Trying to keep your house clean is a daily struggle when you have little ones running around or you’re a new mom. Here’s how to keep your house clean without blocking off a full day to do it.
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As a new mom, housework is not a top priority!
When you walk into the kitchen to get a quick snack and notice the dishes are overflowing the sink, it’s clear that your cleaning routine stinks.
Actually, you probably don’t even have a cleaning routine!
The mere thought of cleaning everything in one day is mentally exhausting.
It’s more realistic to clean one room a day or just tidy things up as you go through your morning routine.
You have errands to run and a family to keep alive!
Here’s how to keep your house looking presentable without taking away too much time from your family.
1. Clean One Room Each Day
It’s normal to feel like you’ve gotta get everything clean at once, but that’s simply not the case.
Take your time and don’t put any extra stress on yourself.
If the house hasn’t been cleaned in 4 days, a 5th day isn’t going to make that big of a difference.
To get started, make a cleaning schedule.
Choose chores that you will do weekly and some you will do monthly.
This schedule, of course, is completely customizable to your lifestyle.
If doing your laundry on Sunday doesn’t work for you, switch it to another day or split it over multiple days.
And don’t beat yourself up if you’re struggling to stick to the schedule. Keep working at it and tweak areas that need to be changed.
Babywearing will allow you to accomplish so much around the house.
It’s hard when you have a newborn and try to keep your house clean.
You feel like you’re failing as a wife and mother when your house isn’t to your standard of clean and your baby cries every time you sit them down.
And although you know it’s okay for them to cry, your little heart can’t handle it.
So back in your arms they go and the house will remain dirty for another day.
Take your time to get a routine that works for you and your baby.
And remember the first three months are known as the fourth trimester because your baby is still trying to adjust to not being held 24/7 like they were in the womb.
Hold your baby as much as you can. They grow like weeds so enjoy every second with them.
Your messy kitchen will be fine!
Related: 9 Time-saving Laundry Hacks for When You’re Overwhelmed
2. Clean As You Go
An effective strategy I’ve realized works wonderfully is cleaning as you do things during your morning routine.
For instance, I’ll clean the countertops, the sink, and the mirror in the bathroom when I finish brushing my teeth.
It doesn’t have to be deep cleaning, but clean enough where you’re like, “Eh, that’ll do.”
If you have time to deep clean then more power to you!
This is such a great method because it doesn’t even feel like you’re cleaning since you’re not taking time out of your day to do it.
If your husband is like mine and for some reason he can’t figure out that the dirty clothes go in the laundry hamper, then you have a pile of clothes that needs to be picked up.
I lay my daughter in the middle of the bed and let her talk to the fan. Even when the fan is off they have the best conversations. I’m slightly jealous!
With her preoccupied, that frees up time for me to straighten up the bedroom quickly.
Cleaning doesn’t have to be an all-day event.
Slowly fit it in your schedule and if it doesn’t work out that day try again tomorrow.
But of course, there’s a third option.
Related: The Best Ways to Have a Clean House With Kids
3. Hire a maid
Some people think hiring a maid is lazy, especially if you’re a stay at home mom.
But we have a child to take care of. All day!
I’ve tried to explain to my 4-month old that I need to clean the kitchen. I ask her very nicely to entertain herself for a bit.
Unfortunately, she doesn’t care.
We simply can’t do it all. And that’s okay.
Don’t run yourself ragged trying to live up to the extremely high standard of the housewives you see on tv.
If you’re struggling to keep your house clean at least look into hiring a maid.
You don’t have to be rich.
And the maid doesn’t have to come over every week or even every month.
Have one available for those times when your baby won’t stop crying, it’s time to start dinner and the dog just pooped on the carpet.
Before you get in a fetal position and cry too, ask for help!
Quick recap…
Those are 3 quick and simple ways you can keep your home decent.
I’m clearly not a clean freak so this is completely doable. Baby steps are the way to go.
This method will prevent the mess from getting outrageous and overwhelming.
Great tips! Whenever I start cleaning it’s like an endless loop. I start cleaning one room, find an item that belongs in another then end up cleaning that room.
Oh my gosh yesss! This happens all the time!
I completely agree with cleaning as you go. When I don’t follow that rule the house gets overwhelming!
I feel your pain Elizabeth! It takes forever to clean and seconds to destroy lol
I am always cleaning as I go but I love the tip of cleaning a room each day!
Thanks Chelsae! Sometimes it’s nice to try something new.
These are amazing suggestions ! I need to give a few a try!
Thanks Ashley! These tips will definitely make cleaning less overwhelming.
I love these tips! I definitely feel like cleaning routines get turned upside down when kids come into the picture. My hubby and I both work full time so the last thing we want to do on our days off is clean lol. We do have a cleaning lady who comes in once a week but it’s honestly still difficult keeping the house clean the rest of the week!
I completely understand! It’s a never-ending cycle…and don’t even get me started on the pile of laundry that’s constantly multiplying!