That really makes me so happy!

And those of you who have fallen behind, don’t loose heart and don’t quit. Life happens, but just keep going and pick up where you left off. It doesn’t matter if you take a bit longer to complete the challenge! The real challenge lies in finishing what you started.

Now, let’s move on to today’s tasks…

Day 5: Deep Clean the Kids room

I call this the war zone – for two reasons. Firstly, because the room always looks like some major war just happened in there and secondly, because I am always at war with my little one over trying to get it cleaned up!

The kids room is the most challenging room to clean and getting your kids to clean it is more challenging than just doing it yourself. So, instead of constantly pestering/coercing/yelling at them to get it done, teach them how to do it quickly and in a fun way.

Even though you will have to do most of the deep cleaning tasks yourself, have your kids help out in whatever way they can (depending on how old they are). That way they can learn by watching you and they will develop a sense of being responsible for the cleanliness of that room.

Important Note:

Today’s Cleaning Plan

Daily Cleaning Tasks: By now, your daily routine has almost become a habit and you will be automatically doing some (if not all) of your daily tasks. But, do continue to use a checklist to make sure!!

Weekly Cleaning Tasks: Surface clean the Kidsroom and spend a little extra time in there, deep cleaning.

Monthly Deep Cleaning tasks

• Deep Clean the Walls and Ceilings: Using a long handled broom, dust the ceiling, walls and corners to get rid of cobwebs, if any. Spot clean the walls as required to get rid of any stains, especially crayon, pencil or pen marks. Don’t forget to clean air vents, switch plates, wall decor etc. Dust or wipe posters too, if any.
• Deep Clean the doors and windows: Take down door and window treatments and set them aside to be washed on laundry day. Thoroughly clean the windows – the window sill, glass panes, grills, frames etc.
  Wipe down the doors and clean off any stubborn stains. Don’t forget to wipe down the doorknobs and/or handles!
• Deep Clean all the fans, lights, fixtures etc: Thoroughly clean the fans, lights and all other fixtures. Do as much as you can and continue with the rest the following week. While cleaning, remember to make note of anything that needs fixing or replacing!
• Deep Clean the floor: Shake out and/or vacuum carpets or rugs. Set them aside to wash later. Thoroughly sweep/vacuum and mop the floor. Make sure you get to the hard to reach areas such as under the bed, behind the furniture, cupboards etc. Where possible, move away the furniture. Don’t forget to clean the baseboards and spot clean any stubborn stains.
• Finally, put the furniture back in place and put up a fresh set of curtains!

Download your Day 5 Checklist here

Tips to remember throughout the 30 Day House Cleaning Challenge

1. Before you begin, gather all the necessary tools and keep them ready. You could get yourself a cleaning caddy or just use a basket or box.
2. Decide on a specific amount of time that you can/will spend cleaning and set a timer. Work as quickly as you can within this time and don’t get distracted. (Except if it’s an emergency of some kind!)
3. Start cleaning from the top of the room and work your way down. This will prevent dust falling on surfaces that you have already cleaned.
4. Work from one side of the room to the other side, in a systematic matter, so that you don’t miss any spots.
5. When the timer goes off, stop working! You can catch up with what you have missed during your next cleaning session.
6. Use checklists to track your progress and to ensure that you don’t miss out anything. Checklists are especially useful in instances where you cannot complete a task and need to reschedule it.