"It takes two seconds." I tell myself and my children this very thing all the time. And it often really IS just two seconds, thirty seconds, five minutes. It gives us the oomph we need to just do it and get it over with so we don't have to do it later. What a fantastic idea about having a room or spot that stays nice! Ideally, the whole house would be that way but that's not realistic for most people. Microwave- We don't use one anymore (we have our reasons) but when we did, the easiest way to clean it took next to no time. I'd warm up a cup of water with a quarter cup of lemon juice, which would steam it up in there, then simply use that lemon water and a rag to literally just WIPE all the gunk. I did this once a month, even if it didn't look like it needed it. And any BIG splatters got cleaned up that same day, sometimes immediately. Best part about this method is no harsh or unhealthy chemicals, especially in a place where you prepare food. Better for you, your wallet, and the planet. It's a win-win-win! Amen to the "stop waiting." Yes, sometimes circumstances inhibit the ability to have nicer things, but do what you can. If it means settling in the meantime, then settle. On your deathbed, I guarantee you won't lament not having a nice matching set of real hardwood furniture or the organization you always wanted or whatever else it is that ultimately, does not matter. Make things as nice as you can for yourself and your family, but be happy with what you have and can do. "Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without." Children need to learn how to clean, cook, do laundry, budget, all sorts of basic life skills, so I could not agree more with that "bonus tip." It is our job as parents to raise them well, which includes teaching them these things so they don't have to learn on their own as adults. Your chore system sounds interesting. I'll have to take a gander at it. Ok, I'm done blathering now.
Counters. Yes. Goodness yes! We moved here in fall but since we'd had to start over (again) and the house was unfinished, we didn't really have anywhere to put anything. We still don't. Who would have thought it'd be so difficult to find good secondhand shelves, dressers, credenzas, etc?! Some of our stuff is put away but a lot of it is still in boxes. Boxes EVERYWHERE. And since there's nowhere to put anything, any flat surface is covered in stuff. It doesn't have a home. Papers, loose change, keys, books, toys, just...STUFF. The penninsula in the kitchen is one of the worst spots and it's driving me nuts. It is my goal to get this house looking like a house and not a storage unit (even if the walls and floors are still barren, at least get things out of boxes and put away) by the time we reach our two year anniversary of moving in. One year is unrealistic, financially speaking, as that's only a few months away, so two years is the goal.
I enjoyed so many tips especially the keeping donate bags ! I got to implement this one! I love making the room better and clutter on counters are my nemesis! Great video Ashley!
I'm so guilty of the dishes thing. It was less time, less water, less wrinkly dry hands afterwards to just do them ALL AT ONCE at the end of the day. (I don't use dishwashers, as God already gave me two [hands] lol plus they actually get clean this way and they get done faster (wash, dry, and put away before a dishwasher is a fraction done!)...dishwashers reuse wash water as rinse water, same goes for modern washing machines...yuck!! But I am not judging. Do what works for you and your family 😊 ) As the years went by, however, I found it's so much better to simply do them as we go. They get rinsed and put in or next to the sink. Once there is a load's worth, they get done. No more mountain! Most days, anyway *glances at counter* It's been a rough week so dishes took a backseat and boy am I feeling it!
Where do you put water bottles? At night I put them in the refrigerator. But they drive me crazy on the counter during the day. I thought about getting some kind of basket or something. 🤷🏼♀️
We have a basket (overflowing) under the island currently for water bottles. This is a system that needs some work in our house. I'm still tweaking it. Once I have something figured out, I will do a video on it.
@@AshleyMBuffa thank you for the motivation! The house is clean 😂 Also, do you have any recipes for fresh oranges? I just got gifted a whole box and I have no idea what to do with them before they spoil
"It takes two seconds." I tell myself and my children this very thing all the time. And it often really IS just two seconds, thirty seconds, five minutes. It gives us the oomph we need to just do it and get it over with so we don't have to do it later.
What a fantastic idea about having a room or spot that stays nice! Ideally, the whole house would be that way but that's not realistic for most people.
Microwave- We don't use one anymore (we have our reasons) but when we did, the easiest way to clean it took next to no time. I'd warm up a cup of water with a quarter cup of lemon juice, which would steam it up in there, then simply use that lemon water and a rag to literally just WIPE all the gunk. I did this once a month, even if it didn't look like it needed it. And any BIG splatters got cleaned up that same day, sometimes immediately. Best part about this method is no harsh or unhealthy chemicals, especially in a place where you prepare food. Better for you, your wallet, and the planet. It's a win-win-win!
Amen to the "stop waiting." Yes, sometimes circumstances inhibit the ability to have nicer things, but do what you can. If it means settling in the meantime, then settle. On your deathbed, I guarantee you won't lament not having a nice matching set of real hardwood furniture or the organization you always wanted or whatever else it is that ultimately, does not matter. Make things as nice as you can for yourself and your family, but be happy with what you have and can do. "Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without."
Children need to learn how to clean, cook, do laundry, budget, all sorts of basic life skills, so I could not agree more with that "bonus tip." It is our job as parents to raise them well, which includes teaching them these things so they don't have to learn on their own as adults. Your chore system sounds interesting. I'll have to take a gander at it.
Ok, I'm done blathering now.
Dana K White also says to "do the dishes." Love her!
Counters. Yes. Goodness yes! We moved here in fall but since we'd had to start over (again) and the house was unfinished, we didn't really have anywhere to put anything. We still don't. Who would have thought it'd be so difficult to find good secondhand shelves, dressers, credenzas, etc?! Some of our stuff is put away but a lot of it is still in boxes. Boxes EVERYWHERE. And since there's nowhere to put anything, any flat surface is covered in stuff. It doesn't have a home. Papers, loose change, keys, books, toys, just...STUFF. The penninsula in the kitchen is one of the worst spots and it's driving me nuts.
It is my goal to get this house looking like a house and not a storage unit (even if the walls and floors are still barren, at least get things out of boxes and put away) by the time we reach our two year anniversary of moving in. One year is unrealistic, financially speaking, as that's only a few months away, so two years is the goal.
Love the tips about grabbing things or tidying before leaving a room! Thanks for sharing!!
I've been doing those two things all day and it adds up so quickly!
I agree Rachel! This is a super good one that I use it all the time I call it making the room sparkle 😊
I enjoyed so many tips especially the keeping donate bags ! I got to implement this one! I love making the room better and clutter on counters are my nemesis! Great video Ashley!
Thank you!! So glad it was helpful!
Love the tips.
I found the freedom chore system program super helpful.
Yay! I'm so happy to hear that!
I'm so guilty of the dishes thing. It was less time, less water, less wrinkly dry hands afterwards to just do them ALL AT ONCE at the end of the day. (I don't use dishwashers, as God already gave me two [hands] lol plus they actually get clean this way and they get done faster (wash, dry, and put away before a dishwasher is a fraction done!)...dishwashers reuse wash water as rinse water, same goes for modern washing machines...yuck!! But I am not judging. Do what works for you and your family 😊 ) As the years went by, however, I found it's so much better to simply do them as we go. They get rinsed and put in or next to the sink. Once there is a load's worth, they get done. No more mountain! Most days, anyway *glances at counter* It's been a rough week so dishes took a backseat and boy am I feeling it!
Where do you put water bottles? At night I put them in the refrigerator. But they drive me crazy on the counter during the day. I thought about getting some kind of basket or something. 🤷🏼♀️
We have a basket (overflowing) under the island currently for water bottles. This is a system that needs some work in our house. I'm still tweaking it. Once I have something figured out, I will do a video on it.
Currently have a sink full of dishes but I’m here on TH-cam
👁👄👁
You know what to do! 😂 Maybe prop your phone up and watch and do dishes at the same time!
@@AshleyMBuffa thank you for the motivation! The house is clean 😂
Also, do you have any recipes for fresh oranges? I just got gifted a whole box and I have no idea what to do with them before they spoil