Amazing progress

 Amazing progress was made this week in the laundry room. Honestly, I was hoping to get at least half of the cupboards and shelves done last week and the rest this week. The organizing stars aligned last week. Yucky weather kept me home. An online organized living summit kept me company. I could listen and work at the same time. Monday was a 15 minute timer that gave me a great start. The summit was Tuesday through Thursday so I listened to a couple each day while I worked my way through the cupboards and shelves. Friday's push finished off the shelves. Then it stalled just a bit waiting for input from Doc on some items. The trash or donate decisions were made yesterday.

This week will be a quick sweeping of the floor, returning some shelving to its spot, returning items to the shelves, taking care of the donations and trash, handwashing a couple items that have been sitting around for a while and prewashing some new holiday hand towels. I'll try knocking these things out during the week as a second appointment on Friday morning has taken away my usual Mt. V work time. I'll let Doc take care of replacing some light bulbs over the washer and dryer. If he doesn't do it this weekend, then I'll do it the following week on errand day.

I'm so excited to have this done before the end of the month which was the goal. Even happier that there won't be a last minute, crunch time, marathon push to get it done.

Laundry Room More Progress

Last Monday I set a timer for 15 minutes and tackled the sink area. Took care of the recycling and cleaning mostly under the sink and vacuuming the dust bunnies and cobwebs from the ceiling and behind the washer and dryer. On Wednesday, I cleaned the laundry tub. Thursday the washer got a good wipe down. Friday after the vet appt. I cleaned the dryer. I also washed the rugs along with the couch covers. I also tried recharging the dryer balls. I started cleaning off the top shelf of the big shelving unit. I gave the baskets a disinfecting wipe down. I still need to wash out the buckets.

 The number of cupboards and shelves to go through is 17. There are 16 days left in the month. The last Friday of the month Trixie has an appointment so getting anything done in the laundry room is going to take some real effort. Even though Doc will be working from home this Friday, I really need to get as much done as possible. I signed up for a 3 day summit this week and I have a few other things on the calendar. If I can at least do 15 minutes a day to keep things moving I should be able to finish the laundry room this month. Maybe working while listening to the summit sessions with the laptop can knock out both at the same time. I'll just do the best I can.

Laundry Room Progress

 My scheduled time to work on my Mt. Vernon project came Friday morning. I worked for a little over an hour. First, I started a load of laundry with the basket of blankets that has been sitting there for a long while. I took care of things in the area I had mentally blocked off for this session that didn't need to be there. Dash's work uniforms went to hubby's side of the closet since Dash's closet doesn't have a rod. That was something I was prepared to address in January, but Dash has not been cooperative with his diaster of a room. Plan B...he doesn't really like the long sleeve uniform shirts and provided dress pants. He's purchased his own cargo pants to wear with the short sleeve shirts so his uniforms can live in my closet. His winter boots went to the boot tray in the office and his winter gloves are in his storage cube. I removed some hangers. I put away my items that were hung to dry. I tightened the nuts on the drying rack, no more wobbling. I used the vacuum to get cobwebs and dust from the areas between the ceiling beams, around the furnace, water heater, water softener, and window. Cleaned the iron holder and dusted the ironing board. Took down the curtain which I was able to wash on Saturday with Doc's load of laundry. I was on a roll so I went ahead and washed the inside and outside of the window and wiped the blinds. A good dusting, a good vacuuming, and replacing the drying rack completed the day's session. It felt good. I found myself peaking in several times just to admire my work. Three things were added to my later list. I need to see about having the fire extinguisher recharged. I need to figure out how to dispose of the dehumidifier that no longer works. I need to wash the buckets and baskets. I did wash 3 of them on Saturday. 

This Friday, the dog has a quick appointment for one vaccine. We should be in and out. However, it's scheduled during prime Mt.V time so I'm going to have to be intentional about getting a chunk done. Looking ahead on the calendar, the following week Doc will be coming home Thursday evening and going to his mom's some time on Friday. It's hard to clean to when he's home. And the following week, Trixie has an eye doctor appointment during prime Mt.V time. To finish this room in March may mean pushing myself on Fridays and/or adding other times to keep it moving along.

The minimum for this week is the sink area, the washer and dryer, and the ceiling, walls and floor surrounding them. Maybe a couple 15 minute spurts to remove recycling collected around the sink and dusting will help. I can do this!

Bathroom Done!

 Boy, that was close. The downstairs bathroom has had a good cleaning. The only thing not done is the new lining on the medicine cabinet shelves. The cupboard and drawers are lined. I can't believe how easy it was. On Monday, I did finish up the cupboard and drawers, decluttering, organizing and giving everything a good wipe down. On Wednesday, I gave the toilet a good cleaning. I used a pumice stone to get that ick in the bottom of the bowl. Not completely done, but I will spend a few minutes scrubbing during the normal weekly cleaning until it is. I didn't clean the shower on Wednesday as planned. The rug and the shower curtain did get washed on Thursday. I slept later than usual on Friday which really threw off the start of my morning. Then I discovered that Trixie was off of work for mid-winter break so I asked if she wanted to go to Red Robin for lunch. I had a reward that I wanted to use before it expired. She wanted to get some homework done first so I used that time to work on the bathroom knowing that I would want a quick walk and nap after lunch. The storage pail got cleaned out, garbage can washed, and the walls were wiped down. After lunch, walk and nap, before sitting at my computer, I cleaned the shower and I scrubbed the bathroom floor. Satisfied with getting the bathroom done in February to stay on schedule. 

Moving on to the laundry room. Friday is open this week to get this room started. Bare minimum will be getting the cobwebs between the ceiling joists, dusting and getting the dust bunnies around the furnace and water heater. There is also a basket with blankets that need to be washed. They've been there for some time. If energy allows, I'll continue along the wall towards the window to the drying rack and water softener, and ironing board hanger. I'm guessing it will be mostly dusting. 

Goal is to get the laundry room decluttered and cleaned in March.

Downstairs Bathroom

I really need to focus on the bathroom this week if I'm going to stay with my goal on this project. I don't want to save it all for next Friday's block of time for this. Yesterday I did take care of the slow draining and smelly sink. And I was able to organize under the sink. I laid some of the new contact paper and I got a little wire shelf from Dollar Tree. Now the seasonal hand towels are on top of that allowing me to store a few smaller things underneath. I washed the little bin that usually holds the mouthwash, rubbing alcohol, and peroxide. I also put the toothbrush holder and soap dish in the dishwasher. That little pop of color is making me happy.

To finish the bathroom, I need to clean the 3 drawers, wipe down the cabinet, clean out the storage pail, wipe down the walls, wipe down the toilet and the shower, wash the rug and shower curtain, and wash the floor. If I can take care of the cabinet on Monday, then on Wednesday during my regular bathroom cleaning, spend a little extra time on the toilet and shower, Thursday is laundry day so I can wash the curtain and rug. On Friday I can clean the pail, the garbage can, the walls, the floor, and line the medicine cabinet shelves with the contact paper.

I won't be home on Saturday so I really need to focus on this. I can do this!

2026

 For 2026, I wanted to do a Mt. Vernon clean, organize, and declutter of the house for the second time. This time clockwise which would focus on the downstairs first. Friday would be the day to focus a little time on this project. It's only happened twice in eight weeks. :-( I made it from the front door, down the stairs and around the corner to the bathroom. The light fixtures have been cleaned and the medicine cabinet has been cleaned and organized. I decided I wanted to add a little color so I bought some contact paper to cover the medicine cabinet shelves. Any leftover paper will line the cupboard under the sink. This still needs to be done.

So why has it only happened twice? I've been listening to Gretchen Rubin's podcasts and learning more on the things she's passionate about. One of those things is her 4 Tendencies framework. From the quiz, I have discovered that I'm an obliger. I can meet outer expectations, but struggle with inner expectations. This Mt. Vernon project is an inner expectation. Without external accountability, it's difficult for obligers to meet those inner expectations. So, here I am again with putting it "on paper" to help motivate me to work on this project that I really do want to do. Messiness creeps in. Some areas get neglected in cleaning. Clutter has taken up residence. This was last done in 2023. I do weekly cleaning of the bathrooms, sweeping, vacuuming (for the most part). I've done some tiny tasks on things that have bothered me. I even led a 100 day tiny task challenge on the GOHQ FB page at the end of 2024.

I just need a posted plan and probably some before and after pictures on the FB page to get me moving a little more consistently. I've been writing the appointment in my planner, but not doing it. 

Here's the plan...

Downstairs bathroom--Feb

Laundry room--Mar

Library--April

Office--May

Garage--June

Shed--July

Master--Aug

Upstairs bathroom & hallway--Sept

Den--Oct

Kitchen--Nov

Living room and finish at the front door--Dec

I'll again skip Dash's and Trixie's bedrooms. Trixie is hoping to move out of the dorms and into an apartment. Application has been submitted, just waiting for availability. I don't think she's taking everything from her room. If she does get the apartment, I'll focus on her room in 2027. If an apartment isn't available by the end of April, she will be moving home. Dash's room is a total disaster. He's working full-time plus which is great, but he has a closet issue that needs to be addressed. However, I can't work on his closet until the floor is cleaned up. If he spent a few minutes a day, even with his work schedule....it should have been done weeks ago. I've tried guiding him step by step. I think his tendency may be rebel! He starts paramedic school in July and that will last 18 months. He has a plan for making enough money that he might be able to buy a house, possibly the year after he graduates. He will not be allowed to move into Trixie's room. He's already destroyed his current room which he can't keep clean. The only place he'll be moving is out!

That's the plan.