Busy Mom Cleaning Tips
Being a mom is busy and sometimes, despite your best efforts, keeping a clean house can be a major challenge. Studies, such as this one from the New York Times, have shown again and again that a dirty house can lead to increased stress and negative impact on emotional well-being. However, with a few tips and tricks, cleaning and maintaining a clean house is easier than you think! We have compiled some of the best busy mom cleaning tips below:
Busy mom cleaning tip 1: Set a schedule!
Setting a cleaning schedule is one of the best ways to stay on top of maintenance cleaning. Rather than waiting until the weekends to get all of your cleaning done, split chores up in to separate days. This will not only reduce the amount of work that is required on the weekends but will also make cleaning the home less daunting. Here is an example of a cleaning schedule:
Monday: Clean toilets and wipe down bathroom countertops/appliances
Tuesday: Vacuum all levels
Wednesday: Dust ledges, appliances, photos, etc…
Thursday: Disinfect kitchen countertops and appliances
Friday: Relax
Saturday: Laundry
Sunday: Pick up scattered items around the house and put in the correct location
Doing a little bit everyday can make a huge difference in your stress level when it comes to cleaning as a busy mom. There will likely be other small cleaning chores, such as sweeping up after a meal if you have young kids or wiping down the kitchen counters at the end of the day, but they will be like cherries-on-top of a well-thought out cleaning schedule!
Tip 2: Strategically placed cleaning items.
Instead of storing cleaning items in a huge bin in one room, try and store small cleaning essentials in each room. For example, keep a small all-purpose cleaner and paper towel roll or cleaning cloth in all bathrooms. By keeping cleaning essentials close at hand you will save time and energy by not needing to run up and down to collect the cleaning materials. It is also easier to stay on top of small messes rather than coming back to them later.
Tip 3: Pick up clutter when you can.
This is especially important if you have small children! Take 10 minutes at the end of every night and put misplaced toys, shoes, clothes, etc…in their correct spot. This simple move will immediately make your house feel cleaner and will help busy moms feel less cluttered!
Tip 4: Find ways to multi-task!
Do you need to do the dishes and clean the toys? Combine the two by tossing the water-proof toys in the dishwasher! Finding ways to combine cleaning tasks make it easier to get chores done more efficiently!
Tip 5: Use science to clean
Remember back in the day when you would combine baking soda and vinegar to make a volcano? It is time to bring that science trick back! The combination of baking soda and vinegar is truly magical. If you have a tough stain use the combination to break it down and wipe it away. Clogged sink? Pour baking soda around the drain and pour vinegar down to let the fizzing begin. After a few minutes the sink will be unlogged!
Tip 6: Recruit
There is no need for you to take on the task of house cleaning alone. Kids as young as 2 years old can help around the house! Teaching your kids to pick up after themselves not only takes some cleaning burden off of you but also trains them to clean up after themselves automatically as they get older. They will learn to appreciate a clean house rather than a dirty one! Children, and husbands for that matter, live in the house like you do. Everyone should be putting in some effort for a clean home!
Tip 7: Prioritize!
As a busy mom you already know that prioritization is key when it comes to many decisions in life. This is no different for cleaning. If you have a sick kid or an incredibly busy schedule, cleaning your home may need to fall lower on the prioritization list. Remember – cleaning will always be there but your small child asking for you won’t be.
Tip 8: Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Busy moms! Listen up! It is perfectly ok to ask for help! Do you need a day to deep clean the whole house after a terrible stomach bug? Call a relative or friend and see if they can watch the kids for a couple of hours. Asking for help is perfectly acceptable!
If cleaning becomes overwhelming, consider hiring a cleaning company to come in for a deep-cleaning session. A deep clean session will leave your home feeling fresh and revitalized without having to lift a finger. This will make it much easier to maintain a clean home because you are truly starting fresh. Many cleaning companies offer custom cleaning plans that will work for your schedule and budget.
