Christmas is upon us once again.
I love the Christmas season! It’s my favorite time of year.
It’s also the time of year when we get the most visitors.

With all I have going on from Christmas shopping, decorating, and
preparing for this season; the last thing I want to make time for is
CLEANING.  But, I know that I still have to clean, and I need to do
my holiday cleaning fast! So I put together a “Quick and Easy” guide
to teach you how to clean fast. By fast I mean you can clean your
bathroom in 5 minutes. That’s right, just
5 minutes! If I can do it, so can you. The more you do it
the better you’ll get!

I am notorious for having wipes in every single bathroom in my home.
Not only are they good for sticky fingers and faces, but it’s also good for
cleaning your bathroom when you don’t have a whole lot of time.
Trust me- once you try this, you’ll be notorious for having wipes
in every room in your house too.

Please drop me a comment and let me know how this works for you.

How To Clean Your Bathroom In JUST 5 MINUTES

Minute 1:

Drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets into the toilet bowl and let the bubbles do their magic.
Toss used towels in a pile outside the door; stash odds and ends (brushes, hair dryer) in drawers or a pretty basket.

Minute 2:

With a damp microfiber cloth, swipe cobwebs from ceiling corners.
Stick the cloth on the end of a broom to reach and dust door frames,
tile ledges, moldings, shelves, framed art and window sills.
Rinse and wring. Do the light switch and the soap dish with a disinfecting wipe.

Minute 3:

Spray mirrors with glass cleaner and rub in circles with a clean cloth.
Then run a wipe over the vanity and the sink to pick up rogue hairs, powder, and toothpaste.
(Clorox brand is safe for most hard surfaces, including marble.)

Grab a few more wipes for the faucet handles, the wall behind the faucet, and any light fixtures.

Minute 4:

With a fresh wipe, clean the top of the toilet tank, the flusher handle, and the lid.
Use a new wipe for the top and the bottom of the seat and the lip of the bowl—in that order.
Take one more wipe and do the base of the toilet and the floor around it.
Next, swish water around the inside of the bowl with a toilet brush and flush.

Minute 5:

Move the wastebasket to just outside the door.
Set out clean hand towels and a roll of toilet paper.
With a few more wipes, tackle the floor & base boards.
Clean & dust hair from every corner, starting with the
corner farthest from the door and backing out.

Empty the trash and viola- you’re done!

(To conserve wipes; run through HOT water, spray with a disinfecting
bathroom cleaner and reuse for another bathroom)

Take an extra minute to marvel at what you’ve done in only 5 minutes!

Alright now. Set the timer and… READY, SET, GO!

Mother of 2, CEO and Master Organizer of "Organize Yourselves" a home organization company

For more great tips and idea’s go to my website at Organize Yourselves.

If there’s anything you’d like to know more about, email me at Ani (at) organizeyourselves (dot) com

Hi Fit Moms!! Are we ready for the holidays?? Oh my gosh! So much to do and too little time to do it! Making time to cook, shop, decorate, entertain, shop, sleep, etc (did I say shop??), is challenging in itself. And, as ones who run our households, we’re expected to do it with a smile on our face!! Haha! I know during this time I get super stressed! However, the BEST thing for us to do during this time is to be able to let off some steam! Even though I’m the busiest during the end of the year, I make sure I find time for myself. It’s healthy for our bodies to be able to step away from the stress and find time to exercise! Exercise is one of the best “stress relievers”.

Okay, so I can hear you all asking the same question…”When are we supposed to find this ‘extra’ time for ourselves?” Well, the truth of the matter is, just like any other time of the year, you have to schedule it! Look at your weekly schedule and find time blocks throughout your week where you can fit in 20, 30, or 45 minutes of exercise. Believe me….YOU CAN!! If weight loss is important to you, you will find time!

Try waking up 30 to 45 minutes earlier a couple times a week and get outside for a jog. This is also a great way to clear your head before your day gets crazy (it will also give you that extra energy you’re gonna need to have through your day!!) Get with a friend and do a yoga class together before that Christmas shopping trip. This is a great time to start thinking about your New Year’s Resolutions if they pertain to your weight loss. Don’t think you have to wait until January 1 to get started….start now! Trust me, if you focus on your healthy eating and exercise routine now, you’ll be way ahead of the game!

I understand that your time is more limited now than normal to squeeze in a sweat session, so make the most of it! Try jumping rope for 10 minutes 2 or 3 times a day in your garage. While you’re slaving over the stove cooking dinner for 15 people or baking treats for your kids’ teachers, stop every 5 minutes and do 2 minutes of jumping jacks. Fitting in these types of explosive exercises is going to boost your heart rate and your calorie burn! It’s okay if you can’t get an hour to an hour and a half of straight exercising, these short bursts have their benefits too!!

In my household, I used to do all the Christmas shopping, and the food shopping, and the decorating, and the Christmas card sending….but I have come to enjoy sharing that responsibility with my husband. I’ve let go of the “control freak” inside, which now allows me to have more breathing room. Ask your significant other to help with some of the responsibilities around the house, so you can have some time to exercise.  Heck, if you have older kids, they can help too!

One last piece of advice….breathe and smile! You’ll get through these holidays just like the rest of us Make working out a priority and you’ll find the time!!

Merry Christmas to all you Moms and blessings for a healthy 2012!!