CHAOS stands for Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome.
It's a Flylady soundbite. Actually, the reality is, when my house is spotless (rarely), it's the best visitor deterrent around. It's when my house is in disarray (usually) that the world wants to stop by.
Being unemployed has gotten me back in the "moving" mindset. During the real estate heyday here in California a few years back, we moved four times in two years as the places we were renting were sold out from underneath us. Every time we moved, I shed an inordinate amount of stuff. We still have a ton. My brother calls it the 10,000 cockroach theory. When you get rid of one, 10,000 more appear to take its place.
So. I'm back in the mode of decluttering and cleaning. Theoretically, first off the bat I would make sure all the beds are made and spend 2 minutes in the morning (and evening) clearing out a "hot spot," (places where stuff gets dumped.) For me, that's the top shelf of the Muffin Monument (we have a small bookcase which showcases our deceased dog's memorabilia) and the wingback chair right at the home entrance.
I'm to "swish and swipe" (wipe down, straighten up) the main "public" bathroom, and kitchen counters.
Spend 5 minutes an evening "clearing a path" in a room (getting stuff off the floor, maybe vacuuming). I've added sweeping the kitchen floor.
Additionally, spend no more than 15 minutes a day decluttering and/or cleaning a Zone. This week it's the front porch, home entrance, and dining room.
Well, it took a while to clear and clean my kitchen counters this morning. But now that they're clear, I can see it will only take 2 minutes to wipe down this evening. Same for the bathroom. It still needs a bit more work, but that's what the 2 minutes are for. Last night the kids spent about 5 minutes picking up the living room so it could be vacuumed.
I've taken a break to write this blog, will take DD16 to college, go pick up some dish soap that I'm about to get practically free with coupons, then come and spend 15 minutes tackling the dining room (which also doubles as our library.)
Looking forward to living CHAOS free ! :)
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