It’s never easy for working parents to juggle between work and family life. Whether you are commuting to an office or working at home, it’s never easy. What is particularly draining is the need to keep a house clean and tidy even after long hours of work.
It’s almost like taking on more work; only that this time you’re doing it at home-unpaid. And that’s where a cleaning schedule comes in. It’s nearly impossible to deep clean the entire house every day, so it's important to create a routine that allows you to clean some parts of the house and deep clean once a week, bi-weekly, or monthly. Here’s how to create such a schedule:
1. Prioritize
Evaluate your daily routine and determine how much cleaning you can get done and when. Then you can prioritize the most important tasks. For example, washing the dishes/loading the dishwasher is one task you can't overlook.
Once the kitchen gets messy, the rest of the house starts falling apart, so it’s essential to create time to unload the dishwasher every morning.
Another task you want to keep at the top of your list-laundry. If you have children, you know how messy it can get if you skip even one day of doing laundry.
2. Set Time Blocks for Cleaning
A working parent doesn't have all day to clean the house, hence assigning specific times to focus on cleaning is essential. The amount of time dedicated to these time blocks depends on your routine.
For example, you can give an hour after work to do the day’s laundry. Parents working at home may be able to clean throughout the day in batches or smaller chunks.
3. Declutter a Little Everyday
It doesn't have to be a big event; simply add decluttering to your daily routine. Start with the common areas like the bedroom or the play area and spend 15-30 minutes decluttering. Once done, move to the next room. A pro tip is to start with the room with the least clutter; it keeps you motivated. Set a timer, put some music on and you'll be done before you know it.
4. Split the Cleaning Tasks
Working parents need to be strategic with their time, and assigning cleaning tasks to be completed daily, weekly, and monthly goes a long way to keeping the house clean. You can even get the children involved in age appropriate chores; create a schedule for them so they know what's expected and when. You might like to think about whether there will be an incentive for them to complete their allocated chores each week, such as a sticker, pocket money or activity of their choice.
Daily Cleaning
Daily cleaning comprises of light chores that take a few minutes each time and can be done by you or someone else. If working at home, it’s easy to perform light cleaning tasks during breaks
For example, making the bed, wiping off stains from the sofa using a leather cleaner, cleaning the sink, washing dishes, and sweeping floors. The daily routine of a parent working away from home is quite different. Here’s an example:
- In the morning before going to work: Make beds
- After dinner: Load up the dishwasher and the washing machine
- In the evening: Sweep the room at a time
- Before bed: Declutter one of the rooms and unload the washing machine
Weekly Routine
These tasks take a little longer than daily tasks, but don't need too much attention. You can schedule a specific day during the week to do all of them or spread them throughout the week as so:
- Monday: Change the bedsheets in all the rooms
- Tuesday: Do laundry
- Wednesday: Dust off the living room and the counters
- Thursday: Mop floors
- Friday: Clean the bathroom
Monthly Routine
Dedicate a specific day to do all the cleaning or assign tasks to be performed every Saturday. Notice how we conveniently left out Saturdays in the weekly routine because they are often reserved for monthly cleaning.
The cleaning tasks performed during this time are time-consuming; hence can't get done during the week. They may include wiping the light fixtures, doors and door trims, cleaning the windows using glasses cleaner, tidying the garage, lawn, washing rugs and bath mats, to mention a few.
Cleaning Tools and Products to Help Clean Faster
Cleaning tools make your cleaning routine less tasking. Here are some items you should have in hand:
- A robotic vacuum cleaner: It saves time as it does all the floor cleaning for you by sucking up all the dirt
- Utility cart: It’s convenient if planning to clear out clutter from multiple rooms
- Microwave cleaner: It removes all the stains on your microwave within minutes. And the good thing is that it doesn't need cleaning products, a solution of water and vinegar is enough
These simple hacks should help you tailor a cleaning schedule around your routine to keep your house clean and tidy. If you commit to it, it may be the most powerful tool to keep you stress-free.
How do you manage household chores in your family? Comment and let us know what works for you!
0 Comments