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I’ve been working behind the scenes on a couple new (and exciting) products for my shop – doing a little re-focus, simplifying product lines and adding something completely different. One of the new products is all about homekeeping. For me, homekeeping is a favorite topic and activity for me. I absolutely love the process of cleaning and organizing and managing a home. I know that not everyone loves/likes it as much as I do (or at all) and so I’ve developed a series that will guide you through the process of homekeeping in the midst of everyday life. Sounds like what you need? I hear from so, so many of you about how much you struggle to get it ‘all’ done. I never have it all done but there are some tricks and ideas that I use to simplify the process and I know that you’ll just love them!
If you’re a mom (or not), if you work in your home or outside your home, have one kid or twelve, I have real, practical ideas for keeping your home tidy, getting food on the table, and most importantly, having time to savor and enjoy your family and the things you really want to accomplish. I’m so excited to experience this series with you as you discover how easy it can be to keep up with the everyday stuff in the midst of a busy life. Stay tuned – the series will launch with the new product in the shop and we’ll go from there. Excited? Me too! (Just so you know….I’m not a fan of teaser posts but I thought that this series needed a little preface so you could get your heart ready to do a little homekeeping.) Wednesdays will be the day of this series on Clean Mama – I’m expecting it to last (at least) through the summer.
Have an area of homekeeping that you struggle with? Leave a comment! I’d love to be able to tailor this series to what you REALLY need!
Subscribe to the blog (just pop your email address in the box on the sidebar) and follow along socially! I’ll be posting pictures on Instagram using the hashtag #moderndayhomekeeping
Trisha R Says...
I struggle with meals, definitely. I’m a new SAHM of three (12, 2, 4 months). I quit my job after working outside of the home for 19 years so I could stay at home with my newest babes. I’m lucky in the fact that my husband is not picky about how the house looks, as long as he has clean socks and underwear. However, *I* hate mess and clutter, so I tend to freak out a bit when things are in a state of disarray. But what I REALLY struggle with is meals. Planning is difficult for me, finding time to cook is hard when I’m tending to the little kids. My crockpot is my best friend.
I’ll be watching your series for ideas! 🙂
Terry Says...
I tried once a month cooking years ago, but it was exhausting. What I do now is batch cooking. If I’m going to make a meatloaf, I make 2, and freeze one. I also double up on chicken thighs, semi boneless ribs, chili, and lentil stew. if you’re going to double your recipes, it is very important to divide out the part you’re going to freeze, BEFORE you serve the rest.
Bess T. Says...
Me too, Trisha. It seems like I have most of the other stuff (relatively!) under control but I feel like I’m always behind in the cooking dept. 🙁
Sarah Says...
I was going to say this is my biggest problem as well! I have very picky eaters and I work outside the home full time. By the time I get all 3 kids home at 6:00 I’m exhausted, I don’t have anything prepared so I usually heat up pizza or make peanut butter sandwiches. There has to be a better way! I feel like a terrible mother!
Candice Says...
As a stay at home mom of a 4 year old and a very mobile 10 month old, I have found that having set meal plans helps the most. Monday nights we always have breakfast for dinner, Tuesday I will choose one of our favorite meals, Wednesdays is a freezer meal that goes straight into the crockpot, Thursdays are leftovers. I don’t plan for the weekends but do keep easy stuff on hand like hotdogs or hamburgers, also frozen fish fillets for fish tacos and frozen pizzas.
I hope that helps you some. It has really been beneficial to me knowing that I have a set schedule for each week.
Diana Says...
My walk in closet is always a disaster !!
Just hanging space , few little shelves
Trying to organize shirts dresses trousers
Lisa Says...
Dishes! With new dirty dishes being created throughout the day, totaling at least one dishwasher run plus some hand washables every. single. day., I get behind. And then I get discouraged. And then I don’t want to cook because cooking requires 20 minutes of dish clean up before, and then again after. I hate dishes….
Beth Says...
I definitely second this one!! And the people in my family after I’ve cooked just leave everything on the table and I just feel like it’s expected that Beth will handle it. They move on to something fun or relaxing and I get frustrated and resentful standing over that stinking sink of dirty dishes….my attitude probably needs to change more than my actual housework 😉
Terry Says...
The rule in our house was that everyone had to clear their own place, and put their dishes in the dishwasher, or in the sink if the dishwasher was still full of clean dishes.
Debra Schramm Says...
Looking forward to this new series!
Autumn Says...
Keeping clutter down
Aubrey Says...
This series is perfect God-timing for me!! I struggle with just daily routines – doing things each day to keep it all under control.
Nicole Says...
I’m with you Aubrey! I suffer from back problems and migraines, so after coming home from a long day at work, I struggle to find the energy/strength/motivation to accomplish housework. I definitely need help in establishing a routine so there isn’t so much to be done all at once.
kerryne Jackson Says...
Sounds interesting 😉 cannot wait!
victoria gant Says...
i am very good at organising dirty washing- i have 4 ikea stacking bins for cleaning stuff (tea towels, dish clothes etc), then whites, colours and darks. everyone in the house put their dirty washing in the correct bin and then when its full i put a wash on! but once the washing has been cleaned and tumbled dried… what next?! i need some idea of a plan to get me out of the mountains of clean washing that end up on the sofa, next to the bed and on the landing! HELP! xxx thanks xxx
Terry Says...
I had this same problem, until finally I realized I didn’t have enough drawer space to put away the clothes once they were all dry and folded. I did a good purge of the drawers, then I replaced our bedside tables with 3 drawer chests, all my undergarments and socks are now in my chest, which leaves my bureau for pants, shorts, tees, and sweaters.
Anna C. Says...
I can’t wait I work out of the home and have 2 kids. I love to hear all ideas and see if it would work for me.
Emma Says...
I have 3 boys aged 5, 3 and 4 weeks and really struggle with keeping the toys tidy, weekday meals and paperwork. We have way too much clutter too!
Giuseppina Lubrano Says...
Yay! I’m so excited for this! I’m a high school teacher and am so exhausted by the time I get home that I don’t know where to start. I’m sure some guidelines will help me get organized and feel better 🙂 Thank you for doing this!!
Ellen Says...
Excited about the new series and loving my copy of your book. I don’t seem to get the same lingering scents you mention but maybe that’s an olfactory problem on my end. Your site always is helpful so I can’t wait to see what you have come up with now.
My primary dumping ground is the office. It’s in the back of the house, used to be our oldest daughter’s room, so it’s super easy to close the door and not see the desk mess. I have binders, plans and good intentions but so far nothing has stuck. We are in the midst of a bathroom & kitchen remodel so it’s not my top priority right now is my current excuse.
Mrs U Says...
Clutter!!!! Especially clutter from my children’s toys. Ugh. We don’t have many toys but BOY they can end up everywhere!! And my 8 year old daughter LOVES all things paper. I’d love to keep her organized somehow!!
Ashley Says...
I am excited! Housekeeping is not my strong suit…I have great desire, it is just not natural to me! I cant wait to follow along!!
Karen L in WA Says...
Spider webs along the ceiling – I am too short and have bad knees and a bad shoulder. My biggest problem though is papers – notes from all the nonprofits’ meetings I attend. I must be getting old, they keep putting me on boards, but I have learned to say no. I have lots of 3 ring binders for each organization as well as 3 large and 2 small binders for my genealogical stuff. I use the binders, then put them down and can’t find them. Sometimes I take a paper tablet inside a small holder for taking notes, instead of a big binder to meetings.
Corinne Says...
Hello Becky! Thank you so much for this new series! I’m looking forward to your input and suggestions in help making me manage my home better. The one thing that I have such a struggle with is laundry. Getting it in the washer is not a problem, it’s putting it in the dryer (because more often than not I forget it’s in there) and getting it out of the dryer, folded and put away. Any tips, schedules and/or wisdom would be much appreciated.
By the way I love your site, I enjoy all your all natural recipes you have to offer. Blessings to you as you continue on! Huggs,
Corinne
Elizabeth Says...
Meal planning I have in the bag. But keeping my home clean is a nightmare. Toddler, dog,cat, military husband. Then all of my own personal things. Ugh.
Jenn Says...
Sherri Mills wrote a book titled ” I almost divorced my husband, but then I went on strike.”. As a working mom she experienced an epiphany through trying to do it all. Work and run the home and family. House and children are a 24/7 JOB with a night shift. By applying the reasoning traditionally applied to a man’s working hours in a day to THEIR household, the home becomes an equally allocated effort. Two idea shifts occurred for her. One, that her self esteem should not rest on the superwoman persona whether she works in and/or out, of the home. Two, all persons in the home are joint house hold operators. It’s called home front equality. Organization is still key as any “business” needs management. Looking at the home like a business means sick time, vacation, and an end to each individuall’s daily work hours. Stream-lining operations and shared shifts 😉 bring an end to burn out and resentments. It’s an eye-opener.
kelli Says...
Laundry and toy control… We are a two-parent-working household of four kids. Any two of the four have sports or activties on any given night. Most days we are gone 13 plus hours. How do we streamline the laundry so we arent stuck spending all day doing load after load.
Jenn Says...
Giving everyone a morning load in an/or afternoon loud out Dried, everyday. That’s at least 5-7 loads a week.
LizyBeth Says...
I’m feeling very overwhelmed as I am spring cleaning & purging our house. I have four children, & just this week I fnished working on my BS-Accounting, started a part-time (mostly at home) business assistant position for a local orchard, and picked up three bookkeeping clients to begin my work-at-home business. To top it all off, my husband is away training with the Army (he’s in the Reserves) in preparation for another year-long deployment. I feel like I really need to get my housework under control, almost like it’s on auto-pilot. Of course my older kids (14, 12, & 11) can help. Tips on getting them “on my team” with this ongoing task would be greatly appreciated. I’m really looking forward to your new series!
robbi Says...
keeping clutter in check
very limited storage space
creating a cleaning routine that works
Jackie Says...
I struggle with clutter. I feel like I am constantly going through piles only to create more piles. I’d love to see a series on clutter control!
Lauren R Says...
Keeping a space clean with a child (below 3) at home along with parents who work at home. My husband and I both work from home and its so hard to keep up a space where we work, play, eat, sleep, etc. Some daily tasks to make the epic struggle of a major clean easier would help 🙂
VJ Says...
My office and filing cabinet is always in disarray even though I try to keep on top of it. Any help would be appreciated. Looking forward to the series.
Roylene Says...
How do you keep white towels and wahcloths white?????
Mandi R. Says...
My husband and I both work full-time jobs. We have 3 children at home, ages 8, 3 and 1. I need help with everything! LOL! Clutter, routines (kids included in chores), meal planning, grocery shopping without breaking the bank, etc. I’m a microwave mom, which means I hardly ever cook “meals” so the kids aren’t getting balanced meals as they should be. I’m just so tired by the time we get home. Please help me to simplify my life so that it doesn’t feel like such a drudgery to do certain tasks. Thank you!
Mommy Says...
Thank you for all you do!!!
Amber G. Says...
I’m very excited to read this series. I like to think I don’t struggle in any area. I’m super OCD and organized and scheduled. Sometimes to a fault. It may sound weird, but i guess i struggle with relaxing a little. If the to do list isn’t done, or i’m just really exhausted today, how to be like hey it is ok. But i’m super excited to read about this.
Jennifer Says...
We have tiny closets and very little storage space so I’m always struggling with where to put things. Things just get moved from place to place as I attempt to organize.
Waad R Says...
The kitchen cleaning and preparing daily meals
Lisa Says...
How timely is this? I’ve been a fan of your blog for several years but honestly have found it a little overwhelming and a little non-relevant. I am single with no children, work full time outside the home, am enrolled part time in graduate school, and manage a small hobby farm with 2 horses, 2 farm dogs, and one barn cat. Having no one else around to whom I need to be accountable, it’s easy to allow things to slide until they get to an nearly unmanageable level. While I might say that a clean home isn’t important, the truth is that I don’t believe it. When my space is clean and orderly, I feel more peaceful and am more productive. Putting everything off just creates a sense of unease that poisons everything. I am truly hopeful your new series will offer some help to those of us who are not running after children but also have limited time available.
Sandy Says...
“How to say goodbye.” A basic premise behind clutter is paring down and getting rid of things. I have triple threat of sorts–accumulation in a house we’ve lived in for 20 years, putting that house on the market and needing it to look “show ready” nearly all the time, preparing for two children to leave for college next fall while my husband and I pare down our possessions and living space to new, more tropical, digs. Saying goodbye to THINGS isn’t an issue for me (give me a hankie however when I think about all the memories this house holds) but the stuff/things to let go is an issue for my children–especially my oldest who likes to save everything in case she needs it for a craft project.
Terry Says...
I have 2 problems. One is the dining table being a catchall. The office is upstairs, and stuff often sits until the weekend. My other problem is my health. In the last 4 years, I have had a heart attack, back surgery, a full hysterectomy, 4 permanent false teeth put in, and I’m on meds for depression. My energy levels fluctuate wildly from day to day, so it’s hard to keep up with a day of the week type routine. Some days it’s all I can do to shower, dress, empty the dishwasher, and make dinner.
Lisa Says...
With the weather getting warming I struggle with trying to keep my house clean and also staying on top of the yard work too.
Amy Says...
Love everything you do Becky…super excited about this series! I struggle with keeping the momentum going. I’ll have a great week and really stay on top of everything and then one day will slip, then another until I’m back to square one with a disorganized, dirty home 🙁
Shelby Says...
Clutter-especially paper clutter…it’s everywhere. I need a better system!
Diane Says...
Paper clutter is my problem. I don’t know how to put paper in categories that make sense so I can find them when I need them. Also, I want to know how to organize my nightstand and my bathroom cabinets.
Laura Says...
My struggle is my attitude towards it! Your free monthly calendars have been a huge help in keeping my focus AND improving my attitude.
Kathy Tolleson Says...
Meals after working all day and basic organization. I feel everything is tipsy-turvey ! I am looking forward to your series and being taught how to use your printables . Thank you for taking the time to encourage your readers through this series.
Hope Says...
My problem area is cleaning after the baby when he eats (he just started on solids, and half of them land on his clothes, the floor, different parts of his chair…)
Amy H Says...
Everything everyone else has said. I have young twins and am completely overwhelmed…. I also struggle with my energy level and sleep schedule consistency. I also struggle with wanting to quite coffee/caffeine or reduce consumption but don’t know how I can survive without it. Thank you.
karen Says...
i struggle with papers, papers, and more papers…. they can be flyers for upcoming events, school papers, article i want to read, etc. any ideas?
Kim Says...
I struggle with all of it meals. floors &bathrooms especially
Sarah Says...
Keeping my very small at-home office organized….and functional…..and cute….and enjoyable to be in…. 😉
TWan Says...
My main struggles are keeping counters and tables clear, they always get cluttered with papers, mostly daily art projects from school, things that don’t get put away from the store etc. The other struggle is a cleaning routine and just cleaning in general all rooms. I’m so tempted to outsource it but that just doesn’t seem right. I work outside the home and have a 2 yr old. Once we get home I make it a point to spend time with my 2 yr old before even starting dinner. By the time, dinners done and he’s in bed, my hubby and I are exhausted.
Catherine Says...
I struggle with getting/staying motivated to clean and declutter. I’m a SAHM and tend to isolate, which contributes to this.
I also have a hard time with menu planning for more than a few nights/week.
Really looking forward to this series!
Heather Says...
I struggle with keeping the kitchen, the dining room, and the laundry room clean. We never use the dining room and yet it becomes a storage unit for things we don’t put away right away. As soon as we clean the kitchen and the laundry room, we destroy it!
Kathleen Says...
I struggle with paper clutter, keeping up with laundry, and keeping bedrooms from becoming dumping grounds (dump it in there and hide the mess–my main living area generally stays clean).. I work from home and struggle to manage my time well enough for me to be productive in my multiple roles at home.
Rebecca Says...
Clutter, especially paper clutter. We run our dairy farm business from home. Between the farm, 3 kids’ school work and the bits and pieces that go with daily life, I often feel like I’m drowning in paper! Looking forward to some tips and tricks.
Amanda Says...
I struggle with staying on top of everything – keeping things neat, laundry, etc. I work 4 days a week. I also write and teach children’s church. I need dedicated time for everything.
Josie Says...
A morning routine…better yet an evening routine so mornings can run smoothly.
Adriana Says...
We are a family of 6 and I work full-time and go into the office 3x a week. Our lives are crazy busy with an additional family business on top of the 2 full-time jobs and grad school to boot. I would love more about laundry, decluttering, and routines that work and are flexible. Plus how to get all 4 kids cleaning together – we have time set aside on Saturday to work together but often that doesn’t happen because of an activity like soccer. We had a cleaning service last year and it really helped but realized we really can’t afford it. So I would love to be able to have all members working when they can and the end result is a lovely, clean house. 🙂
Lori Says...
I struggle with paper management. I am surrounded by files of paper. I have worked extensively with three professional organizers, but can’t afford one while I have two kids in college.
Jacque Caldwell Says...
I just found you today and think this is just what I needed. I am a widow with two grown children so I only have myself to take care of but I seem to have more trouble keeping up than I did when there were four of us to take care of. I am excited to follow your journey. It might be just the inspiration I was looking for.
Stacy Says...
I am a SAHM to 3 kiddos (ages 7, 5, and 2.5), two small dogs, and my husband. I try so hard to implement little strategies to make my day-to-day less chaotic, but everything backfires. I married a man whose mom did EVERYTHING for him until the day we got married so basically he thinks I should be the one doing everything inside the house. We live in a tiny house and it’s so disorganized. I try to do a load of laundry daily, sometimes 2 loads. I do the dishes daily. Everything else is just sort of done as necessary. The kids’ toys and clothes are out of control. Also trying to find time to keep up with my blog and finding time for me, JUST ME, as selfish as that sounds.
Faye Says...
Totally love the idea of this – I would say I manage everything just so-so. As soon as you shift focus onto laundry, something else slips. I love systems and setting up systems – but often life gets in the way of me executing the systems!! But I love your approach so I’m looking forward to what you’ll be sharing!
Patricia Says...
Being able to lego of things. Especially my children’s things like toys.
Trish Says...
An easy and quick filing system for all the paperwork I have to keep. Also, I have older children (ages 8-16) and would like chore lists geared for older children. Maybe how to breakdown the normal weekly chores into lists for each depending on age? Thank you!
Tina Says...
Incoming mail is my biggest problem, especially catalogues I want to flip through before I toss them, or weekly newspapers, that I want to keep for reading and all the discount announcements. I would probably need a magazine holder or something like that, but I am the out-of-sight-out-of-mind-type and I think then I could just as easily throw the things away immediately (but I seem to have a problem with that too?) And then: clutter on the kitchen counter. This seems to be the place where I put things, that have not yet a designated space. Sigh! Thank you for all your ideas and encouragement!