I'm grateful!
Here's our final
master list May 28 - June 8, for the next couple weeks, I've added some
final suggested daily tasks should
you want to continue more on your own. My big final push/focus is
going to be #73, the last one, as that is piling up as the kids get
older with more work and things they bring (dump) home the end of the
year. It never fails, each year they think they want to keep everything
(all those crumpled math papers and notebooks they'll never look at
again). Our schools do a nice job of providing a final scrapbook
"portfolio day" so I'm going to get rid of all of last year's
"notebooks" since they are now well out of mind! I think I have a total
of 10 old school papers from growing up so I don't feel guilty in the
least!
If you don't have kids' things to
go through, you can work on your own "keepsake" piles or photos and try
to spend some time getting rid/ordering those things more.
Or you can call it a wrap and maybe do this again in the Fall or next
Spring.
Thanks for sticking with me through
this! It's been fun and I hope you have been able to at least do some
de-cluttering or train your eye more to keep de-cluttering as it will be
a constant battle so don't feel like it's a losing battle! That's why
you just do one thing you can (a day) and you will stay much more
de-cluttered then you did. Plus I really think a regular discipline of
some sort will also be a key way to stop bringing more stuff "in."
Have a GREAT summer, everyone!
fondly,
Aimee
2012 Spring
Cleaning ---task a day--Master List
- Throw away at least 10 spices--January 1
- Get rid of at least 10 utensils (and clean out utensil drawers/canisters)--January 2
- Clean out your junk drawer--January 3
- Clean out tupperware & pots/pans cabinets--January 4
- Clean out your personal drawers--socks/jammies/undergarments--January 5
- Clean out all your baking goods/cabinets--January 6
- CDs/DVDs/Wii/xbox video games--January 9
- Serving Dishes/Vases/dishes rarely/never use--January 10
- Give away at least 1 coat/family member--January 11
- Clean out your jewelry box--January 12
- Clean out the tops of your refrigerator and microwave--January 13
- Clean out all your board games--January 16
- Get rid of at least 2 pairs of shoes per family member--January 17
- Clean out your Laundry area--January 18
- Clean out your Linen closets/blankets/sheets--January 19
- Get rid of old Make-up & only keep 30 items total--January 20
- Clean out your bedside night stand--January 23
- Clean out office supplies--January 24
- Clean out gift wrapping stuff--January 25
- Clean out 1 desk drawer--January 26
- Clean out another drawer! (flashlights, menus, batteries, keys)--January 27
- Clean out one paperwork "pile"--January 30
- Clean out your bathroom vanity(ies)--January 31
- Clean under the sinks!--February 1
- Clean out your keys--February 2
- Paper Files--taxes etc--February 3
- Clean out pet stuff--February 6 (aimee sick/day off February 7)
- all your Medicines--February 8
- First Aid items--February 9
- Cookbooks--February 10
- Coat Closet--February 13
- Dresser/clothes--February 14
- Dresser/clothes--February 15
- Food cabinets (1-2)--February 16
- Food cabinets (1-2)--February 17
- Books (get rid of at least 50)--February 20
- Dresser/clothes-YOURS if haven't done yet--February 21
- Bedroom clothes closet!--February 22
- File cabinets--get rid of as many papers as you can at more a glance--February 23
- 20 more books--February 24
- Purse--February 27
- Refrigerator--February 28
- Oven--February 29
- Everyday dishes and small appliances--the misfits & never use blender, chopper, juicer, waffle iron, snow cone maker, etc.!--March 1
- Contact List (create or update)--March 2
- House Decorations (& magazines)--March 5
- More files/paperwork piles--March 6
- Small Kitchen appliances--March 7: one or all, as can do simultaneously! Dishwasher: run dishwasher empty w/1 cup baking soda. Coffeemaker: run with 1 part vinegar, 2 parts water, then run w/ just water rinse to vinegar out thoroughly. Microwave: Put bowl water w/ wooden spoon in it(so doesn't superheat/risk burning you) and microwave 3-5 minutes. Can add 1 tsp baking soda and/or slice lemon to water if you want to also deodorize microwave. Wait 2 minutes when time is up and then remove bowl carefully & wipe microwave clean!
- Toaster wipe down and crumb cleaning--March 8 (a break for today!)
- Put away heavy winter gear!--March 9 (even if still keep few things out)
- Craft supplies--March 12
- WINDOWS!--March 13
- More files--dig deep in those folders this time!--March 14
- Freezer--like we did frig--March 15
- Cleaning supplies/closet--March 16
- Clean inside of your car--windows, vacuum (& get carwash!)--March 20
- Clean out your glove box!--March 21
- Clean out rest of winter accessories!--March 22
- Declutter your mind, 5 minute-meditation--March 26
- Den or Kids room-March 27 & 28
- Holiday Decorations--April 5
- Organize all your/family medical records in on document/place--April 13
- Clean out your wallet--April 25
- Copy all info that you keep in your wallet (in case ever lose)--April 26
- Clean outdoor patio furniture, driveway, etc--May 7
- Create a monthly budget tracking chart to see better where money goes--May 11
- Clean out your beach bag/gear--May 28
- Clean out your summer toys/sporting goods--May 29
- Organize gardening tools/outdoor equipment--May 30
- Clean out gardening shed or outdoor storage benches--May 31
- E-mail cleaning out--spend an hour organizing/deleting, replying, etc--June 1
- Computer files and online documents--spend 1-2 hours deleting, organizing--June 4-5
- Kids previous year's school work or other "keepsakes" in attic basement--spend 1 hour a day--June 5-8
