Dejunk! Dejunk! Dejunk! Now is the time to get rid of everything (yes, everything) that you don't absolutely need. Homeschooling works so much better in a home that is simplified. Go through every drawer, closet, cabinet, and corner. Eliminate those things no-one ever uses any more or that you've had for so long that it has lost its appeal. Less is best! Besides, you can give all of your excess stuff to someone who needs it. Isn't that a better way to demonstrate good stewardship than just hoarding? Besides, you have to clean everything you own. Talk about motivation!
Cleared off surfaces is a good thing! Most of us have to fight the thought that if a surface is cleared, we need to fill it up. Perish that thought! Clear surfaces make for easier cleaning.
A place for everything and everything in its place. I know that is what your grandma use to say, but hey, she had a good thought. If you haven't a specific spot for it, it is time to give it up. When buying items, think, "Do I have a spot for this?" This idea helps save money as well as sanity. It is so much easier to clean when you know where everything is suppose to go.
Organize the big time consumer, the kitchen, into work areas. I divide my kitchen into the baking area, the cooking area, the beverage area, the cleaning area, the cooling area, and the planning area. This enables me to get into my kitchen, fix my family a decent meal, clean up, and get out in record time. Every moment counts when homeschooling. This system works because everything that is related is together. For example, in my baking area, I have my baking ingredients, my mixing bowls, my baking dishes and pans, my baking spices, my mixer, my food processor, my measuring cups and spoons, and any special utensils I use for just this duty. Similarly, I have coffees, teas, drink mixes, and cups in my beverage center. I have glasses, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, freezer bags, and refrigerator left0ver bowls in my cooling section. I have colanders, brushes, produce, soaps, and bowls in my cleaning section. My cooking center has my pots and pans, serving dishes, my microwave, microwave cookware, utensils, aprons, oven mitts, and cooking spices. Planning centers should have pencils, paper for weekly menus, cookbooks, recipe cards, and any coupons you are collecting. You can further organize these area by thinking plastic squares and rectangles. I put much of my pantry items in these type of containers and store them on top of one another. I can fit into one cabinet what use to take me four or five. It does take some hard to find time to get your kitchen set up, but the time it saves you throughout your school year will be well worth it.
Outdoor rugs (the rough kind) will save hours in a year from dusting and sweeping. It always amazes me how much dirt one's shoes can bring into a house. Some even have a rule that shoes get left out on front porches. This helps too, but I always hated greeting guests with such a request. This way I can battle dirt without anyone being the wiser.
Sort clothes and take inventory. How many clothes does one homeschooling family really need? Think over that question with some detail, then sort all the excess out and give to someone who needs them. A few quality items far outweighs quantity. Again, less is best.
I hope this helps get you started. If you have some ideas that you would like to share with other homeschool moms, email me.
