I’m 14 years old, attend high-school, and obviously have a steady homework load, with tests, and final exams and all that. For the past few months, (kind of all of a sudden) I have had urges to really clean up my house! It’s a brand newly built house, and we have been living here for 10 months. Our family is not too large, just five of us, mom, dad, 12- year old sister, and 3 year old brother.
My house isn’t necessarily messy; most places are quite clean and organized.
The biggest problem I have is the joint kitchen and family room. I am basically a neat freak.
My own room is really clean, and I try to do weekly clean-ups, where I vacuum, do my laundry, organize all binders and books. I am probably one of the most organized people I know, from my computer desktop screen icons, to my locker, to all my desks at school! The problem is my kitchen and family room, are frequently cluttered, and somewhat dusty, with some stains here and there! It really makes me mad! I get sick of cleaning the messes ever day or two! My brother is kind of messy (he’s 3), my sister doesn’t keep anything clean but her own room, my dad is busy at work doesn’t really make too many messes, and my mom stays at home, but doesn’t clean up very much, or just not to the extent that I want!
I get especially sort of aggravated, that the house is brand new, and it is getting a little to dirty in some places!
What should I do?
How should I manage, cleaning the joint family room and kitchen, without doing it everyday? What are some cleaning tips? Is there a quick Saturday schedule that I can use to help me get by this within two hours maximum?
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Well, coming from a 14 yr. old this is kinda a weird question… Since the family room/kitchen is probably the "family" hub it’s probably where mail is dumped, school papers and everything else that doesn’t have a "home" goes… You can start by everyday sorting the mail and immediately getting rid of any junk mail or circulars that aren’t needed.. Check with parent’s to make sure that important papers aren’t getting thrown out…. Put the important paperwork into a pretty basket-where it is easily within reach… OR put in a drawer or unused cabinet out of eyesight!If you are like most families you get magazines and catalouges… Put those in a nice basket where they can be reached but, not strewn about!
** If other family members are leaving personal items in the room(s) get a laundry basket or small basket for each person and put his/her things in the basket and put basket in their room for them to put away….
** Or inact a "throw away" rule where if someone keeps placing items in the family room/kitchen and NOT cleaning up after themselves it gets throw away or taken away….
I simply LOVE using CLOROX/LYSOL antibacterial wipes to clean the countertops it’s quick/easy…. Take everything off countertops and wipe down surfaces…
Wipe down appliances/countertops as well…. Unload/load the dishwasher (maybe have your sister do this daily).. Load the dishwasher and keep loading it after every meal until it’s full and then run it… Keeps dirty dishes out of the sink….
Sweep the floor throughly and mop 2x-3x a week! Dust the family room/vacuum
Vacuum any carpeted surface…
If you can keep up with the daily messes than SAT you should just be able to do the heavy cleaning.. Dusting, vacuum, and sorting..
Good luck
Firstly what you have to realise is that this is not just your problem and your parents need to sit down with you and your siblings and try to get them to assist them and you with chores which you can all share in. You can easily achieve a balance of cleaning and relaxing to enable you to concentrate on your education and future career rather than becoming too fixated on cleaning. Once you feel relaxed about the fact that sometimes things do get messy, then you will find that you can accept that others are not like you. If you can accept this then you will find that your family will be more likely to work with you than have you insist they do things. hope this helps, by the way I am a mother of four grown up kids and grandma to five boys and one girl. x
its commendable that you have these standards, HOWEVER, i think that you are focusing your attention on this to detract from all that you have going on in your life, the move, the homework etc, this is one thing you feel you can control and so are focusing there
it is tempting when you move into a new house to keep it just that-brand new, however as a family home that is not practical, dust will come, crumbs will be made, and its essential this is kept on top of as well as all the other chores, washing cooking cleaning ironing etc, this isnt your job however, chores at your age are a good thing, but not to be in charge of keeping a family home immaculate, that is your moms department pretty much, she is lucky to have you, willing to do chores, but the responsibility overall lies with her, you have too many other things you should be focusing on, school, homework, activities, etc
try and relax a bit here
keep your room A1, but the rest of the house? has to be a home for your family, you are going to make them feel they are living in a show home if you are forever cleaning around them,
do 10 to 15 minute cleaning every day, put a timer in front of you, put some nice music for your amusement, take the cleaning project as a fun not as a work, your house will be bright shinning place all the time, by the way the places you have stain please pour some spray like resolve spray comes in red plastic bottle, spray on carpet the night before, let it soke for whole night, here we go when you up in the morning only you need to do vaccum, well guess what, the house is done, wa ha ha.
sounds to me like perhaps your feeling out of control with your study load and house move etc..this is exhibiting it’s self in the need your feeling to have things ordered and clean around you, talk to parents about how your feeling and if there no help then perhaps a school counsellor..good luck i hope your feel better soon =)
Just keep the dishes done up and clean up after yourself. Stay on top of your school work and make sure you relax at least 30 minutes a day. I would really encourage meditation. I mean this.
You cannot control your entire environment. Not now and not in the future. And although I must say I would love for you to be my son and be so organized, I also would want to know that you can relax and enjoy life.
Relaxing is a learned behavior. It take practice and is most easily learned as an infant.
Dirt happens and so does clutter. But because you live in a house with other people, it is going to be a constant.
As long as you are keeping up with school work and having at least 30 MINUTES of relaxation your are doing well.
If you find yourself with a bit of extra time, then go ahead and tidy up the family living area.
Just remember, obsessing over the mess is just going to cause stress and possible health problem related to stress later in life.
peace,
Pam