If you have kids then you will know how difficult it can be to keep your house clean. You may feel as though nothing you do ends up making a difference and that you are constantly running around picking up toys. Either way, one thing to take note of is that it is more than possible for you to make a positive change if you know what steps to take.
Share the Load
Managing a household is not just your job. The responsibility should fall onto everyone, instead of being just dumped with one person. Make sure that you split the roles of everyone and make sure that people are fairly contributing. Get the kids involved too. Household chores are a lifelong skill and everyone needs to learn how to do them. This is a great opportunity to teach your kids about the importance of keeping things clean. If you can, take the time to introduce a reward system too. By doing this, you can encourage your kids to get involved and you can also show them that hard work is rewarded.
Mess Happens
After a long day, you may find that you finally sit down to relax, but then hear a big crash and a splat. This can be frustrating, as it’s probably your cat knocking something off the table or your toddler throwing their snack against the wall. Either way, one thing you have to remember is that mess happens. They are inevitable as well. The urge to ignore things like this is great, but if possible you need to avoid burying your head in the sand. When a mess happens, clean it up right away. You’ll feel better and it stops things from getting worse as time goes on.
No Shoes in the House
Everyone wants to keep dirt out of the house, and believe it or not, the best way to do this would be for you to take your shoes off at the door. Encourage your kids to do the same by putting up a sign too. If you can do this then you will soon find that your house is way cleaner and that you have less muddy footprints to deal with. If you have a pet, consider having a paw-wiping station by the front door. By doing this, you can put an end to muddy pawprints, which can work wonders if you have a carpet. For the kids, consider having a shoe shelf, so that they know where to put their shoes when they are not wearing them. If your carpet and sofas are a little grubby, consider hiring a carpet and upholstery cleaning service.
15-Minutes
Routine cleaning is the best way for you to stop your home from turning into an overwhelming disaster. At the start of every day, consider setting on a timer, or set a few songs playing. When it’s been around 15 minutes, make sure you stop. You’d be surprised at how much you can get done when you follow this rule and it is a fantastic way for you to make sure that you have fun, without overwhelming yourself.
Laura x