Have you ever wondered how to keep A clean house with kids? I don’t know about you, but keeping your house tidy and organized when you’ve got little ones can be a daunting task. Everywhere I look, toys are everywhere, clutter abounds, and my nerves are frazzled. Fortunately, I’ve discovered several easy ways to keep the clutter under control. In this article, I’m going to share with you some easy ways that you can keep your house tidy, even with small children.
How to Keep a Clean House With Kids
Disclaimer For All My Mama Friends:
As mamas, we all want our house to be tidy and organized. Keeping a clean and orderly home definitely promotes a sense of peace and tranquility. However, I think that it is important to remember that we must focus on improving our homes instead of aiming for a Pinterest-perfect house. After all, we want to actually live in our homes, right? I love a tidy space, but I refuse to place the idol of cleanliness above my family. I’m not going to let a stray toy or a dirty dish distract me from what matters most: my husband and kiddos (and my adorable long-hair dachshund).
Most importantly, let’s remember to give ourselves grace when it comes to housekeeping. Yes, we need to take care of our homes and do our best to create a space that is comfortable and clean. We owe that much to our families and ourselves. But let’s make sure we are loving on our people first and foremost. That said, I want you to understand that the cleaning and organizing tips that you will find below are meant to empower you with the tools you need to take charge of your home’s cleanliness. Keep reading to learn about the simple strategies I use to keep my perfectly imperfect home (mostly) clean and organized.
1. Keep a Clean House With Kids: Clear Surfaces
One of the most important things you can do to keep a clean house with kids is to make sure that the surfaces in your home are clear. Decluttering surfaces not only gives the illusion that your house is clean, but it also helps to send the message to everyone in the house to avoid piling more clutter on top of the surface. I’m pretty sure that there is a very scientific study somewhere proving that clutter on a surface is like a magnet for even more clutter. So, do yourself a favor and clear off your surfaces right now. Then stand back and enjoy the instant gratification of visual space.
2. Deal With Mail and Boxes. Like, Right Now.
When it comes to keeping a clean house with kids, you must deal with the items coming into your home on a regular basis. This is especially true for mail and shipping boxes. Hello, Amazon prime. As soon as the mail comes into your house, sort it right then like it’s your job. Don’t even let it land on a countertop or table (see tip #1). If you set it down it’s more likely to stay there. Toss junk mail in the garbage and file important mail that requires attention. Immediately break down shipping boxes and put them in the recycle bin. You’ve got to become the “mail and shipping box police” in order to keep the clutter out.
3. Tidy and Organized: Create a Laundry System
There are a million ways to do laundry. If you find that piled up laundry makes you want to curl up in the fetal position, I strongly suggest that you work to find a system that works for you. One of the best tips that I can give you when it comes to laundry is to sort clothes immediately out of the dryer. Everyone gets a laundry bin. Older kids and husbands can be responsible for their laundry bin, and younger children can put away their clothes with help from an older sibling or you. Not only does this strategy help keep laundry under control, it teaches kids to be confident and capable.
4. Get Rid of Some Stuff
Honestly, if I could tell you just one single thing that would change your whole decluttering game it would be this: get rid of the things you don’t use. It’s simple logic that the more you have to manage the more likely you are to be overcome with clutter. Minimizing your belongings is incredibly freeing and it supports your efforts to keep a clean house with kids. You’ll be surprised at how much easier it is to keep a clean and tidy house when you have fewer things. In addition, I believe that having only the things that you truly use and need causes you to be more appreciative of these items.
5. Get your kids involved
We live in a society where many parents do everything for their children, even when the children are perfectly capable of completing the task themselves. This does nothing to build confidence and a sense of significance in the hearts of children. It implies to our children that we don’t believe they can do it when we do the tasks that they are capable of. Getting kids involved when it comes to keeping a clean house is incredibly empowering for little ones. In addition, they are learning life skills that will serve them down the road. And, their future spouses will thank you! Get your kids to help you clear a surface in your house. Allow them to sort the laundry out of the dryer. Bonus: teaching your kids how to keep a clean and tidy space will lessen your workload.
6. Keep a Clean House: Minimize Toys
Once again, owning too many items is overwhelming and leads to clutter. What’s more, kids that have too many toys often feel overwhelmed by too many choices. Having a few quality toys for your children to play with will create space in your house and a sense of calm in the hearts of your kids. Also, try to avoid toys that come with a gazillion pieces to clean up. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
7. Tidy and Organized: Toy rotation
While we’re on the subject of toys, one of the most powerful systems that I enjoy using in my home is toy rotation. I have a couple of small bins of toys in our living room and I periodically change them out so that my kids have fewer choices to make when it comes to playing. In addition, they don’t get bored with what they have because there’s always a new-to-them toy waiting for them. I like to bring out a new toy and place it where they can find it when they wake up in the morning. This strategy keeps them busy while I make breakfast.
8. Go To Bed With a Clean Kitchen
There’s nothing worse than waking up to a dirty kitchen. I mean, I’m sure there are worse things, but I digress. Before you go to bed, make a point to clean up dishes and wipe off countertops. It’s amazing how preparing for the next day the night before can make such a difference in productivity. Give it a try.
9. Keep a Clean House With Kids: Clean As You Go
One of the biggest reasons that we get overwhelmed with clutter in our homes is because we allow tasks to pile up instead of taking care of them as they come. Take a few minutes to clean a dirty dish. Stop and wipe a countertop when you have an extra minute. It’s amazing how these little proactive actions can add up and allow you to be able to manage clutter and chores. And think about it, you can do a simple chore that will take you two minutes now, or you can wait for it to pile up and take you hours to accomplish later. It’s got to be done, why not do it now?
10. Keep Cleaning Supplies Handy
One of my best tips for keeping a clean house with kids is keeping cleaning supplies handy at all times. For example, I always keep a spray bottle of my DIY natural all-purpose spray under every bathroom cabinet. You can find the recipe by clicking HERE. That way, I’m not looking all over the house for my spray bottle and cloth. That means that I can give the bathroom a quick wipe down while my toddler is doing her very important business on the potty.
11. Keep a Clean House With Kids:
20-Minute Speed Clean
If you want to get rid of clutter fast, A timer is your best friend. Set a timer for 20 minutes, grab a laundry basket, and quickly throw and offending clutter into it. Carrying the basket, walk through your house, and put things where they belong. You can get kids and on this strategy too. Treat it like a game and they will love helping to get the house tidy and organized again.
12. Keep a Handheld Vacuum Handy
High traffic areas have ways of attracting all sorts of dirt and grime. Keeping a small, handheld vacuum in a convenient spot in your house is a great way to keep messes at bay. I keep a small Dustbuster by my back door because my dachshund’s fur is like velcro and brings in dirt and leaves daily. A quick five-minute vacuum helps me keep a clean house with kids.
13. Keep a Clean House With Kids: Use Every Minute
If we’re honest and take a good look at our day-to-day lives, we could probably pinpoint pockets of time in which we could be making a difference with the cleanliness of our homes. While you’re waiting for your water to boil on the stove, wash a dirty dish. Got five minutes? Throw on a load of laundry. You get the idea. Use your time wisely and your home will be looking clean and tidy in no time.
Now that you’ve learned how to keep a clean house with kids, I want to hear from you. What are your favorite ways to keep a tidy and organized house? I hope that these tips have been helpful to you and that you enjoy putting them into practice in your home. Again, remember–aim for progress, not perfection. Give yourself a healthy dose of grace while you take control of the clutter. You can do it!
