Maintenance and its How-To notes

Detail cleaning schedules for each room of your house.
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Harriet
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Maintenance and its How-To notes

Postby Harriet » Thu Dec 31, 2015 12:37 am

After 4 rounds of rotating Cleaning Focus through 9 areas of our homes, January through October, we move into Maintenance for the last 2 months of the year, with time available for holiday preparation.

Focus maintenance steps do presuppose a November date of Thanksgiving holiday. So those weeks will include meal and menu steps for Thanksgiving celebrations, and might be better references for October for our Canadian villagers.

Here are links to the maintenance steps.
Click on any one to go to tips and suggestions for that part of maintenance.

From Rounds to Maintenance
Thanksgiving - First Week
Thanksgiving - Second Week
Thanksgiving Week
Planning and organizing for December

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Harriet
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Re: Maintenance and its How-To notes

Postby Harriet » Thu Dec 31, 2015 12:51 am

From Rounds to Maintenance

Four rounds of FOCUS cleaning through our homes have been accomplished. Yay!

According to Indiana's FOCUS plan, the remainder of the year can be set aside as maintenance only, since it is often such a busy time of year. Her vision was for the joy of a calmer, more festive last few months. A clean home meant more time for the preparations to make our homes welcoming and our celebrations meaningful.

First, notice the dates of holidays and celebrations as they will pertain to your family and make notes on your calendar(s). Begin to plan the times you may need to put your emphasis on hospitality, and the times you can return to some maintenance cleaning.

The only definite order of business for our first week of maintenance is

* Put away any Halloween decorations, clean up from that holiday.

By next week, there will be emphasis on changing decor and thinking ahead to the kitchen, and food hospitality.

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Re: Maintenance and its How-To notes

Postby Harriet » Thu Dec 31, 2015 12:55 am

Thanksgiving - First Week

Now that all our rooms are deep cleaned we can enjoy the holidays by just doing maintenance and holiday preparation as our focus.

Maintenance:
dusting
floors
tidying
erasing footprints
cleaning bathrooms
cleaning kitchen
touch up where we see it is needed

Declutter:
Declutter Halloween decorations as they are put away and report in the declutter thread for November.

Decorations:
Decorate the house with Thanksgiving decorations. Declutter any decorations that are past their prime and report in the declutter thread for November.

Planning:
The most effective way I found to plan is to work backward from what I imagine the outcome to be and then put the plan in place to get there.

Picture yourself at the dinner table. Imagine the food, table setting, and décor. If you are having anything before hand picture that too.

Take each food item and write down how long it takes to make, can it be made ahead, and what serving dish you will use.
Once that list is done refine your list by writing a schedule of Thanksgiving preparation. The turkey goes in the oven at (time); the pies can be made on Wednesday, etc.
Don’t forget to add 15 minutes to the turkey time to allow time for carving, a minute, or two for putting the gravy and potatoes in dishes, etc.
Your list should be detailed and ready to go with little tweaking.
Go over you recipes to see if ingredients overlap. As an example onion, can you chop onions for all the dishes at once?
With your recipes, what part of the recipe can be prepared in advance? Celery for the stuffing? Bread cubed and drying on the counter?
Using your recipes prepare a master grocery list. Break your master list into non-perishable items that you can get ahead and perishable items that you need to get right before Thanksgiving.

Invite your guests and get a firm commitment from them ASAP.

Take your "Thanksgiving To-Do" list, and schedule time for each item. You may wish to complete one or two items a day until Turkey Day. Be sure to get the help of your spouse and children - delegate! Work on your personal "Thanksgiving To-Do" list in addition to the items in this countdown.

Stock up on pumpkins and potted mums for decorations.

Check spices and toss any that are past their prime. Add to grocery list.

Schedule hair and manicure appointments if needed.

Arrange for extra tables or chairs.

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Re: Maintenance and its How-To notes

Postby Harriet » Thu Dec 31, 2015 12:57 am

Thanksgiving - Second Week

Now that all our rooms are deep cleaned we can enjoy the holidays by just doing maintenance and holiday preparation as our focus.

Maintenance:

dusting
floors
tidying
erasing footprints
cleaning bathrooms
cleaning kitchen
touch up where we see it is needed
give your plants some TLC.

Declutter:

Declutter Thanksgiving decorations that aren’t used and report in the declutter thread for November.

Thanksgiving Preparation:

Take an inventory of your chairs, tables, dishes, flatware, glassware, and linens. If items need to be cleaned, do it now.
Will guests be spending the night in your home? Be sure to think about sleeping arrangements.
Allot adequate closet and drawer space and provide hangers.
Fully stock your refrigerator and pantry, and take into account any special food requirements.
Have a full-length mirror in the bedroom.
Have a working alarm clock in the bedroom.
Invest in a few small touches in the room - bottled water, chocolates, or fresh flowers.
Provide a sitting area with a pillow, throw, an adjacent table, and a good adjustable lamp.
Provide extra blankets for temperature control in the bedroom.
Provide reading material, including several magazines and a daily newspaper.
Stock enough towels, washcloths and hand towels for all guests.
Stock up on toilet paper and other necessities and make sure they know where to locate extras.
Make sure you will have enough room in your freezer or refrigerator for the turkey. If you don't have enough room, make room by eating meals made from some of the items taking up the space.
Clean your refrigerator inside and out. This is a good time to toss any out-dated foods in your refrigerator. You will need to make room for the holiday ingredients.
Clean the turkey platter and other serving dishes. Use post-it notes to define the foods to be placed in each serving platter and bowl.
Check your shopping list, but only after you know exactly what your guests might be bringing. Don't forget to include important items such as film, batteries, and beverages.
Check the local newspaper and web sites for holiday food coupons and grocery store bargains.
Shop for nonperishable groceries on your shopping list, or items you know will keep until Thanksgiving. Ingredients for desserts and side dishes can be purchased before the holiday rush. Purchase such non-perishable products as flour, sugars, corn syrup, dried herbs and spices, canned pumpkin, packaged stuffing and cornbread mixes, rice, and fresh or frozen cranberries. Also hardy vegetables such as onions, winter squash, carrots, potatoes, parsnips and turnips. Buy heavy cream now as it may be hard to find right before Thanksgiving.
Purchase beverages.
Order your turkey and ham, if this applies to you.
Calculate how long it will take the turkey to thaw. This is the easy formula: for each 4-1/2 pounds of frozen turkey, plan on a 24-hour refrigerator thaw time. For example, if the turkey weighs 16 pounds, the refrigerated thaw time will be 3-1/2 days. Place the frozen turkey, in the original wrapper, in a 2-inch deep roasting pan. Thaw the turkey, with the breast side down so the juices will flow into the breast. A thawed turkey may remain in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. Plan accordingly.
Start making extra ice for the beverages.
Plan the type of table centerpieces to be used -- floral, fruit or candles -- and determine what needs to be purchased.
Find the turkey roaster and rack. Check to make sure the food thermometer is in good working order. Check your inventory for cotton kitchen twine, a turkey baster and a fat separator for making gravy.
Re-evaluate your "Thanksgiving To-Do" list. Are there many items you listed, that may be impossible to get done now? Be realistic and cross off items that can be skipped.

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Re: Maintenance and its How-To notes

Postby Harriet » Thu Dec 31, 2015 1:01 am

Thanksgiving Week

Now that all our rooms are deep cleaned we can enjoy the holidays by just doing maintenance and holiday preparation as our focus.

Maintenance:
  • dusting
  • floors
  • tidying
  • erasing footprints
  • cleaning bathrooms
  • cleaning kitchen
  • touch up where we see it is needed
  • give your plants some TLC.

Declutter:

No decluttering this week unless you find some things as you prepare dinner.

Thanksgiving Preparation:

3 days before Thanksgiving – Monday

Prepare any dishes you can freeze.

Plan seating arrangements.

Continue making ice cubes.

Shop for perishable Thanksgiving items between now and two days prior to Thanksgiving.

Are there any other dishes or desserts that can still be prepared ahead of time? If so, do them today.

2 days before Thanksgiving - Tuesday

Are there any other dishes or desserts that can still be prepared ahead of time? If so, do them today.

Fill your salt and pepper shakers and butter dishes.

Defrost in the refrigerator any frozen side dishes.

Be sure your home is clean. If any other details need to be taken care of, do them now. Is your bathroom clean? Do you need to clean your front walk?

Day Before Thanksgiving - Wednesday

Prepare any dishes that can be made ahead.

Chill beverages in refrigerator.

Buy bouquet of flowers for table or countertop.

Do spot clean of rooms that will be used during the festivities.

Set the table.

Thanksgiving Day - Thursday

Finish last minute details: turkey, mashed potatoes, but most of all, enjoy yourself!

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Harriet
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Re: Maintenance and its How-To notes

Postby Harriet » Thu Dec 31, 2015 1:22 am

Planning and organizing for December

Now that all our rooms are deep cleaned we can enjoy the holidays by just doing maintenance and holiday preparation as our focus.

Maintenance:
dusting
floors
tidying
erasing footprints
cleaning bathrooms
cleaning kitchen
touch up where we see it is needed
give your plants some TLC.

Divide and Conquer:

Divide your home into 3 sections. Freshen the non-public areas the first week of December. Plan to give attention to the other areas over the next two weeks.

Declutter:

Declutter Thanksgiving decorations as you put them away.

Declutter Christmas or Hannukah and winter seasonal decorations as you bring them out.

Calendar:

Make a calendar for the month of December that includes the last few days of November.
Mark the holidays and celebration days that will affect your household, including New Year’s Day.
Mark all holiday activities.
Mark days that cards and packages must be mailed to assure delivery by Christmas or Hannukah.
Mark days for baking.
Mark days for shopping.
Mark on the calendar the day a project (if you are making one or some) must be done. Count back the number of days it will take to make it and mark it. Mark benchmarks for how much should be done. Be realistic on the time it will take – add a cushion.

Activities:

Begin thinking about menus.

Buy stamps, cards, and wrapping supplies.

Sign, address, and send holiday cards.

Spend a few hours shopping on weekdays or after work, when stores are calmer than they are on weekends.

Write out gift lists, write down clothing sizes, and organize addresses, preferably on a computer or a PDA to help with neatness and efficiency. Carry them with you for easy reference. If the store offers free shipping, you will be ready.

When shopping on the internet don’t forget to Google the store name followed by the word coupons for any discounts available.


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