Whether you’ve gotten a little lax with checking off the boxes on your monthly ‘Do It’ List, or you’re just now joining us for the first time, November is a great month to get serious about keeping a tidy home! Many of us will be hosting holiday gatherings, having family come visit, and there’s always that friend or neighbor who drops by unexpectedly with a loaf of pumpkin bread in November (or Christmas cookies in December). Diligence in getting your house in order this month will leave you prepared to throw open the door, joyfully and unabashedly, throughout the holiday season.
When I googled “holiday hosting stress” recently, I found this recommendation in a Washington Post article:
Hire cleaners. It might feel like a splurge, but cleaners can be worth every penny even if you’ve got a tight budget. Most professional companies will charge between $90 and $150 to clean a 1,000-square-foot apartment or the equivalent. “Nothing takes away hosting stress more than knowing you’ll have a clean house the next morning…”
The article only mentions cleaning after the event … but you and I know that cleaning before is also vital. I certainly am excited to tell my hubby that the ‘Do It’ List is saving us $300 every time we host a holiday event!
Our ‘Do It’ List seeks to organize all those household chores and duties, and make them manageable. Our lives today are busier than ever; rarely can we devote the entire day to anything. So instead of the traditional weekly cleaning day—which is how Mom always did it!—we’ve opted for a few daily tasks that make home management less burdensome. We need just minutes at a time, not blocks of several uninterrupted hours. And as the list becomes part of our routine, we not only get into a rhythm, but we also reap the benefits of peace and joy that come with a cleaner, more orderly home.
Our monthly ‘Do It’ List task for November is to take a linen inventory. Just like clothing, our sheets and towels do eventually (and literally) wear thin. As you line up your linens for inspection, questions to ask include:
- Do we have complete sets?
Mismatched sets and “orphan” pillow cases often get pushed to the back and never used, creating clutter in the closet and making it difficult to find sheets we do use. - Do any of the linens have holes, stains, or are just looking ready to retire?
It will take time to spread them out and scrutinize, but since you only do this once per year, take the time to do it well. - Have the children outgrown any of the linens?
Your 14-year-old may no longer be interested in sleeping on Minnie Mouse sheets, no matter how nostalgic Mom feels when you see them! - How many extra sets do we really need?
If you have four sets of double sheets and only one double bed, you may be wasting valuable storage space. - Do we typically run out of hand towels or washcloths before bath towels?
Hand towels and washcloths may be changed out every day, so multiples may be needed.
After taking inventory of what you have, you will be ready to make a list of what you need.
Additional items to consider:
- Does it make sense to buy towels and sheet sets in white, so bed linens are interchangeable and everything can easily be bleached?
- Do the children have a preference—or will you give them a choice—for colors and styles?
- Paying more for a higher thread count not only feels more luxurious, but might be the wiser choice economically (because they last so much longer).
- In addition to thread count, educate yourself on fiber, weave, and finish. You might want to read this helpful Real Simple article, if you need some help.
- Consider purchasing 2-3 hand towels and washcloths (or more) for each towel, if your family tends to go through those more quickly.
After taking linen inventory, place items back in the closet neatly. This is a great opportunity to train your children in how to fold a sheet. This HGTV video provides a quick, memorable how-to for the visual learners among us!
The culled linens can now be evaluated:
- Can the sheets and towels be recycled as cleaning or dusting rags? One of our previous blogs on recycling included this advice from our dear friend, Ms. Sam:
Towels are used until they begin to fray at an edge and then they are cut into three rectangles the size of hand towels and go to my husband’s workshop. Kitchen towels are hung up to dry hands until they become stained. Then they go under the sink to be pulled out to dry cast iron and wipe up spills. When they are no longer fit for that duty, they are also gifted to the mechanics in the family. Washcloth are the same, but when stained they go to the laundry room cabinet. There they await use as dusting rags, and silver polishers. - Do they have enough life left in them to be donated?
- Do they just need to be thrown away?
With an inventory completed and your linen closet in order, you’re ready to scour those Black Friday ads—or wait for the January White Sales. You now know what you need, so even a fantastic deal won’t tempt you to over-buy. And be sure to check out online reviews, if you are considering an unfamiliar brand.
You know you’re a mom when new towels and an organized linen closet make your heart happy!
As always, our ‘Do It’ List is FREE to download, and we’ve included a blank version for those of you who need more customization in your daily, weekly, and once-a-month task lists.
November has almost arrived, with the holidays closing fast … so let’s Do It!
