Maximum impact cleaning is actually a cleaning strategy that my husband taught me. It is a simple concept that I now apply each time I am picking up the house.
When you do a pick-up sweep of the house or even just a room, look for the one thing you can do or pick up that will make the most impact. If you had time to only put away one item, what would make the biggest difference? Making the bed or picking up the dirty socks? Putting the blocks back in the bin or returning a couple of books to the bookshelf? The visible progress will be energizing and it also allows you to get the maximum amount done in case you are interrupted before your cleaning spree is complete.
It is a simple way of getting more bang for your cleaning buck.
Sometimes we don’t realize that we are living in the dark until somebody turns on a light.
Go around your house this week and replace all of the dead light bulbs. It is likely that you will have to purchase some new light bulbs to finish the task; just be sure to make a detailed list of the type, wattage, and quantity you need before you go.
Shed new light on your home.
You are headed out the door to run errands and are trying to get everybody out the door dressed, fed, bathroom breaks completed and……the library books gathered. Usually, though, I can’t even remember what books I’m looking for, let alone all of their hiding places (wedged in the couch cushions, mixed in with the family book collection, hiding in one of the kid’s beds, or becoming acquainted with the family dog).
The Library Bag will remove stress from your life that has become an old friend. Pick a simple canvas bag to be the designated book holder. This bag has two places that it can be at any given time: the car or its corner by the door. The books are free to leave the bag as anybody wills, but they need to be returned to the bag after the reader is finished. It will take a little bit of time (and lots of help from mom) to get everybody used to the routine, but eventually it will become just that – routine.
As an added help to you, leave the book receipt from the library in the bag at all times. That way it is easy to do a quick inventory check before leaving for the library.
Make leaving for the library as easy as picking up the bag.
Some days, okay most days, simply getting out the door in the morning can be one of the biggest challenges you face. Everybody has to be appropriately dressed and fed, basic chores taken care of, shopping lists made, the car loaded with everything but the kitchen sink basic essentials, bathroom breaks coordinated, and snacks packed. And that’s just for a few errands. Then unless you are careful, or are superwoman, you get caught up in the never-ending cycle of snack/mealtime, potty breaks, and nap time.
A little bit of preparation the night before can have a huge impact on how your morning plays out. Some basic chores can be done ahead of time, your shopping lists can be made, outfits laid out, and your car loaded with those store returns and that bag you need to drop off at Goodwill. Since the kids are in bed, you will spend half the time completing these tasks. Preparations like this do double duty; your morning to-do list is significantly shortened, plus you are given a motivational morning boost because you are prepared and already know where to take your first steps (even though your coffee hasn’t kicked in yet).
Thirty minutes of nighttime preparation can change the tone of your whole day.