It’s hard enough being a parent, particularly one with a full-time job, without having to factor in the challenge of keeping your home clean and tidy.
However, cultivating a home that is free from germs and clutter is critical to safeguarding the overall health and well-being of your family.
So, how can you juggle all of your responsibilities to devote enough time to stay on top of the housekeeping?
Here are six essential tips for busy parents to maintain a clean home environment.
1. Draft a Cleaning Schedule
You work to a plan in the office, so why not do the same at home regarding cleaning?
Drafting up a cleaning routine is an excellent way to keep on top of your household maintenance. Not only does setting up a schedule keep you focused, but it also enables you to break down the process into easier individual tasks.
Moreover, sticking to the schedule will enable you to keep on top of these smaller tasks, which therefore means your house will never be a total pigsty!
For instance, giving the kitchen countertop a quick wipe-over with a wet cloth after you’ve finished preparing your meal will save you a lot of time in the long run. The same goes for the bathroom sink after you have brushed your teeth.
It is also a good idea to devote one day a week to perform a deep clean of an individual room. For instance, the kitchen on Monday, lounge room on Tuesday, bathroom on Wednesday etc. That way, you won’t find yourself trying to spend hours tidying up the whole house in one day.
2. Get rid of your rubbish
One of the main reasons why houses can look untidy or require cleaning is because they contain a lot of junk and rubbish.
This could take the form of household waste in your bins or items you no longer use or require. As well as being a potential breeding ground for germs and allergies, they can also be a safety hazard that can cause injuries.
For this reason, it is important to regularly dispose of your rubbish and declutter any items you no longer use in a responsible manner.
To ensure you don’t damage the environment you should consider eco-friendly rubbish removal in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne or any other city you live in.
3. Prioritise areas and rooms
As a parent, your time is precious. So, it is important to prioritise the rooms or areas you want to clean.
A good rule of thumb is to focus first on spaces and items where there is a high level of touch. For example, toilet seats, countertops, light switches, sink and faucets.
By regularly cleaning them, particularly with disinfecting wipes that have a minimum of 70% alcohol concentration, it will go a long way towards killing viruses, bacteria and germs.
Additionally, you should focus most of your efforts on tidying the rooms you spend the most time in, such as the kitchen, main bedroom and TV area, rather than the spare bedroom that might only get used once in a blue moon.
4. Vacuum carpets at least twice a week
Carpets can get very dirty, and in turn become a hotbed for germs. If left uncleaned, the accumulation of dust within them can also lead to respiratory issues, such as asthma and bronchitis, as well as dust mites and Mycotoxin Infestation.
For these reasons, it is important to vacuum them at least once a week to get rid of the allergens, dead skin cells, pollens, dust and other debris that can build up in its fibres.
On a 6- to 12-monthly basis, it is also worth getting the carpets steam cleaned with a multi-surface cleaning machine to bring back their vitality and completely remove all the potentially harmful microbes and mould that might be lurking within them.
5. Involve your partner and kids
You’ve no doubt heard the saying ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’. Well, this principle applies to household cleaning.
Maintaining a spotless home environment is a big job which should not just be tasked to one person. Therefore, as a busy parent you should involve your partner and child in the process too.
For children, the best way to get them to help is to encourage them to tidy up their toys and arts and crafts activities after they have finished with them. You should also get them to tidy up their bedrooms as well. Here are some fun ways to motivate them to do so.
With regards to your partner, it is a good idea to assign each other roles within the same room. That way, you can stay social with them while you perform the household chores.
6. Set aside 15 minutes every day
If you are not one for sticking to schedules, a terrific tip to stay on top of the cleaning is to make a conscious effort to devote at least 15 minutes a day to doing it.
It is amazing how much can be achieved in a short burst. So, by performing a little bit of cleaning every day, you will be able to ensure your home never gets you down with its untidiness.
