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It can seem like an impossible task trying to keep you home clean day in day out, especially with young children. It can easily pile up if you don't keep on top of it and you can often find yourself spending entire weekends cleaning up when you'd much rather be doing something else, like spending time with your family and friends. A weekend at the beach or a special family day out is so much better for the soul than endless cleaning, washing and tidying up in your spare time.
Getting into the habit of cleaning up a little bit every day is the best thing we can strive for in order to have the manageable home we all desire. You'll no longer have to sacrifice your precious weekend family time doing housework and chores, and instead have a home that is easy to maintain to the standard you want. Here's a few tips to get you started, and while these tips may not be comparable to a thorough deep clean, these can at least keep your home tidy and pleasant enough for your cleaning schedule to not become a nightmare day to day.
These tasks are also perfect for getting the kids on board with the household chores, both younger and older children will benefit from learning these valuable life skills and it can be a great way to earn their pocket money too. Teaching them to get into the habit of cleaning young means that they will be able to keep on top of their cleaning schedules when they're older. Of course, keep any harmful chemicals away from little ones, but there's no reason why they can’t help by putting toys away when they've finished playing with them or making up their beds in the mornings. This could be a good time to experiment with home made cleaning products too, making it into a science experiment of sorts (Pinterest is your friend for these ideas!).
Make your beds
An unmade bed makes the whole room look messy and untidy and it takes just a few seconds to tuck your sheets in and straighten a duvet. Taking that extra few seconds in the morning means that at night when you're tired, your bed will look much more inviting, be free of pet hair and feel all ready for sleeping in. Give it a try tomorrow if you don't already and see how much more put together your room looks with this simple task.
Empty the dishwasher each morning/night
Go ahead and time yourself- unpacking the dishwasher takes only a few minutes! Do it while your waiting for the kettle to boil or while you wait for your little ones to put their shoes on for school. By emptying the dishwasher it stops the rest of your morning cutlery and dishes from piling up in a dirty pile in the sink. All in all your kitchen will look a lot tidier. If you don't have a dishwasher, try and get the washing up done before bed, as by just having a clear clean sink to come down to in the morning, things can seem a lot less overwhelming. Also, keeping your kitchen clean and tidy is a great way to easily pest control your home.
Do a load of laundry each day
Maintaining a daily laundry habit is a great way to keep on top of your chores. Put in a load before you head out to work and it’ll be ready to dry once you return. Stop laundry from piling up by folding and sorting it as soon as it’s done and making sure everything is put away before it turns into another dreaded laundry pile. Consider getting a designated laundry hamper to help you stay on track with your laundry responsibilities too and make the most of the long hot summer days and the joy of drying washing outside!
Leave your hallway and stairs clear
When you get home, the last thing you want to be greeted by is clutter in your hall or laying on the stairs. As much as these places can be a hub for the bits and bobs that don't really have a place to be stored, it can instantly make your home feel less inviting an cluttered which is the last thing you want after a busy day. Try to take any discarded clothing upstairs at bed time, tidy away any shoes that may be strewn in the hall and just make sure there is nothing making your entrance space look messy.
Clean as you go
This is a great habit to get into and an even better one to get the kids onto too, especially as they're probably already doing this at school for their teacher. When cooking, clean as you go, pop things in the bin and recycling and mop up any spills. Pick up little bits of rubbish you see as you move around the house as all these 'little and often' things prevent big jobs building up that can feel hugely overwhelming. When the kids are playing, encourage them to pack one toy/set away before they get the next one out. Doing this not only keeps the house a bit tidier, but also stops bits of toys getting broken or lost, so it's a worthwhile habit that can save time and money too.
Performing these tips to keeping a clean and sparkling home only take a few minutes out of your day but they’ll go a long way into keeping your house fresh no matter how busy life gets.
