*b* fall cleaning list…

this list is just a practical list that i thought i would share. i know that when i was just starting out with my own home, i really didn’t have a clue about upkeep or deep cleaning. i just knew that my gram took her spring and fall cleaning very seriously and pretty much turned her house upside down and inside out. i would help with a few things, but i wasn’t necessarily properly trained step by step….i sort of figured it out when i was on my own and pieced it together. my mom on the other hand would do deep cleaning based on her entertaining schedule or when she redecorated a room (she was an interior designer, so that happened fairly regularly).

i know that everyone has slightly different ideas and priorities…i am picky about my windows and solid surfaces, not so picky about my upholstery (i hate vacuuming furniture and window treatments). i do force myself to do the jobs i dislike once or twice a year anyway. so here is the list that i will attempt to accomplish this year…i prefer a room by room system, so this is according to my house:

*b* fall cleaning list

kitchen:

• wipe down all woodwork with mild detergent and hot water.
• disinfect all doorknobs and handles.
• take everything out of each cupboard and drawer, wiping out and sorting. (i haven’t done this in way too long)
• wash windows and screens
• thoroughly clean all appliances, inside and out.
• take down and clean all light fixtures
• vacuum out air vents

family room:

• wipe down all woodwork and disinfect all door knobs and handles
• move furniture and vacuum.
• vacuum upholstery
• dust and clean all frames and artwork on walls
• clean out built-ins and wipe down insides
• wash windows and screens

entryway:

• clean exterior and garage door frames, inside and out, disinfect doorknobs.
• clean out coat closet and wipe down all woodwork.
• move furniture and wipe floors under.
• clean woodwork, stair-rails and spindles.

laundry room:

• move or clean under and around washer and dryer. (way overdue)
• clean wallswipe down all woodwork
• clean woodblinds thoroughly
• wash window and screen

living room and dining room:

• wipe down all woodwork and floors (moving furniture)
• wash windows and screens
• vacuum air ducts
• dust off walls
• clean spindles and stairway woodwork
• clean frames/glass on walls
• vacuum upholstery
• vacuum curtains

powder room:

• clean light fixture
• wipe down all woodwork
• clean out cupboard and drawer

our bedroom and bath:

• wash windows and screens
• turn mattress
• clean light fixture
• wipe down frames/glass on walls
• vacuum airvents
• vacuum underbed with attachment
• wipe down all woodwork
• clean out closet and wipe down shelves and vacuum floor

guest room:

• wash windows and screens
• wipe down woodwork
• vacuum airvents

my studio: (this room recently went through some home improvements, so it’s not too bad)

• wash windows and screens

my bathroom

• clean light fixture
• wipe down woodwork
• clean out linen closet, maybe paint shelves

basement:

• vacuum steps with attachment
• wipe down woodwork
• wash windows and screens
• go through boxes and take at least 4 boxes to goodwill

outside:

• hose off front porch and deck
• take summer furniture and pots to storage unit

now, i have to say that none of this will get done very soon, if we proceed with our/my plan to remove the lovely popcorn ceilings throughout our house. i thought we would have done this a long time ago, but tom thinks its way too much trouble. after talking to a couple of guys who have done it, he’s coming around : ) i have so many projects i’m dying to get to! poor tom.

i did make time this weekend to do something i’ve been wanting to do craft/home - wise. i was getting really tired of the coffeetable-top arrangement in the family room. i wasn’t really finding anything that i wanted to purchase to update, but i did think of a craft project that would be just the t0uch of whimsy that i wanted. i have been on a search for vintage sap buckets for a while now and recently found one at “dimestore days” (which is a very cool antique store on the same block as the loft). i wanted to fill this bucket with tissue paper flowers….a miniature version of the martha stewart tissue flowers i made for harper’s birthday party. so here’s the result.

i had to blur the cute shadow box project because it hasn’t posted on fiskars yet. don’t forget to check out the project a day at fiskars this month. here’s a project of mine that was posted last week-

 i really like the series of hammock shots i took of j and beth. i think i’ll have them printed and framed : )

i finally made time to take grey’s one year shots. without pop, i don’t think i could have done this. little g has such a great temperament, but he is busy! we went and picked him up and as we backed out of their driveway, just pop, grey and i, grey started to laugh out loud. it was like he really “got” that we were taking him on an adventure. so sweet! as we were driving we would turn around and say, “hey grey, are you escaping with pop and meem?” and he would giggle hysterically. tom and i both thought it was heavenly having him.

squeezable. mmm.

recently, kirby, amber and addison came to town and we planned to do family photos. poor amber got a migraine on the drive and had to go straight to the guest room to bed when they got here. i felt so bad for her. she had this adorable new ruffly shirt that is still going to look great when we do their family photos sometime soon! i did take some shots of addie and her daddy in the front yard.

addie was so worried about her mommy that we had to distract her by having her water my flowers.

payton did get his day of art with me before school started. he made all kinds of cool art…i have a huge paper rainbow at the loft now : )

i hadn’t shared any family photos in a while, so i thought it was time. i will be taking ryan, jennifer and the kids family photos in a couple of weeks and hopefully kirby, amber and addison’s too. in about 6 weeks, we’ll have lots of new family shots!

i hope you have a great day!

God bless you!