Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good,
in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.
Titus 3:14
We are eternal beings living in a temporary place. And once we have accepted Christ as our savior, we have a mission while we’re here in this temporary world: to meet needs and share Jesus.
Our homes are more than a place to live physically. They are a place of hospitality—where we can genuinely, authentically love on others and introduce them to Jesus.
As we read and accept Paul’s instruction to Titus, key phrases in the verse above take on eternal significance, even in our temporary lives. Are you challenged by Paul to:
- Be devoted to doing what is good?
- Provide for urgent needs?
- Refuse to live an unproductive life?
For the follower of Christ, the spiritual is bound up in the physical, the eternal in the temporal. And that’s why the physical act of keeping a well-managed home can help foster the spiritual exercise of hospitality. A healthy, orderly environment brings peace to our own hearts and minds, and allows us to embrace opportunities to invite others in. 
Our monthly ‘Do It’ List is a tool, intended to equip you to manage your home well. Having this simple list to guide your housekeeping can free up the mental energy required to decide, “What do I do next?” Instead, you can just jump in and do it!
If you are new to this method, you may want to visit our ‘Do It’ List archives to read previous posts.
Our ‘Do It’ List is divided into daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. At least one of those once-per-month tasks is changed out each month so we’re able to focus on something that needs to be done only occasionally. Our unique-to-September task is Clean Baseboards. This is definitely one of those housekeeping tasks that is often forgotten or simply disregarded in the hectic pace of life.
When you think of cleaning baseboards, it may bring to mind images of our grandmothers on their hands and knees, scrubbing for hours. Hopefully, if we choose the right products and commit to doing this at least once per year, it will become a matter of routine home maintenance instead of hard manual labor!
Here are some practical ideas to consider as you evaluate your own baseboards:
- They may just need to be dusted instead of cleaned.
Use the brush attachment on your vacuum so as not to damage the finish. If this pulls up all the dust, hair, etc., you are good. - Choose a cleaner that won’t damage the finish.
If the grime has built up, you might need to apply a cleaner. I like to use Murphy’s Oil Soap, as I find it less harsh than other products for an area like this. You could also make your own vinegar and water solution (one part each) and spray it onto a clean cloth. - Test it out in an inconspicuous area.
Before applying even a mild cleaner, be sure to test on an area of your home where it won’t be noticeable (behind a sofa or bookcase, for example). If the finish is damaged, you can find a Plan B. - Pace yourself.
Remember, this is a monthly task. That means you have the entire month of September to complete it. Consider cleaning one room per day, or even a section of larger rooms, rather than tackling every baseboard in your home in a single day – and keeling over in exhaustion by bedtime! If you allow 15-20 minutes per room and schedule 2-3 days per week in September, it won’t feel like a burden. - Delegate!
Get the kids involved. A child needs to be trained for managing his own home someday. If everyone does their own bedroom, it will be a huge time saver. Be sure to reward and celebrate a job well done – a family picnic, bike ride, or special trip out for ice cream! - Work smarter instead of harder.
Consider purchasing a new sponge mop (or a new head for your existing one). That may be preferable to using a cloth on your hands and knees. - Consider repainting.
If the baseboards are clean, but showing wear, it might be time to repaint or re-stain. If painting, remember a latex-based paint will make for easy wipe-downs later. (If you think you currently have oil-based trim paint, you’ll need to confirm that it is oil and follow a few easy steps to prep the surface before applying latex.)
If you have other “Clean the Baseboard” tips that work well for your home, please share below to inspire us all!
Three cheers for clean baseboards in September!
Click below to download your own copy
of this month’s ‘Do It’ List:
September 2018 BLANK 'Do It' List
