Momma Olympics – Heart and Home Edition
The Kitchen Cabinets
Week Two
“Have you any idea how many children it takes to turn off one light in the kitchen? Three. It takes one to say ‘What light?’ and two more to say ‘I didn’t turn it on.’”
― Erma Bombeck
Kitchen cabinets are magnets for fingerprints, crumbs and spills — especially during summer when kids are home all day. This week’s focus in the Momma Olympics is simple, practical cabinet care: spend a short, focused time cleaning the cabinet fronts to freshen your kitchen and reclaim a neater look.
Simple Daily Challenge for today’s Momma Olympics: – 100 points
- Gather your cloths, sponge and cleaning solution for cabinet-front care.
- Concentrate on the cabinet fronts and edges, especially near handles and where fingers touch most.
- Work for 15 minutes and stop when the timer goes off. If you have the time and energy, do a second 15-minute round for an extra 100 points.
My go-to solution is plain dish soap and warm water — affordable, effective and safe for most cabinet finishes. For stubborn, greasy spots I dampen a sponge with a little white vinegar and blot the area, then rinse with soapy water. Always follow the manufacturer’s care instructions if your cabinets have a specialty finish.
New Here? Here are the Momma-Olympics Game Rules and Point System
How the game works: Keep a simple pad of paper and tally the points you earn throughout the day. The Momma Olympics awards points for everyday household tasks and short, focused challenges. Our theme for this series is Heart and Home with a touch of back-to-school preparation. At the end of the day you can total your points and celebrate progress — share your score in the comments if you like.
How many points can you earn each day? As many as time and enthusiasm allow. The goal is meaningful, consistent action — not perfection.
- Make a bed = 10 points
- Quick bathroom tidy: clean sink, quick bowl scrub and wipe countertop = 25 points.
- Load of dishes = 25 points
- Load of laundry = 25 points
- Vacuum, sweep or mop a floor = 25 points
- Take out trash = 5 points per bag or can
- Plan and make breakfast or lunch = 10 points
- Plan and make dinner = 25 points
- Clutter: donate or toss = 1 point per item cleared — a favorite, because decluttering transforms a space quickly
- Clean kitchen sink and wipe down counters = 25 points
- Home office management (bills, meal planning, scheduling) = 100 points for 15 focused minutes
- Healthy You: 25 points for daily exercise or movement and 25 points for tracking meals
- Simple Daily Challenges: up to three challenges per day, 100 points each
These guidelines are flexible. Use them to build momentum and customize the points to fit your household routine. Short bursts of focused effort, like two 15-minute cabinet-cleaning sessions, add up and keep the kitchen feeling cared for without overwhelming your day.
HAVE A ROCKING DAY!
Remember: small, consistent actions maintain a welcoming kitchen and a calmer home. Tackling cabinet fronts takes little time and delivers a big visual payoff. Enjoy the satisfaction of a cleaner space and celebrate the points you earn — Momma Olympics is about progress, not perfection.