The will to clean...

So, I have to say that I have a big BIG problem with motivation when it comes to cleaning.

Let me just say, I love having a clean house. I feel satisfied then and comfortable with staying home and just enjoying my squeaky-clean house. But on any given day really, I find decimated Goldfish crackers ground into the carpet, piles of "we should keep it but what should I do with it?" statements and receipts in the office, the dreaded laundry, my ever-shedding hair on the bathroom floor and approximately 8,353,982 toys littering the house (despite me packing up two boxes of toys away).

And somehow it is a miracle to not have a single dirty dish. One day, one ant will wander in and hit the jackpot, then bring his three billion friends and won't I be sorry? So I find myself needing to sweep and scrub everyday and, while there's satisfaction in it, it's so hard to be disciplined!

I think that I've even posted on this just recently, but I want to make a public resolution so you can all kick my butt if I don't follow through.

I have a week off for spring break, so my resolution is to get the entire house clean. If I clean one room a day, I should be all done before go back to work. Here's my schedule (because lists are cool):

Today: the living room & hallway: vacuum, dust, baseboards, windows, clean toys
Sun. : Jack's room: put toddler bed in, disassemble crib for the 700th time, vacuum, dust, organize, tackle Jack's closet.
Mon.: office: file paperwork away & make desk functional again, stack books for when we find another bookcase, then vacuum
Tuesday: hall bathroom: mop, clean counter/mirror/tub, put off cleaning toilet...okay, fine, toilet
Wednesday: our bathroom: ditto above, plus fix sink, that is stuck in "plugged" position
Thursday: our room: vacuum, dust, organize closet and dresser
Friday: guest room: vacuum, dust, organize closet
Saturday: kitchen: mop, scrub, wash, sanitize
Sunday: vacuum living room & hallway again.

Yes, I realize I'm vacuuming nearly everyday this way. Well, it just works for me. Or it won't and I'll just vacuum the whole house on Sunday. Tempting...

So, I'll try to report on my progress each day, so keep me accountable! Today's work starts right after a dirty diaper change! (Ew.)

Cleaning house...

I really believe that God does work in our best interest. It's obvious. We really wanted that house on L-4 on 2.5 acres. We loved it, even though the house was very old and run down (the hallway wall was wavy!). We were excited about having space between neighbors, no lawn (save money on water!), the ability to go for walks without leaving the property and a fenced in yard for Jack and Brownie to play. Then the landlord said we couldn't use about 2.25 of the acres. And we couldn't park in the back of the house using the second gate that would have afforded us the luxury of not worrying if Brownie ran out in the process. And that was before we even met the ownwer or John even signed the lease. So it was great when Century 21 let me out of the lease.

Now we're four miles north of that area in a beautiful, newer house. Four and two. Nice neighbors on one side and vacant house on the other. Close to a school (which hopefully equals no child molesters nearby). Close to family. Much MUCH smaller property, but no real restrictions. That makes me very happy. God is good.

But now I have to clean it.

Luckily it was fairly clean to begin with. Stains on the carpet won't come out, so that's not my problem. We sold about half of our stuff when we moved into Allen's house, so we don't have a whole lot of clutter. That makes the house pretty clean all the time as it is. (Praise God!) That also means we don't have a whole lot of decorations, but I can't really put anything below waist level or Jack uses it as a bludgeoning device, so perhaps it's for the best.

With a little one, I am trying to go for all-natural cleaning products. With a tight budget, I am trying to go for cheap materials too, like using vinegar and water to wash the linoleum. With a job, I am trying to clean with minimal time and effort.

My question is, how do you clean house? What's your schedule, or do you have one? What tips and tricks do you have for cleaning? So...what do you do to keep house? What shortcuts have you discovered and what products do you use that are efficient and inexpensive?