Yup, it’s another random weekend post about stuff on tables (remember this one from a few weeks back?). I have a new mission in life: to keep our kitchen table clear of junk.
Okay, maybe “mission in life” is a bit strong. This goal ranks far below real life missions like to be a good husband and father, put food on the table, and avoid aspartame (I’m mildly allergic). But just like my resolution last fall to make the bed everyday for a month, I recently decided I was fed up with how our kitchen table was increasingly becoming a not-so-temporary landing pad for shopping bags, unread mail, sewing supplies (notnaminganynamessherry) and other clutter. Meaning it was becoming less and less functional as a dining spot (and less and less pleasant to look at).
So without even telling Sherry (she’ll probably learn about this goal when she notices this post at some point this weekend) I’ve taken on the task of clearing off the table each night before heading to bed. Since keeping it clear 24/7 would be unrealistic (not to mention counterproductive – what’s the use of a table that you can’t put things on?) I decided if I could just clear it at the end of each day it would avoid becoming overrun with random items. And in the morning it would look nice. At least for a moment.
I’ve only been doing it for about a week (and I’ve already fallen off of the wagon a couple of nights) but so far I’m liking the results. For one, it’s forcing us to actually deal with some of our clutter (i.e. sort the mail, unload shopping bags, put away dishes). And I’m no psychologist, but there’s gotta be some mental health benefit to starting your day off with a cleared-off, ready-for-anything table. If nothing else, at least I’m enjoying the fact that I don’t have to push aside magazine piles to feed Clara breakfast first thing every morning.
Do any of you have nightly cleaning routines? Or are you currently planning your own cleaning resolution? I’m proof that they can stick. Yep, believe it or not, I still manage to make the bed every single day since last fall’s resolution.
Handy Man, Crafty Woman says
Wait until Clara starts bringing home school papers, yikes! the papers seem to triple, then.
I really try to get all the dishes cleaned up and counters cleared off at night after dinner. I like the idea of “closing” the kitchen at night. :-)
Kendra says
I always put things off “until the morning.” Then I actually timed how long it took to load the dishwasher, pick up the toys, and clear the decks.
Twelve minutes.
Really? I avoid twelve minutes of work before I go to bed and all I get in return is the same twelve minutes of work the next morning with a good dose of blahs thrown in? That’s all it took. Once we realize how long – or short – things actually take, it feels worth it to suck it up, do it now, and wake up to no clutter. Simple and awesome.
Amy says
bed made every am, mail is taken care of the minute it arrives and we always try to take care of anything we bring into the house within a 1/2 hour of bringing it inside…AND every night the whole house is always picked up…usually after our 10 month old goes to sleep…it just makes the mornings so much more peaceful :) I realize it sounds like we don’t have a life, but we really do, and to keep the busy life we have, we must stay on top of our home :)
Holly says
We had the same issue with our dining table. We didn’t have a choice to start cleaning it off, we had another baby who needed a space at the table!
At our house I have to do the dishes before I can go to bed. Looking at and smelling last night’s dinner in the morning is so gross.
Love your blog! Your cutting in painting technique has changed my life. No more wasting money on painter’s tape!
Reenie says
My “catch all” space is one lil corner of the kitchen cabinet.
Thx for the Burger videos =)
Laura says
Way to go John!! My husband empties the dishwasher and cleans off the island every night. It doesn’t seem like much but as a stay at home mom its nice to know that I don’t have to everything around the house. And that he took the initiative to help out without me asking makes me happy :) and its a nice to wake up to a clean kitchen every morning!!
Adrianne says
I love your goal of keeping the table clear. I too am someone who tidies up before going to bed and I very much agree that it helps in a psychological way to wake up to a clear table. As for the rest of the junk that I don’t tidy up, it just collects. The project for the next few weeks is to sort through a good percentage of the junk that has collected and even been schlepped from one place to the next. Blech. Thanks for the indirect encouragement to keep on chugging with tidying up! And thanks for the great posts! Your blog is one of my most favorites … a happy accident that I stumbled upon it.
LauraC says
I HAVE to pick up the house/kitchen every night before bed. Even if I start at 10:30! My husband does. not. understand. He says just go to bed. But I can’t relax knowing everything’s a mess downstairs and waiting for me tomorrow. It’s a sleep aid, to pick up! Table looks great btw.
Laura@JourneyChic says
If only we could keep our kitchen island (and dining room table!) clean. Both are dumping grounds, despite all my efforts with designated baskets, hooks, etc. Now both spots are overflowing thanks to our kitchen backsplash project that’s going on this week.
Burger totally cracks me up! My old cat used to love nothing more than “helping” to make the bed the same way that Burger does!
Jamie says
Absolutely the same ritual as you in my home. To that, though, I add clearing the kitchen sink before I go to bed. There is something to be said about being able to wake up and make a fresh pot of coffee without having to clean through last night’s meal to find my favorite coffee cup…I mean, heaven forbid I actually use one of the other twenty cups in my cupboard! Besides, I honestly think that dirty dished in my sink messes with my REM cycles…and you can’t have enough of those!
Zoya says
I also do Flylady’s system as well. She totally helped me get my house in order and my life more organized after I had our first baby two years ago. Now we had our second, a daughter, a couple months ago and our house is still lookin pretty organized. Her routines really help me. You should check her out at flylady.net.
Joy says
Absolutely the kitchen. I cannot stand waking up to crusty, hardened dishes, stuff all over the floor (I hate stuff sticking to the bottom of my feet), and just more stuff to do before I can start my day. I love waking up to a clean kitchen, grabbing a cup of coffee (and not having to dig the percolator out from under a mound of dishes) and checking my e-mail before everything else begins.
sarah mc says
We spend 5 mins doing a before bed pick up each night and whenever we are leaving the house for a significant period of time. That way when we get home or get up in the morning we’re starting fresh instead of moving, searching or otherwise further cluttering up the house. It really helps with 2 little ones running around the house too. They have already learned to clean things up when it’s bedtime. Plus when we get home from trips or other ventures out we are usually pretty tired and it feels good to just come home and not feel like there are a million things that need to get done. Be sure to let us know if you keep it up.
Anna says
Oh wow Burger makes me laugh. I have a similar puppy (but much fluffier) that believes, not that it’s a privilege to get on the bed, but his right as a small fluffy human. He also claims the living room armchair and the dining chair if he can get his little butt up there! But I wouldn’t change him for anything, as I’m sure you guys wouldn’t change Burger.
Love your goal, unfortunately I have a bad habit of failing at goals like this; I’ve tried the bed making and the cleaning. Need to stay more motivated I think!
Pipsqueak says
Burrgerrr! what a cutie :)
Re: Flylady – I think you might be pleasantly surprised how you’re already doing so many of her ‘daily rituals’ (like Sherry’s daily / weekly cleaning). The dining table is such an important place for family meals together, planning, scheming and dreaming. Great idea reading the same books together – you have a teeny tiny book club of two.
Terri says
I have to admit that I’m a tad lazy when it comes to my “before bedtime routine” that doesn’t involve brushing my teeth and splashing my face. Plus my hubs, who works evenings, will no doubt mess up things too before bed. I’m a morning gal, so I practically spring out of bed and the first place I go is to our living room to put the remotes, coasters, pillows and lap throws into their proper places even before I have my first cup of coffee. As far as our dining room table, unless it’s a huge project that we’re under taking, it’s off limits to clutter… that’s what our breakfast bar is for! LOL. It’s a hassle to keep after the mail, tools and grocery bags but it’s well worth it if you’re a neat freak, like I try to be!
BTW…Burger is just a hoot!! I really enjoy watching his videos.
Monica says
We call it “back to zero”. Each night we try to make sure the whole house gets tidied up. Some nights we say back to “two is okay!
Quiana says
I have to clean up the kitchen before bed making sure all dishes are washed or at least loaded in the dishwasher. I’ve had overnight guests complain about this before calling me too Type A, but it helps me start my mornings much easier.
Allie says
i have three dogs who all have burger burrowing tendencies. making my bed is simply futile.
Wrenaria says
My dining table kind of makes me want to cry. I can never keep up with the clutter of mail, sweatshirts, pens, gadgets, etc. that seem to take it over daily. Someday I will find a fix that sticks.
I do, however, always try to straighten up the living room before bed each night (fold/put away throws, fluff the pillows, clear any clutter/dishes, hide the remotes in their hollow book). I like waking up to see a perfectly put away living space, especially since that room is without a doubt our most used room.
And usually the dishes too, though I’m more lax on that than I’d like.
Woo says
Always happy to see blog posts that prove the blogger’s human! Next, would love to see Martha Stewart share something like this. I don’t feel so bad now that I’ve used my table as a landing pad for paint cans, too, as well as an “office” (stapler, notepads, laptop, etc.), junk mail, craft stuff, etc.
I’m not so good with keeping things clean regularly, like clothes. But I remembered one time I stayed up even later at night just to put everything away in my bedroom. Didn’t get enough sleep, but next morning when I woke up, it was a lot easier to jump out of bed! (not a morning person at all)
Julia says
I enjoyed this post and all of the comments.. it’s fun to read what everyone does at the end of the day housework-wise, and there seems to be a kitchen trend here. I am the same, although I try and have a place for everything in our apartment and make sure it’s back in its place by the end of the day (it’s one benefit of living in a smaller space). And of course I need to wake up to a clean kitchen counter and empty sink – there is nothing more demoralizing than having to do dishes half-asleep just to be able to make yourself a cup of coffee in the morning. What we have started doing in our house dishes-wise is to do them as soon as we are finished eating, always. We rinse and load them up in the dishwasher right away, wipe down the counters and now I realise that is has become second nature for my husband and I, and really simplifies life! As does a little bit of cleaning every day.
Thanks for your continually awesome blog. You guys rock and Burger is the most hilarious dog ever.
Meg says
Oh, yes! I made a bed making resolution back in 2001 (!) and I’m still at it. It’s now completely automatic. This year, my New Year’s resolution was to put my shoes in the shoe cabinet rather than leaving them strewn in the entryway (this is Japan, so shoes come off at the door). That’s automatic now, too. I was hoping it would rub off on some other family members, but, so far, nope.
Samantha @ Mama Notes says
Yes! I hate coming downstairs to a messy kitchen/table/family room and having to start the day cleaning. What a horrible start to a day!! I try to tidy up before bed and then walk downstairs to no clutter. :)
Angie says
It’s so much cuter when Burger does it than when my two dogs (Sam at 100 pounds and Boss at 70 pounds) do it :/
Maureen says
We TRY to clean up the kitchen and eat-in right after dinner and the living room directly after night TV (doesn’t always work the best).
Burger is hilarious. I have just the opposite issue with our dog Turk. Like a teenager, he won’t get out of bed. I have made him into the bed a couple of times just to see how long he will stay in there and how he will escape. Longest was almost an hour, until he heard me making breakfast…mooch…
Braelin says
I struggle w. the same things. Apartment Therapy’s organizing rah-rah thing (what do they call that thing again?) always talks about making sure you have a good ‘landing spot’ for things like mail, loose pens, dog leashes, etc. etc. However, we always come in the back door which leads right into our dining room/living/open to the kitchen space (1950s era ranch here too). Sigh. When it isn’t the table for us it becomes the edge of the kitchen counter. I’m thinking about installing some sort of corner unit thing to help (?), but am concerned about crowding in the dining area. Plus, it isn’t like having the corner unit (or any organizing unit for that matter…) is, in of itself, going to de-clutter for me! Thanks for keeping things real here!`
Caitlin says
I definitely do a run through of the house every evening before bed to tidy up- kitchen counters cleared, last few toys put away, shoes put back in their spots. It’s such a part of the routine that I don’t sleep as well when I skip it! I’m also a make the bed every morning person. Yeah, I’m a bit of a neat freak.
Elizabeth says
What I want to know is how your table finish stays looking so good with a toddler?!? We have two little ones and our table top looks horrible…did you put something special on top to make it “wipeable”? Do tell!
YoungHouseLove says
That table was cheap from Target about four years ago! Haha. We just wipe it down with a damp cloth every once in a while. I think it still looks good since Clara’s seat has it’s own tray. Perhaps it’ll get a little more bedraggled when she actually eats from the table and not that tray. Haha.
xo,
s
Kristen says
Too funny… we never used to make our bed except on rare occasions. When I did, my dog would get up on it and un-make it, just like Burger. Then in the new house, we got a new bed and the only duvet we could agree on was pretty expensive, so I told my husband he has to make the bed every morning, because what’s the point of having this beautiful duvet if you can’t see it because it’s all crumpled up? It helps that the dog stays in the basement now while we’re gone, so she can’t mess up the bed.
Liz F. says
You guys, thanks for the occasional Saturday posts. I know better than to expect them (you need a weekend too, after all), but they’re surely a happy surprise. The Petersik antics are missed over the weekend.
Tanya from Dans le Townhouse says
I’m the enforcer in my household. Hubby is a fan of setting stuff down. But I’m not quite so cool as you – I literally put stuff away all day. I’m only chill in the evening when I’m too tired to care. Good luck!
Drea says
That is so funny what he did to those beds! Thats prob worse than what my 3 boys can do to a bed :) – so funny. Hes a cute cute cute chihuahua..
Kelsey says
After our evening of TV watching, I like to “fluff” the flattened throw pillows and put the scattered remotes in a basket before we head to bed. Reminds me of my mom who, when we were growing up, would have us straighten the tassels on our living room area rug. Constant, futile battle.
YoungHouseLove says
My mom had the same rule. Totally futile!!!!
xo,
s
Susan deGeneres says
I love how Burger tries to look so innocent after messing up the bed. Lol. What a funny little dog.
Ambierre says
I clean my house every single night…hubby is begrudgingly on board. I feel peaceful and accomplished when I go to bed and happy in the morning that I’m not running around doing dishes and picking things up while making my kiddos breakfast. It’s totally a mental health boost! Good luck!
Emily says
I am a morning person. I do all my cleaning first thing, then spend the rest of the day enjoying my kids. I try to show my toddler how to put things back after she plays with them, doesn’t really work yet :) I am so tired by the end of the day the messes stay until the morning.
tara says
Just wanted to say that I love you guys! You are so inspiring and my sense of home style has definitely improved since following you too! Keep up the good work!
Katrina Gelino says
LOL that little sh*t So hilarious and cute! Probably wouldn’t be so cute if it was my dog, considering she’s 3X his size! :)
Jacqueline says
The part of the video where Burger bursts over the pillows ala Free Willy KILLS ME! I laughed so hard that I cried watching that part.
Michelle@decorandthedog says
Our kitchen has to be clean before I go to bed. I hate waking up to a dirty kitchen. Gross. Most of the mail and junk just ends up in the office but you win some and you lose some….
Shannah says
We have this peninsula in our kitchen that becomes the dumping ground for everything (kid lunch bags, mail, recipts, etc.) It drives me crazy! I try everyday to clean it off before I go to bed but, since I am the first one to bed, it always has stuff on it before I get up again in the morning!
Megan says
This will be a really good thing for you to teach Clara in a few years. As part of her night routine …..bath, brush teeth, book, and toys away before bed. We start this routine with the kids every time I get a bur in my saddle but eventually it wears off until I get crazy again.
It sounds like you have more follow through than me. That’s great.
Cause as you know adult clutter is enough. When Clara starts leaving her stuff all over then house it takes it to a whole new level. :)
Laura says
I can totally relate! I’m a work at home mom, so it’s really hard to put the baby down for a nap and NOT just delve into work. He is still napping twice a day so I try to take the first 15 minutes of nap time to clean a room. I pick one room every day. Whatever gets done in those 15 minutes gets done, the rest can wait until later. I’m always so surprised at just how much I can get done in a matter of 15 minutes! All that laundry that sits in the basket?? Takes about 5 minutes to fold, 10 if you put it away too. Not so daunting anymore!
Kristen says
I could watch those two videos of Burger forever. He is a true master of unmaking the bed!
Good resolution – I might add it to my list!
Nicole says
Every night before my husband and I head to bed we pick up all the random things laying around. It’s just part of our nightly routine like brushing teeth. Also, I saw some of the earlier comments on Aspartame. No one should consume it….especially children. It creates a microwave state in the brain. Most developed nations have outlawed it. My neighbors neurologist even is against the stuff. Read your labels everyone, it’s in so many things.
Karan says
I love your kitchen table. Where did you find it?
YoungHouseLove says
Target a while back. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Kristen L. says
Our pug does the same exact thing to our made beds every.single.day. Love him and his burrowing!
kristin says
whenever i just clean up the kitchen in the evening, the chance of a better breakfast and attitude in the morning (mostly from me, not my 3 wee ones 4 & under… soon to be four 4 & under- next week) makes it all worth it to start off my day right. or at least more clear headed.
Colleen P. says
I decided this week that I would make more of an effort to scoop the litter box every day before bed-the cats certainly seem to appreciate it! LOL!
Wish I could help with the burrowing under blankets, but I have two cats that do it just for giggles, and one of the two does it whenever there’s a thunderstorm. It does warm the bed nicely, as that one weighs 15 pounds!