Confession. I am no Mary Poppins. The whole “practically perfect in every way,” is something that these lips will never utter. However; I like that with a little magic and singing, she gets the job done. This is a mindset I apply to those not-so-fun-adulting jobs to make it not so bad. Crank some tunes and I can have a party while scrubbing my shower!

Confession. I am Monica Geller from the 90’s sitcom Friends. We are both Type-A, slightly neurotic, planners and goal-oriented. This applies to every facet of my life, including my home. I have had the odd comment asking how I keep my home neat with kids. Admittedly I don’t think anyone has actually been serious when they have said this, but I figured with lockdown and many without housekeepers or your routine flipped on its head, why not do a post about cleaning?

Disclaimer. I should be frank and admit I am a clean-freak. I have learned many people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder are quite particulate about their surroundings and I tick that box. Having an organized environment is one the most practical and effective ways to lower my stress. That may sound odd, but it really calms me down. Even before my diagnosis, I figured if my mind and thoughts were cluttered and disorderly, having my external setting streamlined and spotless provided me peace. Not only is my mental health boosted, but my physical health benefits as well. Kyler, Noelle and I all seem to be prone to seasonal allergies and sensitive to dust, therefore; I actually need to do a deep clean weekly to maintain good air quality and keep our sinuses clear.

I have certainly had to adapt and relax my standards since having kids. At the end of Friends series, Monica and Chandler adopt twins and I can’t help but wonder how she’d cope with the mess of babies times two AND maintain a large suburban home. Years ago, I wrote a post called “Oh the Mess” sharing a joke from Jerry Seinfield as I navigated a then busy two-year old Dylan and baby Ky-guy. Truth be told, I don’t think I have ever learned to embrace the mess. However; I accept it [currently I am pretty sure I heard one the boys drop craft supplies on the floor, sigh] and mostly tolerate it as I am still me- just with kids now!

I think the easiest way to have a consistently clean home is to have a regular routine that works for you as well as daily upkeep. Together, those two things make it more doable.

So without further ado, I thought I would share my weekly system, daily routine and periodic jobs- plus little hacks I have learned along the way.

WEEKLY DEEP-CLEAN

Each week I do a deep clean that goes beyond tidying and wiping messes to also include sanitizing and disinfecting where applicable. I usually divide this up over a couple days into three+, forty-five minute sections. I generally find this works with having kids underfoot- even if my preference would just to be spend three solid hours and get it done. I will mark down these cleaning time slots in my weekly planner like I would any other appointment to ensure it gets done.

During these cleaning sections, I will get the kids involved, but with jobs that require little instruction or supervision so I can focus as I tackle my task. In this time they will wipe walls, scrub their chalkboard wall clean, wipe chairs, Swiffer… etc. I get them more involved with the daily upkeep outside of these designated times so I can give them more attention and make the best use of my time. [Click picture to enlarge for easier reading]

DAILY UPKEEP

When I do my weekly deep-clean it generally doesn’t usually look dirty or messy. This is because I strive to keep things clean and tidy as we go about out day. The best part is, the kids can really take ownership in this area. Dylan or I will vacuum high-traffic areas as needed. We do our dishes and clean up after every meal. If the bathroom has globs of toothpaste or water specks on the mirror, I or one of the boys will spend 5 minutes in there. I do several load of laundry per week so that I don’t have to fold more than two loads at a time.

1. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TRANSITIONS

The single biggest tip that helps make daily upkeep a breeze is to take advantage of transition times. Before every meal and snack, my kids need to tidy up their toys [unless it’s an ongoing activity]. Before they can start a new activity, before bath time, before bedtime, they need to tidy up the current activity… etc}. I do this largely so that we can keep on top of it before it spirals into chaos and to reinforce the idea they need to pick up after themselves. I am their mother, but not their maid!

2. HAVE DESIGNATED PLACES FOR THINGS

“A place for everything and everything in its place”

— Proverb

We have designated spots for everything we own. One of the best things we did was purchase this unit from IKEA, along with the door fronts. Next, we “juzhed it up” [sp?] in the vernacula of Queer Eye’s Jonathon Van Ess with these legs from a company called Pretty Pegs. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m, my living room may look like a daycare, but once bedtime rolls around, our space easily converts back into a lounge for Mom and Dad to unwind.

3. EMBRACE MINIMALISM

Having less stuff to clean, means you will clean less. My décor style is minimalist in part to draw the eye to pieces that mean something to me, rather than just collecting dust…to which I’ll need to dust. I have a post all about minimalims you can read here.

4. INVOLVE THE KIDS

My next tip is to utilize a formal daily chore chart for the kids that is age-appropriate. Currently my toddler can focus for few minutes to put her toys away and help Mommy with certain tasks. Dylan can now wash a load of dishes, while Kyler can clear and set the table. It certainly takes more time and patience to invole the kids, but I think the payoff of having kids who are not entitled and hard working is more than worth it! I ordered this banner from Etsy which I love as you can interchange the chores using labelled clothes pins.

PERIODIC ODD & SEASONAL JOBS

Pinterest has great fall and spring cleaning lists. These can include jobs such as raking leaves, washing the outside windows, weeding the flower beds… etc. These jobs aren’t always fun, but I try to turn these weekend projects into quality family time where we work hard and reward ourselves with a pizza party or bonfire! My kids can also earn a bit of extra money for these odd jobs.

In addition to these cleaning jobs, it’s always helpful to perdiodically organize. For more about organizing, I wrote a post last year you can read here.

I should acknowledge my own privilege. I can afford cleaning supplies, have the time to do so […well as much as a mom of three can have] and am able-bodied. Last year, for six weeks when my anxiety peaked, my physical state was so bad I couldn’t do much since I couldn’t use my limbs properly. In that time, other things were prioritized, and the state of my home wasn’t one of them. The mess did cause me stress, but sometimes it’s just a part of life. Now as I am doing well, I have been able to find my homemaking rhythm again and it feels great!

A clean home is cathartic and for some, a luxury, but it’s not the end-all-be-all. I totally appreciate that there are many more substantially pressing issues out there, but as we are now in our third month of lockdown and staying home more than ever, it makes sense to consider the environment in which we spend so much time.

“At worst, a house unkept cannot be so distressing as a life unlived.

”

— Rose Macaulay

Lastly, please know my house is far from perfect! My garden and oven come to mind as spots I have neglected.. our basement “playroom” quickly turned into an office when the pandemic hit. Despite my best planning, sometimes it looks like a tornado blitzed through my house. I am only one stomach flu away from it being a total disaster… when all three kids had it at once, all I could to was try to keep up with laundry and comfort my babies! We have scuffs and dings on the walls from toy cars and trains. Daily I find dry Cheerios in the most random places! Above all, our homes are for living in first and foremost, but I’ll always find home the sweetest when its clean.