We dream of having a clean house — but who dreams of actually doing the cleaning?
~ Marcus Buckingham
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I used to be one of those people who maintain a tidy, spotless home. Bed was always fixed, dishes were always washed, dirty clothes looked like they just got out of the dryer and trash was always out of the house every chance I got. It all changed when I got married and started having kids.
Chaos… That is the best word to describe my daily routine these days. A million dishes sitting in the sink, a mountain of kids’ clothes waiting to be pressed, and a heaping garbage can begging to be taken outside are just some of the mind-boggling scenarios you may encounter in our home. Having a 14-month old and 32-month old, keeping things neat and tidy has been a constant battle. My priorities have changed and the goal nowadays is to keep my kids alive (duh)!
So today, (on a plane to New York for my cousin’s wedding) realizing that I am slowly losing my old self, I decided to do something about it and started jotting down 7 surefire cleaning hacks that never disappoint for myself and all moms alike with little kids to keep things tidy at home. My alter ego can stop nagging me now!
Without further ado, let’s join hands in achieving a less stressful, cleaner, and organized home filled with just playful giggles of happy kids. Here is the list of the cleaning hacks I came up with in no particular order!
1. Fix your bed every morning.
There is this funny study going around for more than a decade now. Scientists that spoke with BBC in 2005 believe that “failing to make your bed in the morning may actually help keep you healthy”. A Dr. Stephen Pretlove said through BBC, “Something as simple as leaving a bed unmade during the day can remove moisture from the sheets and mattress so the mites will dehydrate and eventually die.” That is just a load of bull, don’t you think?
Good thing some physicians and scientists, especially those specializing in asthma and allergies, disagree with it. As Professor Andrew Wardlaw of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology noted, most homes are sufficiently humid for the mites to do well and that he finds it hard to believe that simply not making your bed would have any impact on the overall humidity. He is absolutely right! I am with him 100%! I believe mites are inevitable. They will thrive wherever and however. I’ll keep fixing my bed, thank you very much!
2. Do a load of laundry every day.
I just can’t wrap my mind around how little people can use so many clothes! I mean, it is just unbelievable! So, early in the morning while daddy and the kids are still asleep, I wash 1 load of laundry to keep the pile to a minimum. (I guess it is just most mothers’ mindset to wake up before everyone does, huh?) With this practice, I don’t have to worry about a huge pile of clothes sitting in the laundry area.
3. Wash the dishes in batches.
Now, I don’t think some of you will agree to this as not everyone has a dishwasher, but this goes out to the household with one. (Yes! You! I’m talking to you, sweetie!) Let me explain a little further. There is just 4 of us in the household and 2 are little humans. Therefore, we only use a few dinnerware every mealtime. To save some detergent as well, wait for the dishwasher to be full before starting it. Don’t forget to (always) rinse off everything before placing them in the dishwasher though. Promise me that! Those dishes are going to stink in there if you do!
4. Do a quick wipe down.
Do you notice how spillage is unavoidable when cooking on the stove? It is just so irritating when that happens, especially when you just cleaned the stove not too long ago. Having said that, I suggest you keep a container of disinfectant wipes nearby. That way, you can just do a quick wipe down of your stove every after cooking. Just be certain to keep it a safe distance from your food and your children’s reach.
5. Dust as you go.
Do you see the dust building up on the shelf or the computer desk? Ugh! That just makes me want to sneeze! I have this obsession to run my forefinger on every smooth surface and it just frustrates me when I see dust! Seriously though, does it frustrate you too?
6. Get yourself a few of those storage bins.
Tell me I’m wrong! I dare you! (*winks) These little things are just lifesavers! There was this one time, I was in a hurry to get to the bathroom and I stepped on one of my little boy’s wooden blocks (The ones with colorful letters on them? Ring a bell?)! Oh my gosh! It hurts like God-knows-what! I couldn’t even scream! So, my husband bought a few of those clear, bigger-sized storage bins for my kids’ toys. Every night before going to bed (my code for “pinning on Pinterest”), I make sure to pick up their toys and just shove each and every one of them in the storage bins.
7. Clean the toilet every night.
Every night before going to bed, I give my kids their showers. It just gets messy in there every time. They so love splashing the water (Most kids do, I know!). So, when everyone is asleep, I clean the toilet and dry the floor. Then I take a shower.
There you have it! 7 Surefire Cleaning Hacks that Never Disappoint for a Tidy Home! Try these hacks out and let me know if they work for you. I would love to hear from you.
Thank you for taking time to read this article. I really appreciate it. I am just hoping you enjoyed it and found it very helpful. Don’t forget to check out my other blog posts and share them with your friends. For a little nudge, I included a link to one of them for you below.
5 Natural Cures to Toddler Constipation
Talk to you later, guys! Time for a Pinterest party for mommy!
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