Download the 52 week challenge list for free (pdf)
It’s never too late to get started with this 52-week organizing and cleaning challenge! Having a plan is a great first step to having a clean, organized home.
On the weeks that you find it challenging (!!) to complete the scheduled challenge for that week, have a Plan B: do the challenge planned for a different week and then go back to the skipped challenge when it better fits your schedule.
Don’t beat yourself up for missing a challenge. Organizing and cleaning are ongoing processes — they never end. Find a rhythm that fits your style.
Parents with adult children should ask them to help with downsizing. You’d be surprised at the things that adult children do not want handed down to them. What’s one person’s treasure may not be as important to someone else.
If you’re planning on having a garage sale this year (one of the challenges!), move the items you’ve purged from your closets and cabinets to a designated area where you can safely store things until you have the sale. If you’re not having a garage sale, and if family members don’t need your discards, consider donating them to a charity instead of trashing.
You still with me? Download my 52-week organizing and cleaning challenge chart. CLICK HERE. Each week I’ll post organizing and cleaning tips for that week’s challenge and let you know if I’ve kept up with the chart, too.
Here’s the challenge for WEEK (or month!) 1:
Start off the new year by creating a cleaning schedule:
Every day = Make beds, wipe bathroom and kitchen counters, de-clutter one room, one load of laundry, put away clean laundry.
Monday = Vacuum and dust.
Tuesday = Clean bathrooms.
Wednesday = Clean kitchen including microwave, stove, cabinets, coffee maker, silverware tray, mop floors.
Thursday = Vacuum and mop.
Friday/Saturday = Work on something from this list.
Sunday = Do as you wish! Day of play!
Do you have the right tools for cleaning and organizing? Each week I’ll share ideas to help you select the right tools and organizers.
Go to the dollar store and buy some three-ring binders to organize your challenge notes (and recipes, photos, more!). Buy 3-ring clear plastic sleeves so you can insert your papers in the sleeves instead of punching holes in them.
Another cleaning item to get if you don’t have one already is a Swiffer or comparable product. I got mine at Big Lots. Get some extra pads that can be thrown in the wash when they get dirty. That way you’ll always have clean floor mops. Because the cleaning solution (buy at the dollar store!) is attached to the mop, it’s easy to do spot cleaning when you’re in a hurry and someone’s just dropped spaghetti on the floor! True story.
Vacuum cleaners: Both my mother and I have Eureka vacuum cleaners specifically recommended for pet fur. Big drawback is that the cord is not retractable. And sometimes we have to empty the canister before finishing a room. That’s no fun. My next vacuum may be this Hoover WindTunnel which has all the features I want. I always research stuff before I buy to make sure I’m getting the best quality at a good price. Be sure to check it out at this link. As an Amazon Affiliate I may make a really small, teeny tiny commission for qualified purchases.
When we’re doing the make-up/toiletries challenge, you’ll need some of these storage totes like what I use.
Kohl’s has great cleaning and organizing products!
