"Great tips Ann & Mandy"!
Well I Got to get back to it....
Drats!

I started out a while ago to try the Fly Lady thing - it does work and I still recommend it as a starting point if your house is really disorganized. It is a lot like you described Ann. I found after a while though that even though the system is supposed to generate a lot of free time it actually has you cleaning all the time - 15 minutes here, 5 minutes there, 2 minutes there - add it all up and you are cleaning several hours a day. I like and still use the core ideas though. I try to swish and swipe the bathroom every morning, do a load of laundry, and shine my sink every night (not literally - that sink is so old NOTHING is going to make it shine again lol)

I do use the Fly Lady "crisis cleaning" method when I have to really get the house clean - you start with the kitchen and living room and cycle 15 minutes in the kitchen, then the living room, back to the kitchen, then a 15 minute break (sewing time!!). You just keep cycling through substituting a different room for when one is finished till you clean the whole house. Even at its worst I can get my house shining in a day this way.

Other Fly Advice I like
Always put on lace up shoes - it gets you in a mindset to work

Feather dusters rule

Use a timer - when it stops you stop - PERIOD

No stinkin thinkin/whining - just do it

Babysteps - break all jobs down to their smallest parts and just do the babysteps. Also make checklists and mark off as you go - it gives you a sense of achievement.

Like I said before though, some of her stuff is just too over the top, but if you are interested she has a web site and it is pretty good. it is http://www.flylady.com

As you can tell from the quote that started this thread, I am not big on cleaning and indulge myself with a wonderful woman who comes every two weeks in the winter and puts my house back in liveable condition and having that "deadline" keeps the clutter under control because I do the de clutter routine as she is walking in the door. In the summer my space is small so an hour of cleaning is plenty.

But here are my quick and somewhat fun solutions to things.

1. don't clean what doesn't need it! If you can't see it do it once in a while but you don't have to do it every week like the top of the refrigerator. the tops of windows, etc.

2. I find if I keep the kitchen half way clean all the time it isn't as hard to get it spic and span when needed.

3. If you can't see the dust- it doesn't exist. I have a lot of collectibles and they do collect dust but not so much that they have to be done once a week. And get a feather duster for those pesky little things and save the move, dust, rearrange etc. for when you get a new one and have to move the others around to make room for another whatever.

4. Put on some good fast music and then plan to get your aerobic exercise so move fast.

5. Clean for awhile (you set your time) I usually do 45 min. and then take a break, sew a little, read a magazine, watch part of a TV show or dvd etc. for 15 min. Then go back for 45 min more etc. But when you start on the next task look around and see if it really needs doing. We spend too much time cleaning things that all already clean.

6 When you have finished for the day give yourself a very big reward. Do something you love for the rest of the day and don't feel guilty.

7. Cleaning day is the day to put on a pot of soup or fill the crock pot and let it cook all day so dinner is a breeze. (the smellls will also make you feel good as you are cleaning)

Ann

I think if you are a mom and you have taken care of the family my them the meals got the kids to the places they needed to be then you should be able to sit and sew at night because what will the DH do at night when he comes home and if it some thing he likes to then way not you. It has taken me along time to think this way put now I can go and sew a not feel bad about it Happy

I Wish I had a magical wand! I Have to clean house tomorrow,sweep/mop,and knock down my inspiring spider webs.
It will be a yucky,yucky day! Is there any way to make cleaning fun besides dancing around the mop/broom!
I vote Mondays to be cleaning day for everyone,no one sews till Tuesday! LOL! I bet this one goes over great! LOL! Alrighty then if youre sewing tomorrow think of poor ole little me scrubbing the darn floors till they shine. I'm trying to talk myself into it's liveable but I would just be putting it off another day, Dang it any how,that I cainnnt I'm buzzzy isn't working to well for me.
Is thier any house cleaning tips to go with the Fun cleaning tips, "fast & easy" tips please!!!
You all know it's just gonna get DIRTY again,Geesh!
I could talk myself out of this easily,but I'm not gonna do it this time!!!
Just think of me while youre all having fun!
Drats Drats Drats,Hugzzz Kathy

I'm a little late in this discussion but have thoroughly been enjoying it. I like the coffee cup that says something like, "Creative people have messy houses." Something like that. Let's face it, when the creativity strikes, forget all else. As far as cleaning goes, my own mother was a horrible housekeeper (still is, as a matter of fact) and my mother-in-law was the extreme opposite. I like to think I'm somewhere in the middle. Clean enough so you're not afraid of catching something in my house, but relaxed enough so it's no big deal if you spill something. (I will clean it up, but in a nice way...)
As for children misbehaving, I have to share with you a grandchild story. My son and his family (of 4 small children) were having dinner at the boss's house, so the parents were going over the "rules" with them. The oldest, a sweet 6-yr old girl, quickly listed things like "please" and "thank-you;" the 5-yr old boy said,
"We can't be funny." How sad! And how funny. They crack me up.

Hahaha. I really enjoyed this discussion. I think I will try the new cleaning method this weekend so I can work on a new quilt I have in mind.

Florence, That reminds me of one of my favorite jokes.
This very good looking man walks up to a woman in a bar. Looks her deeply in the eyes and says in this deep sexy voice; I can make all your fantasies come true. You just have to say them in three little words. The woman thinks for a minute smile sultry back at him and says in her sexiest voice "CLEAN MY HOUSE".

Oh and my favorite nursing joke is the one where the nurse is walking around with the thermometer behind her ear. When the doctor asked her why it was there.She took it down looked at it and said "Oh shoot some asswhole has my pencil" Sorry a little crude I know but I was famous for having a lot of pencils and pens in my hair when I was working.
Anyway keep smiling Rachel

BettyAnn that's like my favorite fridge magnet-- it says "Make yourself at home-- Clean my kitchen!!"

Reachel glad to hear that well I know that the next time I go to town I will have to pick one up you see I live 30 miles from any stores we only have a food loin some fast food place I like it here the side of it is I need to plan time to town and when I have aday off work they call and say we need you to come in I don't mind that but it keeps me out of the stores and if it is along day it keeps me from my sewing room

My dear Happy, time to give up on that pen and buy a new one. Maybe it is the quilting gods way of getting you to the store to check things out. Besides you are probably long overdue for a new pen. Good news I found a peice of teal fabric about 8'' X 8''. Maybe I can salvage my son's solarsystem quilt. Rachel

I like my Dear Mother's rule for housekeeping. "Clean enought to be healthy, Dirty enough to be happy!" Anyone comes to my house who doesn't like the dust, fine, I'll hand them a cloth and they can clean while I quilt. Life is to short to spend it cleaning. Betty Ann in dusty Florida

Rachel I am all ways try to keep my sewing room cleaned I still have not find my marking pen

Ok enough ! You people talked me into cleaning. Not only you folks but I am still lookin for things in my quilting room. My Mother and sister are WAAAAAY to organized. I do hope everyone is done being sick by the way. Rachel