If you’re a busy mom, you know how challenging it can be to keep a clean house with little time to spare. Between managing kids, work, errands, appointments, and everything else, finding time to clean can feel impossible. That’s why I decided to put together a post with clean hacks that every mom needs to know! These 10 cleaning hacks will help you maintain a clean and organized home without spending hours scrubbing and tidying up.
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1. The One-Minute Rule: Tackle Small Tasks Immediately
One of the biggest cleaning secrets is to tackle small tasks that take one minute or less right away. Wipe down the counter, toss trash, or put away shoes as soon as you see them. This prevents clutter from piling up and makes cleaning less overwhelming.
Why it works: When you handle little tasks immediately, you eliminate clutter before it becomes a bigger problem. It’s not nearly as overwhelming to pick up 3-4 things when the house is mostly in order. It’s a lot harder to convince yourself to pick up when it looks like a robbery scene and you don’t even know where to begin. Am I right?
2. Use a Laundry Basket for a Quick Clean Sweep
Got a messy living room? Use a laundry basket to do a quick sweep of items that don’t belong. Pick up toys, stray socks, books, and anything else that’s out of place. Once you’re done, take the basket to each room and put everything back where it belongs.
Pro Tip: Make this a family activity and get the kids involved! I love making it a game and challenging my little ones to find “10 magnetic tiles” or “4 dinosaurs.” This gives them something specific to pick up and makes it seem like a game.
3. Clean While You Wait
Waiting for pasta to boil or the microwave to finish? Use that time to clean! Wipe down kitchen counters, load the dishwasher, or organize your utensils. These mini-cleaning sessions add up, helping you stay on top of chores.
Why this works: It’s the ultimate multitasking trick that makes you feel productive even during downtime! It’s a lot more convenient to do small tasks while you are standing there waiting for dinner to cook and you don’t have to come back and do it later.
4. Make Your Bed First Thing in the Morning
Did you know that making your bed can instantly make your bedroom look cleaner and more put together? It’s a quick win that sets a positive tone for the day.
Bonus Hack: Teach your kids to make their beds, too. It’s a small habit that makes a big difference! If they are still little, make it a habit to help them make their bed each morning when they wake up. They will eventually learn to do this on their own and it’s one less thing you have to worry about doing yourself. And no, it’s doesn’t have to be perfectly made to still make the room look cleaner.
5. Unload, Load, and Run the Dishwasher Every Single Day
I’m sure you’re thinking, WHAT? That’s excessive! What if it’s not full? But let me tell you, this had made all the difference in my cleaning routine. Our sink used to get to the point of overflowing with dishes and it was a nightmare to convince myself to tackle this chore.
Every night I run the dishwasher, whether it’s full or not. Then I unload it in the morning and throughout the day we just rinse our dishes and put them in the dishwasher. The sink stays clear, I only have to unload and put away a small load of clean dishes in the morning, and it’s one less chore that overwhelms me now.
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6. Do One Load of Laundry Every Day
I know if you have a large family you may be doing more than one load of laundry daily, but at least one load a day has helped our laundry routine stay so much more manageable! We used to wait and let it pile up until the weekend and then it was a nightmare to try to do 7-8 loads, then get everything washed, dried, folded, and put away. I’ve learned that I easily become overwhelmed by large tasks, so breaking this down and doing a little each day helps me to have the energy to tackle it without feeling like I want to run and hide! Lol
Pro Tip: Make this part of your morning routine. After you pour a cup of coffee, start the washer. Once breakfast is cleaned up, put the clothes in the dryer. Then after lunch (if you are home), or once you get home from work, fold and put the clothes away.
7. Clean the Shower While You Shower
Why wait for the grime to build up? Keep a sponge and a shower cleaner in your bathroom, and give the walls a quick scrub while you’re in the shower. It only takes a minute and keeps soap scum from taking over! I love keeping a magic eraser in my shower to give a quick scrub when I see some spots that are starting to build up.
Why it works: This hack saves time and prevents you from having to deep clean your shower later. I now give my shower a deep clean once a month with my electric cleaning brush and it takes me half the time it used to!
8. Use Pillowcases to Clean Ceiling Fans
Cleaning ceiling fans can be messy, but not with this trick! I used to put this off until I would look up and see the grossness hanging off the sides of my ceiling fan. Don’t be like me, ok? Slip a pillowcase over each blade and pull it back, trapping dust inside. This way, you avoid dust falling all over your furniture and floor.
Quick Tip: Wash the pillowcase afterward, and it’s ready for next time! Do this every other week as part of your normal cleaning routine and you won’t be living with gross dust bunnies on your ceiling!
9. Declutter as You Go
One of my favorite cleaning hacks is to make decluttering part of your daily routine. Every time you leave a room, take one or two items that don’t belong and put them in their proper place. This small habit makes a huge difference in keeping your home organized.
Pro Tip: I also like to take 5 minutes when I have it and try to find 5-10 things that I no longer need that can be thrown away, donated, sold, etc. Doing this regularly has helped me keep some of the more clutter-prone areas of my home under more control.
10. Establish a 10-Minute Nightly Tidy-Up Routine
Before going to bed, spend 10 minutes tidying up. Put away toys, clear counters, and straighten pillows. It’s amazing how much you can accomplish in just 10 minutes, and waking up to a tidy home sets a positive tone for the day.
Tip: Set a timer and get the whole family involved! My littles love it when I make it a competition to see who can pick up the most toys! 😉
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Did These Cleaning Hacks Help?
These cleaning hacks will help you keep your home clean and organized without spending hours each day. Remember, it’s about working smarter, not harder! Which of these cleaning hacks will you try first? Leave a comment below and let me know!
Don’t forget to grab your free cleaning checklist and start your journey toward a cleaner, more organized home today!
All the best,
Megan