Missed the first few days’ assignments? You can see all the posts in the 4 Weeks to a More Organized Home series here.
Day 7 Assignment
::Get dressed in something that makes you feel great {there’s something about dressing in clothes that make you feel great that just gives you more energy and zest for life! Get your free copy of SarahMae’s ebook, Frumps to Pumps, if you need more motivation in this.}
::Sit down with a cup of coffee or tea, refer to your list of weekly goals, and make a list of no more than 5-7 specific things you want to accomplish today.
::Complete your morning routine {if you don’t have a morning routine, take some time to create one today! Read my How to Develop a Routine That Works–And Stick With It series for step-by-step help.}
::Set the timer for 15 minutes and vacuum the main living areas of your home.
::Wipe down all the baseboards in your home. If you have children who can help, you might divide your home up into sections and have everyone take a section so you can get this job done quickly!
::Find 7 items to get rid of today. Throw them out, stick them in a donate or garage sale box, give them to a friend who can use them, or list them on Craigslist or eBay.
Note: If you work outside the home or have a really busy week with little time for extra projects, just do the bolded project above.
At 9 p.m. EST tonight, I’ll be posting my progress and pictures, along with a link-up for you to share your progress and pictures, too. Here’s to our productivity today!
Miriah says
Wow, am I the only one who doesn’t have baseboards in the house?! I need to focus on catching up with basic housework, so this “break” couldn’t be more timely:)
Meg says
The baseboards will definately be easy compared to the car! We have 3 vehicles and I only tackled one of them yesterday which took me almost an hour. I am trying my best to keep up daily but I still have to backtrack and do the freezer and clean under the bed. Thanks for the challenge!!!
becky says
well shoot i felt like i got yesterday off as our new to use van is still looking clean and new after 2 months. but at 33 days til baby #3 arrivals i think the kids will be helping with this one….though i like the comment above about using it as a punishment….though at 7 and 5 i think they would find it fun (they both love to dust and wash the walls in stairwells….totally don’t know where they get that from!!!). maybe i will have to save this one and play a little catch up as i didn’t do the fridge or freezer clean out (but i know we have nothing hiding in the fridge as i am good about tossing stuff out weekly on trash day)
RachaelP says
Just curious, how do we get the free version of the From Frumps to Pumps ebook? I went to her site and it’s $4.99 for a download. Is there a coupon code to use? Thanks!!
Crystal says
If you subscribe to her blog, you should get the download link for free.
RachaelP says
Got it, thanks!!
Les says
Hate the dust too.
Anyway, check for the first one! Wear something that makes you feel great. Wore my favorite dress for home use.
Meredith says
Definitely enlisting my family’s help with this one!
Amy says
Um…what are baseboards? I was the one who never cleaned the freezer, and I have also never cleaned the baseboards. But I’m going to do it!
Thanks, Crystal!
Lana says
It is the board at the bottom of the walls next to the floor.
Kim@GoingThrifty says
Oh Man! this is my Summer time discipline for the older kids when they cannot seem to stop bickering with one another after being reminded multiple times. Each get a little pail of warm sudsy water, a towel, and a different part of the house. I LOVE my baseboards in the summer! (…and my kids!)
Shelly says
I am joining in for the first time today. The whole house that is going to be a lot of baseboards to wipe down.
Mo says
so… we’ve been sick – all four of us – all weekend and yesterday with the stomach flu. Prior to that, the baby, who isn’t sleeping through the night even at 8 months old, was sick all on his own. Before that – we made a quick decision to put our house on the market – which meant fast and messy work getting it ready and practically empty to be shown to buyers. It sold in three days and inspections quickly followed. Now that we are beyond ALL of that it’s time to try to get back to Real Life around here! When I read “make a list of no more than 5-7 specific things you want to accomplish today,” I sat down and started thinking “What do I NEED to start with to get us back on track?” “collect laundry… wash laundry… dry laundry… fold laundry… put laundry away…” LOL! If anyone needs me – I think you know which room to look for me in today! 😉 I needed that laugh to get this day off to a good start. Thanks Crystal! (Here’s to hoping that grocery shopping and making supper make it on to the list too!!)
Melissa says
Do you think you could make a series “link” for this? I missed when it first started and my OCD self wants to do it from the very beginning, but I’m seven days behind! Argh. 🙂
Melissa says
Oops….yes, it’s been one of those mornings already. I see that you already did. That will teach me to thoroughly read the posts!!
lori says
Just a suggestion … pick it up here and then go back and do the first week at the end.
Hailey says
I am also starting this week and what I’m attempting to do is pick up the current day PLUS the coordinating day from the first week. A lot of the things are the same (morning routine, daily to do list) I’m doing 2 15 minute pick ups when I have time during the day, and then also trying to tackle the bolded job from each day and finding 14 things instead of 7 which I think will be easy for me because we have CLUTTER A PLENTY! Yesterday I did day 1 & day 6 and cleaned my purse and the car, today I am doing day 2 & day 7. I do have my older daughter home on Spring break though and she can be somewhat helpful with her little brothers when I need a few extra minutes for a project 🙂 Good luck!
Melissa says
Thanks for the suggestions, ladies! I think I might just start with today and pick those extra days up if I can and maybe down the road. I don’t think I’ll be able to get two days at a time done with everything I have on my plate right now and three little helpers. Today the 3 year old and the 2 year old “helped” me by emptying a container of lotion while I was changing my baby’s pants in the other room. I’m talking lotion all over the floor, closet, hallway, hall coats, and all over my two year old. Argh. =) Although…I must admit, I looked for my cell phone to snap a quick picture of my 2 year old completely covered in lotion from head to toe. It was thick, aquaphilic lotion, so it looked hilarious. =)
rachel says
i think our two-year-olds would get along well! she tends to cover her body with diaper rash cream…not the easiest stuff to clean! 🙂
jessica ballard says
@Anna- sometimes for me wiping down the baseboards at all is an accomplishment I usually use vinegar and water 50/50, but othertimes just a wet washcloth.
@Crystal- Thank you for this, yesterday I cleaned out the very back of my SUV where my oldest sits, and cleaned out the trash from hubbys truck. Still needs some work in it- like finding homes for the other stuff in there lol, but its a start- got a lot done till the 2 littlest woke from naps.
Cristinia says
I vacuum the base boards first and then wash with a wet soapy cleaning washcloth. Small bucket with warm soapy water in the same room is very handy. Have fun :0
tracie says
I had the kids do ours last week. Getting ready to move in a week so I’ll spend the day packing and figuring out the menu for the next week to use what we have. Hope everyone has a great day
Rebecca says
My boys LOVE doing this job with an old sock on their hands 🙂
Lana says
Baseboards are on my regular chore list and I did them last week. 🙂 Here is the easiest way to do them on a regular basis: buy a $1 duster with a washable head at Dollar Tree and duct tape it to an old mop or broom handle. This baby can reach behind furniture and into corners without having to move anything and you can walk around the house and dust without bending over too. Just throw the duster in the wash and you are ready for next month. No need to wet wash them! I have walnut stained baseboards that really show the dust and this gets them perfectly clean. I am always surprised at how much dust is on the duster since I do them every 4 weeks.
Danielle B says
Great idea! I know what I’m looking for at Dollar Tree next Sunday! 🙂
Heather says
Just put a sock on your foot and run your foot along the baseboard . . . .
Mackenzie says
Baseboards…. 🙁 but it must be done!
Tami says
Thank you for this series! It’s been my favorite! It has been so encouraging and I appreciate you breaking it down into bite size assignments so it’s not overwhelming!
lori says
Ugh. I hate doing the bseboards. Thanks for the nudge.
Valerie Henry says
The WHOLE house??? EEK!
Sakura says
My feelings exactly!
Tricia says
I thought this assignment was going to be “easy”….
Crystal says
Well, I guess “easy” is relative! For me, it’s much easier than cleaning out the vehicle!
Meredith says
I know!!;)
Victoria @Snail Pace Transformations says
I use a mixture of 1/2 vinegar 1/2 water and 1 to 3 drops of dish soap and place in a spray bottle and spray down mine, then wipe. Both the vacuuming and the baseboards are normally jobs my kids do, so I think I will concentrate on the master bedroom again. The rug needs a good vacuum and it has been a while since I have moved furniture out to clean the baseboards. Now it is off to get started! my house is already starting to look better and its only Day 7 of 20!
Kay says
This used to be my job every time we moved when I was a kid. Plain old sponge & water always worked for us – you can go back over it if it’s really dusty.
Danielle B says
Almost all of our baseboards have chipped paint from where they’ve been painted over and over by the townhouse management. They never chip off all the paint and then put one nice coat on, so over the last year especially they’ve begun to chip off very badly.
Thankfully though, our maintenance department gave us (for free!) a 5 gallon bucket of paint that they use to repaint the townhomes. Next month we’ll be working on repainting the whole townhouse. With that in mind, I’m just going to be catching up a few of the tasks I haven’t gotten to yet, so that tomorrow I’ll feel completely caught up! 🙂
Here’s to getting back on track and another productive day!
Rose says
Just the other week my boys who are 4 and 2 1/2 wanted to help me clean so i gave them each a wet sponge and had them wipe down the baseboards. They had so much fun helping that they kept coming back and asking for more things to clean!
Heather @ Work At Home Market says
I saw a tip about using dryer sheets to wipe down your base boards. It helps cut down on both dust & “pet hair” if you have any.
Robin says
i use hot dish-soapy water.
Anna says
What the best thing to wipe the baseboards down with? Dish soap and water? Bleach and water? Just water? Something else? Clearly I haven’t done this job before….. 🙂
Heather Leiby says
I use a swiffer duster (or dry dust rag) then a Mr. Clean Magic eraser. You can even vacuum the base boards with a hose attatchment and brush, then wipe down after with your liquid of choice.
Tracy says
I make a hot water/pine sol solution- same stuff I mop the floors with.