I’m very excited to share with you my newest series. Last year I ran the 52 things to declutter in 52 weeks series, this year I’m mixing things up and will be running a cleaning series, giving you a cleaning task to complete each week. I’ll give you the task along with steps on how to clean this area/item. Most of these tasks will be easy, from light switches to toys, towels to stinky shoes, cleaning many of the forgotten areas or things in your home.
As I mentioned above, last year I ran the declutter series, and many of you have asked if I can continue running it. Instead of running a separate declutter post, I think the cleaning series aligns really well with the area/thing I get you to clean each week that you can declutter this space before you clean it… what do you think??
This series is FREE to join along, I will publish a new cleaning task here on the blog each Tuesday. Please let me know how your going or ask any questions in the comments, as always I love hearing from you.
Don’t forget I am also running the 20 Day’s to Organise and Clean your Home Challenge, this is very different to this cleaning series, as this series is for small forgotten things/areas of the home. Through the 20 Day Challenge I will give you tips and plenty of checklists on how to clean each room and area of your home and help you create routines and strategies to keep it clean and organised. Read more about the 20 Day’s to Organise & Clean your Home Challenge here.
Create a Cleaning Kit
Set yourself up with a cleaning kit to help you through the challenge, you will find what I keep in my cleaning kit here.
This weeks cleaning task:
The Front Entry
I thought it was fitting to clean the very front of your home as it’s either the place you or your guest see first when entering into your house, as well as it being an important to stop all the dust, dirt etc entering into your home. Keeping this area clean is a great first impression to your home!
Use a Welcome Mat
A welcome mat isn’t just a pretty touch to the front door, it’s an essential item to keep all the dirt, dust and everything else found on the bottom of shoes/feet at the door, preventing it from coming inside and creating more for you to clean. I have a door mat at the front door, garage door, laundry door and back door.
- Place a good quality door mat outside your front door and all other entrances into your home.
- For an existing mat – shake, vacuum and/or sweep the dirt and dust from your mat. As my mat is very textured I find it needs to be vacuumed to help remove all the grass.
Watermelons and pineapples seem to be trending at the moment and I have totally been sucked in and loving everything tropical at the moment. This mat certain has style and practical too, with a strong coir fibre (textured surface) to help clean feet and shoes.
I’m also very smitten with my flamingo that I love seeing through my screen door everyday, only $13 from KMart.
Front doors
I find my front doors get very dusty, when I water the plants or wash the cars I often get the hose and give the doors a hose down to remove dust.
- Using the brush from a dustpan, wipe over your front screen door to remove any dust and dirt
- Hose the doors to clean away dust
Window panels
- Use the vinegar/water solution spray from your cleaning kit along with a paper towel to wipe away the dirt, dust and finger prints from your window panel around your doorway.
Please remove your shoes??
This is a controversial topic, as we have discussed this previously on the blog. Do you ask your visitors to remove their shoes?
I ask them to remove shoes because I feel shoes bring in dirt despite being wiped on the mat, I have a busy household and I don’t have time to continually clean the floors, so this is my preventative and my personal preference.
Others have mentioned they prefer to have their visitors keep their shoes on as they feel it’s rude to ask or that they’d prefer stinky sweaty feet to stay inside the shoe, which I completely understand too. So really I think it’s up to each individual home owner.
Beautify the area
Add a pot of flowers to your entry way to give it some colour and appeal. I’ll let you in on a little secret I also love to have the pot there so I can hide shoes behind it!
- Add a pot of colour to your entryway
- Weed/water your plant
I can’t remember the name of the plant I have in my pot at the moment, but it is thriving and looking so healthy, can’t wait for it to start flowering again. I’ve always added colour to the pot, makes me smile (above image was taken a few years ago).
Cobwebs
- Using a broom remove all cobwebs and insect nest from the roof and door frame
Declutter task
- Remove all shoes and rubbish cluttering up your entry
Will you join along with the cleaning tasks each week?
Hope so!!
36 comments
Love this idea, I keep my house clean but I do the bare minimum, I know there are many things that need cleaning like the phone, it has so much dirt build up. My front entry is so dusty and must admit very neglected, so will put that on the list to do today. Thank you Kat you are such a wonderful motivation.
Yes the phone, and a place germs can harbour and spread, so pleased you are going to follow along!
love this idea for the forgotten spaces in the home. A good way to create new cleaning habits. Tx
Most of these are easy enough that you can do them while chatting on the phone 🙂
It’s great to read something that’s both enjoyable and provides pragmatisdc solutions.
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Love seeing what you are going to give us next. I have just completed my front door area. It looks fab now very happy. Thankyou for your continued inspiration.
You are very welcome Mandy, pleased you can follow along 🙂
I take my shoes off the millisecond I get home because I don’t like wearing shoes. Everyone else at mine takes their shoes off in various locations in the house (that’s annoying, lol), but because we all have bare feet or socks inside, visitors tend to take their shoes off, too. They don’t have to – and I really don’t mind if they don’t! But if I go to someone else’s house I don’t take my shoes off unless they request it.
The Minions will be looking for things to do this weekend, so I shall be getting them to do the low down bits of the entry at ours. It’s cluttered up with a box of shoes, and as we have a doggie… copious hair!
Love your getting your minions to help Miss Maudy!!
Not sure if I’m having a “blah” moment, but how do I follow along? Is there and icon to press so that I can register for this free series?
Donna, there is a text box located below the heading in blue “Will you join along with the cleaning tasks each week”? There is a picture of some flowers on the left with an offer to join the challenge and just select it.
Sorry – in the 3rd paragraph, it says that this is FREE to join along. When I hit the box you suggested, it tells me that it is at least $47?
Still confused.
Yeah when I click the link I am getting a link that directs me to the 20 days to organise your home that you need to pay for.
If someone could post the free link that would be very helpful, I am probably missing it & it is really obvious. LOL
Thanks
What you have read is the FREE series, just below is this weeks task, cleaning your front entry area, each weekly task will be published on the blog (each week). However, if you want to go into more details about creating a clean and organised home you can join along in the 20 Day challenge which starts early March, completely separate to this free series.
Sorry for the confusion Donna. What you have read is the FREE series, just below is this weeks task, cleaning your front entry area, each weekly task will be published on the blog (each week). However, if you want to go into more details about creating a clean and organised home you can join along in the 20 Day challenge which starts early March, completely separate to this free series.
Oops – sorry luvvie!
I’ll get with the program eventually!
I am having the same issue & would like to find this out too! Kat can you please help!
The free series will be published on the blog each Tuesday, you can join up to receive my newsletter, link in sidebar which I will email you daily with latest blog post. Or pop back every Tuesday to see the new task.
Got it, thanks Kat!
I receive your newsletter so I will keep an eye out for this.
Thanks again for clearing that up.
Hi Kat i love this idea. Will start with our front door / entrance this week. I really look forward to this series and would like to thank you for motivating me to get things done. I find it much easier doing one thing a week, especially knowing we are all doing it at the same time!
Weekly tasks are easy to achieve 😉
I definitely need all the help I can get, thanks for the great tips! Now just to get motivated.
I can definitely keep you motivated Mandy 🙂
Love this idea. Especially like that it is weekly so easy to manage.
So pleased your following along Kirsty!!
Hi Kat,
This is a great idea! One question I’ve wanted to ask…….how the heck do you clean the inside of your toaster? Or is this the one lost cause in the house?
Karina
Fabulous idea Karina, I’ll add it to the list!!
Hi Kat
Thanks so much for your great website and the many helpful hints, tips and ideas to help us busy mums keep our house in order. Looking forward to your new series “Forgotten Areas” which no doubt will bring to light a few things that need attention around my home.
Just wondering do you have any ideas on how to clean and restore a tired old cream leather couch?? You help would be much appreciated. Many thanks in advance.
Lisa
i’m off to do the front entrance now before school pick up. Thanks 🙂
i am about to move into our new house, i will be following along with this new series to keep my place under control…my aim is to keep my place respectable each day so i wont have to worry if i have unexpected guests….also i love the shoe sign. i have printed this and will be adding to my front door. all my guests get asked to remove shoes, even the plumber takes them off…in our rental we have white carpet, and i am over the stains….our new place has light carpets currently until we renovate, but even after that i want my floor boards protected…my guests don’t mind removing shoes…most people i know remove shoes in their homes too.
Hi Molly, That is fantastic! Yes i hear what you are saying and i am glad to hear you have printed off my shoe sign.:) I too take my shoes off before entering my own home or anyone elses, i just thnk it is polite and respectful.:)
Is there anywhere for people to upload photos of what they have done? I’m in need of some ideas and inspiration. Eg Instagram
Im really wanting your free weekly cleaning task email but having trouble with the yes please button.It wont won’t work
Luv this site
As both me and my husband are working we can’t clean our home regularly. Whenever we get a holiday we used to enjoy by shopping or watching movies. So we have hired a professional cleaning maid from ‘RBC(Royal Building Cleaning”) Canada 😀