Discover time-saving cleaning hacks for busy working parents. Simple routines & strategies to keep your home spotless while managing a hectic schedule. Read on to find out how working parents keep the house clean.
How Do Working Parents Keep the House Clean?
Juggling work, kids and (hopefully) some personal time can be challenging for working parents. If your life is full of important stuff, when do you get a chance to do the boring but necessary things, such as domestic cleaning?
In an ideal world, we'd all hire cleaners. Unfortunately, this isn't always possible, so read on to find out some top tips for keeping your house clean as a working parent.
1. Prioritise Essentials
The first step is to figure out what jobs are essential in your home and make sure they get done. For most of us, this will include some amount of laundry, keeping the kitchen clean, and making meals. Realistically, everything else can be left for now.
Figuring this out might involve making a list of all the household jobs that need doing so you can then prioritise them based on importance. The top things should focus on hygienic spaces for eating and washing and making sure everyone has clean clothes.
2. Fit Small Jobs In
Some jobs you can squeeze in around other things. For example, you can put a load of laundry on before going to bed, or empty (or load) the dishwasher while you're cooking. Similarly, consider giving the toilet a quick clean while you wait for the shower to heat up.
3. Get Your Kids Involved
This one is a no-brainer: get your kids involved in the cleaning process. If they're old enough to understand requests then they're old enough to help out! It can be as simple as getting them to tidy up their toys, or you could get their help with making beds, sorting the dishwasher, emptying bins, etc.
If all else fails, throw them a duster and ask for their help! While they might not do a great job, instilling the idea of cleaning in them at a young age will massively pay off in the future.
4. Make Things Easier for Yourself
A good way to make your home easier to clean is to reduce the chances of mess. Sure, you won't be able to cut it out completely, but there are things you can do to keep your home tidier.
For example, have a blanket rule of no outdoor shoes in the house, which will cut down on floor mess. Don't eat anywhere there's carpet to avoid stains. If this isn't possible, consider putting down washable rugs. Ensure you have a shower squeegee and that everyone knows to clean the shower down after use.
Another useful tip is to give everyone a small mesh bag for their socks. Dirty socks go in the bag, the bag goes in the washing, and the dried socks are returned to the owner. While you might not spend ages matching up socks, it's still one less thing to worry about!
5. Cut Down on Stuff
Unsurprisingly, the less stuff you have, the easier it is to keep things clean. Declutter regularly, and get your kids involved so they understand the process. Do this once every couple of months and make sure your kids understand the value of giving their things away.
Combine this method with intelligent storage options. For example, get lots of plastic tubs for toys, and store the tubs on an open shelving unit. Consider throwing in things like a storage footstool and under-bed storage to make sure you've got enough room to always put things away.
6. Finish What You Start
This might sound like an obvious point, but you'd be amazed at how many people start something and then forget about it. Always make sure you finish a cleaning job you've started otherwise you're just creating more work for yourself.
7. Reassess Your Standards
One of the best things you can do when it comes to having a clean home is to reassess your standards for what this actually means. As mentioned, your main priorities are hygienic cooking and cleaning areas and clean clothes. Everything else is essentially unnecessary (within reason).
The point is that you don't need to aim for show-home tidy all the time. Your guests will understand why your home isn't spotless, especially if they work and have kids. So, decide what your standard of clean should be and just stick to that!
8. Keep Mealtimes Simple
When your schedule is jam-packed, dinner shouldn't add to the chaos. Streamline mealtime with quick, nourishing options that take minimal prep. A great example? Stock up on healthy pot noodles for those extra-busy evenings. They're far from the instant noodles of your student days-modern versions come loaded with vegetables, lean protein, and whole-grain noodles, offering a warm, balanced meal in minutes. It's the kind of easy win that keeps everyone fed and happy without leaving you with a pile of dishes afterward.
Final Thoughts
As working parents, keeping the house clean can be impossible. The bottom line is that you need to prioritise jobs and get kids involved as much as you can. Provided you can tick these boxes, you should get the important cleaning jobs done.
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