Swish 'n Swipe. Day 24 of Babystep Challenge To A Peaceful Home

Day 24 of the Flylady's babysteps is when we meet the Swish 'n Swipe, which is a fabulous tool for my bag of tricks in my quest for a peaceful home. Ya want another tool? Check this out.



The "swish" means you take a toilet brush which you keep upright in a container next to your toilet and do a quick once around your toilet bowl. No need to get out the cleaner--just keep some old shampoo or liquid soap in the bottom of the brush holder. It takes about 10 seconds.

The "swipe" means you take a rag of some kind and rub the spots off of the mirror (not "clean the mirror; just the spots!), wipe the counter off (after putting away whatever you've left out there), and wipe out the sink. It takes about 10 seconds.


Because I have little boys, I also take another 10 seconds and use a baby wipe to wipe down the toilet seat, top & rim, and base and floor around the toilet. When needed, I'll spray this area with a bleach spray and wipe with a paper towel.

The whole thing leaves your bathroom nice and fresh (the shampoo makes the whole thing smell good), ready for company, in 30 seconds. It's simple and part of my morning routine. Yes, that means I do it every day, and don't wait until it gets stinky. I do my bathroom when I use it first thing in the morning, the boys' bathroom when I do the laundry (it's also the laundry room), and the downstairs the first time I use it later on.

If you have any tips for easily keeping your bathroom nice, please share!

3 Ring Binder-Babystep Challenge To A Peaceful Home Day 8

And we are on day #8 of the Babystep Challenge to a Peaceful Home, following Flylady's recommendations.

This is easy. Get a 3 ring binder and put paper in it. Of course, we all have office supplies hanging around the house. I love office supplies! I LOVE to go to Office Depot and walk around looking at all the things....weird. But I bet lots of you are the same way.


This is where I write down my morning and evening routines; one on each page. I've already been practicing them all week. Now I have them written down so that I can check them off and make sure I don't forget anything.

I'm still cheating a little because most of these have already been habits of mine, and I already had them written in my Control Journal. But, I look forward to re-doing whatever needs to be fixed as I go through these babysteps again.

Babystep Challenge Day 4- Write These Things Down

Day 4- Write These Things Down.

Writing down what we need to do reminds us. I definitely need this, but I think I don't. This is the danger. I keep it all in my head, and most of it I remember. But some of it I just don't fit in, and I let it just go....

I have a decent Control Journal. It sits on my counter, buried under papers that I never get to.

I don't use it much.

I'll start it again.

Do you put post its up around the house? What works for you to remember what you need to do next?

Do What We Have Already Done-Flylady's Babystep #3

Today, Day 3 of Flylady's Babysteps is to do what we have already done. Which is:

1. Keeping your sink shining (my step 1 post here)
   
2. Getting up and getting dressed to lace up shoes. (my step #2 post here)

Why am I starting again with Flylady's Baby Steps? Read here to find out.

Today has been a very busy day with grocery shopping and trying to get back on schedule after that. So, I'm glad there is not a new action for today. I'm content to just "do what we have already done"

And, I LOVE the enthusiasm so many are showing. I love the accountability I'm getting by posting publicly, and I'm having fun. So, today I'm just enjoying knowing where these Babysteps will take me.....

Imagine the peaceful home that is awaiting.

You can do it too! Join in, even if you haven't started. Start now.

My Lace Up Shoes-Flylady Babystep #2

Yesterday I practiced Babystep #2: Get Dressed To Lace Up Shoes.

This means getting completely dressed, right away, including hair and face. You act differently, more professionally, when you have clothes and shoes on. When I do this I am ready for anything that might come up (or anyone who might come to the door).

To read Flylady's complete explanation of why to do this, go here.

This is a good habit and is not one I struggle with. Well, now that my baby is almost 10 months and I'm not up at all hours nursing her. With a tiny baby, I'm lucky if I am able to get dressed at all. Or shower. Or have time to use the bathroom.

Wait a minute, I still don't get a moment of peace in there!

But I digress.

As I was saying, I have already made this a habit of mine and so I won't pretend it's new to me. But, I will say that it's a good one. I get all the way dressed before I wake the children. My shoes tell my brain that it's time to go to work.

And, off to work I go!


Did you get dressed to shoes today?

If you want to know more about this series, read this post to know why I'm doing this.


I've noticed that some others are blogging their Babystep Challenge Experience. Let's get together on it! If you have a relevant post, add it below in the Mister Linky! After doing that, please link back to this post so we can all share. Thanks!