Let’s Fly(Lady) Together!

April 10, 2018 By Deanna Piercy Leave a Comment

Have you tried The FlyLady system but never quite got the hang of it? Have you wanted to give it a whirl but just never got around to it? Or perhaps you did it years ago but fell off the wagon. Well, here’s your opportunity to work through the 31 Day FlyLady BabySteps with other “FlyBabies” working along with you and cheering each other on.

Starting this coming Friday, April 13th, I will be leading a group through the 31 Day BabySteps in my Facebook group, Make Over Your Life With Dee.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

31 Day FlyLady BabySteps: How it Works

First of all, who is The FlyLady and what is this all about? Marla Cilley is The FlyLady and her housekeeping and life organization system will help you beat the CHAOS in your home.

Note: CHAOS stands for Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome.

There is no charge and nothing to buy. All you need to do is join the group and follow along with us.

Click here to join:

Make Over Your Life With Dee

Each day this week before we begin on Friday, I’ll be sharing a bit of information so you’ll be ready to hit the ground running on Friday. Here is what I wrote in the group on Monday:

You may be wondering what you’ll need in order to begin. You don’t need to purchase anything. Please don’t get into the mindset that you can’t start until you have certain “perfect” items. Use what you have.

Other than basic cleaning supplies, you’ll need a timer and some sort of notebook or binder that you can add pages to. This will become what FlyLady calls a “Control Journal”. You might call it a household notebook, homemaking binder or actually give it a person’s name. It doesn’t matter.

If you want to purchase a new binder that’s fine but I suspect most of us have one or more lying about not being used. I have several from boards and committees I’ve served on in years past. I’m trying to go through and toss all those old notes and agendas.

The other important “tool” you’ll need is a timer. You can use the one on your phone or a kitchen timer. Whatever you have will work just fine. Personally, I like using something other than my phone simply because I’m way too likely to sneak a peek at Facebook if I pick up my phone. About 20 years ago I bought a cheap, battery operated timer which sits on my desk most of the time. It still works just fine so don’t go spending a lot of money on a timer.

Here is what the FlyLady says about “BabySteps”:

“Your home did not get dirty in one day, and it will not get clean in a day, either. You have been living in clutter and CHAOS for many years; you are not going to get your home clean in a day. I do not want you to crash and burn. This is why I teach you to take BabySteps. If you try to do this all at once, you are going to be mad at me, because this will be like every other “get-organized” method you have tried. I want you to take your time. As you establish one habit, you will very easily be able to add another one to your routines.”

I will put all of the posts pertaining to this in the Facebook group’s files so if you are reading this after we have started, you will have access to everything right from the beginning.

I’m excited to be sharing this with you and yes, I’ll be working through the 31 steps right along with you. I’ve done this in the past but it’s time for me to get back on that wagon and ride. Together we can do this!

So go join Make Over Your Life With Dee and get ready to eliminate the CHAOS in your home.

Previous posts about The FlyLady:

10 Tasks to Tackle During Spring Cleaning

April 6, 2018 By Deanna Piercy Leave a Comment

It’s officially spring, although you might not be able to tell by the weather. Some of you (poor dears!) are still getting snow. We’ve had a bit of everything. This morning my daughter messaged me to say that in addition to the high levels of tree pollen expected this time of year, we also have ragweed which is a late summer/early fall thing usually. We are also expecting a freeze and sleet tonight. She asked, “What season is this?”. My reply: All of them.

But despite all that weather foolishness, it IS spring and that means spring cleaning time. There are any number of exhaustive lists of spring cleaning chores available. I don’t know about you, but one look at those crazy long lists and a sense of despair washes over me. There truly is no way I could ever find time to do all those things.

Take a look at these, for instance:

The ULTIMATE Spring Cleaning Checklist

A Thorough Spring Cleaning Checklist

Lists like those only serve to make me want to curl up in my dusty library with a martini and read a book. But what if we just pick ten tasks to do instead? That sounds manageable, right? We could do one a day for ten days and call it good. If, during those ten days, you notice something else that really needs attention, put it on a list and schedule a time to do it a bit later.

Remember…it’s YOUR home and you can make your own rules. Few of us are heating our homes with coal these days and I’d venture to say we all have vacuum cleaners. Those two things alone eliminate or at least greatly reduce the need for the sort of deep cleaning that was necessary at one time.

Still, there is something quite lovely about a freshly cleaned home so let’s make our lists, check our cleaning supplies and clear away some of the grime!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

10 Tasks To Tackle During Spring Cleaning

1. Dishwasher

I’m going to be honest here. I’ve never actually done this. We didn’t have one in the first two places we lived. The next two homes we lived in for 7 and 5 years so it didn’t seem necessary. However, we just celebrated 20 years in this house on Valentine’s Day and we remodeled the kitchen about 2 or 3 years after we moved in. Yeah, it’s probably time for this. If, like me, you’ve never done this, here is how to do it:

Green Dishwasher Cleaning & Tune Up

2. Trash Cans

As soon as you get a warm, sunny day, scrub your outdoor trash cans. Pour a couple of pans of hot water inside, squirt in some dish soap (something safe for your lawn if that’s where your doing this), give them a quick scrub and rinse with the hose.

While you’re at it, give your kitchen trash container a thorough scrub, too. To keep things fresh smelling, you might want to make these deodorizer tabs:

Trash Can Deodorizer Tabs

3. Windows

After a long, dark winter, there’s nothing quite so cheering as bright sunshine streaming through the windows. All the more so if those windows are sparkling clean.

Several years ago I somehow ended up with a squeegee in my possession. I don’t recall buying it. Maybe David did. In any case, I discovered how much easier it is to clean windows with the proper tools.

How to Clean Windows Like a Pro

My squeegee is only about 8 inches across and has a short handle. That means a lot of reaching and in some areas, standing on a ladder. But I’m adding this long-handled version to my spring cleaning supply purchases this year:

4. Oven

If you have a self-cleaning oven I want you to take a moment to give thanks for it. And then offer up a moment of silence for those of us who don’t. I have a vintage stove that is as cute as can be until I contemplate cleaning the oven. For a number of years, David cleaned it for me each fall before Thanksgiving. I have severe asthma and can’t tolerate oven cleaner fumes. He would clean it while I was away from home for a few hours.

Then we discovered the vinegar and baking soda method and that was the end of my oven cleaning help. We aren’t going to discuss what mine looks like right now but suffice it to say “clean the oven” is on my spring cleaning list.

How To Clean an Oven with Baking Soda and Vinegar

5. Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans

This is a good job to get some help with. Pick a time when your spouse or an older child is available to help. Unless you are a lot taller than I am you’ll need at least a step ladder. Depending on the fixture, you may be able to clean it in place but many will require removal of some parts. It’s a lot easier to hand them to someone than to try to descend a ladder while holding them.

Wash in hot soapy water, rinse in very hot water and dry thoroughly before replacing. While the fixture is off, give the light bulbs a quick wipe, too. If any need to be replaced, go ahead and do this now. In fact, before you start this project, go through your entire house and take note of any bulbs that need to be replaced. Many fixtures have several bulbs and for some unknown reason they don’t all go out at the same time. If you have really high ceilings I would recommend changing all the bulbs while you are up on that ladder. You can use the ones that still work in lamps or easier to reach light fixtures.

If you have ceiling fans, give the blades a good cleaning and make sure they are set to rotate counter-clockwise for summer.

Ceiling Fan Direction for Summer and Winter

6. Window Coverings

Now that your windows are sparkling clean, you’ll want to address your window coverings. Depending on the type of curtains or drapes you have you can either wash and iron them yourself or take them to the cleaners. If they aren’t washable and only a little dusty, give them a good vacuuming. I have velvet drapes in our family room and library and this is what I do.

If you have blinds, give them a good dusting. If they are plastic or metal and need more than dusting, you can give them a scrub in the bathtub.

Clean Mini Blinds in your Bathtub

If your blinds are wood, like mine, just dust them well. There are all sorts of dusters for blinds or you can simply use an old sock on your hand. I recently bought a duster with a washable, replaceable head. I bought mine from Grove Collective.

7. Change Seasonal Decor

Put away the winter decorations, decorative pillows, that lone Christmas decoration you overlooked and anything else that belongs to winter. Put away heavy table coverings and let polished wood show instead.

Grab a sturdy box or other container and walk from room to room looking for excess decorative items to pack away during warm months. What looked warm and cozy during cold weather may look cluttered now. Bring out your spring/summer decorative items and enjoy a fresh look.

8. Outdoor Furniture

If you have porch or patio furniture, either bring it out of storage or if it stays out year round, give it a good cleaning. Thoroughly sweep outdoor areas such as porches, patios and decks and hose them down if needed. This is the one I’m most excited about because I love Porch Time!

9. Bed

As soon as cold weather is well and truly gone, wash or dry clean heavy bed linens, down comforters, etc. and switch to lighter weight covering. Flip your mattress and wash your pillows, too.

How to Wash Your Pillows

10. Computer and Phone

This is a good time to do a little “spring clean” of your computer and other devices. Do you have apps on your phone you never use? Delete them. Upload your photos and videos to your computer, an external hard drive and/or cloud-based services. Personally I like to have them in more than one place. You can then delete some of the excess from your phone and clear some space.

If you listen to podcasts take a look at your subscriptions. If there are some no longer offering new episodes go ahead and delete. If you use a feed reader such as Feedly or Bloglovin’ scan through your subscriptions and clear out the ones you never read or which are no longer publishing new material.

Set aside a bit of time each day during “Spring Cleaning” to get your inbox under control. I am a huge fan of SaneBox which you can read about here:

Tying Up Loose Ends…

Bonus

As soon as you complete your ten tasks, go buy yourself a bouquet of tulips or a flowering plant to reward yourself for all your hard work. You deserve it!

More Spring Cleaning Tips and Helps

My Spring Cleaning Plan + Free Printable Checklist

Spring Cleaning Tips From 50s Housewives

Free Spring Cleaning Printable

Spring Cleaning ~ Tips and Motivation

Spring Cleaning to Welcome Mother Nature’s New Year! 22 Ways to Start Fresh

Simple Organizing Challenge ~ Join Me!

March 5, 2018 By Deanna Piercy 8 Comments

As the days get warmer and I see those first long-awaited signs of spring, I begin to feel the urge to do some decluttering, spring cleaning and sprucing up of my home. What felt warm and cozy (and “hyggelig“) during the cold, dark days of winter begins to feel a bit cluttered. That’s when I know it’s time to start making lists, checking my stock of cleaning supplies, and making time in my schedule for cleaning, organizing and freshening up my home.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

I don’t know about you but I love a good organizing challenge. It just seems more fun. That’s why I am delighted to be part of The Inspired Room‘s launch team for Melissa Michaels’ new book, Simple Organizing: 50 Ways to Clear the Clutter and her “Get Organized” challenge for the month of March.

The best part of this particular challenge is that it isn’t overwhelming. While I love “A Bowl Full of Lemons” 14 week Home Organization Challenge and do intend to work through it over the course of this year, I quickly discovered I simply do not have enough wiggle room in my schedule to finish the tasks in 14 weeks.

The Inspired Room challenge for March is much more in line with what I can actually accomplish right now. Here is how it works:

Each Monday we are given a challenge to work on during the week and then on Friday, a bigger project for the weekend. Simple.

Would you like to join me? Sign up for the challenge here.

For a taste of what the challenge is all about, here is Week One…

Week One Challenge:

Realize that the impression you make in the entryway sets the impression for the rest of your house. What does your entry say about your home?

🌸 Focus on function. We live in the country and lead a fairly casual lifestyle. I want our entryway to be attractive but it also needs to function for our family. That means we need places for coats, umbrellas, boots, Shiloh’s leash and a flashlight for late night dog walks. Organize your entryway to reflect your family, activities, and interests.

🌸 Simplify your stuff. Take five or ten minutes to note what doesn’t belong. You can even grab a box or basket and start the decluttering process right then and there. Don’t toss the box in the spare bedroom. Give unnecessary things away or recycle. We have a Re-Use Center in our community which takes any useable item and then gives it away for free. Ask around to find out if your community has something similar.

🌸 Think simple, attractive, and organized. A place for everything. What are your needs? Stylish baskets and aesthetically pleasing storage containers can transform a formerly disorderly space. Use what you have or shop in your own home for furniture and organizers to solve storage dilemmas. If you need something for your entryway, put it on a master list for home items. I encourage you to wait until you find just the right item rather than settling for something that won’t truly meet your needs or is of poor quality. I made the mistake of buying a cheap coat rack. Within a year the top portion broke under the weight of our winter coats. I learned my lesson. I took the time to find just what I wanted (while our coats remained piled on a chair!) and now we have a beautiful, sturdy coat rack that should last many, many years.

🌸 Embrace the space you have. Even if you don’t have a separate entryway, you can add hooks, a mirror, a rug, or a small bookcase near the door to create a feeling of a designated area. Shuffle things around until it seems just right. Use what you have and make the most of your space. That’s the best way to create a warm welcome. We have a small, round antique oak table in our entryway which had belonged to my great grandmother. I like to decorate it with seasonal displays. This is the first thing you see when entering our home (unless Shiloh is there to greet you!) so I make an effort to make it pretty and don’t allow it to collect clutter.

Simple Organizing is available for pre-order and will be released April 3rd.

If you decide to participate in this challenge I’d love to see pictures. I will be posting mine on Instagram with these two hashtags:

#simpleorganizing (the official hashtag for The Inspired Room)

#LWDsimpleorganizing

If you post on Instagram I’d love for you to use both hashtags so I can be sure to see yours.

The Best (and Worst) of The Flylady

February 9, 2018 By Deanna Piercy 8 Comments

Note: I am currently leading a 31 Day FlyLady challenge in my Facebook group, Make Over Your Life With Dee. You are welcome to join. We started Friday, April 13, 2018 but you can still join. I’ll be putting each day’s task/lesson in the group files so you can read them at any time.

If you’ve thought about getting your house in order sometime in the past decade and looked online for help, chances are you are familiar with The FlyLady. Inspired by Pam Young and Peggy Jones, otherwise known as “The Slob Sisters”, Marla Cilley started an email group, first on e-Groups and then Yahoo Groups, as a means of helping others get control of their homes using what she had learned from Young and Jones as a starting point then putting her own spin on it.

I first heard of The FlyLady in the early days when she was still on e-Groups. I received her (numerous) daily emails off and on for years. Even though I tend to be fairly neat by nature, I still found much value in her methods. If I had been living alone in a modest-sized home I probably never would have paid much attention to The FlyLady but at the time I was homeschooling two children in a 3000 square foot house. Having kids at home 24/7 is a challenge, even for someone who is basically neat and orderly. And the amount of “stuff” a homeschooling family acquires is a true test of a family’s organizational skills.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

So I signed up for the emails. Several times a day I would get reminders such as:

Get dressed to shoes.
Have you emptied your dishwasher?
Reboot laundry.
Swish and swipe bathroom.
Check your calendar.

This was pre-Facebook days so email was my primary source of online interaction. Even back then some people complained about the number of emails but I didn’t find it a problem. Once you’d read them a few times you knew just by the subject line what it was about so you didn’t even have to open the routine ones. I’d see one show up in my inbox and I’d be reminded to go attend to some task. I’d just delete each one after it was done and at the end of the day delete any I hadn’t done so I’d start each day with a clean slate.

In a way, it was sort of like positive brain washing. If you see a reminder to do something every day it eventually worms its way into your psyche. Even though I haven’t received the emails in years, I still have a little voice in my head which sounds suspiciously like The FlyLady.

In general, I think her methods have merit. For instance, here are some of the things she recommends:

Get dressed: Yes, all the way to shoes, first thing in the morning. Do I do this? Heck no. Do I think it’s a good idea? Absolutely. I tend to stumble out of bed following a night without adequate restful sleep, put on my robe and slippers then head downstairs to get the hot tea my sweet husband has made for me. I then curl up in my chair in the library and start reading Facebook until I realize how much time I’ve wasted. As for shoes, this is a big sticking point with a lot of her followers. It seems many of us balk at the lace-up shoe recommendation. My feet like to be as free as my spirit so the best I can do is a comfy pair of Birkenstocks. But even that is better than barefoot. It’s better for your feet (ask me about plantar fasciitis sometime) and if you have to run outside in a hurry it’s nice not to have to search for a pair of shoes. And I haven’t given up on that notion of getting dressed right away.

Shine Your Sink: The FlyLady calls it the “shiny sink” and has very detailed instructions for this. Once you get your sink clean and shiny initially, the idea is that you return to this state every night before you go to bed. Make sure the dishes are done, the sink has been scrubbed and you’ve laid out a clean dishcloth and towel for the next day. This is the lynchpin of her plan and I totally agree. If I wake up in the morning to a clean kitchen sink the day seems ripe with promise. On the other hand, a sinkful of dirty dishes is a sure way to get off on the wrong foot and to feel behind before the day has even fully started.

Swish and Swipe: This is FlyLady terminology for a daily “lick and a promise” in the bathrooms. Okay, maybe “lick” isn’t the best choice of words. Each day you quickly swish the toilet bowl with a little cleanser of some type. If you do it daily it really doesn’t matter much what you use. A splash of vinegar, a bit of PineSol, a squirt of toilet bowl cleaner – whatever. It literally takes 10 seconds a day to have a clean toilet bowl at all times.

Aside from the toilet, you take a minute or so to put away toiletries and other items, wipe the mirror and sink, pull the shower curtain closed, and put out clean towels if necessary. Once a week you do a more thorough cleaning, including the tub/shower but this daily attention means you’ll never again be embarrassed by a drop in visitor who asks to use your bathroom.

5 Minute Room Rescue: This assumes you have a room, closet, garage, etc. which needs a lot of attention but you keep putting it off because you don’t have a spare 18 hours to clean it. With this method you simply set a timer for 5 minutes and work on it in small bites. If you keep at it regularly you’ll begin to see progress.

27 Fling Boogie: Take a garbage bag and as quickly as you can, walk through your house and find 27 items to throw away. As soon as you have done this, close the bag and throw it away (or put it in your recycling bin if you have one). Then take a box or other container and find 27 items to give away. Put the box in your car and drop it off the next time you are near a place which takes used items. The FlyLady has a reason for choosing the number 27 but you can certainly pick another number. And if you don’t have time to do both the throw away and the giveaway on the same day, alternate.

Morning and Evening Routines: This seems pretty obvious but simple morning and evening routines can make a world of difference. Start small. Pick three things to do in the morning and three at bedtime. Do these consistently for a month or so then add something else.

Hot Spots: In FlyLady lingo, a hot spot is an area of your home which tends to collect clutter. A table near the entry, a corner of a kitchen counter, a bedroom chair, the coffee table, the table by your favorite chair. These are the places where it is all too easy to leave a coffee cup, the day’s mail, unfolded laundry. The thing about hot spots is that they seem to attract clutter. All it takes is ONE item left there and before you know it, it’s piled high with stuff. I’ve found that if I leave something on one of these surfaces it gives the rest of the family permission to do likewise and before you know it, we’ve got a mess. As FlyLady says, “clutter attracts clutter”. Clear these spots and then police them daily.

One of my favorite recommendations is to put something decorative in that spot. If it’s attractive, it’s less likely to become a dumping ground. Clean off your coffee table, polish it well, and place a plant, flower arrangement or bowl of fruit on it. Maybe your family will be less likely to think it’s an alternate wastebasket and will throw away their empty gum wrappers or used tissues instead. Hey, we can always hope!

Zones: If you like tearing your house apart and spending a week deep cleaning until you’re exhausted every spring and fall, have at it. But there is another way. Divide your house into zones and focus on one area each week. In addition to your regularly weekly cleaning, do one or more deep cleaning tasks in that week’s zone. Rotate these chores and over time they all get done. No, you won’t have that awesome feeling of everything spotless all at the same time. But you also won’t need a week to recuperate every spring and fall, either.

Daily laundry: Each morning throw in a load of laundry then be sure to see it all the way through the process. Dry, fold and put away. If you have a family you will likely need to do more than one load, at least on some days. But even at just one load you can be sure everyone has clean underwear and then catch up on the weekends or whatever other day you choose.

When I had kids at home I did approximately 15 loads a week. Mondays were my catch up day and it wasn’t unusual for me to do 5 or 6 loads that day. But by doing one or two loads each day I kept it under control. Now that it’s just the two of us, a load a day plus an extra one or two on Mondays keeps our laundry caught up.

Household Notebook: Take a look at Pinterest and you’ll see that the household notebook or planner is a very popular concept. But when FlyLady first gave the instructions for creating what she calls a Control Journal, it was not on most people’s radar. There are a multitude of ways to create one and it’s important to consider your own lifestyle but the instructions for creating a Control Journal is a good place to start.

Sink Reflections by The FlyLady

So now that I’ve shared what I consider the best of The FlyLady, is there a downside? Yes, I believe there may be. Now, let me just say that her plan was developed for people whose homes are out of control. She refers to it as C.H.A.O.S. – Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome. If your family is regularly out of clean underwear, you’ve resorted to plastic silverware and paper plates because all your dishes are dirty, you have to move piles in order to sit down and you spend an inordinate amount of time every day trying to find things then I believe her plan is well-suited to getting a handle on the situation.

That was not the case for me, however. I was simply looking for a structured plan for making sure everything got done on a routine basis. And in many ways her methods worked. But over time I began to notice something that concerned me. The emphasis on doing tasks quickly (often with a timer) and just barely “good enough” started to make me think of housekeeping as simply a series of tasks to do as fast as possible to get them out of the way. And if you despise housework on a deep and visceral level this might be a good thing. But I was one of those little girls who loved to play house and couldn’t wait to grow up and have a real home to take care of.

In those early days of marriage I loved taking the time to set the table with our wedding china, even if we were just having hot dogs. I enjoyed cleaning and scrubbing until everything sparkled and smelled wonderful. I was forever moving things around, decorating and basically playing house on a grownup level. I’m a nester by nature.

The message I was receiving from FlyLady emails was that perfectionism was the enemy. Set a timer, follow instructions, get it done and then go do something fun. Don’t worry about those extra touches. But I think there’s another way to look at housework.

When I think back to my childhood days I am reminded of the way my grandmother kept house. There were no lists, no timers, no housekeeping journals. She approached homemaking in a more natural, organic way.

People needed to eat so she cooked meals. She did the dishes after each meal so they would be clean for the next one. Beds were made each morning as a matter of course. When there were enough clothes for a load, she ran the washing machine. I didn’t ask her if she had specific days for such things as cleaning bathrooms or vacuuming or if she just did them when they needed doing. I do know she was in the habit of cleaning the refrigerator on Saturday mornings, though.

I never heard Grandma complain about keeping house. On the contrary, she hummed or whistled while she went about her tasks. She never seemed rushed. She kept a tidy and comfortable home, even with eleven grandchildren in and out all the time. And she seemed to enjoy the process or had at least made peace with it.

That is what I’m aiming for. I can make use of many FlyLady methods but with my own philosophy of mindfulness. Instead of rushing through a task with an eye toward the next thing on my to-do list, I’m trying to focus on what I’m doing. The feel of warm, soapy water on my hands as I wash dishes. Noticing the way sunlight reflects off a freshly polished mirror. Taking a few minutes to rearrange the decorative items on the coffee table after dusting it. I find that I tend to enjoy the things I put a bit more effort into and housework is no exception.

So while I do think The FlyLady has some terrific ideas and many of her methods are worth trying, I would also encourage a bit of caution. I believe there is something to be said for finding ways to make housework a pleasure whenever possible. Develop a regular morning routine but then take a few minutes to do a little something extra. After you swish and flush the toilet, add a few drops of a favorite essential oil. Light a candle and play some music while doing the dinner dishes. Iron your pillowcases when you change the sheets. These small touches help elevate housework from drudgery to creative expression. And isn’t that a happier way to take care of our homes?

~~~~~

Other posts you may enjoy:

How to Create Your Own Homemaking Binder

The Wisdom of Grandma

Ironed Pillow Cases ~ A Little Luxury

A Clean (-ish) House in 30 Minutes a Day

Note: I originally wrote and published this as a guest author on the (sadly) no-longer-published site, The Glamorous Housewife. Bethany Herwegh, the site owner, granted me permission to republish it here. The graphic at the top of this post was Bethany’s work from the original post on her site.

How To Practice Mindfulness While Cleaning House

March 14, 2017 By Deanna Piercy 4 Comments

It’s all too easy to rush through our housework in an effort to just get it over with so we can move on to something else. But what if we took a different approach? What if we used housework to practice mindfulness?

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Life With Dee!

Practice Mindfulness While Cleaning House

Put on an apron.

Wearing an apron protects your clothes while cleaning but there’s more to it than that. Tying on an apron sends a message to your brain that you are changing gears. Jewish men may wear a tallit (prayer shawl) during morning prayers; a Buddhist may wear a light shawl while meditating; and until the mid-60s Catholic women donned a thin lace veil over their hair before going to Mass.

While I’m not comparing an apron to these religious garments, there is something about the ritual of wearing a special garment for a special purpose. Putting on a freshly starched apron can elevate cleaning to another level.

Turn on some music.

I have a meditation playlist on Spotify. Because I’ve used it for meditation purposes for a few years now, it immediately triggers a calm, meditative mood for me. But you can choose any music that elicits a calm, focused attitude.

Light candles

I like to light a candle as I begin cleaning a room. I then extinguish it when I’ve completed my tasks in that room and move to the next.

Diffuse essential oils.

The impact of scent is often overlooked or undervalued but it’s an important part of my meditative cleaning. There’s a reason people burn incense while meditating. While I do love incense, I only burn it outdoors while enjoying “Porch Time”. It may not be safe indoors and since I’m asthmatic, I am cautious about this sort of thing. Instead, I like to diffuse essential oils. (Do a bit of research on the safety of this practice if you have children or pets in your home.)

Do one room at a time.

If you’re flitting about from one room to another and then back again, it’s not going to help you maintain a calm, focused mindset. Before you begin, gather all the supplies you will need to clean, and perhaps a basket to gather items which belong elsewhere. Determine whether you will clean for a certain amount of time or until certain tasks are completed and then stick to it.

Focus on what you are doing.

Sometimes I like to listen to podcasts or daydream while doing routine cleaning. And that’s perfectly fine. But for meditative cleaning focus on the task at hand. Pay attention to the way warm soapy water feels on your hands while washing dishes. Enjoy bringing a gleam to furniture as you slowly buff with beeswax polish. Notice the sparkle of glass as you clean a window. And for a truly meditative experience, polish silver.

Consider how the simple act of housekeeping blesses you and your family.

As you clean, give some thought to what this act means for you and your family. Rather than dreading it as an onerous task, think of what a pleasure it is to live in a clean and organized house. Home should be our place of refuge. When our houses are at least reasonably tidy, comfortable and fresh-smelling, we can truly relax and enjoy spending time there.

Finish each room with a special touch.

A single flower in a bud vase. Turning on a lamp or two rather than harsh overhead lighting. A newly arranged vignette on a side table. A light misting of your homemade lavender linen spray. Try adding just a little something extra as you finish each room.

Silently express gratitude for the room you just cleaned.

Finally, take a moment for gratitude. The kitchen you just cleaned is where you and your family enjoy nourishing food and conversation around the table. The bathroom allows you the luxury of running water for basic hygiene, something not always available in third world countries. Whenever I do laundry I try to recall the fact that there was a time my grandmother washed clothes with water drawn from a well and heated on the stove. With relatively few exceptions, even the most humble American home contains luxuries unheard of in centuries past.

More about Meditative Cleaning:

Cleaning as Meditation: How to Transform Your Chores

Cleaning and Mindfulness Meditation

What the Buddhists Can Teach Us About Household Chores

Mindfulness Meditation For Stress Relief: Why Cleaning Can Be So Relaxing (When Done Correctly)

Homemade Lavender Linen Spray

February 28, 2017 By Deanna Piercy 6 Comments

Lavender scented linens…doesn’t that sound lovely? And oh, so French. It’s a sweet little homemaking touch that takes very little effort and if you make your own lavender linen spray, it’s affordable, too.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Life With Dee!

Homemade Lavender Linen Spray

You can, of course, purchase something like this:

However, I don’t know about you, but $32 for a bottle of linen water is more than a sweet little indulgence. I might spend $32 on a bottle of French wine but when it comes to linen spray I’ll make my own, thank you.

Fortunately it is very simple to make. To make 16 oz. of linen spray you’ll need…

Ingredients:

1 cup plain (cheap!) vodka
1 cup distilled water
approximately 30 drops of lavender essential oil

Directions:

Combine 30 drops of lavender essential oil with 1 cup of plain vodka in a 16 oz. glass bottle. Finish filling bottle with 1 cup of distilled water. Shake before using.

Yes, that’s all there is to it.

So, now that we have our lovely bottle of lavender linen spray, what shall we do with it? Here are a few ideas:

1. Spray sheets upon arising.

It’s a good idea to let your bed air in the morning. When I get up I fold the covers back over the end of the bed and then lightly spray the sheets with my homemade lavender linen spray. Lavender has antiseptic properties so it aids in freshening the bed between bedding changes.

Read why you shouldn’t make your bed immediately in the morning:

Why You Shouldn’t Make the Bed in the Morning

2. Use as ironing spray.

I like to iron my pillowcases. Lightly spraying them with lavender linen spray leaves a soft fragrance which may even help you sleep.

Lavender – The Sweet Scent of Sleep

3. Freshen curtains and upholstery.

In the winter, especially, when we are not as likely to open windows, our homes can become a little stale. While fresh air is the best remedy, if it’s consistently below freezing you might not be inclined to open windows. A very light spray of lavender on household fabrics can make your home smell much fresher. (Note: I’ve never had a problem with lavender water staining anything but it’s always wise to test on an inconspicuous area first.)

4. Spray the dog’s bed.

Very lightly mist the dog’s bed to help remove odors. My research shows lavender to be safe for dogs but I would still go easy with it. I’m not going to make any recommendations regarding the use of any essential oils used topically or internally for pets (or humans, for that matter) but an occasional light misting of a dog bed is safe.

5. Use as air freshener.

Most commercial air fresheners contain potentially dangerous or toxic chemicals and fragrances. Use your homemade lavender linen spray instead and your home will have a pleasant aroma without those nasty ingredients.

Avoid Harsh Chemicals in Commercial Air Fresheners with Homemade Alternatives

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Glass Spray Bottle

Lavender Essential Oil

You may also enjoy these posts:

Ironed Pillowcases ~ A Little Luxury

Creating a Beautiful Life ~ My Bedside Table

A Well-Kept Home: Household Traditions and Simple Secrets from a French Grandmother

The Naturally Clean Home

Why I’ll Never Be a Minimalist

October 7, 2016 By Deanna Piercy 13 Comments

Let’s just get this out of the way from the beginning. There are some aspects which appeal to me but unless something within me does a major shift, I’ll never be a minimalist.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Life With Dee!

Minimalism ~ A Definition

While the dictionary definition of minimalism refers to a trend or movement related to music and art, the current popular use of the word is different. Minimalism is a lifestyle in which excess is avoided, clutter is eliminated and an effort is made to live simply.

The Minimalism Trend

The interest in minimalism is growing by leaps and bounds. There are countless books, magazines, blogs and articles devoted to this trend. While it may seem like a relatively new fad, there have always been those who embraced this philosophy, Thoreau being an obvious example. Still, in terms of widespread appeal, minimalism is a fairly recent phenomenon.

My Thoughts

I’ll be the first to admit that there are indeed aspects of the current minimalism trend which do appeal to me. I have a fairly strong anti-consumerism streak and I honestly don’t get a big thrill out of shopping (except for books). I am generally a pretty contented person and don’t need a lot of “stuff” to be happy. I like a relatively tidy home and I despise not being able to find things. I also like the idea of an easily cleaned and maintained home.

On the other hand, when it comes right down to it, I simply do not like minimalist spaces. They feel cold and austere to me. And a little boring.

I’m sure part of it has to do with the homes I grew up in. My mom is about as far from a minimalist as you can get without crossing the line into hoader-land. Every flat surface in my parents’ home is liberally decorated (no doubt why I grew up hating to dust). The other homes in which I spent a lot of time tended to be rather “full”, too. So I suppose that is partly responsible for my distaste for sparsely decorated spaces – they just feel foreign to me. Or like a hotel room.

And then there’s my penchant for reading cosy, homey British novels with their descriptions of crackling fires, tea kettles whistling on Aga stoves, chintz-covered sofas and chairs, books stacked on tables, and “wellies” in a row by the door.

While I do like a tidy home, I also like a home which feels warm, cosy and comfortable. There’s a difference between “littered” and “lived in”.

Littered: Dirty socks on the floor, a sink full of dirty dishes, piles of items which belong elsewhere.

Lived in: A couple of books sitting next to a favorite chair, a puzzle in progress on a table, a letter on the entry table that needs to be mailed, sheet music open on the piano, a warm afghan draped over the arm of a chair or sofa.

I love lots of artwork on my walls, stacks of books, plants, candles, fresh flowers, cosy afghans on every chair or sofa, and most of all…evidence that life is being lived in my home. And that is why I’ll never truly embrace minimalism.

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What about you? Are you a minimalist or want to be? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Here are some resources you might find interesting:

Books About Minimalism

Clutter’s Last Stand

I have a copy of this which I bought and read many, many years ago. It does have a lot of helpful information and ideas.

The Joy of Less

I haven’t read this one but it kept popping up on “best books about minimalism” lists.

Essentialism

This one happens to be one of the October LWD book club selections which you may find surprising consider my stance on minimalism. However, my understanding is that this book deals more with a simplified approach to productivity rather than just suggesting you get rid of everything you own. I haven’t read it yet but after I do I’ll probably write a review about it.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Is there anyone left who hasn’t read this one? This is the book which has launched minimalism into pop culture status. Personally, it didn’t do much for me so I gave away my copy. It simply did not resonate with me on any level.

Walden

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately…” Even though minimalism isn’t my thing I’ll have to admit that Walden DOES speak to me. Simplicity, time alone, nature…

Blogs About Minimalism

Video

For a look at extreme minimalism check out this video:

Articles about Minimalism

Is Minimalism Just Another Trend?

10 Reasons Why Minimalism is Growing

Why Millennials are Trending Toward Minimalism

Other Views

The Oppressive Gospel of ‘Minimalism’

Top Designers Debate Minimalism vs. Maximalism

Cluttered is the New Clean

Things I Need After Watching Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners

September 23, 2016 By Deanna Piercy 11 Comments

I love the British series, Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners. I like it even better than How Clean is Your House? and that was a favorite. I know the point of the show is to highlight that both ends of the spectrum are dysfunctional but I have to admit a certain amount of admiration for the compulsive cleaners. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that OCD is a serious disorder and I wouldn’t want to feel compelled to clean 15 hours a day. However, I’m impressed by some of their cleaning methods and tools.

Every time I watch an episode I find myself wishing I had a bacteria tester. Hmm…maybe I shouldn’t admit that.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Life With Dee!

If you’ve never seen an episode of Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners, here is a short excerpt:

Many of the OCD cleaners use a steamer to clean and disinfect everything from toilets to mattresses. I’m rather intrigued and this is now on my Amazon wishlist:

Steam Cleaner

About a year ago I mentioned my desire for a steam mop on Facebook. I actually planned to buy one but when I started researching which one to buy I got confused over all the different brands and just gave up. And then a couple of weeks ago a friend asked if I’d ever bought one. When I told her no she insisted that I borrow hers to see what I thought of it. I loved it! Guess what? She insisted on giving it to me because she hadn’t used it in ages. The best part is that it leaves the floor almost dry so I don’t have to try to keep everyone and the dog out of the kitchen until the floor dries.

Steam Mop

Okay, this next one is totally over the top. Especially the price. Good grief! This handy little gadget is a mere $1179.00. At least the shipping is free.

Handheld bacteria tester

What about you? Have you ever watched Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners? Do you have a steam cleaner or steam mop? If the bacteria tester were a more reasonable price would you want one or would you rather not know the bacteria count on your household surfaces?

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You may be interested in these posts, too:

Coming soon!

Downloadable cleaning, organizing and decluttering resource

I’m Giving the FlyLady Another Chance

August 31, 2016 By Deanna Piercy 9 Comments

This post contains affiliate links.

I first discovered The FlyLady many years ago, before she even had her own website, and have been a follower off and on throughout the years. I’ve read her book, Sink Reflections, and at various times signed up for her email reminders. I’m currently working on getting my household cleaning routines in place for the fall so I’m revisiting my old friend, The FlyLady.

The FlyLady can be somewhat polarizing. Some people almost worship at her feet (which are firmly ensconced in lace-up shoes!) while others find her and her numerous emails quite annoying. I fall somewhere in between.

Some of her methods are excellent. I’m especially fond of using a timer for certain tasks and the daily bathroom “swish and swipe” is a great idea.

I’ve shared my thoughts about the pros and cons of her methods on a post I wrote for The Glamorous Housewife.

*note: The Glamorous Housewife website is no longer online (sadly). I have republished my article here:

Yesterday I wrote about using my Happy Planner and mentioned that I was working on creating a housekeeping schedule:

I don’t plan to follow every aspect of The FlyLady “flight plan” but I am embracing the spirit of it. I’ll have short morning and evening cleaning routines, certain tasks for each day and follow her “Zone Cleaning” system.

I’ll share more details about my personalized version of The FlyLady routines as soon as I get them all set up and working. I may even create downloadable routines and checklists if anyone is interested. Leave me a comment if you are.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering…I WON’T be exchanging my Birkenstocks for lace-up shoes, no matter what The FlyLady says.

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Here are some helpful resources if you need help setting up housekeeping routines:

FlyLady phone app:

The FlyLady has also partnered with Cozi, a shared calendar app:

“This is a web-based calendar and organizer program that will allow you to schedule, plan,
have time-zone-specific reminders, shopping lists, to-do lists,
a family journal section that you can even opt in to post to Facebook, and more!”

I signed up for Cozi years ago although I never used it. But David and I now find ourselves in need of a shared calendar system so I revisited Cozi yesterday. I think it’s going to work beautifully for us – I’ll let you know after we’ve used it for awhile. David, of course, won’t have any interest in the FlyLady lists but since we both end up booking bands for events we absolutely have to have a place where we can see what the other one has booked. Plus we can input our meetings, travel schedules, appointments and anything else that we both need to be aware of. Like date nights, for instance! Speaking of which, we are reinstated a weekly date night. I’ll share more about that later.

Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley

Getting Started With The FlyLady

Crisis Cleaning

Organization Videos – A Few of My Favorites

July 28, 2016 By Deanna Piercy 5 Comments

I LOVE to watch cleaning, decluttering and organizing videos. I also enjoy the occasional episode of Hoarders or Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners. Okay, maybe more than “occasional”. 😉

I find these interesting and often inspiring. And I’ve learned some good tips from watching them.

I’m about to embark on a decluttering and organizing challenge of my own so I have been watching videos on these topics the past few days. I thought I’d share a few that I’ve found helpful and inspiring.

Organization Videos

This first one is the start of a 31 day decluttering program. It’s a good place to begin.

2. This next one left me in awe. I can’t imagine finding the time to organize my entire house to this level but it would be awesome!

3. A fairly short overview of 5 easy ways to declutter:

4. Once your house is clean and organized, you’ll want to keep it that way:

5. How about a 12 day clutter-busting plan? Here is Day One:

There are multiplied thousands of similar videos on YouTube. Enough to keep me watching rather than doing for ages!

I’ve found that the best way to make myself stick with something is to get others on board with me and hold myself accountable to them. I’m sadly lax about letting myself down but quite good at keeping my commitments to others.

So here’s the deal. I’m going to be starting a decluttering/organization challenge soon. I’m still working out the details but as soon as I have it all fleshed out I’ll let you know. I hope a number of you will decide to do this with me.

In the meantime, if you have any favorite decluttering and/or organizing videos or other online resources to recommend, please leave me a link in the comments.

The Conquer Your Clutter bundle before it expires on Monday, January 30th at 11:59 PM EST!

Get yours now: Conquer Your Clutter Super Bundle

31 Day FlyLady BabySteps: How it Works

Click here to join:

10 Tasks To Tackle During Spring Cleaning

1. Dishwasher

2. Trash Cans

3. Windows

4. Oven

5. Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans

6. Window Coverings

7. Change Seasonal Decor

8. Outdoor Furniture

9. Bed

10. Computer and Phone

Bonus

More Spring Cleaning Tips and Helps

Week One Challenge:

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Practice Mindfulness While Cleaning House

Put on an apron.

Turn on some music.

Light candles

Diffuse essential oils.

Do one room at a time.

Focus on what you are doing.

Consider how the simple act of housekeeping blesses you and your family.

Finish each room with a special touch.

Silently express gratitude for the room you just cleaned.

More about Meditative Cleaning:

Homemade Lavender Linen Spray

Ingredients:

Directions:

1. Spray sheets upon arising.

2. Use as ironing spray.

3. Freshen curtains and upholstery.

4. Spray the dog’s bed.

5. Use as air freshener.

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Minimalism ~ A Definition

The Minimalism Trend

My Thoughts

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Books About Minimalism

Blogs About Minimalism

Video

Articles about Minimalism

Other Views

A couple of my Pinterest boards

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Coming soon!

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FlyLady phone app:

Organization Videos

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