RazzWorks

We tend to think we need to block off a huge amount of time to get our house clean. That’s how I used to do it. Since I injured my back and developed other ailments that limit my abilities I’ve learned to break things down into smaller tasks. Almost any job can be broken down into a few smaller jobs.

There are lots of tasks you can do in ten minutes or less. I’m sure you could squeeze a bunch of ten-minute time frames into your day. Try setting a timer and doing anything from this list. I promise that, unless you have a month’s worth of clean laundry to put away or have an extremely large house, you can accomplish any of these in under ten minutes.

• Delete emails (as many as you can)
• Clean out your purse
• Make a phone call
• Sort mail
• Clear off your desk
• File papers
• Pay bills
• Clear counter-tops
• Sweep a floor
• Make a grocery list
• Wash lunchboxes
• Toss old food from the fridge
• Scrub the kitchen sink
• Empty the dishwasher
• Run a cup of vinegar through your empty dishwasher
• Load the dishwasher
• Declutter a drawer
• Plan tomorrow’s menu
• Empty garbage cans
• Start a to-do list
• Clean mirrors
• Wipe down bathroom surfaces
• Clean the tub/shower
• Scrub the toilet
• Clean behind the toilet
• Clean out under the bathroom sink
• Change the bathroom towels
• Change bedding
• Clean up bedside tables/surfaces
• Vacuum carpets
• Clean out a toy box and get rid of broken toys or toys to donate
• Put away toys
• Straighten up a bookshelf
• Vacuum upholstered furniture
• Clear coffee table and end tables
• Sort DVDs
• Dust electronics
• Clean the TV screen (carefully)
• Water plants
• Put in a load of laundry
• Throw out mismatched and holey socks
• Match socks
• Put away laundry
• Mend a seam or sew on a button
• Wipe down a door inside and out
• Disinfect doorknobs
• Dust light fixtures and/or lamps
• Wipe down baseboards in one room
• Wipe light switches throughout your house
• Clean a door frame in one room
• Put away abandoned shoes
• Sweep porch/doorstep/deck
• Clean out your car

So when you think you don’t have time to clean your house try changing that thought to ‘What can I do in 10 minutes?’. You’ll find there are many times throughout the day when you are waiting 10 minutes for something; like waiting for the coffee to perk, waiting for a pot of water to boil, waiting for someone to return a phone call, or just when you are stalling until it’s time to go somewhere. Also, having your cleaning supplies all together in one location or even organizing a cleaning caddy will make it quick and easy to grab what you need and get to it.

Start with the trouble spots, areas people will see if they drop in unexpectedly. Then work your way through your house ten minutes at a time. Instead of picking up your phone or tablet to play or browse the internet when you have a few minutes to spare try doing one ten-minute task and then letting yourself have some downtime. And don’t forget you can have your kids and /or partner work on these things too. They are great quick tasks you can ask someone to do that won’t take them long. You’ll be surprised how much gets done and how much better you’ll feel about your home.

Can you think of any more tasks that could be completed in ten minutes or less? Share your ideas in the comments so we can all benefit from them. Happy cleaning and remember – you don’t have to do it all at once, take it slow and easy. That’s the RazzWorks way!

Roze