Terrific Tuesday Tip--Clean Sweep a Room

Before we get started on this week's tip I got a follow up on the ice cream from M that I thought was worth sharing.

I am sure someone else does this but just in case—a minute on defrost in the microware makes getting the ice cream out of carton so much easier. When planning to serve pie a la mode for eight or more, remove eight balls of ice cream and shape into a perfect round with gloved hands (plastic) and freeze in a separate container—all ready to serve!

This is a little bit of a stretch for a tip, but it might help someone out and that's the point.  I'm going to let you in on a little secret.  I'm not the best housekeeper.  If I know you are coming to my house, I can straighten it up.  I can even clean it up.  But here's the thing.  I don't like to do it.

There have been times over the years when I started a cleaning spree that my older boys would often ask, "Who's coming over?"  This my dear readers is how I have time to do so many other things.  :)

Don't get me wrong, I like having a clean house.  I just don't like being the one to get it to that state.  Whew.  I'm glad to get that off my chest.

So, because I'm not a fan of cleaning up there are days that things get a bit out of control and "I have had enough."  Full disclosure here.  I could not make myself take a picture of the before on this one, but we'll just say it wasn't pretty.  This is about the process when things are out of control.  You'd be too side tracked by the visual otherwise.

The living room, which in our house gathers LOTS of things that belong somewhere else, I start at one point in the room.  As you pick those things up, put them near the doorway that leads out of the room.  Don't go put them away one by one.  Just allow them to stack up in a pile sorted based on their final destination.

Oh did you notice there were quite a few toys in that one pile???  I did too.  They just walk in there on their own.  If S read the blog, he would see that we honored his request and saved some of his firecrackers.

Then work your way around the room, picking up, straightening up, folding blankets, putting more items near the door.  Once you've made it around the room it's now safe to take a picture to show to the world, ignore the excessive light pouring in the windows overexposing the picture.

Then you can address, or better yet have others help you put their things away now that you got them all gathered together for them.

Usually by the time I get to this state, I'm satisfied and I find something better to do besides continuing to clean.

It's about time to have visitors again, things are starting to get out of hand.  Anyone want to come over?  Love to have you, just call first.  :)