Speaking from experience, slobs tend to be procrastinators.

Sometimes, with good reason.  When it comes to cleaning house, we know how things go.

“The house is clean?  Woo-hoo!!!  I love it like this!!  I’m going to keep it this way forEVer!!”

“Ummmm, what just happened?”

“It’s like  . . . I blinked . . . and the disaster is back . . . .”

So we procrastinate.  Procrastination is self-protection.  I mean . . . really . . . why would I clean NOW when I know it will just be a disaster again in two days?  I have to wait until the day before the party.

Since December is the time when I’d like to be able to have some impromptu gatherings without losing my mind, I’ve decided to focus this month on what I know can prevent this classic Slob Excuse. And really, it even prevents the NEED for a big huge cleaning day.

My daily checklist.

Seriously, it’s like magic. I know it’s magic . . . but I still get off track when life gets crazy, and I forget all about it.  Sooo . . . during this month when crazy takes on a Whole New Meaning . . .  my goal is to make a point of going through my checklist, paper in hand . . . Daily in December.

Daily in December.

Catchy, right?  Yep, right here before the whole entire internet I’m committing to this.  And I’m going to report every single day in my posts about how it’s going.  I’ll also post on facebook, so you can join in with your own Daily Checklist in comments here on the blog or over there.  And if you’re a twitter gal, use the hashtag #dailyindecember so I can see your progress!

I know from experience that our home will experience more of that much-coveted Christmas peace if I will do this.

Anybody else in?

What’s that?  Oh.  You’re wondering about the first day’s report?  Look at the date on the post.  Technically . . . I’m posting this while it’s still November.  Sooooo, come back tomorrow for the first Daily in December report.  Yep, I’m mature like that. 

Oh, and if you’re eagerly awaiting the Monthly Decluttering Update link-up, I’m planning to post that next Monday since the first day of the month falls in the middle of this series.

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Check out the variety of other 5 Days of Christmas series -

Feels Like Home – Christmas Traditions
Somewhat Crunchy – Christmas with Dairy Allergies
Spell Outloud – Children’s Books
Mama’s Learning Corner – Children’s Crafts
Many Little Blessings – Edible Gifts
Sunflower Schoolhouse – Decorations
An Oregon Cottage – Christmas Cookies
Catholic Icing – Wishing Jesus Happy Birthday
The Traveling Praters – Traveling
The Homeschool Classroom – Gifts Kids Can Make
Mama’s Laundry Talk – Laundry Gifts

Back when having my own home was only a vision in my not-terribly-realistic head, I dreamed of serving elaborate dinners and breakfasts and snack trays and such to my overnight guests.

Honestly, when I lived alone, and then when first married . . . I did.

I remember spending an entire newlywed Saturday making seafood gumbo for another couple, only to later add up the cost and realize that we had spent over sixty dollars on that home-cooked dinner for four.  And that was just the main dish.  The drinks, bread, salad, dessert . . . I’m sure in my pre-kids mind, those were free.

Also, in those days, we ate out regularly.  For breakfast, lunch or dinner . . . or maybe all three on a particularly fun day.

Now, though, as a mom of three who generally hosts others with kids, eating out more than once during a visit isn’t practical.

Besides, the best times spent with guests are the ones around the table.  After the meal.  Talking well into the night because they aren’t going anywhere.

However, spending all day preparing an elaborate dinner isn’t always practical when you are hosting guests.

Freezer cooking to the rescue! Don’t worry!  I’m not talking about casseroles.  Just by pre-cooking meats and other ingredients like rice or beans, you can have fresh-cooked meals ready in minutes.

Using pre-cooked ground beef, you can make spaghetti, mexican casserole, tacos, chili, hamburger pizzas, taco soup, pizza snowballs, etc.

Using pre-cooked cubed chicken you can make chicken fried rice, chicken with faux alfredo, etc.

One of our favorites is to use pre-grilled chicken breasts to make a fajita bar!

And then there’s breakfast.  You can make sausage biscuits, bacon egg and cheese breakfast pockets, or pancakes to be frozen and thawed individually as needed.

Consider the difference in wake-up times between you and your guests. I admire people who can sleep past 7 and have taught their kids to sleep until 9.

My kids are up by seven. As in . . . we’re lucky if it’s that late.  I am fully aware that this isn’t necessarily normal.  It works well for us, but is difficult when we stay with another family who sleeps later.  The great thing about these freezer breakfasts is that they can be prepared individually and as needed.  Show your guests where they are and leave a post-it note on the microwave with a reminder of instructions on how to re-heat them.  This way, even if you aren’t up yet, your guests can find something to eat or to feed their kids without having to dig through your kitchen.

And even if you’re planning to make a big breakfast later on, set out bowls and boxes of cereal for those who might be up three hours before the meal.

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Check out the variety of other 5 Days of Christmas series -

Feels Like Home – Christmas Traditions
Somewhat Crunchy – Christmas with Dairy Allergies
Spell Outloud – Children’s Books
Mama’s Learning Corner – Children’s Crafts
Many Little Blessings – Edible Gifts
Sunflower Schoolhouse – Decorations
An Oregon Cottage – Christmas Cookies
Catholic Icing – Wishing Jesus Happy Birthday
The Traveling Praters – Traveling
The Homeschool Classroom – Gifts Kids Can Make
Mama’s Laundry Talk – Laundry Gifts

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Have you heard of Lemon?  It’s a way to keep track of your spending and organize your receipts through your phone! I’m DYing to get an iphone, and would love to try this out.  (Don’t you think an iphone would solve all of my problems?)  Anyway, there are two levels of service, and the lower level is free.  Oh, and it’s also an affiliate link of mine!

The kitchen is the heart of the home.

That’s not just a warm-fuzzy saying to embroider on your dishtowels.  It’s the truth.  One of my biggest adjustments to motherhood was realizing how much my family expects to eat.

Like . . . every day.  More than once.

When your goal is to create a company ready house, a thoroughly cleaned kitchen is a must. Guests expect to be fed, and most guests offer to help in the kitchen.  The cleaner the kitchen, the more relaxed everyone will be.

Now, before I start let me clarify that THE most important thing when welcoming others into your home is to simply . . . be welcoming.  If you only have time to wash the dishes and wipe down the counters, that’s okay.  Relax and smile and share your food.  Memories will be made.

Sometimes, though, the motivation of an impending party or visiting in-laws makes you want to get your home in the best condition possible, and it’s a great excuse to do a top-to-bottom kitchen cleaning.

Here are the steps I use to thoroughly clean the kitchen:

Pre-Step 1.  Wash the dishes and declutter the countertops.

This is for my kindred spirits out there.  The most frustrating thing about most cleaning checklists is that they operate under the assumption that you’ve already done the basic daily stuff.  I’ll admit that I made this list first . . . and then went and did it to see how it really worked.  I couldn’t believe I had forgotten such an essential step.  I am sorry.

1.  Dust from . . . top to bottom! (My time: around 6 minutes)

Knock down cobwebs from the ceiling, dust the light fixtures and wipe down the tops of the cabinets and fridge.  No, food doesn’t touch these things, but the perfect taste combination can be ruined by the sight of a dust-bunny at eye level for someone taller than you. By getting the dusting out of the way first, the following steps will take care of the nastiness that you just sent floating to the ground.

2.  Wipe down cabinets, walls, back-splash. (My time: 7 minutes)

It’s the kitchen.  Things splatter and grease floats through the air, landing on every surface.  Depending on available time, you can spot-wipe or thoroughly scrub it all.  For this, I dip my rag into a sink-full of soapy water.  Since dishwashing liquid is “specially formulated” to remove grease, it works well.

Don’t forget to wipe/scrub the top of the vent above the stove.  Mine gets a lovely layer of dust/grease on it that the dusting in Step One can’t conquer.

For reference, I spot-wiped my dark cabinets and white back-splash.  Spot-wiping makes a huge difference.

3.  Clean the oven (3 1/2 hours) and microwave (9 minutes).

Somehow, these things are totally invisible to me until a helpful or dish-contributing guest opens them up.  Confession here:  I cleaned my oven today for the first time. We’ve lived in this house for five-and-a-half years.  (Please don’t let this be the day my MIL finds my blog!)  And . . . it’s self-cleaning.

To clean my microwave, I just put a bowl of water with a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar in there and run it for two minutes.  The steam helps loosen gunk and makes wiping out the microwave easier.

4.  Scrub the counters, sink, and stove burners. (a little over ten minutes)

Using the right cleaning product for your types of counter-tops, scrub them well.  Move everything off of about a three-foot section at a time, scrubbing all the way to the edges.  Replace everything in a section before moving to the next.  (Yes, that’s a Flylady thing!)

I use Comet, which is okay for my countertops.  I find that even with wiping down regularly, they get stains that I can only get out with a product like that. I also use a toothpick or my fingernail along the edges of the sink to get up the grime that gets stuck there.

5.  Clean out (and off) the fridge.

I know.  It’s one of my least favorite jobs too.  But when you have a bunch of helpful friends or family in your kitchen, there’s no way to keep it hidden.  Might as well throw away the tartar sauce from last decade now.

While you’re at it, glance over the artwork/spelling lists/school calendars that are displayed on the outside of the fridge and remove the ones that are out of date.  Wipe down the handles and other smudges.

6.  Wipe down salt/pepper shakers, olive oil bottle, etc. (3 min)

Those things get gross.

7.  Wipe down the trashcan. (Less than one minute.)

Irritating, right?  I mean . . . it’s a trashcan!  But because it’s a trashcan, people like me tend not to notice the nastiness that can stick to the sides of it.

And seriously . . . one minute?

8.  Sweep and mop.

Sweep.  Then mop.  No rocket-science there. I don’t have a time for this (because I didn’t do it today!), but it generally takes less than 25 minutes.

**(The next three steps are important if others are bringing dishes to serve at your house!)

9.  Put all of your serving utensils together.

It doesn’t matter where, as long as you can give a specific location when someone asks for a serving spoon.  Even though, on a random Tuesday, it may not bother you to open three or four drawers to find what you need to serve the mashed potatoes, it might bother you to have to do it in front of your guests.

10.  Put “like” pots/pans and casserole dishes together.

Again, people may need these random items, and you don’t want conversation to stop in the next room out of concern for all the banging going on in the kitchen as you search for that last clean skillet.

10.  Fill and set out commonly needed items.

Use trays or baskets to gather together your salt, pepper, hot pads, etc. and put them on the counter so your guests don’t even have to ask.  Also be sure your handsoap, dishwashing liquid, and a clean washcloth or towel are all out at the sink. (If someone wants to do the dishes . . . let them.  It’s okay.)

Like I said, the most important thing is that you welcome guests into your home. If you only have thirty minutes to work on the kitchen, see how quickly you can move through steps 1-6.  If you have all day, you can take your time and be more thorough.  From experience, I know that having a plan of attack helps.  It keeps me on track and lessens the chance that I’ll end up using all of my time decluttering a kitchen drawer!

P.S. At several points (specifically 2, 3, and 4) I thought that there was no way I was going to be able to complete this today.  These tasks were taking forEVer.  Notice the highest time out of those three is only ten minutes.

P.S.S. Putting this into step-by-step written format was a fantastic exercise for my Slob Brain.  I plan to blog a behind-the-scenes post sometime next week!

Go here to print your own Kitchen Cleaning Checklist.

Tomorrow, I’ll share ways to use freezer cooking to make the most of your time with overnight guests!

***Special note:

Be sure to like my facebook page for access to a free printable Last Minute Hospitality Checklist. It’s designed to keep you sane and focused in those last ten minutes before your guests arrive so you can open the door with confidence!  Just go like A Slob Comes Clean on facebook, and then click on  “Only Likers” which is located on the left of the page, under my profile picture!

Check out the variety of other 5 Days of Christmas series -

Feels Like Home – Christmas Traditions
Somewhat Crunchy – Christmas with Dairy Allergies
Spell Outloud – Children’s Books
Mama’s Learning Corner – Children’s Crafts
Many Little Blessings – Edible Gifts
Sunflower Schoolhouse – Decorations
An Oregon Cottage – Christmas Cookies
Catholic Icing – Wishing Jesus Happy Birthday
The Traveling Praters – Traveling
The Homeschool Classroom – Gifts Kids Can Make
Mama’s Laundry Talk – Laundry Gifts