How I keep up with my home: Deep Clean Monday!

 

This week I shared some cleaning videos on my instagram stories, and ya'll went wild! 

I don't typically share a ton about cleaning because I don't ever want anyone to feel insecure about their level of cleanliness. I've definitely been that clueless newlywed (like, I grew up with a house keeper clueless. Like, don't ever ask my aunt about the time I tried to do my own laundry at sixteen and used bleach instead of detergent clueless), and I've been so depressed that cleaning was the last thing on my mind. I think we ALL have. 

But, it seems like there's an interest in cleaning things and I'm SO excited about that. I discovered my obsession with cleaning through my anxiety a few years ago and while the anxiety is gone (check out my post about my shen men piercing, it's life changing!) the love for clean, minimal and tidy spaces has remained. 

So let's jump into some super safe space come as you are cleaning chats! 

This week when I did a poll about what topics you all wanted to know more about my cleaning schedule was NUMERO UNO! Like, a surprising amount of comments. 

And I hope this isn't a letdown: but I kind of don't keep one. 

Stay with me! 

I tried every cleaning schedule and organized calendar around. Your girl does a LOT of cleaning blogs, tiktoks and video searchin'. Every cleaning schedule I tried either didn't stick or always left me feeling like something wasn't done. 

So I ditched them and haven't looked back. 

Instead, I gathered things from other bloggers and cleaning accounts that I appreciated and kind of made my own routine. The biggest and most important aspect of this routine is simple: 

DEEP CLEAN MONDAY! 

It's been lifechanging for me! I feel like my house is always clean (like, actual clean...there's plenty of toys and kids clothes laying about) and mostly always tidy. I love deep clean monday because it sets my week off to a totally fresh start and makes my home easier to maintain during the week. By spending time knocking everything out on Monday, I'm able to tidy up within minutes on any given day. No more mad dashes to pick up before people stop by. Well, when people used to stop by. In the before times. Quarantine, sigh. 

So what is it?

It's pretty much just what it sounds like! Every Monday I deep clean my house top to bottom. Think of it like a mini spring clean weekly. 
I know that sounds exhausting, but hear me out. The first week will take a while. You're cleaning spaces you probably haven't touched in a minute. But after that it's pretty quick and painless since you're keeping up on it every week! 

I usually grab a fiiz (so sorry if you're not in Utah, you're missing out!) and start first thing in the morning. I have a caddy that I load up with all of my cleaning supplies so I can carry them from room to room which makes it a lot easier. 

Since it's a rather large list I created a printable that you can download and print to keep track. It's my deep clean Monday master list. I put mine in a sheet protector so I can mark each item off with a dry erase marker. 

So what happens after deep clean Monday? Since everything has been deep cleaned at the start of the week it's pretty easy to keep on top of everything. There are a few things I do daily to make things easier, but mostly we have just gotten into the habit of cleaning as we go and putting things away when we're finished. 

As far as daily to do's it's pretty basic: 

Every morning I unload the dishwasher and start a load of laundry. Usually I do this while I'm making the kid's breakfast. 

The kids are in charge of their rooms and have a weekly zone to keep clean ie the play room. They usually do that in the afternoon before they can have screens. 

Every Monday I wash towels and every Saturday I wash bedding

Every Friday I clean out the fridge which isn't too daunting since it's done weekly

That's pretty much it! I much prefer having a busy Monday rather than spending hours cleaning every day. It's so nice to start the week off right and make the rest of the week a little more calm! 

Feel free to print my master list and follow me at @simplytaylorraye to find more cleaning discussions and tips! 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD MONDAY MASTER LIST

"Mama"

A lot of you (like, a lot) will not know that I am a writer. It's something that used to be a huge part of my life but kind of got put on the back burner for a few years...because mental health. But, thanks to a lot of encouragement, I started writing again this year. I never share my writing before it's published (and this one has been submitted to a very niche literary magazine so we'll see what happens) but I had the urge to share it today. I'm rusty. Like you may need a tetanus shot rusty. Let's blame the quarantine. I think it just felt fitting given the current climate. 

We're all tired. 

We're stretched thin in so many directions without much certainty. It's hard. 

And while I'm all about girl power and overcoming it's okay to feel that hard too, live in it. 

I hope this helps some of you feel seen during the wild broken down roller coaster that is 2020. You're loved. 

Mama

“Mama! Mama!” Her tiny arms reached upward, demanding me to hold her. Such a simple thing. A simple insistence. In her haste to be comforted she is not concerned with anything else. She looks past my dark circled eyes and sagging shoulders. My hair is unwashed and wild. Bits and pieces sticking out of the hair tie I haphazardly placed days ago. The exhaustion radiates from inside of me but she doesn’t see it. She sees only her place of refuge as the fever that’s raged inside of her for days still burns. Her cheeks are red and warm so I give her another dose of medicine. My body sinks and I sigh. I am tired. 

It’s a different kind of tired. Not the tired that comes from endless loads of laundry or the things that keep me busy throughout the day. It’s not a trivial kind of tired. It’s a tired that I feel in my bones. In my limbs. It’s a tired that comes from sleepless nights when everyone else is quiet. Laying down in bed just to be woken again, for the umpteeth time, to care for someone else. A tired that comes after years of being a food source; always within reach and never dry. A tired that can only be felt after my body has been split open and healed over and over again. Sustaining life is tiring. 

Some days I can look beyond the exhaustion; pick up my dragging feet. Some days I can tickle and chase and feel whole. Other days though, I wallow in it. Achy and weary I take cover in my bed and let them fend for themselves; not quite feral but not cared for on a level they’re used to. Those days it’s all I can do to keep my mind from wandering. From wondering how I’m failing so miserably at this and  what I could be missing. So many experiences that will be left unlived; forgotten in a corner of my mind like old toys. Some days it almost feels like this will consume me; the duties never ending. There is always a need. Some days I go through the motions on auto-pilot and find no joy. And then the immense guilt sets in. I should appreciate it more. Children don’t last, they say. 

“Mama” again she’s at my feet reaching skyward. This time her voice is softer; less demanding. Her chubby fingers curl toward me and beckon me in. She feels heavy in my arms as her head sinks into my body. She is soft and warm. My breath slows to match hers and our chests rise and fall together. She’s always really been an extension of me. We move in unison, our bodies linked in a unique way that only they can be. I can feel the oxytocin rushing over me like a wave of relief. Her eyelashes  flutter against my collar bone. Fighting to stay open until they can’t anymore. Her fight is gone and she sinks into a comfortable sleep; her breaths heavy and slow. I lean down and kiss the crown of her head gently. I can smell her sweet sweat mixed with honey shampoo. I want to burn the smell of her into my brain. I want to force myself to memorize the weight of her body curled into my chest. The exhaustion still radiates, but it is a slower burn. I am where I want to be.

Minimizing Your Waste + Simple Ways To Start

If you've talked to me for more than five seconds you probably know I am ALL about that minimalism life. It eases my depression, it helps me get kids out of the house quick-ish and it's all around been a game changer for my home. 

Another aspect of minimalism that I don't talk about as often is minimizing waste. Yes, I know that's technically called zero waste..but my small amount of OCD won't let me say zero waste knowing that I will never truly produce zero waste...welcome to my brain! So, I try my best to minimize mine and my family's waste in really simple ways. It can seem SO daunting to make changes in this aspect of life (single use plastic is EVERYWHERE around us) but once you get started it's really not too bad! I want to share with you some of my favorite simple ways to reduce waste in your home.

#1: Most of these changes really focus on limiting your use of single use plastic. The first thing I did when trying to use less plastic was switch to bulk buying. Instead of heading to the grocery store and stocking up on bulk items that come in it's own packaging (think chocolate chips, flour, sugar, oats etc) we head to a local grocery store that offers these items in bulk! We're in Utah so we have Winco everywhere. They have a huge bulk section where you can buy lots of different food items without the packaging- and pro tip: it's usually cheaper this way! When you're not paying for the packaging you can minimize your grocery budget too. When we get home we put these items into mason jars which i actually really love to look at with our open shelving. I'm also all about those farmhouse vibes! 

#2: This brings us to the second swap. Great, you've found a store that offers lots of items in bulk...but don't you have to use plastic bags to weigh and buy them? NOPE! No. No. No. This is like one of the biggest grocery store lies out there. You don't have to use plastic bags! Not for produce, not for bulk items. Nope. My favorite swap we've done is...cloth produce bags! These were SO cheap to make (I actually just sewed them with my very basic skills from old dish towels and pillow cases) and save sooooo much plastic waste! I bring them with my reusable grocery bags and put in them whatever I would put in the plastic bags the store offers. And if you are just buying produce, you don't even NEED them. It's not mandatory to bag produce. Often times I'll just grab whatever I need and put it right into the cart. I promise that little plastic bag isn't keeping you from any germs, either. Produce gets handled a LOT before it gets in your hand. Wash well! 

#3: Reusable ziploc bags and pouches: This was another big one for us. With kids we use SO many plastic bags. Lunches, snacks on the go, bribes to not scream the entire time we're at the store...it's a lot. I simply went onto amazon, found a set of bags I liked and boom! No more waste. And again, you save so much money not buying them all the time! We also use a lot of single serve pouches. With Evie's bowel issues her snacks are typically pureed fruit or applesauce. Instead of paying a RIDICULOUS amount of money for individual pouches at the store, I bought these super cute reusable pouches and fill them myself. They're bigger, too! 

#4: Menstrual cup! I said it. Periods happen, it's life. But the amount of waste we make during that super fun week is insane. Like...insane. Menstrual cups last years and are actually a lot more convenient than tampons and pads. And since I am lucky and get two periods a months thanks to Evie...my diva cup is my best friend. 

#5: Steel alternatives! I've been using steel cups and water bottles for years to cut down on the need for plastic water bottles, but steel straws didn't cross my mind until last year. I picked up a set on Amazon that came with lots of straws, brushes and even a pouch to carry with me. I leave some at home and take 2-4 with me so I can use them at restaurants and events. Just remember that you used your own straw and don't forget it at your favorite hibachi grill...learn from my mistakes ;) 

#6: Cloth napkins were another DIY waste project I did and they were so easy! I picked out a flannel print I loved (avocados, duh) and a terry cloth material. I measured a napkin I already had and cut them to size and sewed them together. Super simple and so absorbent! We just use them however we'd use paper towels and they save us so much waste with small kids! 

That's it! Six easy ways to reduce the waste in your home. Once you make small changes it's easier to tackle the bigger things. Start small and make a huge impact! 

What are your favorite ways to reduce waste?