There are so many ways to keep a clean house, and trust me, I’ve tried them all. As we grow and evolve, so do our cleaning routines. What worked at one stage of life might not work now, and that’s okay! The key is to find a system that fits your lifestyle and doesn’t leave you dreading the process. Then being flexible when adjustments and changes are needed.
Cleaning Methods I’ve Tried
For a long time, I had a designated cleaning day, bathrooms, dusting, and floors all in one go. While I loved the fresh, clean house, I began to dread cleaning day. Just thinking about it was exhausting. If you are dreading something that is a good sign that it is time to make a change.
So, I switched things up. I tried spreading out the tasks, bathrooms on Thursdays floors on Sunday and Wednesday, dusting on …I’ll be honest when I get around to it. This method worked better for my schedule and made cleaning feel less like an all-day event. Cleaning should fit your life, not the other way around.
Here’s a reminder, it is easier to keep a decluttered home clean because there is less stuff to pick up and clean around. This blog post will help you declutter and organize your home.
The Key to a Consistently Clean Home
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that it’s easier to maintain a clean house than to dig yourself out of a mess. If you have toddlers or teenagers, that can feel impossible. But setting realistic expectations and focusing on teamwork can make all the difference.
Those expectations change as children grow and change. My expectation for my teenagers room went down as they got older. I let go of the way I wanted their rooms to look. That was easier said than done but the way I managed it was by closing their door. There were times we tackled it together but day in and day out I didn’t worry too much about it.
I did draw the line at dirty dishes and spoiled food stinking up their room. You can be more flexible but still have some expectations. With small kids taking a few minutes to tidy the play room or put their dirty clothes in the hamper before you head to bed gives you a fresh start to the next day.
Allowing children to manage their space brings more peace at home. When it comes to the common areas, I had my expectations and how much everyone in the family was expected to help keep those spaces at a level that functions for everyone. Being flexible and making everyone aware of their rolls as members of the family.
Working Together: The Secret Weapon
Cleaning doesn’t have to be a solo mission. When everyone chips in, the workload is lighter, and the process is faster (and maybe even fun). And you are teaching your kids the importance of working together. Here are a few ways we worked together.
After dinner, each person takes their own dishes to the sink, rinses them, and loads them in the dishwasher.
The whole family helps clear the table—whether it’s condiments, bowls, or leftovers.
Let kids can take responsibility for their own spaces. Some of the expectations I set for our sons was their bedrooms and bathroom. They shared the bathroom and shared the cleaning. Dividing up the tasks. They knew when the job needed to be done. I then let go of how I would do it and let them do it when they want to, with a finish time.
Job charts never really worked for us, but clear expectations did. And let’s be real, kids won’t clean to your standards, and that’s okay. Every few weeks, I’d do a deep clean to keep things in check, but I never wanted them to feel like their efforts didn’t count.
Remember to have FUN.
The Magic Is in the Middle
Perfection isn’t the goal, progress is. A little daily effort keeps things manageable and prevents overwhelm.
I’m not going to lie, I don’t hate the task of cleaning but that doesn’t mean I want to spend my days cleaning. My cleaning pain point is different than yours but I’ve found a way to have it good enough and still enjoy my home.
Having a perfectly curated home isn’t fun for the littles in the home. Throwing in the towel also has consequences. The magic is in the middle. Find the middle for your home and family.
My Favorite Cleaning Hack: The One-Touch Method
Cleaning as you go is a game changer. I call it the one-touch method, if I take something out, I put it away immediately. When I’m cooking, the spices go back in the cupboard, the milk returns to the fridge, so the counters stay clear. It feels less overwhelming. I don’t feel the stuff on the counter closing in on me.
Cleaning as you go means smaller messes to deal with at the end. Whether it’s cooking a meal or playing with toys. Putting things away when you’re done keeps you from feeling overwhelmed with a huge mess at the end of the day.
A tiny ketchup spill takes seconds to wipe up when it’s fresh, but if you leave it, you’re scraping at it for a much longer time. The same goes for dirty dishes, rinse them off before food gets stuck on, and they’ll be so much easier to clean. A few minutes on the front end saves you a lot of time later.
End Your Day with a Clean Kitchen
Going to bed with a clean kitchen sets you up for success the next day. If you wake up to a sink full of dirty dishes, here comes instant overwhelm. Doing a little extra at night is like a gift to your future self.
That said, I once talked to a single mom who preferred to do the dishes in the morning. After dinner, she was exhausted and wanted to spend time with her son. Instead, she cleaned up first thing in the morning. That worked for her, and that’s what matters. The real question is: Does your system work, or are you just putting it off? If you prefer mornings, great but a little night-before prep (like rinsing and stacking dishes) can make the morning smoother.
The only way to get some time back today is doing something yesterday that will save you time today. What small tasks can you do today that will save you time tomorrow? What small task will give you a fresh start to the new day?
Waking up to a clean kitchen is a gift you give yourself.
Ready to Take Your Cleaning Game to the Next Level?
Do you want some help figuring out a cleaning schedule that will work for your family?
Grab this FREE daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly cleaning schedule.
Sometimes we need help coming up with ideas. This guide will you get the ball rolling.
And if you’re looking for a way to completely transform your home and life, my digital course
From Chaos to Calm: Cultivate Home and Life One Space and Step at a Time is here to help.
You’ll learn simple systems that actually work, without the overwhelm.
Click here to grab the course and start your journey to a more peaceful home. For ONLY $197
This digital course has 7 modules with 20+ easy to implement videos plus a guidebook that will help you create more calm in your home. Bite size pieces, small steps to big changes.
