5 Working Mom Tips for Maintaining a Clean Home + Your Sanity
There aren’t enough hours in a day to accomplish everything you need to accomplish. As working moms, the demand on your time is enough to drive you crazy. Finding the time to take care of the kids, the house, the pets (if you have them) and yourself can be like searching for the Holy Grail — a quest at which you probably won’t succeed.
There is limited time in the day, so working women have to find ways to do what they can when they can. This might mean that some things will have to be put off until tomorrow (or the day after that, or sometime next month), and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s more important to maintain your health and sanity than worry about whether or not the beds got made that morning. But if you simply can’t let certain things go (and it’s okay if you can’t), there are things you can do to help keep a clean house and your sanity.
Below are some ideas to help you through the hustle and bustle of the day to keep your house clean.
Realize You Can’t Do It on Your Own
You are an amazing woman and you do so much for your family, but you’re still only one person. Don’t be afraid to ask your spouse or the kids for help throughout the day. Even kids as young as 2 can pick things up and put them away. They may need supervision, but they are more than capable of putting their toys where they belong. Make it a game. If you have more than one child, see who can put toys away the fastest. Giving a prize can be especially helpful in motivating older kids.
As your kids get older, they are capable of doing more chores around the house like setting the table, taking out the trash, loading/unloading the dishwasher, cooking meals and doing their own laundry. Having your kids help around the house will give them the life skills they need to be successful adults.
Doing chores is also beneficial for children. It helps them gain self-confidence, and it makes them feel like contributing members of the family. They may fight you about completing their chores, and it may be exhausting constantly reminding them to do their work, but in the long run, they will be better people for it.
Do a Little Work at a Time
It can seem incredibly overwhelming to do all of your housework at one time. If you have nothing to look forward to on the weekend except for cleaning your house, it’s probably going to stress you out. However, if you do little bits of cleaning here and there throughout the week, it won’t seem like such a daunting task.
Bathrooms are the most time-consuming part of the house to clean, so if you take a moment each morning after getting ready to wipe down the counters, that’s one less thing you’ll have to worry about. While not ideal, you can always multi-task while showering and use the opportunity to wipe down the walls before getting out and drying off.
Clean the kitchen as you cook. Wipe down the counters and unload the dishwasher while you prepare your family’s meal. When dinner is finished, rinse off the dishes and load them into the dishwasher. You’re already in the kitchen, so you might as well make the most of your time.
While the kids are doing homework, take a few moments to dust the house. Run the vacuum while they brush their teeth and get ready for bed.
Keep Things Organized
Whether it sounds like an impossible prospect or a slice of heaven, have a place for everything in your house. When you keep everything in its place, you eliminate clutter. And clutter can make your house feel and/or look dirty. A few minutes every day is all you need to ensure things are in their proper place.
Keep a Schedule
Keep track of the cleaning projects that need to be completed on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis. Schedules will also help you prioritize your time and ensure everything is accomplished.
Hire a Housekeeper
It may not be financially feasible for everyone, but hiring someone clean your house for you will free up more of your time.
Being a working mom means that your time is pulled in multiple directions. Finding a system and schedule that works for you and your family is ideal in maintaining a clean home and your sanity.
