Between all of the errands to be checked off the list, raising the kids, and the overall chaos of the everyday life, keeping the house clean can be the biggest struggle of them all. But it is not impossible to achieve (at least on some days). Here's my tips and tricks in trying to keep the house clean on a day to day basis.
Clean as You Go
Believe me, I know how hard this is. But I also know, that it can also be the main mistake that leads to the untidiness of the house. That's why you should try to make the effort to make sure that anything used or moved ends up right back where it belongs. Because it is easy for those few dishes in the sink, shoes left by the front door, and couple of shirts on the chair to pile up! Trust me, it packs on quicker than you could ever think. So taking the time to put something away now not only takes the pressure out of the mess but will pay off in the long run of time of putting it away or having to search for it later on.
But Also Believe in the "Power Clean"
I don't know about you, but when I don't get the opportunity to clean up everything, I cannot sleep knowing the house is a mess. So I spend 10-15 minutes on these days doing a "power" cleanup. I focus on the top cleaning priorities - the ones that pose the biggest mess. Such as cleaning up our shoes, doing the dishes, putting away the items on the bathroom and kitchen counters, and picking up the toys in the living room and hall way.
Do it One Room at a Time
I've found that the easiest way to clean an entire house, is to just focus on one! I know...shocking. But seriously, being able to have your focus on one task at hand is an important step in the cleaning process. Even if that means doing it one day at a time.
Tasks for each room:
- Bathrooms: Clean the sinks, scrub the shower, scrub the tub, scrub the toilets, wipe the faucets, wipe down the mirrors, sweep and mop the floors, vacuum the rugs, restock the toiletries, and change out the towels.
- Bedrooms: Make the bed, fold the blankets, put away the clutter, wipe down the nightstands, wipe down the TV stand, vacuum the floor, and in the kids room wipe down the crib/toddler bed and toys.
- Kitchen: Put away the dishes, keep an empty sink, clean the countertops, organize the pantry, organize and clean the refrigerator, sweep and mop the floors, wipe down the appliances, clean off the table and chairs, and take out the trash.
- Living room: Clean out the cutter, fluff the pillows, fold the blankets, clean the TV and stand, and vacuum the floor and couches.
Stick to a Schedule
Having a schedule for cleaning not only includes what needs to be done, but also when it needs to be done. It will help split all of the tasks into daily, weekly, and monthly routines.
Daily:
- Make the bed: It really is true when they say everything starts in the bedroom. Because just pulling that blanket around the corners of the bed and fluffing some pillows is the best way to kick start the day!
-Clean as you cook: Throw out any empty packages or scraps of food. Wash all of the pots, bowls, and utensils that you don't need while the other food cooks. And put away the dishes after every meal. It will all save you time while keeping the kitchen clean throughout the entire day.
- Wipe up the messes as they happen: Try not to leave any spills or other messes unattended, even for a short period of time. It will help with not having to deal with those pesky set-in stains at the end of the day.
- Sort the mail: Let's face it, most of it is just junk anyways. So instead of letting it all pile up, sort it out! Put the important envelops in an designated place and recycle the junk.
Weekly:
- Mondays: Bedrooms
- Tuesdays: Bathrooms
- Wednesdays: Kitchen
- Thursdays: Living room
- Fridays: Toys and organizational tasks
- Sundays: Laundry
Monthly:
- Dust the blinds
- Flip the mattress
- Change the air filters
Now listen, I am not an expert on the whole cleaning thing. And honestly, I still struggle at it so my house isn't perfect on most days. But with these cleaning tips I have become so much better and have been able to hold myself more accountable for everything that needs to get done when it needs to.
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