Practical Routines for Busy Moms. Ways to Keep a Tidy Home.

These are basic cleaning routines for busy moms. We’re busy and tired; simple cleaning routines are a must!

As women who are juggling many plates, this one is a real one. And one that never ends. I have no idea how they can create such a mess, but they do.

One night, I was exhausted from working but knew the kitchen floor needed to be cleaned. It had been forever.

So, I pushed myself and had just come to an end when I could hear the kids screaming, laughing, and little feet running.

I found one brother, about five years old, squirting the others with strawberry syrup across my newly mopped floor.

I wish I could say that I handled that well; they were having so much fun, but I cannot.

The fight for clean is real. And it doesn’t end.

But I’m learning that during these challenging times, there is a time when things are good enough. It doesn’t have to be perfect.

We need to have a safe, organized, functional living space.

It is finding a balance.

After church one day, I was telling the pastor’s wife that I needed to mop the floor.

Again, it had not been done for a while. She looked at me and said, “Do the kids stick to the floor yet?” I laughed. “Not yet.” “Then you’re fine.”

I think, at some point, she was right. We need to learn what is enough. When do we say this is clean enough to be functional and rest?

There needs to be a time when the house is functional and safe but imperfect. And we need to be content with that.

We may not be in this situation forever, but we must know how to get through it today.

I fear that our drive for perfection destroys our peace.

Or, when we cannot find that functional clean, we give up and slip farther into despair. This leads to houses that are out of control.

What is clean enough?

Being clean enough means not having unconquered territory in the house.

There may be piles of laundry to wash or put away, but they are conquerable and have not been sitting there for months.

The dishes are cleaned regularly, and the floors are not covered in trash.

There are bags of clothes for giveaway in the closet; we will get to that eventually.

There is a natural ebb and flow. Things get messy, but they are handled systematically. Not perfectly. But handled.

The kids will not remember a slightly messy house. But an unhealthy and toxic childhood will stay with them forever,

This is the routine I use to keep this crazy house and life uncontrol:

Daily Clean:

Choose a daily time to clean. A consistent time that you know, you have an hour or two.

Write down your time and what needs to be done to help you from feeling out of control.

For me, it’s these things.

1. Beds made. (They are the most significant thing in the room, and it just helps things look tidy.)
2. Trash off of the floor. I have no idea how it gets there, but there it is!
3. Dishes in the dishwasher. And the sound of the dishwasher running is so satisfying!
4. Clothes in the hamper.
5. One load of laundry in the machine.
6. Each room gets a 5-minute tidy. If sweeping is needed, I do that now. You may want to invest in a robot vacuum. We just got one and named him Maximus! It saves a ton of time!

These are daily things. If I don’t do them, I feel crazy! I won’t win any housekeeping awards, but I’m not trying to. I’m a single mom trying to keep things under control.

Weekly Clean:

This time can be more flexible. One or two hours.

Write down the things that need to be addressed weekly.

For me, it’s these things:

Laundry:

1. I’ve washed laundry all week. This is when I put it away. I have it in my laundry room. I keep it in one place. Suppose you don’t have a laundry room, perhaps a closet. But piles of laundry everywhere make me nuts! I have the kids wait in their rooms and have them put it away as I bring it.
2. If they are in school, I have them make five rolls of outfits—one shirt, pants, and undies. I only put those rolls in one drawer. The extras go in other drawers. It simplifies mornings and has saved me many times. Less is best for little kids getting ready!
3. The kids are actively involved. And it helps so much! Mine are older now. For tiny kids, it’s more challenging. And that will land primarily on Mama.
4. Want to hear a secret? I don’t fold. I gave up when kids kept jumping on the laundry piles. And then I realized it saves a whole lot of time. I simply stick it in the stupid drawer. (I’m not cheating on my taxes or having sordid love affairs; I’m just not folding! It’s freeing but shameful! It may not be for everyone, but it works for me. I am slightly concerned that my children will miss this fundamental skill. But I am not concerned enough to change it.)

Mopping/Vacuuming:

If this needs to be done, I usually do it now. My kids are a little older but still not great at this, so I typically wait until they are out with their dad.

If anything else needs to be done, I do it now—bathtubs, etc.

Regarding kids and chores:

Each child gets a daily chore list. I use 3×5 cards. There can be as many as six chores or three on a school day. It turns out the little tigers are pretty handy!

They can wash walls, feed chickens, get the eggs, water the dog, etc. And it teaches them that as a family, we work hard, and they can help! A sense of responsibility is essential!

Best wishes on your cleaning endeavors!

Basic time management skills for single moms will help you through your day! You can find more about them here:

https://www.singlemomoutwest.com/skills-for-single-moms/how-to-prioritize-your-time-as-a-single-mom/