cleaning my house?

Question

Can someone please give me some suggestions on where to start cleaning my house. It isn't real messy but needs to be picked up. My 16 yr old son has been in three hospitals in the last four days. Long story so I won't get into it. I have neglected my house since last Wed. when my son got really sick now I need to get on the ball and get things done before he comes home.

Answer 1

First and foremost, STOP procrastinating (I do it to). I would start with picking up all the things that don't belong in the family room, dining room, kitchen, etc., and put it in a bag or a box till you're ready to put the stuff away. Have two bags, or boxes, one for trash, and one for all the stuff you are keeping. That way you can get down to the real cleaning. I usually put it away after I'm done dusting, mopping, vacuuming, all the cleaning. I start with the kitchen, then bathrooms, then the living room and family room, then last, the bedrooms. I think what makes it difficult is when you have stuff everywhere that needs to be put away in 5 million different places. If you get that stuff out of the way like I told you initially, it definitely helps your mental block, and gives you a clearer path of what you need to do.

Answer 2

Start with the rooms he's going to be in.
Bathrooms need to be clean - WAY too many germs in there.
Straighten up the basics in his room. If he's like most 16 year old boys, he won't feel at home in his room if it's too clean. Remove anything that could grow - old food/drink containers. (I have photos of mold growing in a glass I found in my son's room once ewww)
Load the dishwasher and wipe down the counter tops.
Other than that, pick up the basics and run the sweeper and call it even. When he gets home, he'll need YOU more than a spotless home, unless he has a compromised immune system - then I'd hire someone as a one time thing, and start fresh once he's home.
If you have a spouse or other children - they can pitch in too - just because you're mom doesn't make you alone accountable for the condition of the home. If they can help make the mess, they can help clean it up.
Again, the most important thing to have in good shape when he gets home is YOU.
Good luck, and I hope all is well for you and your family very soon.

Answer 3

It may look daunting, but like any other goal, focus on only one task at a time, not the overall picture. One thing I do when I am overwhelmed: Walk into a room, look around set a goal to accomplish in the next 20 minutes. Turn it into a competition against the clock. Set an alarm for 15 minutes and move rapidly until that time is up. It doesn't sound like it would work, but it will. It will go by much faster than you think. When that race is done, set another goal and do it again. You'll be surprised...

Answer 4

When my house gets messyThis is how i pick it up
1. I gather all the laundry,sort it, put all the piles in laundry
baskets (still sorted) put 1st load in the washer.
2. I gather all the dirty dishes, pile them on the counter in the
order I wash them.
3. Pick up the loose trash laying around the house and kitchen,
Then I take out to the can.
4. Wash the first batch of dishes to fill the strainer, let them dry
5. By now the first load of laundry shuold be done (or close to it)
Put in dryer, and put another load in the washer.
6. Finish the dishes.
7. Wipe the counters off
8. Clean off the living room table,
9. pick up anything remaining on the living room floor, Then I vacuume it.

Waalaa The house is not spring cleaned but decent enuogh to look at. Hope your son is feeling better, and good luck with everything. Another alternative is to take your realitives up on " let me know if there is anything I can do for you"

Answer 5

Start in the worst room in the house and stay in that room until it's done. Then move on to the next and so on. Last, vacuum the halls.

If you can't decide which is the worst, start with your son's room because he'll be there a lot while recouperating. Then the bathroom, then the rest of the house.

I hope that helps!

Answer 6

Start by bagging up any trash and taking it out. Next take dishes to the sink and put them to soak. Next pick up any laundry/clothing laying around and put them in baskets somewhere out of the way. Then pick up anything on the floor and put it away where it goes. After that, start a load of laundry in the washer, vacuum, dust, and clean the glass. After you're done with the vacuuming, dusting and glass swtich the laundry and then start on the dishes either washing them or into the dishwasher. Then do more laundry. By now the house should be pretty clean and you can goof off and just put more laundry in and fold laundry and put it away and chill out mostly.

Answer 7

First don't overwhelm yourself. Sounds like you are going through alot. Make a list of what needs to be done and start hitting the list. Even at this point if you can get it picked up before he gets home you can do the deep down cleaning once you have him home. I agree with those that mentioned to start in the kitchen first. Good luck!

Answer 8

I would just start in one room and work your way through the rest of the house. Usually I start by putting on a load of clothes to wash and then go to a bedroom and don't stop in that one room until I have finished. Put a garbage bag and a clothes hamper outside the door so you don't have to leave the room to go to the garbage or laundry room.

Answer 9

start with picking up the clutter, make lots of piles
then do laundry, so it can be done while you do other stuff
then make beds, it makes the room look soooo clean!
then do dishes
then have a glass of wine, or a beer!!!!
then do you nails or read a good book
then switch the laundry
then vacuum
next GO REST!!! you work too hard!

good luck the work will always be there, just relax!

Answer 10

I find the kitchen is always the best place to start. The kitchen and the bathrooms. If you can knock those two out, the rest always seems to go pretty easily. You will have to get off Yahoo answers before that though.