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My Simple Wild

a motherhood & simple living blog

February 12, 2018 / lifestyle

My New Weekly Cleaning Schedule + A FREE Printable Checklist

I was standing there washing dishes when I noticed how disgustingly dirty and grimey my kitchen blinds were. “When was the last time I even cleaned these?!” I thought. Ew.

I am a fairly clean person. My home is pretty tidy most days, I vacuum daily and I am great at keeping the main rooms clutter-free. But when it comes to actually CLEANING my house… I suck. The baseboards are caked with dust, the photo frames rarely dusted… I get lazy. I decided to make a weekly cleaning routine for myself and I am promising to stick with it! I made two lists- one is my daily checklist of what I need to do every single day. The other is for the tasks I always forget about, and I split them up throughout the week.

My daily tasks:

  1. Before leaving your room, make the bed. Don’t worry, Martha Stewart won’t be checking your hotel corners. Just throw the blanket/duvet on, fluff the pillows and call it a day.
  2. Clear off your nightstand if you are like me and end up with like five glasses of water next to your bed. (I’m like the little girl in the Sixth Sense, I swear!)
  3. Then you can head to the kitchen and unload the dishwasher. I know, this sucks. Who wants to do anything when they first wake up? But just do it. It will make the rest of your day SO much easier, I promise
  4. After finishing off the coffee, clean and dry the coffee pot ( Nathan makes a pot before leaving for work and there’s usually a cup left for me in there)
  5. Wipe down bathroom counters after getting ready for the day
  6. Throw one load of laundry in each day
  7. Sweep the kitchen and wipe down table after every meal (Because kids)
  8. Clean the kitchen as you cook throughout the day.
  9. Put the mail away right away- whether it’s filed or thrown in the recyclable. We have a tendency to have it stack up on our kitchen counters!
  10. Pick up toys, socks, shoes, and whatever else throughout the day as you see it.
  11. Clean the kitty litter box
  12. Take the garbage out each night
  13. Wipe down the kitchen sink at the end of the night
  14. Vacuum the main traffic areas if needed

My weekly tasks:

The other cleaning tasks that I am not always great at, I split up throughout the week.

  • Mondays are for vacuuming the stairs and basement (which is also the playroom) and to vacuum the bedrooms and hallways.
  • Tuesday is bathroom cleaning day as well as washing all the whites. I have white bathroom rugs, bath towels, and bed sheets so I will wash those all together on Tuesdays.
  • Wednesdays I will dust the blinds, sanitize the light switches and door knobs, and dust the light fixtures and ceiling fans.
  • Thursday’s vacuum the sofa, disinfect remotes and gaming controllers, dust the living room and water the house plants.
  • Fridays I will try to wash and vacuum out the car. We have a monthly subscription to our car wash so we can go an unlimited amount of times and the vacuums are free. This really saves you money if you clean your car at least once a week! Then I will focus on the kitchen and clean the microwave, wipe out the fridge, wipe down cabinets, walls and counters. Dust the shelves, sweep and steam mop the floor, and clean the kitchen chairs with a soapy rag.

My cleaning schedule may change up a little come summer time, but for now, this is what I am going to stick with! I’m going to laminate this page so I can use a fine tip dry erase marker over and over. Hang it up on your fridge or command center. Make sure it’s in a spot that you will see it everyday! If you don’t have a laminator, putting it in a binder sleeve protector would work too.

If you want a printable copy of my cleaning routine click here

Before- EW. This old porcelain sinks stains so easily and without wiping it down after each use, it starts to look like this!
I sprinkle on some Bon Ami and let it sit for a couple minutes then with a sponge wipe it all up! No scrubbing needed
Look at how clean and shiny this is! There are a few light stains still, but this is just after wiping without any scrubbing at all. Not too shabby

Cleaning kit checklist:

  • An all purpose cleaner – I like using my Young Living Thieves and [amazon_textlink asin=’B01MFAWJF9′ text=’Mrs Meyers All Purpose’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’Newmommasurvival’ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’bc5d1dd4-0dde-11e8-ab53-69823287118c’]
  • [amazon_textlink asin=’B00J8QK200′ text=’Norwex ‘ template=’ProductLink’ store=’Newmommasurvival’ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’1a679087-017b-11e8-ab33-353a580efdd9′] window cloth (I use this to clean all my mirrors)
  • A mild abrasive cleaner -I like [amazon_textlink asin=’B00LSCTXCK’ text=’Borax’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’Newmommasurvival’ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’d363bd45-0dde-11e8-96de-c71b2d7a9818′] + [amazon_textlink asin=’B018OT7JBG’ text=’Bon Ami’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’Newmommasurvival’ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’df63cab4-0dde-11e8-b3ba-ff4753c7be54′]
  • White cloths/rags (lint-free)
  • A good [amazon_textlink asin=’B006ZUW070′ text=’toilet bowl cleaner’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’Newmommasurvival’ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’f4029254-0dde-11e8-b32e-0da9b1c6935c’] and brush
  • [amazon_textlink asin=’B0033WT4ZO’ text=’Disinfecting wipes’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’Newmommasurvival’ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’007ead42-0ddf-11e8-9e8f-b7858eaa9102′] for cleaning the toilet ( I keep this right in the cabinet under my bathroom sink. With boys, I have to clean the toilet quite often)
  • Bucket
  • Rubber gloves
  • [amazon_textlink asin=’B005ILL5IW’ text=’Tile scrub brush’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’Newmommasurvival’ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’0b204690-0de0-11e8-9b6f-1372d541b5e8′]
  • Essential oils: lemon, Thieves, Purification are what I use most. I will use either lemon or thieves oil in my steam mop, drop a couple drops of purification in the bottom of my kitchen garbage can once a week, and add a drop of lemon or thieves to my dish scrub brush. Just one drop of lemon down my garbage disposal freshens the sink. I also use three drops lemon and three drops purification on my wool dryer balls every few loads to make my laundry smelling amazing! (Lavender is another great one for the wool dryer balls)
  • Baking soda (what I use to clean my very old porcelain sink that stains very easily!)
  • Vinegar
  • Sponges
  • Don’t forget a good [amazon_textlink asin=’B0028MB3HM’ text=’steam mop’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’Newmommasurvival’ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’3cb2187b-0de0-11e8-aea0-05b17d2131fe’] & vacuum

I store some cleaning supplies that I use to clean the kitchen right under the kitchen sink. For the rest of my cleaning supplies I store them in my linen closet which is in our main hallway. I use an over-the-door [amazon_textlink asin=’B018H030EM’ text=’shoe organizer’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’Newmommasurvival’ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’cbd7b76c-017a-11e8-b501-371c5856c559′] to store all my cleaning products. It allows more room for the linens and everything is so easy to find. I shared my linen closet organization in this post.

To shop some of may favorite cleaning products and gadgets:

[amazon_link asins=’B01FHUJ1FC,B006ZUW070,B013BZQGG2,B00OWRAMYQ,B00T2VV6O2,B00JFC0YDM,B00J8QK200,B01GJKFKTK,B00L2SLXKA,B01M4MJ9Z9′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’Newmommasurvival’ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’9e1d9f22-0176-11e8-874c-614ff8114cbe’]

How to save money on cleaning supplies/household essentials:

I started using Grove Collaborative because I have heard so many great things about the service. (this is not sponsored, just sharing the love!) If you have not heard of Grove Collaborative yet, it’s basically a  auto-replenishment service for natural household and personal products. They suggest a schedule to help keep you stocked and on-budget with your home products but the scheduled shipments are completely customizable. They sell cleaning products, deodorant, baby shampoo, vitamins, hand sanitizer…

So far I really like it! My first shipment I got a LOT for my money as they often have a free gift with your first $20 purchase. I spent about $40 and was able to restock on a bunch of my favorite brands. The walnut scouring sponges that came free are a new favorite of mine. They effortlessly wipe away stuck-on food without scratching your dishes. And they are made of crushed up walnuts, which I think is just really cool. The free kitchen towel was also a great freebie because it’s a really good quality towel. Thick, absorbent and fairly large, it has become my favorite.  JOIN GROVE TODAY AND GET A FREE GIFT SET!

Another “subscription” I have to save money is my wholesale membership to Young Living. I buy my toothpastes, mouth wash, laundry detergent and all my oils from them. Besides the consistency of quality of the products, I really love that with their Essential Rewards (the monthly order) you do get rewarded! I have been doing the essential rewards program for just 8 months, but I already have over $65 of rewards to use! The new line of all-natural cosmetics is what I will be trying out next because I have yet to hear a single negative thing about the new line. If you ever have questions about becoming a wholesale member for Young Living email me at newmommasurvival@yahoo.com and I can help you get signed up. I still have yet to try even half of the products Young Living makes but I have yet to be disappointed with ANYTHING that I have tried.

If you are interested in the Young Living cleaning products, I highly recommend just getting the Thieves Home Cleaning Kit. It comes with everything you will need to make the transition to a chemical-free home. Retail price is $104.93 and only $79.95 wholesale.

What’s in the kit:

  • Citrus Fresh™ Essential Oil Blend 5 ml
  • Lemon Essential Oil 5 ml
  • Pine Essential Oil 5 ml
  • Purification® Essential Oil Blend 5 ml
  • Thieves® Essential Oil Blend 5 ml
  • Thieves® Household Cleaner 14.4 oz.
  • Carrying Case
  • Stainless Steel Bucket
  • Amber Glass Spray Bottle 16 oz.
  • Cleaning Cloth
  • Cleaning Recipe Booklet

I hope you enjoy my checklist! What do you do differently? Anything you would add to the checklist? Spring is just around the corner (hopefully) so getting into a new cleaning schedule will help you feel more organized and motivate.

Happy cleaning!

-Nat

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Comments

  1. savvymochamama says

    February 13, 2018 at 12:09 am

    Thanks for recommending Grove Collaborative. I typically have our cleaning products delivered by Amazon, but I’d love a service that carries more natural products.

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      February 13, 2018 at 2:39 am

      Glad I could help ! ❤️

      Reply
  2. Jayme says

    February 14, 2018 at 2:30 am

    Oh my gosh! How did you know I needed this today! I find it so hard to keep up with all the cleaning so this post is perfect for me.

    Reply
  3. The Dance says

    February 14, 2018 at 2:02 pm

    Wonderful idea! I’m a list maker too, but never thought to make s permanent list & put it in a plastic sleeve to re-use. I know what I’m doing today:)

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      February 14, 2018 at 2:05 pm

      Yay ! Glad I could help !!

      Reply
  4. Amber Starr says

    February 14, 2018 at 7:32 pm

    I totally need to print this off! I feel like having a printed schedule would keep me on task so much more!

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      February 14, 2018 at 8:57 pm

      Please do ! I hope it helps ! I know my specific schedule may not work for everyone but I did leave a few spaces blank to fill in with what you need 🙂

      Reply
  5. Jamie says

    February 15, 2018 at 6:50 pm

    I love love love the idea of a weekly/daily cleaning list but I swear my life is so chaotic I just can’t get one to stick! I think it’s time to try again though because the house is just getting out of control. I love how organized you’ve made everything. I should definitely be doing all this (I’m with you on the water and switch kitty to bunny and we’re on board).

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      February 15, 2018 at 11:14 pm

      Haha ! Yes I hear you ! It can be so hard to squeeze time in each day to clean ! I just do it when I can. Like in the AM before Liam wakes up I’ll do one task, while the kids nap I’ll do another and maybe right before dinner and right after dinner other tasks. I do feel like I’m cleaning ALl the time but I would rather do that during the week than spending all weekend cleaning 😁

      Reply
  6. mominks says

    February 15, 2018 at 7:26 pm

    Thanks for the information. So needed!

    Reply
  7. Emily says

    February 16, 2018 at 3:23 am

    Wow, you’re so much more organized than me. If I could do half this stuff I’d be happy.

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      February 16, 2018 at 2:20 pm

      Then start with half ! Haha. Some weeks I don’t get it all done, and that’s fine. Cleaning is not fun so I don’t stress over it anymore. If I don’t get to it I just do it the next day 🙂

      Reply
  8. Emily | Oatandesame says

    February 16, 2018 at 3:33 am

    I thought I was tidy! Man you have taken cleaning to the next level! It’s great that you use all natural products. That’s all we use as well. I didn’t know that Young Living had cleaning products and I’m interested in those! Thanks for the cleaning inspiration!

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      February 16, 2018 at 2:28 pm

      Haha ! I try 😁 Yea I really love the all purpose cleaner it lasts SO long because you only need a capful per bottle! ✔️

      Reply
  9. Blu says

    February 16, 2018 at 5:53 am

    I am totally number two! I don’t know how I gather so many glasses! I love the checklist!

    http://www.liveloveblu.com

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      February 16, 2018 at 2:21 pm

      Haha ! Yea I have them all over the place and I’m not sure how 🙈

      Reply
  10. Chastity says

    February 16, 2018 at 3:57 pm

    I love the idea of a cleaning schedule. Having a consistent routine makes it easier and best to have a clean home.

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      February 16, 2018 at 4:53 pm

      I agree ! Thank you for reading ! ❤️

      Reply
  11. jessierichelle says

    February 16, 2018 at 4:48 pm

    I just loved this. I love to clean and be organized about it. Omg this today fed my cleaning OCD. Thanks for such a great post.

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      February 16, 2018 at 4:54 pm

      Yay! I’m so glad ! thank you for reading 🤗

      Reply
  12. lemons2408 says

    February 16, 2018 at 4:49 pm

    This is a very thorough list! Not sure I could keep up with the whole thing, but I could certainly try a few things each day!

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      February 16, 2018 at 4:55 pm

      For sure ! If I can’t get it all done each day I don’t fret. And really if you keep up with it each day , each task only takes a few minutes. You won’t need to scrub anything , just really wiping it all down !:)

      Reply
  13. Margaret Westhoff says

    February 16, 2018 at 4:54 pm

    As a SAHM with two toddlers, staying on top of cleaning is something that I struggle with. I really like your daily and weekly cleaning routine. It inspires me to focus on how I can streamline the cleaning process for my own household.

    Reply
  14. Sara says

    February 16, 2018 at 5:13 pm

    Always good to see how other people break this down!

    Reply
  15. alunderfullife says

    February 16, 2018 at 7:32 pm

    This is the exact kind of post I have been needing in my life! Something that’s tells me what to clean and when and a way to hold me accountable! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      February 17, 2018 at 4:43 am

      Yes !! I’m so glad ! That’s the exact reason I made it for myself 😂 I have it on the fridge so I see it every day ✔️

      Reply
  16. ophalyn says

    February 16, 2018 at 8:00 pm

    Gosh this is amazing. thank you! I will have to print this out and save for later reading again. Thank you a lot. this makes everything so easy.

    Reply
  17. Diana says

    February 16, 2018 at 11:05 pm

    Well your house is definitely cleaner than mine! I gave up after having a baby. It just wasn’t worth my time or effort. Now we only do major cleans if people are coming over!

    Reply
  18. Kim says

    February 17, 2018 at 6:07 am

    I really needed this! I need some serious help organizing and cleaning, so perfect timing!

    Reply
  19. kanishka says

    February 17, 2018 at 8:36 am

    wow you have a great cleaning system. I think it is better to have things systemized like you have.

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      February 17, 2018 at 4:46 pm

      Thank you !

      Reply
  20. Ashley Solberg says

    February 18, 2018 at 2:13 am

    I love your cleaning schedule! So so needed for this busy momma!

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      February 18, 2018 at 2:22 am

      That’s great to hear !! Thank you !

      Reply
  21. Echo says

    February 20, 2018 at 5:39 pm

    I love this! Hopefully this will really motivate me to get more done in the day.

    Reply
  22. mammabearsays says

    February 20, 2018 at 8:11 pm

    this is such a great schedule! helps to do a bit a day so you dont get overwheled

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      February 20, 2018 at 8:30 pm

      Thank you !

      Reply
  23. kindavoguish says

    February 20, 2018 at 9:53 pm

    I’m a big fan of cleaning shcedules- especially now that I have two kids. Also, that’s my FAVORITE cleaner in the world!! Seriously obsessed.

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      February 20, 2018 at 11:41 pm

      Yea same here ! 🤗

      Reply
  24. Tramayne says

    March 9, 2018 at 2:01 am

    I so needed this! I can easily spend all of my free time at home, and sometimes do, when all I want to do is stay home and hang out with my family.

    Reply
  25. Collin Wickliffe says

    June 2, 2018 at 5:34 am

    Hey very nice blog!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds also…I am happy to find a lot of useful information here in the post, we need work out more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

    Reply

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Welcome! I’m Natalie. I am a rocky mountain mama who just recently relocated to the blue ridge mountains! Here I share all things motherhood, homemaking, homeschooling, and slow living. I hope you follow along as we share this next chapter of our lives. I am so glad you are here! Grab a cup of coffee and stay awhile

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Benjamin is 2 months old! He has such a silly pers Benjamin is 2 months old!
He has such a silly personality already. He coos and burbles and smiles like a pro. Yesterday it sounded like a little giggle came out,  too! 
He is a BIG baby, yall. He's comfortabley wearing size 6 months! 😆
I just love his squishy soft cheeks and his gummy smile. His eyes light up when he sees me and my heart is filled to the brim with joy & love. 

It's been a rainy & cold first day of Autumn, so we are snuggled inside with cider and cinnamon candles burning and I've been making some herbal remedies in my kitchen all afternoon. 
Happy Autumn Equinox! 
🍂 🍁🍄🌾
We had to say goodbye to our dog Chewy yesterday. We had to say goodbye to our dog Chewy yesterday. 😭
To say we are heartbroken is an understatement. 
As I have scrolled through hundreds of photos & videos of Chewy today, I am reminded just how awesome he was. He was with us on almost every hike, camping trip, and adventure. He was no lap dog - he loved the outdoors and could keep up with us on even the roughest terrain. He was fearless and funny and loyal. He was our first pet and grew up with Liam, he was there for our last two babies to be born, he was there at our wedding, moved from Denver to MT to NC to here in Virginia with us. He's been there with us through so many huge life events. 
In 2019 we almost lost him when he ran straight into a stick and it punctured all the way through his eye cavity. 
We almost lost him when he fell into a rushing freezing river in Montana and I had to jump in after him. We almost lost him last year in NC when he ate something at the beach & had a severe sand impact in his intestines. 
He was my little shadow and followed me everywhere. That's why he is in just about every single photo I have of us - he was always there by my feet looking up at me.
It will be weird to be cooking dinner and not have him at my feet. 

He came to us in 2017 when we were living near Denver. He was our neighbor's dog and named Mr. Pickles 😆 He showed up to our house one day and then just kept coming back-  over and over we walked him back down to his home. One day we got a letter in our mailbox from his owner, asking if we wanted to adopt him. He had been sent to puppy jail for the 6th time and she couldn't afford to get him out. She figured he wanted to be with us anyway. Chewy just wanted adventure & I think we gave him just that. That little playful dog chose us, and I'm real thankful he did. 
He passed away outside under a big oak tree in my arms surrounded by his family and so much love. We buried him in a nice shady spot near some wildflowers by the garden. 
I gave his little bangs a trim yesterday before we took him to the vet, and I still have the pile of his hair on my rug & can't bring myself to throw it away yet. 
He will forever be loved & missed. 
He was a good dog
It's mushroom month with @plantwondercollective ! It's mushroom month with @plantwondercollective ! 🍄 
I tried my hand at making some felted mushrooms and I think they turned out rather cute! 
I added them to one of our little curiosities shelves in the homeschool room to decorate for Fall. 

Supplies : 
Red & white wool roving
Felting needle
Foam pad to work on 
Optional - moss, glass jars, a stick 

Start by felting the cap. I used my finger to press down in the middle to make a bit of a bowl shape. 
Add the white spots (a little goes a long way- don't add too much roving) 
Create the stem and poke one end flat and leave the other end to attach it to the cap

The more you make, the more you'll get a feel for how to work with the wool roving and how much you'll need. This is a great beginner project! I am no expert at needle felting and I was able to make several in a short amount of time. 
I wanted to make a terrarium in that little glass jar, but it didn't turn out how I wanted. I love how the little mushroom vignette on the stick with moss turned out though ! 
You could also add twine on either side of the stick to make it a little wall hanging ! 😍 
These would make sweet handmade gifts for the upcoming holidays or just to decorate for your own home. 

Follow along for more 🍄Mushroom🍄wonder throughout the day and join us this month through our hashtags and at @plantwondercollective
#plantwondercollective
#pwcmushrooms

Meet the participants!
@florasfeastbotanicals
@mamalibelula
@theherbologyfaerie
@wineberryadventurescouts
@lafemmeflorale
@brittanylgibson
@botanica_mystica
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🌿Plant Wonder Collective: Connecting you to nature through food, drink, play, garden, medicine, magic, and art.
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I want a cute couples name ! Got any ideas ? 

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Theo is absolutely in love. He adores cats, and if you've been around awhile you may have seen that he had to say goodbye to the sweetest orange tabby barn kitten when we moved from Montana. 😔 I'm glad he has a kitten again ! He just wants to carry them around and give them kisses and feed them all day. They're besties already. 

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I was SO close but we still have zero fencing up. 

Hoping these two will grow up to he good mousers and keep the creepy crawlies out of the basement 😬
Chilly foggy mornings and leaves changing means it Chilly foggy mornings and leaves changing means it's cozy season, yall!

Bring on the...
Candles
Baking
Hot apple cider
Pumpkin everything 
Cinnamon
Sweaters in the mornings 
Backyard campfires 
Autumn crafting

What's your favorite thing about Fall ? 
Are you decorating yet ? 🍁🌾🍂

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