Anybody else get lost in the Sunday reset reels? I can watch for hours, but they don’t quite look like my homestead reset routine. That is why I’ve decided to share my homestead reset routine. It is ever changing with the seasons and life’s many adventures, but there is always cleaning, cooking, organizing, and preparing to be done.
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Why You Need a Homestead Reset Routine
I’ll admit that I am a list maker. They help me clear my mind and gather my thoughts. Plus, the dopamine that comes from marking things off gives me the motivation to keep going. I’ve found that making a list of things that need done on a regular basis helps me to keep the house and homestead at a maintenance level. These lists have become my homestead reset routine. I keep them on my phone and on the fridge to make sure I stay on track.
I’m going to share with you what my personal homestead reset routine looks like, but it is important to know that I am human and sometimes it all goes by the wayside. In fact, if you went into my bathroom right now you would find toothpaste on the mirror and dog hair on the floor. I use them as a guide not a law. Your homestead reset routine may differ from mine and that’s ok too. Maybe you are a stay at home mom, so you can do more during the day than somebody with a full time job outside of the home.
The most important thing is for you to find your own homestead reset routine. It will help you feel less stressed about the many duties of this lifestyle. You won’t have to panic clean for company. There will always be a dinner plan. Saturday will be free from chores and open for family time. And above all, you will be happier and healthier for it.
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Daily Homestead Reset Routine
Wipe down the counters.
Before bed, wipe down the counters in the kitchen and bathroom. This simple thing makes the house look clean and put together. And there’s nothing like waking up to a clean kitchen the next morning.
Sweep the floors.
Sweeping the floors is a necessary part of the homestead reset routine. Every single day. Sometimes twice. Between boots and dogs somehow the floors always need to be swept. Even if you leave your shoes by the door.
Do the dishes.
It only takes 4 gallons of water to run the dishwasher. That means I’m willing to run a partially full dishwasher every night. Waking up to clean dishes and an empty sink is worth it. Unless it was a big cooking day and the dishes got away from me, the sink is always empty before bedtime.
Scrub the sink.
Once the sink is empty, the sink needs to be scrubbed. Doing so keeps the smells away and prevents it from getting gross.
Finish one load of laundry.
This means washed, dried, and put away. My secret is to toss a load in before bed. I’ll delay the wash until around 3 in the morning. That way it doesn’t sit in the machine to get smelly or take all of the hot water needed for showers. When I get up I can toss it in the dryer or hand it up. After work, it’s ready to be folded and put away. If you struggle with laundry then I highly recommend adding one load per day to your homestead reset routine. It has made my life so much easier!
Care for the animals.
They work for us, so we best get out there and meet their needs. Feed the dog, refill the stock tank, move the chicken tractor, whatever needs done.
Tidy up the messes of the day.
After dinner, make a quick run through of the house. Pick up anything out of place. If you have kids, you may need to grab a basket to collect things as you go. This won’t take long, but you’ll feel so much better waking up to a tidy home tomorrow morning. I’ve found that this also helps me to keep on top of things, so that unexpected visitors aren’t greeted by a pile of shoes by the backdoor. I can usually get this done in under 5 minutes if I keep on top of it each night.
Tend the garden.
Again, we must care for the things that work for us. Pulling a few weeds each day is much less overwhelming than spending an hour doing it each week. Being out there each day will also help you stay ahead of problem pests. You’ll notice it right away and be able to head it off before you lose your entire harvest.
Weekly Homestead Reset Routine
Change the towels and sheets.
Make clean sheet nights a habit. For us, the bed gets stripped on Saturday morning. I’ll use a bit of linen spray to freshen up the mattress and pillows before remaking the bed. The towels get changed on Wednesday and Saturday. They all get washed on Wednesday though. Having a day for these tasks helps remind me that they need to be done.
Wash the animals, their bowls, and their bedding.
Our dog, Old Dan Tucker, sleeps in our bed. Therefore he gets a bath on Saturday before clean sheet night. I make sure to toss bowls and Kongs in the dishwasher Saturday night. Kitten Eyed Joe gets a clean food bowl, so the other can be washed. And of course the chickens need fresh bedding in the nesting boxes, more food, and a clean water bucket. We save the big weekly chores for the weekend, but you could add them in throughout the week if that works better for your family.
Preserve what needs to be preserved.
Sunday after church, I spend several hours working on the food. I start by going through the fridge and pulling out anything that needs to be dealt with. This piece of the homestead reset routine has saved us tons on groceries. I’ll freeze leftovers, blanch and freeze produce, cook and freeze the meat, or make yogurt with milk past its prime. All of this prevents us from wasting food, but it also makes it easier to see what is in our fridge.
Prepare meals for the week.
A meal plan is great, but only if you actually eat the meals on it. I realized that planning my meals wasn’t the issue. It was actually having the energy to come home and prepare them after work. Now I prepare all of the breakfasts and lunches for the week on Sunday afternoon. During my kitchen time, I’ll go ahead and cook anything that I possibly can for dinners that week. Whether it’s browning the beef, whipping up some mashed potatoes, baking bread, or cutting up vegetables. Anything that needs to be thawed is put in a container in the fridge. Then dinners aren’t so much work in the evening.
Clean the bathrooms.
Cleaning the bathrooms is usually done after the dog gets a bath. Then I can wipe the dog hair off of the toilets, sinks, mirrors, and floors. Normally, I’ll do this right before I take a shower. Then while I’m showering, I’ll use my soap brush to scrub down the tub and shower. It’s so much easier to do while you’re already in there and wet.
Pay the bills.
During the week, I’ll put bills on my desk. Then when I get a chance, I can sit down and pay them. I keep the check book, stamps, and envelopes all right there too. Having this system keeps the mail from piling up and bills from getting lost.
Mop the floors.
I won’t lie, this is my most dreaded task. It is supposed to get done weekly, but oftentimes it is the chore that I skip. Thank goodness our floors hide the dirt well. I try to wait until all of the people and animals are going to be out of the house for a while. Then I can drag out the steam mop and go to town.
Monthly Homestead Reset Routine
Dust.
I keep a Swiffer, dusting spray, and microfiber dusters all together so that they are easy to find. Oftentimes, my husband will do a quick dust of the furniture, decore, fans, and trim. When it’s time to switch out the decor, I’ll do a good thorough dust and use the wood polishing spray.
Organize the fridge & pantry.
This happens right before I make the meal plan. By touching every item, I know what we have already and what we need to buy. My rule is to shop from what we have first. It will save you money on groceries if you do it.
Fill out the family calendar.
Before I know what meals to plan, I need to know what is on the schedule. Then I am able to plan quick and easy meals on busy nights and more involved meals when I know I’ll have the time to make them. This also makes sure that my husband and I stay on the same page.
Create a meal plan & do the shopping.
Neither of us enjoys grocery shopping, so it has become a monthly task. I’ll sit down with the calendar and a list of meals we like to eat. This helps me write out the meal plan. Then I’ll make the list and place a pick up order. We only go inside if we must.
Clean out the cars.
At least once a week, I’ll clean out the cars. Notice I didn’t say wash, wax, and detail the interior. This isn’t some crazy deep clean. I’ll take out the trash, vacuum if needed, and restock what is needed. Much like the house, doing a little bit consistently keeps it at a maintenance level.
The site may contain links to affiliate websites, and we receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As a Revive EO Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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