The All or Nothing Cleaner, Part 2

Have you timed your most common repetitive household chores yet?

When timing yourself, be sure to include the time it takes to gather any needed cleaning materials and to put those materials away when you are done. I challenge you to get started on that today—and if it's too overwhelming to do the whole house, start with the smallest room and just get that list done and posted for now.

In fact, I'd love to know about at least one of your tasks and how long it took you to do it. (If you don't have the book The House That Cleans Itself and you need a lengthier explanation of how to create an accurate Task/Time List, please email me at MindyStarnsClark@ aol.com and I'll be happy to send you a more complete description excerpted from the book.)

How long does it take you to unload the dishwasher? Clean up the dog's eating area? Wipe smudges from a door and doorframe, both sides? Sweep the front walk? Wipe the gunk off of the tubes and bottles on your bathroom counter? Swish the toilet bowl with cleaner—not clean the whole tank or the entire bathroom, just swish the toilet bowl? Remember, this isn't a race. As you time yourself, perform these tasks at the same speed you would normally perform them. You want realistic times for the Task/Time List to be most effective.

Come back next week for a helpful tip on augmenting your list.