House hold tasks ground rules

When I ended up living on my own, I found I had to have a system to try and keep the house I lived in in a reasonable state.  My aim was to have it clean and tidy enough that I could invite anyone to the house without worrying what it looked or smelt like.  I have been in to many bachelor pads where a biological warfare suit needed to be worn on entry, and as for student digs, don't get me started.

The following are rules I think are fairly good ones for house hold tasks.
1. Keep it simple. Don't buy lots of gear and gadgets.
2. Keep on top of it. A bit everyday is way better than a panic once a month.

Daily.

Morning
Morning before work:
Make sure I have the ingredients for the evening meal.
Make bed.
Shower.
Washing in machine once I get load

Evening
Cook meal
Transfer washing to dryer.
Wash dishes
Clean sink
Deal with the days mail
Clean round living room before bed

Cleaning
Kitchen and living room have to be cleaned everyday, even if it is just a tidy and a wipe down.
Pick one area of the house per week to clean to a military standard. Image you are getting it ready for rounds.

Weekly.

Bins

Check which bins it is, recycle or rubbish and make sure they are out the night before.  This is also a good time to go round the house and empty all the rubbish bins.

Meal Plan

Plan what you will eat during the week.  I know this sounds a real chore, but it stops you eating beans on toast every night or calling in at the chippy.  I write down on the kitchen calender the meals I will be having during the week.  I don't always stick to the plan, it s just a plan and no plan survives contact with the enemy.  But a plan means I shop more sensibly because I know what ingredients I want.

Shopping List.

I have a magnetic note pad on the fridge door.  I add to this anything I am getting close to running out of, such a beer and I also put on it the ingredients I will need to make my meals in the week.  This enable me to fight off the overwhelming urge to buy stuff I don't need in the supermarket.