Keeping a home clean and organized can be very difficult when there are young children running around, requiring constant supervision and constantly creating new messes. Fortunately, there are many ways you can keep the home clean without missing out on time with your children. From scheduling cleaning times to dividing the work load and getting the kids involved, you just need to find the strategy that works for you.
Scheduling Cleaning Times
Parents recognize the importance of setting aside time for things that they want to accomplish. This is also true for cleaning and organizing your home. Decide what tasks need to completed around the house daily, weekly and monthly and write them down. Separate them out into an easy to follow schedule and set aside time in the morning or afternoon to complete them. Start your list with the daily tasks (load dishes into dishwasher, clean off kitchen counter tops), then add a weekly task or two to each day, like so:
- Monday – Vacuum
- Tuesday – Dust
- Wednesday – Wash bed covers sheets
- Thursday – Scrub bathroom
- Friday – Scrub kitchen
It’s important to use your time wisely, if you want to stay one step ahead of your kids. While you are brushing your teeth at night, take a minute to clean the countertops off. Take time while your kids are napping or at preschool to cross something off your list.
Getting the Kids Involved
Another important part of keeping your house clean is getting the kids involved in cleaning. Teach your children to put their toys away when they are finished playing with them. As they get older, provide them with new age-appropriate tasks that they can complete. Create a cleaning schedule for your kids and give them daily tasks to complete as well.
To contain the clutter that inevitably builds up in your home, make everyone accountable for their own clutter. Give everyone a basket with their name on it, and do a quick sweep of the clutter prone areas once a day. Everyone must go through their basket and put things away, either nightly or weekly. This ensures that everyone puts their stuff away and your home stays clean.
There are so many strategies to keep your house clean, even if you don’t have a ton of time to dedicate to cleaning. Get everyone involved and divide up the workload to ensure everyone has a hand in keeping your home put together!
Informational Credit for this article to Maid Brigade