Long ago I questioned whether you could have a clean house with kids.
And the answer? No, you can’t have it as clean as if the house had no kids, and I’m okay with that.
I have, however, found some ways to multi-task and get a little cleaning done while doing other things, like having fun with the kids.
- The laundry always piles up. (I mean, no matter how often you wash clothes, there are always dirty ones to wash.) And once they get out of the drier, they need folded and put away. I HATE this part.
Solution? I let the clothes pile up and sit until the kids are asleep (after all, if I try to do it when they’re awake they tend to throw the just folded clothes on the ground…). Then I put on a favorite t.v. show (either Criminal Minds on Wednesday or Friends reruns on DVD) and fold while I watch. It’s like rewarding myself while I work. And it seems to get done faster.
- Next problem – getting the clothes put away. I usually wait to do this until morning, for one thing, you can’t put them in the kids’ drawers while they’re sleeping… My kids LOVE to play hide-n-seek, so I suggest we play a game and then when they go hide, I count really, really slowly, putting away laundry as I count. They’re happy and entertained and the clothes get put away. (This also works for simple tidying around the house.)
- What about dishes?
I try to load/unload the dishwasher after each meal, while the kids are still finishing their food. Using this time that I used to just sit and try to convince them to keep eating means I don’t have a full sink to deal with at the end of each day.
- I have two days a week where vacuuming is on my schedule. My kids love to help. I just give one of them the cordless hand vac to do the couch while I do the floor. They also like to use the Swifter on the kitchen floor. (It might not be perfect, but it will do. Besides, the dog gets all the crumbs up right away anyway!)
- How clean is your shower? I confess, when I did my spring cleaning it took 3 days of scrubbing to get mine clean. I vowed not to let it get that bad again.
Solution? I bought a little scrub brush to keep in the shower. A couple times a week I scrub down the walls while I’m in the shower. I just use my foot to scrub the floor while the hot water pours down my back (I love hot showers). It doesn’t take more than a minute or two, and the shower still looks great 6 months after the big spring cleaning scrub down.
What about you? Do you have any great multi-task tips for cleaning that could save a fellow mom some time? Let me know in the comments section – I might just use your idea and link to your site in a future post!
Kristen says
We play Cinderella in our house to get my girls to help. We’ve been doing it since they were little. Whenever we do a big clean before visitors come over, we sing songs from the movie and I pretend I am the evil stepmom giving them orders of what to do. It works every time and it makes cleaning a lot more fun and I am not the “real” Cinderella doing it all by myself 🙂
admin says
My daughter loves to play Cinderella, too! I’ve used it a couple times, but I really should make more use of the game. Good idea!
themommyscribe says
I actually follow the load a day guide and have found that to work. If I let it pile, it gets so out of hand, I start feeling out of sorts. Shower cleaning? I let it get to the point that it bugs my husband and he does it. YIKES!
admin says
Yeah, it would have to be really, really bad to bug my husband and have him clean the shower. LOL.
Laughwithusblog says
lol Yes I’m with you it’s just never clean like it used to be and laundry is a monster! I love your brush idea except right now I wouldn’t be able to bend down to scrub. lol
admin says
No, I don’t expect you could right now… That should be your husband’s job for a while…. (maybe it will stick long after the baby is born…)
Kristy @PampersandPinot says
I do those things too, especially the doing of dishes while they are finishing. I’m trying to think of some fabulous multi task plan of my own but I can’t think of one! I am a strong believer in everything in its place, so I am always taking things to the proper place here and there as I walk around the house.
admin says
Yes, I am trying to stop with the sitting something down just for a minute and I’ll put it away later mind frame and make sure it gets put in the rights spot then and there. Stuff just piles up otherwise.
Now I really have to go check out your latest post, the title coming up on Comment Luv has me interested!
Kimberly Cosby says
LOVE this post – this is my life… when I get home from that dreaded place called “work”! You posted this on my blog frog page so that I could check it out – love it and now I’m your newest follower! Have a great week 😀
-Little Mommy
admin says
Yep, as moms we are always busy cleaning something, aren’t we? Thanks so much for checking it out; heading your way now!
Crystal & C says
Excellent solutions for moms! This was one of the most clicked ideas submitted last week.
Check out your feature here: http://www.crystalandcomp.com/2011/11/the-mommy-club-share-your-resources-and-solutions-17/
I can not wait to see what you share this week.
admin says
Wow! Hope they helped someone.