If you’re a busy Mum you don’t need me to tell you that your sparse free time is precious. It should be spent doing the things that bring you relaxation and happiness, and make you feel special (because you are!). That means that after a hard day’s work followed by the inevitable chaos that is taking care of the kids, the last thing you want to spend your time on is tidying up your home. However, if you’re anything like me, you simply can’t relax in a home that is dirty, untidy or cluttered.
Is it really too much for busy Mums to ask for the best of both worlds?
Absolutely not!
Here are some handy tips to help make keeping a clean and tidy house a quick and effortless endeavour…
Invest in an ottoman or storage chest for toys
Nothing turns even the cleanest, tidiest home can look like a bomb’s hit it when the floor is littered with the kids’ toys. Those bright, colourful storage boxes are all well and good but can be very visually distracting. Instead, invest in a storage ottoman which gives you ample storage space yet is a part of the furniture so doesn’t look to visually distracting.
If you can, cover it!
It can be an absolute nightmare cleaning spilled food or blackcurrant cordial off your sofa’s upholstery. Nobody wants to spend longer than absolutely necessary on stick after-dinner aftermath. Thus, if you can cover a surface (especially a surface where the kids are enjoying food or drinks) with throws, blankets or tablecloths it can make your life so much easier to do so. Simply throw them in the washing machine and replace them. Just like magic!
Broom, broom, broom!
If your home has hardwood or laminate flooring, this can be an absolute godsend for keeping your home clean and tidy. But rather than chasing dust bunnies around with a hoover, instead invest in a good quality multi surface broom. It’s quicker and easier than vacuuming and just a couple of minutes’ sweeping every day is all it takes to have your floors looking spotless.
Consider bean bags as an alternative to chairs
Beanbags are fun for the kids to sit and play on, but they’re also a great alternative to chairs when it comes to keeping your home clean and tidy. Chairs can be cumbersome and unwieldy. They can be heavy and hard to move, leaving you with no choice but to clean around them. Bean bags, on the other hand, are light and easy to move and clean around and under.
Make cleaning a family activity
Keeping your home clean and tidy at all times can feel like a never-ending struggle. But who says that it’s a struggle you should have to endure alone? Cleaning can and should be a family activity, with each member of the household assigned specific tasks. Make sure that your kids have completed theirs before dinner or TV time and you’ll find that a problem shared really is a problem halved.
All that’s left for you to do is kick back, relax and enjoy your spotlessly clean home.
