Dishes, Counters, and Laundry Habits For Abuse Survivors

Need help in establishing a routine for home-care?each person in the household. Have the household
Begin with the dishes, kitchen counters, and themembers keep their baskets in their bedrooms. Dirty
laundry. Abuse survivors are nurtured by clean andgarments and linens go into the laundry basket, not
uncluttered living space.on the floor or on a chair or on the bed or in the
1. As soon as you finish eating, rinse your dishes andcloset. When the basket is full, then the owner is
utensils, and place them in your dishwasher. Eachresponsible for taking the basket to the laundry
household member should be doing this forroom. Each adult and teenager should be responsible
themselves. When your dishwasher is full, run itfor doing his or her own laundry. An adult or
through. While the dishwasher is running, clean theteenager should assist the younger children in doing
kitchen sink(s). When the dishwasher has completedthe child's laundry.
its job, put the dishes away.Bedrooms may have more clutter than dirty laundry
Children when they're about seven year old should bespread here or there, or clean laundry just dumped
involved in clearing the table. As they becomeon a bed or elsewhere.
capable of rinsing dishes, then involve them. SameYou are worthy of clean, fresh clothing, linens, and
with placing dishes and utensils in the dishwasher.towels. Smile and breathe in the fragrance of
Give praise. Smile.freshness. You are worthy of not having dirty
You are worthy of uncluttered spaces and childrenlaundry in baskets nor strung out over the floor or
who are learning life-time habits.furniture.
2. Clear the kitchen counter space. Put things away.Home-care is important to abuse survivors in caring
Take a clean wet cloth and wipe off the countersfor themselves, and in developing a sense of
and the stove. So it won't mildew, hang the cloth toself-worth. Creating a peaceful and clean living space
dry, When it's dry, drop the cleaning cloth into acan begin with establishing routines around dishes,
laundry basket. It is important that other householdcleaning kitchen counters, and in doing the laundry.
members be involved in these tasks, including children.Establishing such routines becomes the heart for
You are worthy of clean, fresh spaces.developing a clean and uncluttered living space.
3. Speaking of laundry, have a laundry basket for