The Organised Housewife » Tips, ideas, inspiration and motivation to help keep you and your household clean and organised

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Sep 27 2012

20 Days to Organise & Clean your home Challenge – Day 20

Category: Organising

 Thank you to Dettol for sponsoring today’s challenge tasks

Share your photos on instagram or twitter using #TOH20daychallenge.  Follow along with the discussion on facebook.

<< View the previous task

Today is the last day of the challenge, I am so impressed and proud of your efforts to make it through.  If you haven’t managed to complete all tasks that’s OK, the tasks will be here waiting for your when you have time.  

Please share your progress of the challenge below  

Free Choice - Through this challenge I have tried to add every room in the house and some of the items that need a good clean (such as the washing machine and oven).  Perhaps you have a room that was not included like the dining room.  Use today to spend time cleaning that forgotten room, area or item.  What will you be cleaning today?  

Freezer - I often freeze left over meals as single portions or make double batches and freeze as a whole meal so I get a night off cooking on a busy day and you will always find some baking amongst my freezer shelves.  Today’s task is to go through your freezer and remove anything that has passed it’s freezer use-by date, such as meat.  If you find some food or meals that need using soon add them to this weeks meal plan. By clearing the old food from your freezer will give you room to add a few meals so you can have some nights off cooking and make room for some baking that can be added to lunch boxes.

Baking Day – As I mentioned above you will always find baking in my freezer.  I always add something baked to the lunchboxes like a muffin or cookies.  I usually always bake with the intention to freeze, placing in the freezer the day I bake it means that it is just as fresh when defrosted.  I place the frozen muffin/cookies into lunchboxes that morning and it’s always defrosted by morning tea time.  I  spend an hour or two in the kitchen every few weeks to stock up the freezer.

Organise some time for you to bake some muffins or cookies for your freezer to have on hand when unexpected visitor drop by or for lunchboxes.  The major benefit of this is you are saving money rather than purchasing store brought items.

Find a list below of some of my favourite freezer friendly recipes:

See details here on how I organise my freezer and the containers I use to store the baking

Stick with your routines.  Regularly clean each room by adding them to your weekly cleaning schedule, doing a little clean regularly is  a lot easier than the effort of a big clean.  This will enable to you to keep an organised and clean home.

Tell all your family members you love them, thank them for helping you through this challenge and being such a wonderful support.  

I would also like to thank YOU, I have really enjoyed sharing this challenge with you and pleased that it has been able to make a difference within your home.  

Day 20 checklist (place in tasks divider)

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  • http://www.facebook.com/shabbyrose1 Sharon Moon

    its sad that tomorrow is the last day. I will continue to follow your daily tasks and would like to thank-you so much for all of your hard work :)

  • Amanda

    Thank you Katrina for making me organised again it’s been too long

  • http://www.facebook.com/jo.szegedi Jo Szegedi

    oh my, what will I do without the challenge (how sad) but I look forward to my emails and jump to the task with such enthusiasm. Thanks for getting me into a washing routine and even a cleaning schedule (that even allows for flexibilty) I have begun implementing both while still doing the daily challenges. I feel quite house proud now and all with a newborn. I will keep checking back, look forward to the Oct kids organisation you spoke of.

  • Alli

    I went and jinxed it saying I kept up and have spent the last two days on the couch/bed with fever and bad cold so missed the all important kids room that I was looking forward to so going to have to do that as soon as I can walk further than the bathroom!
    Thanks so much katrina for the challenge, you have inspired me and already laying on the couch I am looking at my house thinking two days of not cleaning and it is really not that bad!
    Look forward to finishing the task hopefully over te weekend.
    Ps that freezer is rediculously organised!

  • Geraldine

    I have struggled to keep up although the school hols hopefully will see me finish what I started! So many great ideas and simple tips have been implemented as a result of participating in the challenge. My kitchen is the area of biggest change and the local op shop has been blessed with many items that I have held onto for so long -perfectly good but rarely used. I’m now working on getting by two teenage boys and husband to sing to the same ‘organised Housewife’ hymn sheet too.

  • http://twitter.com/BlossHeartBlog Alyce B

    Congratulations Kat!! You made it!!

  • Alexandra @ Alive and Blogging

    Thanks for letting us all play along :) Glad you did this, I wouldn’t have done so much in my house in one month otherwise! Thank you x

  • Kris

    Thankyou thankyou thankyou for helping me be so organised this past month. It has made life less stressful and SO much easier to tidy for those last minute visitors!!!. Im now concerned at how i will continue without the push from this challenge :( . I really need to make sure i keep this as a “Monthly to-do list” instead of a once off challenge!!. Hope my determination stays :) Now to just tackle my wardrobe – the one activity i never got around to (deliberately lol).

  • Jesika

    Kat, the challenge has been fantastic…thnak you very much
    i have a question.
    i have aluminium venetian blinds and they are more than just dusty,the ones above my kitchen sink are the worst. How do you recommend cleaning them?
    someone told me to put them in the bath with laundry powder, but i am not sure if this is a good idea or not.
    Thanks for all your help,Jes

    • Jasmine

      Jes,
      your blinds are probably covered in verdigrease from being in the kitchen and having grease and food flow around in the air. i don’t know about the laundry powder, but hot water and dishwashing detergent in the bath will work.
      HTH Jasmine

  • Roz

    Hi Kat, A huge THANK YOU for your assistance and encouragement over this four week period! Even though I haven’t been able to keep up 100%, what I have achieved is definitely an improvement. I have all the challenges and lists and I will continue to work away at them in the future as well as your daily tasks. To all the others who joinwd in, congratulations on your achievements and keep up the good work!! Enjoy the weekend! (Especially if you have a long one like me)

  • Sanstar

    THANK YOU for doing this for us, for me, for my house! I am so very grateful, you have set in motion good daily habits and seasonal tasks that I never knew how to do before. It’s hard to be a good housewife when one doesn’t know how to really clean a house and keep it organised. You have been a wonderful help, THANK YOU AGAIN! xxx

  • jessica

    Thank you so much for motivating me! My house is always clean and neat and tidy so I rarely have time with the two kids to spring clean and get into the knoochs and craneys. Love your blog and everything you are about xxxx

  • hel

    Thank you so much Kat. I have loved the challenge.

  • Shell-B

    Thanks for the inspiration as always Kat. that was FUN!

  • Brenda, Ireland

    This challenge has changed my life.I used to feel over whelmed trying to keep order.Now, by breaking it into manageable amounts I’ve seen our house transform and another week to cover areas like the tool shed and one more bedroom,the attic and I’ll be soooo organized I wont know myself :) Then I’ll be free to tackle my craft stuff.Arrrgh!I have felt a lot of gloom and depression leave my life and my workplace area has also reaped the benefits.Its so good at the end of the day to see more and more progress.Thanks for your tremendous efforts Kat.So glad I found your blog and look forward to our daily tasks in my in box! xxx

  • Linda

    Thanks Kat ,enjoyed the chanllenge

  • Lisa

    Thanks Kat! It’s been an absolute pleasure following your journey to get back on track after you were knocked for a six. What an inspiration you are :) All of your hard work has definitely been worth it – you’ve touched so many families with your well thought out steps.
    On that note, I wanted to share with you that the way you have approached the challenge has been absolutely perfect for those with motor planning difficulties (ie it is difficult to plan each step in the right order to get a task done) & the pics are just an added bonus! This includes people with dyspraxia, ASD & ADHD. Some tasks just seem all too overwhelming and so it is difficult to even make a start (because of a desire to do it perfectly, but not knowing what steps to take to get there). As you know this then leads to hoarding! SO… for those of you with motor planning challenges – be kind to yourself, you will get there! Follow along with the step-by-step and eventually it will get easier & you will start to feel like a pro!!
    Hey Kat – was wondering if you could help those with motor planning difficulties to survive / get ready for Christmas? AND… bring on October – let’s get those kid’s rooms sorted!!

  • Megan H

    What a fantastic challenge. I have to say at the beginning I was sure I wouldn’t last the 20 days however you broke it down into manageable tasks – and even though we all had some tasks we’re yet to complete thanks to work, sick kids and the like – you’ve now given us not only the equipment & tools we need to finish but also the confidence to know we can! With our folders & task sheets it will be simple to revisit each room on a regular basis meaning this time next year spring cleaning will be at a minimum! Everyone uploading their pics gives even more inspiration and ways to organise our own homes. One of the best things I have ever done. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! (and pantry!)
    I choose to revisit the kitchen on Day 20 as now we’re at the end of the challenge, I have the opportunity to see if the changes I made have worked for me or if I can still make some improvement.
    Thanks Katrina, you’re a superstar! XXX

  • http://www.facebook.com/trish.montgomery.7946 Trish Montgomery

    I can’t believe how much I have looked forward to the challenge each day! We have one more week of school holidays here in SA so after a weekend away with family I am looking forward to finishing each of the tasks I missed. Thankyou for your committment to this project. I especially liked the pdf filing system idea. It will save me so much time, paper, space and ink. Well done to everyone who attempted this amazing exercise.

  • Samantha

    I have really enjoyed this challenge and feeling the reward of achieving a goal each day. Being a stay at home Mum is sometime a thankless job. I felt supported through this cleaning and organising journey. Thanks.

  • kirsty.a

    Thank you. I can’t say my house is spotless, but it has been useful to see all the tasks broken down in to manageable chunks and it has helped me established a new school year routine to fit with my new timetable

  • Mel

    Thanks! It’s been a great reminder to set up effective routines and evaluate what I currently do. I started off with you on the 20 days, but some things got in the way & I’m not finished yet. I’m still planning on completing all the days so I hope your downloads will still be active for a while (I bet I’m not the only one).

  • Julie

    Thanks so much Kat :) the house looks a little empty now, and the bins are full. The dust bunnies have been evicted and some good habits are starting. I am not such a disorganised housewife any more. Cleaning in small chunks with every one else was actually fun. Was this really me looking forward to an email for housework? Crazy stuff ! Off to clean out the pool and surrounds for day 20.

  • Dalya ayoub

    I can proudly say that i have no embaressing ‘junk’ drawers in my home any more… Everything has a tidy place to go back to :) an organised home reflects an organised state of mind…im happy im finally; and for once; there! thank you soooooooooooooooooo much kat :) ))

  • sheila_s

    Thank you so much for sharing this challenge. My favorite part was the new Habits. These tasks have really improved my home and the way I feel in it. Thanks again.

  • sharon

    A great big “thank you” from my house and myself (ok~and the Family). Today I tackle the Dining room and I’m not stopping there….entry way, look out too!

  • K@DragonflyMumma

    Thanks Katrina, for doing this challenge it’s just what I needed to get my house in order after having a baby. Although my baby was born throughout the challenge (the first week), I’m still going through the tasks at my own pace, I love being able to print off the tasks and have them in my folder for me to refer back to at any time. So again, thank you very much :)
    K xx

  • http://www.facebook.com/sue.nicholls1 Sue Nicholls

    Thanks so much Katrina – you have blessed so many people with your challenge and blog. I trust that you will also be blessed beyond your wildest imaginings!

  • Lynley

    Thanks so much for this challenge! I had half heartedly been decluttering for about a year or so,and this has given me the inspirtaion to finish off the rest that I had been procrastinating on! And the small, easy steps were perfect, it didn’t feel like I was cleaning etc ALL day, some of the tasks I had done recently so that gave me the day off or to finish those which took a bit longer. It has also given me the motivation to keep it organises with the new habits. i have found the kids have been more inclined to put things away if the spaces are tidy then when there is “stuff” everywhere. Just what I needed and just a the right time :-)

  • nomes

    thanks for this challenge. im by no means done, ( i started the challenge late) but i was in a similar situation as you, i lost my father when i was 37 weeks pregnant. so you can imagine what my house was like with grief and a newborn all at once. we are also moving in about 2 months so i was really wanting to declutter before then but didn’t know where to start.

  • Felicity J

    Thanks vey much Katrina. I have enjoyed this challenge (even if I’m behind), I have set up my folder and continue to use it regularly. I’m also adding photos of before and after of each room To give me incentive to keep it clean. After 2 solid weeks of cleaning I’ve also lost 2 kg! Really thanking you for the extra bonus!

  • Carla_S

    Thanks so much! I was already overdue with our baby when the challenge started. I’d had NO inkling of nesting urges at that stage. WELL!!! Add those “due any day” hormones to a cleaning to-do list, and you have FIREWORKS! I cleaned, polished and decluttered like a mad woman! Finally, 5 days later, baby decided it was arrival time. I’d done some of the hard rooms by then though, and as he’s been SUCH a good baby, I’ve kept going through quite a few of the later challenges. Saving the rest for soon! Thanks for the awesome inspiration…. and for finally getting an overdue baby to make an appearance!

  • http://www.facebook.com/stleah Leah Benoit

    This challenge has kick-started a well overdue spring clean. I began the challenge late and am gradually working my way through each days’ challenge. What a change.
    Thanks Katrina for your inspiration!

  • http://www.facebook.com/carmel.renehan Carmel Renehan

    Thank you so much for giving me the motivation to organise me and my house. I haven’t kept up with all of the challenges but am slowly getting there. Every day I manage get something done which for me is huge.

  • Tammy

    Will get to this day’s tasks this week after a few days away, and have printed your “freezer inventory” in preparation. One comment: could you fix “Mics” to be “Misc” as in miscellaneous? Please? I know I’m nit-picking, but spelling mistakes irritate me.
    Thanks so much for your inspiration and a much needed solid kick up the backside!

  • Jan from Texas

    I just found your blog today, October 4, 2012, but it is so helpful that I plan on working through it on my own. Thank you for sharing!

    • http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina

      Your welcome, hope you enjoy the process ;)

  • Kimmi

    Once a month I come to this 20 day challenge and really give my house a good clean following your guide. I do it all in one day after my son has went to bed and it only takes me about an hour and a half. Thank you so much. Absolutely brilliant!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/emily.funk.395 Emily Funk

    Hi thank you for this im just starting the challange tomorrow.. i know late but i cant wait to get my house back

    • http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina

      Never to late to start J

  • Lisa

    I just finished the challenge. I came to this late but we will be selling our house in a couple months and moving and this Challenger has helped me tremendously to get on track and get a head start on the deep cleaning to come!

    • Lisa

      that should say challenge

    • http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina

      Great work, it will certainly help to get the house ready to put on the market ;)

  • Gina R in the US

    I just found your sight this week. I am going to start out the new year with trying to follow your challange, I stumbled on your web page by accident, but I read through your entire 20 days and think that I can do this. I have a hard time staying motivated to clean so I am sure that I can do this…I will be moving in May and this might give me a head start to cleaning and getting rid of items.

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