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A stay at home mom cleaning schedule requires some planning and prioritizing in order to make sure you get all of your tasks done without becoming overwhelmed.
As a stay at home mom with a baby and toddler, it can be hard to find the time and energy for housework. You may have heard that having a cleaning schedule is key to maintaining your sanity – but what does that actually look like?
Here are 5 strategies that will help you create an effective stay at home mom cleaning schedule as well as common mistakes to avoid when creating your schedule.
With these strategies in mind, you’ll be able to keep up with household chores while still taking care of yourself!
5 stress-reducing benefits of a cleaning schedule
Having a cleaning schedule can be an invaluable tool for stay at home moms with babies and toddlers.
According to Wellbeing Magazine, there are 5 main benefits to having a cleaning schedule.
1. Limits overwhelm
When you use a cleaning schedule, especially one like this that is a checklist of all your cleaning tasks broken down by room, you won’t have to guess about what to do.
Cleaning will feel manageable and the mess won’t get too out of control.
2. Limits decision fatigue
Have you ever felt so overwhelmed because you had so many things to do that you scrolled through TikTok and did nothing?
That’s decision fatigue.
You have no idea where to start and your brain has decided that it can’t bare making another decision so nothing gets accomplished.
With a cleaning schedule, you already know which task to complete. You just have to decide to get up and do it.
3. More help from family
When you have no idea what needs to be cleaned it makes it harder for you to tell your kids or partner what chores to tackle.
With this cleaning checklist, you can use the kid’s chore chart and adult chore chart to give to each family member so everyone will know exactly what to take care of and all of the responsibilities don’t fall on you.
4. You create a routine
Once you decide that you’re going to clean every evening before bed or tidy up the bathroom every morning after you get dressed it becomes a habit.
You no longer have to think about it because it becomes part of your daily routine and you can do it on autopilot.
5. You’re more efficient
When people are confused they don’t get as much done because they’re not sure if they’re even doing the right thing.
A cleaning schedule eliminates this confusion.
You’ll know exactly which tasks to do on which day so you can get them done faster.
Key Takeaway: A cleaning schedule can help you save time, reduce stress, and keep your home in order.
How to create an effective stay at home mom cleaning schedule
Here’s the good news! You don’t have to create your own cleaning schedule. You can use one like this that has been downloaded over 500 times.
But if you want to make your own cleaning schedule follow this 5-step process.
1. Determine your threshold
What cleaning tasks need to be completed almost every day for you to feel like your home is clean?
Now think about which cleaning tasks you want to accomplish every week and every month.
Everyone’s cleaning threshold is different.
Some people like to clean the kitchen every night before bed while others prefer to clean in the morning before breakfast.
Now that you know your cleaning threshold let’s move to step 2.
Key Takeaway: Decide which cleaning tasks you want to do daily, weekly, and monthly.
2. Determine your routine
Look at your daily activities and determine when you have time to clean.
A common cleaning schedule mistake is that we try to fit way too many cleaning tasks into a short period of time.
You still have kids to take care of, meals to cook, errands to run, and so forth.
Think about what part of your day you can clean or delegate cleaning tasks so it can be more of a team effort.
Key Takeaway: You’re not a robot. Make time to clean but always prioritize rest and mental health.
3. Determine your approach
There are many cleaning methods such as:
- The FlyLady
- Clean Mama
- Swedish death cleaning
You have to decide which method works best for your lifestyle.
I prefer to create micro habits. These are small actions that become part of your daily routine without taking up too much time or energy.
For example, instead of cleaning the kitchen every evening, I’ll just make sure all of the dirty dishes are in the sink.
Or instead of doing laundry every morning, I’ll just make sure all of the dirty clothes are in the hamper.
This will help you keep things tidy throughout the day without feeling overwhelmed.
Key Takeaway: Micro habits – small actions that become part of your daily routine without taking up too much time or energy – will help keep things tidy throughout the day without feeling overwhelming.
4. Create your checklist
Checklists are effective because they give you a boost of dopamine – a chemical in the brain that makes you feel good.
Getting this boost of dopamine each time you check something off your cleaning checklist will help you stay motivated to keep going.
You can use a cleaning checklist that’s already made or you can make your own.
A few apps I like to use are:
- Evernote
- Google Keep
- Todoist
This premade cleaning checklist is also digital so you can use it on your iPad.
Key Takeaway: Checking items off a list gives you a boost of dopamine which helps you stay motivated.
5. Evaluate what worked
At the end of the day evaluate what worked and what didn’t work.
Maybe your checklist was too long and you felt unmotivated.
Maybe you didn’t break down the tasks into smaller micro habits.
Maybe you cleaned more than what was on your checklist.
Reflect on how the day went and determine what you can do today to make the next day even easier.
Key Takeaway: As your energy levels fluctuate you may need to adjust your cleaning schedule.
Common stay at home mom cleaning schedule mistakes to avoid
When it comes to creating a cleaning schedule, there are some common mistakes that can easily be avoided.
Not making time to clean
One of the most common mistakes is not setting aside enough time for cleaning.
It’s important to plan out how much time you need realistically in order to get all your tasks done.
This will help you stay on track and ensure that everything gets done without feeling overwhelmed or rushed.
Doing everything alone
Another mistake many moms make is not delegating tasks when possible.
If you have children who are able to help with chores, assign them age-appropriate tasks such as making their beds or helping with laundry folding and sorting.
We use the no-fold laundry method and my daughter has been doing her own laundry since she was a toddler.
Not only will this lighten your load but it also teaches kids responsibility and helps them develop good habits early on.
Forget about maintenance tasks
It’s easy to forget about maintenance tasks such as dusting furniture, vacuuming carpets, washing windows, etc., which can lead to bigger messes down the line if they’re neglected for too long.
To avoid this problem try breaking up these larger jobs into smaller chunks so they don’t seem overwhelming and add them into your weekly routine where possible so nothing gets forgotten about.
Not celebrating
Don’t forget to celebrate your accomplishments and reward yourself after completing a task or an entire week of work.
Take a few minutes for yourself each day or treat yourself at the end of the week with something special like dinner out or a movie night.
Give yourself credit for all the hard work you do.
Key Takeaway: A cleaning schedule is always evolving so don’t be frustrated if you feel like it’s always changing.
Stay at Home Mom Cleaning Schedule Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours a day should a stay at home mom clean?
It’s important for stay at home moms to prioritize their time and set realistic goals.
Cleaning should be a part of your daily routine, but it doesn’t need to take up too much time.
A good rule of thumb is to dedicate 30 minutes each day for light cleaning tasks such as tidying up the living room or wiping down surfaces in the kitchen.
If there are more thorough cleaning projects that need attention, try breaking them into smaller chunks and spreading them out over several days or weeks.
This will help keep your home tidy without taking away from other important activities like spending quality time with your kids or partner.
How do stay at home moms keep their house clean?
Stay at home moms can keep their house clean by creating a routine and sticking to it.
Start with small tasks such as doing the dishes or tidying up each day, then gradually add more activities like vacuuming or mopping floors.
Having a cue for cleaning will help you stay consistent and make sure that everything gets done.
An example of cleaning cues could be:
- Clean the kitchen every evening after Wheel of Fortune
- Put the dishes in the dishwasher during nap time
- Unload the dishwasher after breakfast
Having these cues is less stressful than trying to stick to a schedule.
Also, delegating tasks to other family members can lighten your load and free up time for yourself.
Use this bundle of cleaning checklists so everyone can keep track of their cleaning tasks.
What is a normal house cleaning schedule?
A normal house cleaning schedule should include daily, weekly, and monthly tasks.
Daily tasks may include wiping down surfaces, sweeping floors, and doing dishes.
Weekly tasks could involve vacuuming carpets and mopping hardwood floors.
Monthly chores might include dusting furniture or deep-cleaning bathrooms.
It’s important to create a plan that works for you and your family so that everyone can stay on top of their responsibilities.
Setting aside time each day to tackle cleaning tasks can help make the process more manageable.
What is a good weekly cleaning schedule?
On a weekly basis, it’s important to deep clean areas like the kitchen and bathrooms.
This bundle includes room-by-room deep cleaning checklists so you’ll know exactly what to clean.
Laundry should be done at least once a week if not daily depending on your family size.
A balanced approach is key when creating a cleaning routine that works best for you and your family.
Quick recap…
Creating a stay at home mom cleaning schedule is an important step in managing your time and staying productive.
With the right strategy, you can:
- Limit overwhelm
- Reduce decision fatigue
- Get more help from your family
- Create a simple routine
- Be more efficient
Avoiding common mistakes like procrastination or taking on too much will ensure that your cleaning routine runs smoothly.
By following these tips and strategies, you’ll be able to create a successful stay at home mom cleaning schedule that fits your lifestyle.
This bundle of cleaning checklists will take the guesswork out of creating your own cleaning schedule.
It’s broken down into daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning tasks as well as room-by-room deep cleaning tasks.
