Hint: I don’t.
A few months ago, I wrote an article for The Spruce on how I keep my home clean with a toddler and two pets (I was pregnant with our second daughter at the time). You can read that here. Now, 5 months into having two children, I feel the need to write a follow-up post. Because let’s just say, things have changed quickly over here.
As I stare out at the five baskets of clean laundry that needs to be put away, the toddler’s toys scattered across the house, the dishwasher that needs to be loaded, and the floors that desperately need to be vacuumed — I can confidently say that I no longer keep my house clean. At least on a regular basis. Two kids finally broke the camel’s back, and we’re in survival mode over here most of the time.
Some days are cleaning days, and I focus on getting all of the important tasks done around the house. Other days are filled with fun activities that leave us little time for chores. Then, there are some days where simply getting to bedtime is the goal, and not much of anything happens.
Years ago, reading this would have made me panic inside. I hoped I’d always be able to keep my house clean and not be one of the “messy” houses. But your perspective changes quickly once you have kids.
You’re simply busy living. Living out some of the best and sweetest years of your life. At the end of the day, if the laundry piles up a little more than usual or you don’t vacuum the floors as much as you used to, it doesn’t really matter. Certainly not to them anyways.
That said, of course cleaning isn’t totally out the window over here. While I used to vacuum the living room multiple times a day to combat the grit dragged in by our dog and the front entryway in the same room, now it’s more like every other day. But there are a few things that help us stay on top of the general clutter of a busy house with a 5-month old, toddler, and pets.
Here are a couple of things that make my life easier.
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Convenient Cleaning Products
My husband and I try to be eco-friendly whenever possible, and that extends to our cleaning products. However, there are a few “convenience” items that really help on a day to day basis. It’s all about balance I think.
One of those items is Lysol wipes. Any toddler parent or pet-parent knows how often you are faced with *unsanitary* messes to clean up around the house. In those instances, when I’m scrambling and juggling multiple babies/pets at once, it is so much easier to reach for the Lysol wipes rather than pull out cloths and the all-purpose cleaner. Plus they are better for killing bacteria, which is essential. IYKYK. I also love Lysol wipes for quickly cleaning the bathroom.
Another invaluable convenience cleaning product for me is a spray mop. However, this one can still be made eco-friendly by choosing a mop with a washable microfiber head (like this one). There’s no way I’m pulling out a mop bucket and filling it every time I need to quickly clean the floors. So, a small spray mop ensures the floors get cleaned more often than they would otherwise. Like, way more often.
Lastly, make sure you have a vacuum that is easy to pull out and use. Our vacuum is undoubtedly the most-used cleaning tool in our home, so it’s worth it to splurge here. We have a Shark brand vacuum which has stood up so well over the past five years. I’m a huge fan. Next on our list is a cordless vacuum to make tidying even easier.
Time Your Tasks
I believe I first saw this tip on @thebirdspapaya’s Instagram and it stuck with me. Essentially, if you have a cleaning task you are dreading, try timing yourself doing it to see how long it really takes.
Often our brain inflates the task in our mind, making it seem like a huge deal to tackle when really it will likely take less than 10 minutes to do. She used the example of unloading the dishwasher, which is a great one to start with. It may feel like an insurmountable task, but really it only takes between 2 to 3 minutes. Meaning you can probably do it while waiting for your coffee to brew or while your kids are eating their breakfast.
This mentality shift helps me tackle a lot of small chores around the house throughout the day, and small things add up!
Close Out Your Shift
Closing shift cleaning is somewhat of a trend on TikTok right now but I’ve been implementing it for a while. The idea is that before you go to bed, you treat your house like you would your workplace at the end of a shift and do a close out clean. This could include quickly tidying up the clutter, loading and starting the dishwasher, wiping counters, starting the dryer, putting away the dishes, etc. This will ensure that you wake up every morning to a clean, tidy house, which just feels good.
This was something I was definitely better at doing before I was launched back into the throes of having a newborn, understandably, but it’s still something I strive for. Once you get in the habit of it, it becomes really natural and feels good to do. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself in the morning when you wake up to a clean house!