Everyday Heirlooms: Preserving & Teaching Homemaking Skills

May 1-2, 2008

Cleaning To-do Lists

Keeping the house clean can seem like an endless round of chores. However, if you stay ahead of things by doing a little bit each day, the job doesn’t feel so overwhelming. Dividing the housework among all the family members is a good way to teach important skills as well as lightening your load. Put everyone in charge of keep- ing their own bedrooms and bathrooms clean; divide the weekly chores and rotate who is responsible for doing them.

Adapt the following list to accommodate your personal taste and circumstances:

Kitchen Every Day • Wipe down the and counters after doing the dishes or loading the • Wipe down the stove top • Sweep or vacuum the floor

Every Week • Mop the floor • Wipe cabinets, backsplashes, and appliances • Wipe the switch plates • Wipe the inside of the garbage can

Every Season • Empty and scrub the inside of the • Empty and clean the insides of the utensil drawers • Scrub down the cabinet exteriors • Clean the stove-hood filter

Living Room/Family Room Every Day • Pick up crumbs with hand vac • Plump up cushions and fold throws • Wipe tabletops and spot-clean cabinets for fingerprints • Straighten books and magazines; throw out newspapers; put away CD’s, video’s and DVD’s

Everyday Heirlooms: Preserving & Teaching Homemaking Skills/Cleaning To-do Lists May 1-2, 2008 – BYU Women’s Conference Every Week • Dust all surfaces (including electronics, books, blinds, picture frames, window sills and ledges, tops of door frames), remove cobwebs • Dust-mop the floors with a micro fiber cloth, vacuum the rugs or carpeting • Throw out old magazines • Wipe switch plates, doorknobs, and doorjambs • Shake out or vacuum doormat • Vacuum the heating and air-conditioning vents

Every Season • Wash the insides of the windows • Lift big pieces of furniture and vacuum or mop underneath

Bathroom

Every Day • Wipe out the sink • Wipe off vanity top • Wipe the toilet seat and rim • Rinse toilet bowl with a brush • Wipe the mirror and faucet • Squeegee the shower door

Every Week • Scrub the tub • Mop the floor • Wipe switch plates, doorknobs, and doorjambs • Empty and wipe out wastebasket

Every Season • Take down shower curtain and launder according to care instructions • Empty out and clean medicine cabinet; discard expired items

Bedrooms Every Day • Make the bed • Put away and jewelry • Straighten out night table surface

Every Week • Change the sheets • Dust all surfaces and remove cobwebs • Dust or mop the floors and vacuum rugs or carpeting • Throw out magazines • Wipe switch plates, doorknobs, and doorjambs • Empty wastebaskets • Vacuum the heating and air-conditioning vents and the inside of the closet

Every Season • Wash the insides of the windows • Strip the bed and flip the mattress • Launder the mattress pad and the dust ruffle

Everyday Heirlooms: Preserving & Teaching Homemaking Skills/Cleaning To-do Lists May 1-2, 2008 – BYU Women’s Conference