Deep Cleaning Rooms
I know some people prefer the up then down, right to left method of cleaning, but I find it easier to do it thoroughly this way. 
First, put on some music that has a quick beat...somehow that really helps me.
Take the phone off the hook. Turn the TV off and any other distracting thing you can think of.
The next thing I do is go into the room, and find all the "hot spots", as flylady calls them (Hot spots are the areas that always seem to attract papers and junk). I go to every shelf, table top, top of the TV, coffee table, etc...and I swoop my arm over them and completely rake EVERYTHING to the floor. I pull stuff out of bookshelves, and dump it as well. I find stuff that's under the couch, or around the edges of the room, and push it all out. . Using a broom, I push everything that has been dumped on the floor, onto the center of the floor.
It looks like a tornado came through the room, literally, at this point. My husband has come in while I am doing this part, and has freaked out a little, but always realizes it works in the end. Don't be afraid. It is easy to sort out once you get it all in one place! But it is time consuming...be prepared to spend an hour or more in the room.
Once I have everything in the center of the floor, I decide which things to pick up first.
I get a garbage sack, and dump anything that can be considered "junk" into that bag.
Next, I get all the books, and I arrange them on the bookshelf.
Next, I get all the toys and put them in my kids rooms.
After that, I get all miscellaneous things, and put them in a pile to sort out later.
All kids drawings that I want to keep go in a pile to be placed in a memory box.
I keep going like that, picking particular categories of things to put away, till everything is gone.
Once everything's finished, I vacuum the floor, and the whole room is VERY clean! I love that feeling!
How do you usually do your deep cleaning?
First, put on some music that has a quick beat...somehow that really helps me.
Take the phone off the hook. Turn the TV off and any other distracting thing you can think of.
The next thing I do is go into the room, and find all the "hot spots", as flylady calls them (Hot spots are the areas that always seem to attract papers and junk). I go to every shelf, table top, top of the TV, coffee table, etc...and I swoop my arm over them and completely rake EVERYTHING to the floor. I pull stuff out of bookshelves, and dump it as well. I find stuff that's under the couch, or around the edges of the room, and push it all out. . Using a broom, I push everything that has been dumped on the floor, onto the center of the floor.
It looks like a tornado came through the room, literally, at this point. My husband has come in while I am doing this part, and has freaked out a little, but always realizes it works in the end. Don't be afraid. It is easy to sort out once you get it all in one place! But it is time consuming...be prepared to spend an hour or more in the room.
Once I have everything in the center of the floor, I decide which things to pick up first.
I get a garbage sack, and dump anything that can be considered "junk" into that bag.
Next, I get all the books, and I arrange them on the bookshelf.
Next, I get all the toys and put them in my kids rooms.
After that, I get all miscellaneous things, and put them in a pile to sort out later.
All kids drawings that I want to keep go in a pile to be placed in a memory box.
I keep going like that, picking particular categories of things to put away, till everything is gone.
Once everything's finished, I vacuum the floor, and the whole room is VERY clean! I love that feeling!
How do you usually do your deep cleaning?
LOVE IT!!! That is pretty much how I clean as well....especially in the bedrooms - I make the bed, then everything that is out of place goes to the bed!! My hubby freaks oout if he catches me in the middle of it as well...but your right - it works so much better!!
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Bethany-
I plan on trying your home-made bagels this week. My husband has been asking me when I will try them- found you through Tammy's blog. I too LOVE art, creativity, color. You name it, I want to try it- if it involves my hands. Thanks for sharing your recipes. I'll let you know if the bagels turn out!
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I usually do one shelf at a time and put things back before I take stuff off the next. That is when I do get around to deep cleaning, which is not very often!
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I am usually a top to bottom cleaner. BUT-your way sounds better to me, and I might just give it a try this week!
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Hi Bethany, I do it your way too
Anywayz,this is me kicking your hinney re: gotta get goals...feel bad doing it 'cos I know you're busy! But you told me to
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Thanks Samantha! I needed that reminder! lol
And thanks everyone else, for your comments!
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So I know I'm a little late on this one but when I read "Take the phone off the hook. Turn the TV off and any other distracting thing you can think of." my first thought was - now I've just got to find the off button on my kids
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LOL! That is the hardest part! I don't have a definite solution for that....
Sometimes if I'm deep cleaning, I'll turn a movie on in the kids room, give them some popcorn, and turn out the lights...makes them feel like they're in a movie theature. Cover the windows if it's light outside, that way it's nice and dark. Usually, as long as they have something to eat and are occupied they're not too loud.
Until one of them hits the other one, or pulls the other ones hair, etc. lol Then I have to come up with a new plan of action!
But hopefully this will work for you!
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I know this may sound weird but when I deep clean my house I have to start with the farthest away room. I go in and start with the bed. Once that is made I start with picking up dirty clothes (which is never ending in my house), hang up anything that needs it, organize dressers, then closets, and finally vaccum. I then repeat that through each room. I love the feeling of a clean house and can be quite anal about the whole thing (or at least that is what my older kids say)
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