As a mom of two rambunctious boys, my home is never spotless. When it’s clean and tidy, it’s amazing, such relief and satisfaction.
However, it takes minutes for my home to go from tidy to messy, but I’ve come to accept this is part of life as a mom.
I remind myself that a messy home is a home that’s lived in.
Mess and clutter are going to happen. This is the season of life all moms experience.
Many moms worry about how they can manage their homes while juggling everything else.
The trick is keeping a quick daily cleaning routine that takes just a handful of minutes. I’ll show you how you can create your own and stick with it.
I’ll share with you ideas on how you can create a daily morning and evening cleaning routine that can work with your schedule.
I’ll also cover a weekly and monthly routine for the stuff that you don’t have to do every day.
If your current cleaning routine is too overwhelming and stealing too much of your time, a daily quick clean routine is worth a try.
Let’s get started.
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Why you should create a daily cleaning routine
The idea of cleaning every day might not sound fun but it’s necessary if you don’t want to be stuck with too much cleaning on the weekend.
If you hate how much of your weekend is lost to cleaning, try smaller bursts of cleaning daily instead.
Let’s quickly compare the two routines.
The first routine is one where you clean over the weekend. You do everything and cram it in two days.
The second is short bursts of cleaning daily once in the morning and once in the evening (no more than 30 minutes for each).
Which one do you think will take more time and energy?
The first (weekend cleaning) routine will take the most time because…
- you will be overwhelmed with many tasks
- you are likely to take up more time being thorough where it’s not necessary
- you have the idea that you have a whole weekend to finish tasks, so you think you have lots of time.
If you don’t want to use your entire weekend cleaning, it’s time to change it up.
I acknowledge that routines are individual and what works for me and my family probably won’t work for yours.
If you’re a working mom, a weekend cleaning routine might be your best option. But keep in mind that a few minutes here and there during the week can reduce the amount you need to clean on the weekend.
That said, this post will include recommendations for moms with only a handful of minutes to spare for cleaning.
It’s for a quick cleaning routine not a deep cleaning routine.
Establish your priorities – What areas of your home tend to get the messiest?
Every home is different so what requires cleaning for you will be different from other moms.
Maybe it’s the kitchen, the living room, or the bathroom. Once you’ve identified these areas, you can create a cleaning schedule that focuses on them.
Putting your energy where it matters, like in high-traffic areas, your home will look tidier, and you will feel less stressed.
If you had to choose which top three spaces in your home bother you the most because of mess and clutter, which ones would that be?
According to the American Cleaning Institute, the most dreaded areas of the home to clean are the Bathroom, followed by the Kitchen, then dusting, mopping, and finally – laundry.
Top rooms in the home that typically need the most attention.
- Kitchen (Dishes, counters, stove, microwave, sink)
- Bathrooms (Sink, Toilet, Shower, and Tubs)
- Bedrooms (Bedding, clothes, and towels)
- Main Room/Living Room. (Carpets, floors, rugs, toys, books, clothing, cups, etc.)
How to include it into your regular daily routine
Mornings can be hectic and in the evening all you want to do is relax. So how are you going to add a cleaning routine on top of all of that?
Remember, your daily cleaning routine should ideally be no more than 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening.
You will also have family members help out with the cleaning and other morning tasks.
Creating your morning clean routine
Create your daily cleaning routine by choosing your 5–20-minute cleaning tasks for both the morning and evening from the list below.
The goal is to choose tasks that take no more than an hour total per day. 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening.
If you got only have 20 minutes a day because your schedule is packed, that’s okay! You can still get a lot done in small bursts.
These suggestions are meant to help you prioritize and simplify your cleaning at home. You can do as much as you want but keep in mind your time and energy levels.
- Make the bed: If you enjoy the look of a made bed, it takes just a few minutes, and it can make your bedroom look tidier.
- Wipe down the bathroom sink: After brushing your teeth or getting ready in the morning, take a quick minute to wipe down the bathroom sink.
- Sweep the kitchen floor: Even if you don’t have time to do a full kitchen clean-up, take a minute to sweep up any crumbs or debris that may have accumulated overnight.
- Wipe down kitchen surfaces: After breakfast, take a minute to wipe down the kitchen counters and stovetop. This will help prevent grease and grime from building up.
- Load the dishwasher: After eating breakfast, load dishes in the dishwasher along with pots or pans so you have a clear sink ready for when it’s time to prepare dinner.
- Wipe down the dining table: Using a disinfectant wipe or damp cloth, give the table a quick wipe-down after breakfast so it’s clear and ready for the next meal.
- Do a load of laundry: You can also set it to start later (delay setting) so that the cycle will end when you arrive home.
- Clean up the living room: Clear the floor of loose items and place them where they belong. Use a timer to stay on task.
- Take out the trash: Check all the trash cans in your home and take out any that are full.
- Dust surfaces: Using a dusting cloth, wipe down any surfaces that accumulate lots of dust. Use a timer to stay on task.
- Wipe down surfaces: Grab a damp cloth or some cleaning wipes and quickly wipe down surfaces in your kitchen, living room, and bathroom. This will help prevent dust and dirt from accumulating.
- Clean up after breakfast: Take a few minutes to clean up any dishes after eating. Rinse and load the dishwasher and do a quick wipe-down of the table.
- Sweep or vacuum high-traffic areas: Focus on the areas of your home that get the most foot traffic, like the entryway, hallway, or stairs.
- Sort & Declutter: Do a quick scan of your home and put away any items that are out of place, like toys or shoes.
- Empty the dishwasher: If you have a dishwasher, take a few minutes to empty it so you can load it up with dishes throughout the day.
- Fold and put away laundry: Spend 10 minutes folding and putting away any laundry.
- Dust surfaces: Quickly dust any surfaces that are prone to collecting dust, like shelves or picture frames.
- Pick up garbage: Set a timer and scan the main rooms for left-behind garbage, packaging, etc. Empty all trash bins if full. Have a bag ready and toss it.
- Clean toilet bowl: Spray it down with cleaner and wait 2 minutes. While waiting, wipe-down the bathroom sink and faucet. Quick scrub the toilet bowl.
- Mop floors: In high-traffic areas, do a quick mop to catch any spills or stickiness.
- Wash small mats: Bath mats, kitchen mats, or other small machine-washable mats in the washing machine. Set it to the timer if needed.
- Sweep or vacuum the floors and/or stairs: Spend 15 minutes quickly sweeping or vacuuming the floors in high-traffic areas, like the living room or kitchen.
- Clean the bathroom mirrors: Grab a cleaning spray and a cloth, and quickly wipe down the mirrors in the bathrooms.
- Clean the bathroom sink and counter: Wipe down the bathroom sink and counter with a cleaning spray and a cloth.
- Clean the bathroom shower: Use a cleaning spray and a sponge to quickly clean the shower walls and floor in the bathroom.
- Wipe down kitchen appliances: Take a few minutes to wipe down the microwave, stove, and other kitchen appliances to remove any stains or grime.
- Clear and organize the entryway: Spend 15 minutes clearing out any clutter in the entryway, like shoes or bags, and organizing any items that are out of place.
- Tidy up the living room: Spend 15 minutes picking up any clutter in the living room and fluffing up the pillows and cushions.
- Tidy up the kids’ toys: Spend 15 minutes putting away any toys that are left out of place in the kids’ play area. (Let your kids do this task while you do another)
- Tidy up the bedroom: Spend 15 minutes putting away any clothes or clutter in your bedroom.
- Dust surfaces & fixtures: Use a telescopic duster, dust light fixtures, photo frames, etc.
- Do a load of laundry: Put a load of laundry in the washing machine and use the time it takes to wash and dry to do other tasks.
- Clean the kitchen sink & counters: Use a cleaning spray and a scrubber to give your kitchen sink a good scrub. Scrub kitchen counters of any stuck-on messes, rinse well, and wipe dry.
- Wipe down kitchen cabinets and drawers: Wipe down the exterior of your kitchen cabinets and drawers with a damp cloth.
- Clean out the fridge: Take a few minutes to throw away any expired food or leftovers that are no longer good.
- Clean the bathroom toilet: Use a cleaning spray and a toilet brush to quickly clean the inside of your toilet bowl.
- Clean the shower and tub: Use a cleaning spray and a sponge to scrub down the shower and tub in the bathroom.
- Clean the bathroom floor: Take 20 minutes to sweep or mop the bathroom floor.
- Dust and clean surfaces: Use a duster and damp cloth to dust light fixtures, ceiling fans, photo frames, etc.
- Vacuum/wipe down furniture: Crumbs accumulate and hide in the cracks of the furniture. Use a handheld vacuum or an upholstery attachment to quickly vacuum any upholstered furniture in your home.
- Clean mirrors and windows: For all those hand and paw prints, give a quick wipe down to keep the mirrors and windows from getting smudged and cloudy. Use a cleaning spray and a cloth to quickly clean any mirrors and windows in your home.
- Tidy up and organize your closet: Spend 20 minutes putting away any clothes or accessories that are out of place in your closet and organizing them.
- Dust, clean, and organize bookshelves: Take a few minutes to dust and clean any bookshelves in your home.
- Organize your fridge and freezer: Take 20 minutes to organize your fridge and freezer, throwing away any expired items and reorganizing any items that are out of place.
- Clean, and organize cabinets and/or drawers: Take 20 minutes to wipe down the exterior of your bathroom cabinets and drawers with a damp cloth.
- Clean and organize your pantry: Clean and organize your pantry, throwing away any expired items and reorganizing any items that are out of place.
Creating your evening clean routine
Just like your morning cleaning routine, choose from the cleaning tasks below and aim for no more than 30 minutes.
You are likely to be very tired in the evening so choose your tasks wisely. After you start you might get a burst of motivation to finish the rest before winding down for the night.
If you are sleep-deprived and exhausted, sleep should be a priority before cleaning. If you can clean one thing, do it but sleep comes first.
Get your restorative sleep and try again with your routine tomorrow.
Some examples of what an evening routine with cleaning can look like:
- Make the bed: Start the day off on the right foot by making your bed. It only takes a few minutes, and it can make a big difference in how tidy your bedroom looks.
- Wipe down the bathroom sink: After brushing your teeth or getting ready in the morning, take a quick minute to wipe down the bathroom sink. This will help prevent toothpaste and other debris from building up and keep your bathroom looking fresh.
- Sweep the kitchen floor: Even if you don’t have time to do a full kitchen clean-up, take a minute to sweep up any crumbs or debris that may have accumulated overnight. This will help keep your kitchen looking tidy and prevent any messes from getting out of hand.
- Wipe down kitchen surfaces: After breakfast, take a minute to wipe down the kitchen counters and stovetop. This will help prevent grease and grime from building up and keep your kitchen looking clean and fresh.
- Load the dishwasher: After eating breakfast, load dishes in the dishwasher along with pots or pans so you have a clear sink ready for when it’s time to prepare dinner.
- Wipe down the dining table: Using a disinfectant wipe or damp cloth, give the table a quick wipe down after breakfast so it’s clear and ready for the next meal.
- Do a load of laundry: You can also set it to start later (delay setting) so that the cycle will end when you arrive home.
- Take out the trash: Check all the trash cans in your home and take out any that are full.
- Dust blinds and curtains: Use a damp cloth to quickly dust blinds and curtains in any rooms that need it.
- Towels and sheets: Do a load of laundry for towels or sheets only.
- Spot treat anything: Check furniture and/or clothing for stains and use a fabric-specific spot treatment.
- Windows & Frames: Wipe down with a cleaning cloth, windows, and frames of any built-up dirt and grime.
- Sort and organize closets, shelves, or cubbies: Hang jackets, and sort shoes and other items so they are not out of place.
- Fridge clean and sort: Do a quick sweep of the fridge for too-old leftovers and dispose of. Wipe up any spills.
- Inside stove clean: build-up inside the stove can make cleaning it very difficult. You can do two things, regularly quick clean (no more than 10-20 minutes) or hire someone to clean it for you at the end of the month.
- Wash trash bin: Empty bins, spray, and wipedown.
- Declutter: items no longer in use or broken: This includes toys, supplies, clothing, books, small furniture items, and décor.)
- Dust/Wipe Baseboards: Use a timer to stay on task if needed. Spray baseboards and wipe down.
- Clear & Organize Workspace: A home office space must be clear and free of clutter for best use. Trash or shred any junk mail, and old papers. Keep desk accessories or supplies in an organizer.
- Clean screens: Wipe down all screens in the home of dust and grime. This also includes handhelds like phones and tablets.
- Organize books: Sort and organize any books, binders, or magazines in their proper shelf, cabinet, or storage bin.
- Organize & Sort Pantry: Maintain your pantry by keeping canned goods, and boxed and bagged goods in their appropriate places. Label and use clear bins if necessary.
- Scrub tubs & Shower: Keep the dirt and soap scum at bay. Spray down the tub and/or shower with cleaner, let sit for up to five minutes, scrub, and rinse.
- Clean decorative items: Clean cushion covers, dust figurines, and vases with a damp cloth.
- Sweep all floors: Sweep and capture any food bits, garbage, and dirt from high-traffic areas. Use a timer to stay on task if needed.
- Mop floors: Mop focusing on high-traffic areas of your home only (should not be the entire home if you have many rooms and floor surfaces)
- Vacuum stairs & hallways: To keep dust and dirt from accumulating, take up to 15 minutes to vacuum stairs and hallways making sure to catch along the baseboards and corners.
- Sort dirty laundry: Sort using bins or baskets dirty laundry for easier loads.
- Fold and place clean laundry: Fold any leftover clean laundry and place immediately in it’s appropriate place.
- Clean Upholstery furniture: Use an upholstery-specific fabric to clean so it does not damage the fabric.
- Wash Rugs & Runners: Arrange to have rugs professionally cleaned or use a carpet cleaner to clean the rugs. For more convenience, purchase rugs that can be machine washable.
- Take out the trash: Check all the trash cans in your home and take out any that are full.
- Sort and organize pantry: The pantry or non-perishables cupboard can get mixed up. It’s also a good time to take inventory as well. If you regularly stock your pantry, organize foods with items using labels, bins, or baskets. This will make it easier for you to find foods and know when to replace them.
Speed Clean Like a Pro
- 5-7 minutes decluttering any dishes or other items that are out of place, wiping down the countertops, and quickly sweeping the floors.
- 5-7 minutes picking up any clutter, dusting surfaces, and vacuuming or sweeping the floors.
- 5-7 minutes putting away any clothes or toys left out of place, fluffing up pillows and cushions, and dusting surfaces.
- 5-7 minutes cleaning the toilets, wiping down the sinks and counters, and giving the floors a quick sweep.
Weekly Clean Routine
End-of-week cleaning doesn’t have to take hours either. Just like your daily cleaning routine, the focus should be on priority areas of your home.
Yes, some tasks take longer than others. If it takes too much of your time, consider outsourcing to a cleaning service or delegating to family members.
Using the top areas of the home that need the most attention, start with the kitchen, then to the bathroom(s), then the bedrooms.
For other areas of the home like closets, windows, basement, or the garage – divvy up the work with family or hire someone to do it for you.
Monthly Clean Routine
A monthly cleaning routine depends on how large your home is. The more square footage, the more you have to clean, tidy, and organize.
If you live in a large detached home, you probably have a decent-sized yard and driveway and maybe a garage. It’s likely you also have a car too.
Many of these don’t need daily or even weekly upkeep.
Your car might need a clean sweep once a month and the same for yard maintenance.
If you live in a townhome or apartment, you might do a clean sweep of your deck or balcony which can be done monthly.
Make your list of priority tasks that only need attention once a month. Set reminders a week in advance so you don’t forget.
Pro Tips: Make cleaning easier and faster
1.Outsource it to a cleaning service. This is the best way to make cleaning easier, but I understand that isn’t accessible to everyone. I recommend adjusting your budget to fit at least one deep cleaning of the high-traffic areas in your home if you can. Laundry can be outsourced as well!
2.Use automated tools that can do the work for you even if you’re not home. Many home appliances and cleaning tools can do this like vacuums, and washers.
3.Include family members in the cleaning routine. It’s not just a mom’s cleaning routine, it’s a family cleaning routine. Your family is a team – get them involved!
4.Use convenient but safe cleaning products to make cleaning messes easier to do while avoiding exposure to harmful chemicals. Vinegar and baking soda are safe, effective, and budget-friendly cleaners.
5.Reduce cleaning time by decluttering frequently. When you have kids, the more stuff you have the more likely it will be scattered across the home. This adds to your cleaning time so if you see clutter in an area that’s a constant problem, figure out what you can minimize.
6.Don’t fold your laundry. Unless you are very particular about how your clothes are folded, you don’t have to fold them like Marie Kondo. You can literally just fold in half, stack, and place in your drawers. For fabrics that wrinkle easily I recommend hanging them only. Baby and toddler clothes are small and most don’t need any folding at all. If you’re still not sold on the no-fold routine, you can use a folding board. A folding board might help you save a bit of time.
7.Clean as you go. Take the opportunity to clean while you’re doing low-focus work (on hold on a call, watching tv, chatting, etc.)
8.Use a timer to push yourself to act quickly. If you don’t have an egg timer you can use the timer on your stove or your phone.
9.Track your time. You might be tempted to do a more thorough job but if you struggle with time management and are always feeling like you can’t keep up, be mindful of how much time you spend on cleaning.
10.Invite guests to your home to motivate you to clean. How many times have you cleaned your home at lightning speed when you are expecting visitors? I’ve done this and maybe you have too. If you really need encouragement, invite someone over for dinner. That will get you cleaning real fast!
11.Downsize! An extreme cleaning tip but it might make a meaningful difference. If you live in a home that is too big with too many rooms for you and your family to manage consider downsizing. This can be a big deal and a big sacrifice if you enjoy living in a home with lots of space. If it’s making you miserable and it’s a significant source of stress for you and your family, downsizing might be a good solution.
Time Saving Tools
Here are some recommendations for some highly effective, and highly-rated cleaning tools that can save you time, energy, and maybe even money.
Robot Vacuums
For daily cleaning, an automated tool like a robot vacuum will save you time. It does the work for you!
Robot Mops
Like the robot vacuum, it does the work for you. Combine the robot vacuum and mop and you can cross those time-consuming tasks off your list.
Mop Systems
If you’re not a fan of robot mops and vacuums, there are still great solutions. These have easy-to-use mop pads that are machine washable with refillable reservoirs you can use your own cleaner.
Vacuums
Thankfully, vacuums today are not like the ones your mom used. Many are lightweight, cordless, and bagless like the Shark vacuums.
Cleaning Essentials
Your home has many surfaces and things to clean. One cloth might do the trick but it will be easier and safer on surfaces if you use the appropriate cleaning supplies.
Focus on getting it done
If cleaning is dreadful, the best way to manage this is to have a daily routine.
A cleaning routine can work with your regular daily routine. Because a daily cleaning routine requires only a handful of minutes, budget it in with the rest of your morning and evening routine.
Refer to the examples I provide above and tailor them to your needs and time constraints. Make sure you create a routine that’s sustainable. Start with one task and add as you adjust.
Remember that your home is lived in and it will never remain spotless or organized 100% of the time. Don’t compare your home to another mother’s home because they are never the same.
Do what you can and be strategic with your time. A little bit of effort to create a good routine and habits reduces stress and extra work in the long run.
You can do this!
Grab my free quick clean checklist to have on hand when you want to create your own routine.
Hi, I’m Melanie. I’m the woman behind Mommy Life Strategies. Here you will discover ways to manage your time more efficiently, how to create positive daily habits that stick, mindset exercises that energize, and health & wellness tips that work even for the busiest moms.