Keeping your home clean can be a real challenge, especially with kids and pets running around. These little ones always make messes, leaving toys and clothes scattered across the floor and food crumbs everywhere.
But with some organization, planning, and hard work, it is possible to keep your house clean while still enjoying time with your family. Here are a few tips to help you get started on staying ahead of the mess:
Tip #1: Schedule some “tidy time” each day
Set aside 10-15 minutes every day for everyone in the family to help tidy up the house. This includes picking up toys, putting away clothes, wiping down surfaces, and sweeping or vacuuming. It may seem like a lot at first, but the more you do it, the easier and faster it will become!
Tip #2: Create a designated space for everything
One of the biggest culprits when it comes to messes is clutter. Whether it’s toys all over the floor or clothes scattered across the dresser, clutter will always cause problems. One way to avoid this is by creating designated spaces for everything.
For example, you can designate one shelf in the closet for each child’s clothes or have a clear bin that goes underneath their bed where they can keep toys and books. You can also use storage containers to organize things like loose change, bills, and other small items that tend to get lost in the shuffle.
How to Make Cleaning Fun for the Whole Family
Even if you’re the mom, you don’t have to do all the household work yourself. If your kids are old enough, put them to work! Here are some tips on how to make cleaning fun for the whole family:
Tip #3: Get the whole family involved
Sometimes it can feel like you’re the only one doing any cleaning, especially when you have kids and pets running around. But if you involve everyone in the family, they’ll be more likely to help out and take pride in keeping their home clean. So, teach your kids to put away their toys after playing or put their clothes in the bin.
Tip #4: Make it a game
Turn cleaning into a fun game that everyone can participate in. This way, it won’t feel like too much of a chore. For example, you can have a “tidy up” race where everyone tries to see who can clean the fastest. Or you could make a game out of it by seeing how many items each person can put away in one minute.
Tip #5: Use bribery
This one may not be as fun, but it works! If your kids are having difficulty getting motivated to clean, try bribing them with a small reward. For example, you can offer to give them an extra hour of screen time if they help you tidy up the kitchen. Whatever works for your family is okay!
Keeping Your House Smelling Fresh All the Time
When kids and animals run all over the house, it can smell a little… funky. But there are ways to keep your home smelling fresh and clean all the time! Here are some tips:
Tip #6: Keep your house smelling fresh
One of the quickest ways to make your home feel clean is by keeping it smelling fresh. You can do this by keeping the garbage cans emptied and the dishes washed regularly. If you have pets, you may also want to consider using an odor-neutralizing spray to keep the smell of urine or feces at bay.
Tip #7: Get rid of tough stains
Sometimes, pee or spilled food can leave tough stains on your rugs that seem impossible to remove. Not to mention the smell! But there are ways to get rid of these stains and smells. You can use a combination of baking soda, vinegar, and water to create a cleaning paste that will remove tough stains and odors. If you can’t do it alone, you can always find a professional rug cleaning service to help you out.
Tip #8: Use air fresheners
Air fresheners are a great way to keep your home smelling clean and fresh. You can buy them in spray form or use a diffuser to disperse scented oils throughout the house. Make sure that any air fresheners you use are safe for pets and children!
Tip #9: Open the windows
One of the best ways to get rid of bad smells is opening up the windows and letting in some fresh air. This is especially useful if you have pets that spend a lot of time outdoors. Just make sure to keep them closed when it’s cold outside, or you risk freezing!
Whether you have little ones running around or furry friends playing in the yard, keeping your home clean can definitely seem like a challenge. But with a bit of organization and effort, it’s possible to keep your house clean and tidy — no matter what!
