Maintaining a house with kids around can be tough work. With so many distractions, it can be difficult to get anything done at all. But don’t fret, though. There are several ways that even the busiest parents can take care of their home without spending too much effort.
With all the responsibilities weighing on your shoulders, it could be hard to find the motivation, but try to stay positive. With a little dedication and creativity, you can take care of your house without stressing yourself out. So, don’t sweat it.
Once you find a good rhythm, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. Some of these ideas can be started quickly, so they’re easy to fit into your schedule. Others may take more time and effort, but you don’t have to work on them all at once.
Just remember that the best way to improve yourself as a parent is by trying new things with your child. So, have fun and enjoy spending precious time with your children. Here are eight ideas for cleaning up around your house with kids in tow:
1. Teach the kids how to make their beds
Teaching your children how to make their beds is a great way to get them involved in cleaning up around the house. It also gives them a sense of responsibility and boosts their self-esteem while saving you from doing the chore yourself. Just imagine, if they learn how to do it on their own, that would be one less thing for you to worry about.
2. Keep your closets organized
Closets are hard to maintain. They can get messy quickly, especially with kids around. You wouldn’t want your children to lose something important, would you? Keeping your closets clean might be a tough task at first, but once you find the right system, it’ll be easier.
3. Clean the kitchen every weekend
Kitchens get dirty fast. Keep yours clean by dedicating some time every weekend to cleaning it up and wiping down the surfaces. If you tend to cook at home, then this shouldn’t be too difficult. Doing this will prevent the kitchen from accumulating dirt, and it’ll make cooking much more enjoyable.
By cleaning the kitchen every week, you’ll be able to see if you need a home appliance repair before you have to use specific equipment, which means you won’t get inconvenienced by a broken dishwasher or oven. This way, you can stay on top of things.
4. Give your children house chores
Of course, you don’t have to do everything yourself. Household work can be a great teacher for kids if you can do it right. For instance, you can have your kids participate in the chores that they are physically able to. You can start with something simple like folding laundry while you cook dinner.
When you’re tackling bigger chores like washing the dishes, cleaning up after breakfast, or vacuuming, it’s okay to push them away. Tell them that you don’t mind if they want to play, but ask them to find a similar activity that won’t distract from the task at hand.
5. Get rid of clutter around the house
Having a house with too much clutter is an eyesore and a hassle. It’s time to stop letting your stuff take over the place. You can start by making a “to donate” pile, so you can free up some space in your closets and move on from there.
If donating won’t cut it for you, you should consider storing your belongings in self-storage units if you don’t need to use them that often. Or you can sell your old clothes, shoes, books, furniture, and other items that you no longer need in a yard sale to make a few bucks.
6. Encourage your kids to keep the fridge clean
The fridge is essential, but it can be a pain to maintain. If you have kids, then keeping it clean can be a great habit to start. Plus, you don’t want your children to eat spoiled food, so this is a good way of teaching them healthy eating habits as well.
Just have them wipe down the surfaces regularly and throw out any leftovers that might spoil later on. If they notice mold growing in some areas, then they’ll know to let you take care of the problem.
7. Have a toy organization plan
Kids have so many toys. It gets messy when you allow them to scatter their things all around the house. That’s why you have to get creative with your kids’ toy storage system, so they’ll know where everything goes. This way, it’ll help prevent tantrums and tears later on.
All in all, the key to taking care of your home when you have children around is to stay organized. With kids running around all day long, even small messes can quickly turn into disasters. Hopefully, these tips will help make cleaning your house a lot easier.
