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Sometimes you just can’t find time to keep up with cleaning, so today I am sharing my best “quick-cleaning” tips that make life easier… and homes cleaner!

can't find time to keep up with cleaning

It can be so hard to find time to clean, sometimes. You would think that when the kids went back to school, you would have MORE time to clean, right? Wrong. I don’t know how, but the time just gets away from you. For me, having two kids home for the day (until 3:00 when the others get home) is enough of a GOOD distraction to keep me from doing all of my chores. On top of that, while I am cleaning the living room, they are playing with toys in the bedroom. When I get the bedroom clean, they have made a mess of their snack in the kitchen. When I clean the kitchen, they are back in their bedrooms playing dress up. The circle never ends.

Here are a few time to help when you can’t find the time to keep up with your cleaning:

  • Get up 30 minutes before your kids and start your day (laundry in, declutter a room)
  • Do one load of laundry every morning. 
  • Use rest time to clean.  I also pick up everything before I go to bed.  I never want to wake up to a messy house. 
  • Clean up the bathroom while the kids are taking a bath – this is the key to keeping our bathroom clean.   I just keep our NEW Bounty with Dawn multi-purpose cleaning towels in every bathroom and use them.  They are my favorite cleaning item!  You just get them wet and they are already filled with Dawn, so they clean easily.
  • Stay a step ahead of the kids… if possible!
  • Be sure to have the dishwasher washed and the pots cleaned (again, I use the Bounty with Dawn multipurpose cleaning towels for this).  Have these things put away before bed, so you don’t start your morning with dishes in the sink.  OR… wake up early and unload it if you wash them while you sleep.
  • Put papers away as soon as you touch them.  My mom’s rule of thumb is to only touch them once.  This includes mail, school work, artwork…. 
  • Plan big projects, like cleaning out the van or garage, when the kids are playing outside already.   They ride bikes while I organize the garage.
  • Keep toilet cleaner, a brush and Bounty with Dawn multipurpose cleaning towels in the bathroom and kitchen, so you will be ready to go every day and won’t have to search for items.
  • Follow a simple cleaning routine- print out a printable like this one and follow it daily:Fall Themed (FREE) mini planner...
  • Be sure that your bed is made and the kids beds are made BEFORE you leave the house.  The kids have to make their beds in the morning before they turn on the TV.  They have to be ready to walk out the door before the TV comes on.   We make our bed before we leave the bedroom.
  • Wipe down counters daily.  Just keep Bounty with Dawn multipurpose cleaning towels in the kitchen and bathroom for this and do it as soon as you wake up, right after the laundry.
  • Have the kids help by giving them age-appropriate chores.
  • Back out of a room (my mom’s tip), so you can clean up as you are leaving a room.
  • Worst case scenario:  ask your husband or a friend to take them to a park for a couple of hours so you aren’t constantly cleaning around them- you can just get it done quickly and move on enjoying your day!♥

    PS- want to win??
    Leave a comment about how you’re refreshing your routine to be more efficient this Back to School season for a chance to take home a limited edition dual roll holder with a Bounty paper towel roll and NEW Bounty with Dawn roll.

    MORE POSTS YOU MIGHT LIKE:
    cleaning tips for the busy mom (to get it done sooner!)
    FREED FROM CLUTTER - BECKY MANSFIELD

Hi there!

I’m Becky, a former elementary school teacher turned certified child development therapist and blogger. I work at home with my husband and together we are raising (and partially homeschooling) our four children in the Carolinas. I love diet coke, ice cream, and spending time with my family.

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88 Comments

  1. I’ve been watching You Tube videos on decluttering and organizing and cleaning. I’m working right now on setting up a printed weekly schedule and also a “must do” list for every night.

  2. I was feeling really discouraged at how little time I’ve had to keep the house clean since our little one was born… so I made a list of all the things I can do in 15 minutes or less. The list was surprisingly long! And now, whenever I have a spare 10-15 minutes, I have a handy list of things I can do to tidy up.

  3. I keep my bathrooms and kitchen stocked with cleaners and wipes so that I can wipe it down quick every day. I pick out clothes and check backpacks at night before I go to bed. I have everything out and ready to go in the morning so the kids can have breakfast before school. I do at least one load of laundry a day and put one load away every day. Sport uniforms are washed as soon as we walk in the door!

  4. Clothes are picked out for the week on Sundays. Every night the Coffee pot is set up and the kids lunches are made. Throw 1 load of laundry in before I go to bed and dry it when I wake up.

  5. I’m trying to stick with a cleaning schedule. Like clean the bathroom on Mondays and the like. I hope it works. I just have to schedule it so it’s not optional. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

  6. My new routine is to spend 30 minus prepping for the next day…all my clothes are ready, lunches are prepared, backpacked located and filled.

    What I added was a general cleaning of one room a day…counters wiped down, floors swept and mopped etc. This saves me time, as I know each room will be cleaned at least once a week..and I don’t stress over a massive cleaning day spent on my weekend, when I want to have fun, or spend family time.

  7. We just implemented a chore chart on a dry erase board. This way no one can argue about what they are/aren’t responsible for each day or week. My kids like to plead the 5th sometimes. Lol

  8. Laundry is my weakness so my goal is to stay ahead of it and put it away when it comes out of the dryer.

  9. I am trying to get up earlier and clean a little before the craziness of the day begins. I am trying to do one room, top to bottom, per day.

  10. I run up and down the stairs so much when cleaning. I decided to buy a covered basket with a handle to get my supplies in, makes it so much easier.