by Deb Baker
I shined my sink today, step one in my goal to put order in my life. Marla Cilley, a.k.a. The FlyLady, is helping me. The FlyLady recommends BabySteps, beginning with the sink. Here’s the way to do it:
Empty the sink.
Fill the sink with hot water all the way to the brim, add one cup of bleach, let sit for one hour.
Rinse the sink out.
Get a cleanser like Comet or Ajax and scrub, scrub, scrub.
Clean around the faucets, around the rim, and all over the drain.
Give it a shine with window cleaner.
There! Doesn’t that feel good? If you’re smarting than I am, you’ll keep a dishtowel nearby and dry it every time you use it, so it stays that way.
I love this book. SINK REFLECTIONS is my household “bible” and it’s crammed full of motivational suggestions. I’m going to skip over a few of the recommended BabySteps and head right to the biggest messes, but I’ll take care not to burn out.
Here’s what’s next on my agenda – Unloading.
I’m taking piles of books to the library. Not only is my massive collection considered a donation, thus a great tax write-off, but I’ll know exactly where they are if I ever want to reread them.
Ditto with the five years of Bon Appetit magazines. Most of the recipes are online.
I’m going to throw away junk mail without opening it. Well, at least most of it.
All old phone books and catalogs are goners.
I’m going to set a timer for 15 minutes every day and tackle a specific area of chaos. In those 15 minutes I will either throw away or give away 20 items. They don’t have to be big things, some throwaways may only be papers. The giveaways will be all the things in my closets and drawers that I don’t even remember that I own. They will be the hardest to part with, but I’m determined.
Well, I’m off to gaze at my sink. I didn’t realize until now just how coffee-stained it really was.
I shined my sink today, step one in my goal to put order in my life. Marla Cilley, a.k.a. The FlyLady, is helping me. The FlyLady recommends BabySteps, beginning with the sink. Here’s the way to do it:
Empty the sink.
Fill the sink with hot water all the way to the brim, add one cup of bleach, let sit for one hour.
Rinse the sink out.
Get a cleanser like Comet or Ajax and scrub, scrub, scrub.
Clean around the faucets, around the rim, and all over the drain.
Give it a shine with window cleaner.
There! Doesn’t that feel good? If you’re smarting than I am, you’ll keep a dishtowel nearby and dry it every time you use it, so it stays that way.
I love this book. SINK REFLECTIONS is my household “bible” and it’s crammed full of motivational suggestions. I’m going to skip over a few of the recommended BabySteps and head right to the biggest messes, but I’ll take care not to burn out.
Here’s what’s next on my agenda – Unloading.
I’m taking piles of books to the library. Not only is my massive collection considered a donation, thus a great tax write-off, but I’ll know exactly where they are if I ever want to reread them.
Ditto with the five years of Bon Appetit magazines. Most of the recipes are online.
I’m going to throw away junk mail without opening it. Well, at least most of it.
All old phone books and catalogs are goners.
I’m going to set a timer for 15 minutes every day and tackle a specific area of chaos. In those 15 minutes I will either throw away or give away 20 items. They don’t have to be big things, some throwaways may only be papers. The giveaways will be all the things in my closets and drawers that I don’t even remember that I own. They will be the hardest to part with, but I’m determined.
Well, I’m off to gaze at my sink. I didn’t realize until now just how coffee-stained it really was.
4 comments:
Ooh, I LOVE Flylady! I'm a lapsed FlyBaby, in fact. I was doing really well, shining my sink and tackling my "hot spots" of clutter, until I started writing under a deadline. Then I couldn't make time to even open the reminder emails, much less follow them. I gave up! Now my house is sinking under clutter again. I will do better--in fact, I am going to go shine my sink right now!
Dear Deb -
Oh, how I loved your clean sink story.
That 's where we have to start. With the small things.
Tomorrow, I am getting out the Clorox and doing your thing. I don't know why, but I have always hated cleaning sinks but you are my mentor and inspiration.
I also hate vacumming. Something about the noise. Write your next article about this. There are those who need some extreme help.
I am doing my part in the cleanup.
Please look at my post at http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/do-you-own-your-stuff-or-does-it-own-you/
We have to join in cleaning up the mess.
I am with you!
On to organization!
Warmly,
Corinne Edwards
Oh my gosh! I HAVE this book! Buried, somewhere, in the disaster that is the family room.
I'm inspired now, though.
When I get home, I'm going to clean the kitchen sink.
-- Ann
I love the Fly Lady, and I guess I should get her book! Boy, I wonder how many of us authors are FlyBabies?
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