Creating a Streamlined Cleaning Routine for Busy Moms

So one of my biggest struggles since becoming a mom is creating a cleaning routine that is streamlined. I feel like I’m all over the place. And of course, the house feels like a perpetual state of disaster. I am always cleaning. I pick up, tidy, clean and then do it all over again. Plus, what ever I clean, my toddler is sure to make a mess again.

I started making a few changes around our home the past few months. I couldn’t take it anymore!! Creating a cleaning routine for busy moms was just something I had to do. I know I’m not the only one running a perpetual home made service. Ha!

So here are a few tips to help you streamline things around your home:

Put yourself on a cleaning schedule.

No really. This is what I actually did. So now in addition to my stay-at-home mom schedule, I now have a cleaning schedule. Y’all might think I’m crazy, but it’s helped immensely.

That way I know how long it’s really been since I last cleaned the bathroom or washed the rugs or the floor. I’m embarrassed to say how long I was going between washing the floor before the schedule..Eeps!!

Get the kids involved.

I created a set of 100+ printable chore cards for kids. They are easy to use, teach kids responsibility and they are vastly different from chore charts.

In the past, when I introduced my oldest to a set of printable routine cards, I used a very specific Language of Listening® approach to help him learn how to use the cards.

I used the exact same approach to teach him how to use these chore cards. Within a few days he was doing jobs on his own, and I didn’t have to nag, yell or dangle M&Ms in front of his face.

Talk about a parenting miracle.

Printable chore cards for kids. 

Once you have your chore cards, you’ll want to print them on card stock or matte photo paper. If desired, you can laminate them using some simple laminating paper, but I usually skip this step to keep it simple.

Clean in short burst so you don’t feel bogged down.

It’s great if you can find a way to do two things at once! One thing I started doing was cleaning the shower while I am in the shower. This is a huge time-saver. I get in the shower, clean, and then shower myself. You may also find you are more productive if you clean in quick bursts.

Let’s say you are going to clean the kitchen: Prioritize 3 things you want to clean in the kitchen and get it done really quick. Do the same again later.

One of the biggest mistakes I made was thinking I needed a 2 hour block of time to clean the whole house. Nope. Now I clean in 30 minute chunks of time throughout the week. It feels like less of an under-taking and you are more likely to keep up with the cleaning around the house.

Use a timer and music to jump-start your cleaning.

You will clean a lot faster when you set a timer for yourself. Set the kitchen timer for 30 minutes (or 15 minutes if that is all you have) and work as quickly as possible. When you put yourself on a mission, you are more likely to get things done rather than side-tracked with distractions.

Putting on some music will also encourage you to work through a busy mom cleaning routine efficiently. Whatever suits your fancy. I prefer indie rock, but that is probably just me!

Make your own home cleaners so everything is readily available.

This is something you’ve probably heard me talk about many times before. It’s my favorite cleaning hack for busy moms!! Making your own cleaners using essential oil cleaning recipes will save both time and money. The supplies are WAY LESS expensive overtime.

We make our own laundry soap, dryer balls, household cleaner, glass cleaner, oven cleaner, toilet cleaner, and floor cleaner. These homemade cleaners do an amazing job of keeping our home fresh, but they cost us pennies for each cleaning session. Much more frugal that commercial cleaners (safer too!) and much more frugal than hiring a cleaning service.

See all of my essential oil cleaning recipes in Best Kitchen Cleaning Hacks for Busy Moms and Easy Green Cleaning Tips for Busy Moms.

Stop when you’re done, don’t go over the top.

One of the biggest mistakes I used to make was trying to overhaul the entire house. I would get started with organizing the kitchen cabinets and then I decided I needed to purge the cabinets. Before you knew it the entire house was a mess and not a single cleaning project actually completed.

Set your timer and feel good about what you accomplished in 30 minutes. No need to pretend you are on an episode of hoarders and purge your entire home. Ha ha.

Get the kids involved.

Sometimes it takes long to clean when the kids are involved. Okay, probably all the time. You don’t have to involve your kids in every cleaning session, but involving them in some can really go a long way in the future. The ultimate goal is that your kids will be independent with cleaning chores as soon as they are old enough.

Chores even a toddler can do:

• Move clothes from the dryer to the basket.
• Pick up toys.
• Carry clothes to room and help mom put them away.
• Carry dishes from the table to the sink after meals.
• Dust.

I often give my toddler a dusting rag and a spray bottle with water in it, so he can “clean” alongside me. It’s a great way to keep him busy while I stick to my cleaning routine.

Want more on motherhood?

• Easy Green Cleaning Tips for Busy Moms
• Best Kitchen Cleaning Hacks for Busy Moms
• 25 Life Changing Essential Oil Hacks for Busy Moms
• One Surefire Way to Raise Responsible Kids

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