Have you heard the saying going around recently that “cleaning your house while everyone is home is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos?” It’s so gross, but so true, especially when everyone is home together during the pandemic living life and making messes.
Make It a Team Effort
It’s time to assign chores. Everyone at home contributes to the mess, so each can be responsible for helping to clean it up. You can easily assign tasks to each family member (kids included) by using an age-appropriate chore list cheat sheet. You can get creative and write down the chores by a person on a board piece of paper in plain view, or download an editable chore chart that you can print and hang.
Get In the Habit
It’s all about muscle memory. If you create a daily cleaning schedule for all to follow, the assigned tasks are completed in less time than trying to tackle it all at once. Plus, the weekly schedule will help you stay on top of what needs to get done and avoid the procrastination that typically hinders our approach to housework. Another pro tip: make your bed every day.
Have the Right Tools
Like any job, having the right tools (in good working condition!) will make getting the job done so much easier. A good vacuum (with attachments), microfiber cloths, a bucket and mop, and a cleaning caddy filled with your favorite cleaners are just a few of the housekeeping essentials recommended. Here’s a more detailed list of recommendations. You may want to test your options to select the right tools for your home.
Pick Up, Pick Up, Pick Up
To keep your home clutter-free, it’s important that everything have a place. Putting things away immediately after use will save you time (since you won’t need to search for items), save you money (since you won’t need to replace items forgotten about or misplaced), and save you space. Here are other ideas for keeping your home clutter-free on a regular basis.
Stay Positive
Research tips and tricks that will make the chore of housekeeping seem more fun and less work. Simple things like playing music and creating family chores or cleaning games will keep everyone motivated. Positive reinforcement will go a long way. Let your loved ones know how much you appreciate their help.