A stay at home mom wears ALL the hats in the family when it comes to maintaining the household. This means a schedule is imperative! Don’t get swept away by the laundry list of cleaning duties that you have to accomplish. Instead, get organized!
While it may seem daunting, try not to become overwhelmed. The first step is to prioritize what is most important and what items can sometimes be put off. Secondly, work smarter, not harder. Clean areas as you go and never leave a room empty-handed! Finally, find ways to simplify your daily habits and cleaning techniques.
What Is Most Important?
This is the first question that you need to ask yourself. Every family will have a different answer, but most stay-at-home moms will agree that keeping the kitchen clean and the laundry done tend to be at the top of the list. Moreover, maintaining a general feeling of tidiness around the home can at least give the illusion that everything is in order.
Write down the top five priorities for each day. Then figure out what needs to be accomplished each week. Finally, determine your monthly and seasonal goals. Then, buy a big desk calendar to ensure that you stay on track! Daily checklists can also keep you on point.
The main prerogative is to get into a routine and stick to it!le. On this “cleaning day”, it is also good to clear out the fridge and take an inventory of what you need. By doing this, you cut down on the number of visits that you have to make to the store, which can save you money.
Purchases
Speaking of spending, another regular task that every stay-at-home mom needs to stay on top of is the shopping. Meal planning is a fantastic method of eliminating waste and prioritizing your time.
Once every two weeks, make a big grocery run and then cook two or three different meals. Next, divvy them up and freeze individual servings. This is perfect for when you are on the go, but dinner still needs to be served! Even better, it keeps household expenses in check!
Everyday Chores
When it comes to the daily grind, assign general blocks of time for completing certain tasks. For example, each morning pick up the laundry throughout the house and take it straight to the washer. Most stay at home moms will agree that the moment their kids entered the picture, what used to be a weekly objective is now a day-to-day chore. By tossing a load in each morning, you can ensure that everyone has clean clothes in their closet!
Remember that multitasking is a stay at home mom’s best friend! Therefore, save the folding for when the evening rolls around. That way you can enjoy your favorite program or catch up with your spouse while ironing out this job.
Normal everyday duties should include dishes, laundry, prepping meals, and taking out the trash. Tidying up toys, shoes, clothes and other messes can also reduce the feeling of chaos. Finally, vacuuming is another top to-do, especially for pet owners.
Another important thing to note is that if your kids are old enough to help with these jobs, then put them to work too! Not only will this teach them personal responsibility, but it also ensures that you will produce self-sufficient adults.
Weekly and Bi-Weekly Cleaning Tasks
Regular Cleaning
Depending on the regular mess that ensues each week, these jobs can be completed every seven to fourteen days. What is important is that you pick a regular calendar day to do each of them. For example, schedule them for every Thursday or every other Tuesday. Patterns establish repetition and better guarantee completion.
Mopping, cleaning bathrooms, changing sheets and dusting are normal chores that can be spread out on this time table. On this “cleaning day”, it is also good to clear out the fridge and take an inventory of what you need. By doing this, you cut down on the number of visits that you have to make to the store, which can save you money.
Purchases
Speaking of spending, another regular task that every stay at home mom needs to stay on top of is the shopping. Meal planning is a fantastic method of eliminating waste and prioritizing your time.
Once every two weeks, make a big grocery run and then cook two or three different meals. Next, divy them up and freeze individual servings. This is perfect for when you are on the go, but dinner still needs to be served! Even better, it keeps household expenses in check!
Moreover, if you are in charge of the household budget, find a specific day to pay bills, balance the checkbook and look ahead at potential costs that are not a part of your normal monthly charges. These can include supplies for your kid’s extracurriculars, Christmas gifts or an appliance that may need fixing.
Disinfecting
You would be horrified to know how many germs are lurking around your home! Even if you are an avid cleaner, your kids, pets and shoes are guaranteed to bring in unwanted bacteria. Therefore, taking the time to disinfect areas that have a high propensity for becoming compromised is imperative when it comes to keeping your family healthy!
Door knobs, bathroom handles, light switches and phones are always the biggest culprits. However, bathroom and kitchen counters as well as surfaces in your car can also house bacteria. Finally, the lovely sponge in your kitchen that you use to clean your dishes, is likely extremely dirty. Replace this item once a week!
Weekly Schedule
It is important to not overwhelm yourself by trying to cram everything into one day. Therefore, assign one big task to each weekday, along with your daily chores. Here is an example of a weekly schedule.
DAY OF THE WEEK | WEEKLY CHORE | BI-WEEKLY CHORE |
MONDAY | Clear Out Fridge / Meal Planning / Disinfect | Clean The Microwave |
TUESDAY | Bill Pay / Grocery Shopping | Sweep Off Porches |
| WEDNESDAY | Clean Bathrooms | Change Sheets |
THURSDAY | Dusting | Clean Blinds |
| FRIDAY | Mopping | Vacuum Out The Sofa |
Monthly and Seasonal Cleaning Items
These can include more tedious chores like cleaning ceiling fans, changing out air filters, sweeping the porch or clearing out the car. However, it is also best to spend some time clearing out those closets as well.
What has holes in it? Which items no longer fit? Is it finally Summer break for the kids? Don’t save all the Spring cleaning for one season! By consistently decluttering the house, you regularly make your life easier!
Another monthly and seasonal tasks should involve car maintenance. Tire rotations, oil changes and regular tune ups will ensure that you have less surprises throughout the year. Moreover, depending on the season, lawn and yard upkeep is also important. Whether planting flowers, raking leaves or trimming bushes and trees, these are all a major part of homeownership!
Strategies For Cleaning Smarter, Not Harder
You have a lot to juggle! Don’t make life harder on yourself. Here are a few of the top hacks for cleaning the house in the most efficient way!
When it comes to regular floor maintenance, invest in a robotic mop and vacuum! Moreover, if you don’t like dusting, remove the knickknacks. While cute, they will increase the amount of time you spend cleaning. In terms of laundry, invest in some white vinegar. This magic cleaning solution cleans, softens, disinfects, whitens, brightens and even helps to prevent pet hair from sticking around! In other words, less time in the laundry room!
As mentioned before, meal planning is a lifesaver and it cuts back on waste! While expensive, an extra freezer can allow for optimal prepping! In regards to shopping, try at home delivery! We all love to pick out our own fruit, but with our kids in tow, we tend to purchase more than what was on our original list. Applications like Instacart and Favor can be a life and time saver for a busy stay at home mom!
Moreover, never doubt the importance of a subscription plan! Diapers, water, pet supplies and personal hygiene products can all be delivered directly to your door! Also remember that buying in bulk saves money and requires less visits to the store!
Finally, waking up just a little earlier than the rest of the household can give you a quiet, productive and uninterrupted start to the day! We all know that with kids underfoot, tasks take a little bit longer to accomplish. This small chunk of time lets you jumpstart your morning AND maybe sneak in a peaceful cup of coffee!
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours a day do stay at home moms clean?
This number will vary based on the multitude of tasks that you need to complete, but the average stay at home mom will spend three hours a day working to maintain the household. This is substantially less than a single individual who only spends an average of an hour a day cleaning. Remember that if you stay on a regular schedule, you can cut down this time!
How can I run a household and work full time?
Grab an agenda and start planning your weeks! Working full time and running a household is a monumental task. However, with the right schedule and a dependable partner, you can make anything happen! Remember that if you intend to work from home, nap time is your work time! This also goes for your kid’s daycare and preschool hours.
Moreover, if you have the means to hire some help every once in a blue moon, it can greatly help you stay on top of cleaning while giving you a mental and physical break! Investing in a maid just once or twice a month to do a deep clean can make regular cleanings much more manageable.
Final Thoughts
The first step to staying on top of your cleaning schedule is starting and ending each day with your calendar or checklist. Knowing what needs to be done the next day and reminding yourself every morning will keep you on your toes. Repetition is key so try to stick to your schedule.
Furthermore, don’t put off today what can benefit you tomorrow! Staying up for fifteen more minutes to wash those baby bottles or start prepping lunches will allow you to begin the next day on the right foot! Prioritize what is most important to your household and put off what is not.
Moreover, ask for help when you need it! Whether that be your husband, your mom or the kids, you are one person in the family and it is everyone’s home. As a stay at home mom, you are charged with the majority of the responsibilities, but everyone needs a little help at some time or another!
Most importantly, allot time for yourself. Maintaining your mental health is imperative in guaranteeing that everything keeps functioning smoothly. Find time daily in quiet space to meditate, breathe, pray, read or do whatever you need to detox from the world.