A Simple Housekeeping Routine for Moms
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Keeping house tends to be one of my biggest “jobs” as a homemaker. While I admit I’m a fairly organized, type-A personality by nature, I wasn’t a born housekeeper. I like things to be neat and tidy, yet sometimes I lack the motivation to make them that way. This is why a housekeeping routine is so important.
It’s only been in the past year or so that I’ve really started to embrace homemaking and keeping house. I think I waited so long because there were so many projects that needed to be done around the house. I felt like this place wasn’t really “home” until those projects were done. Well, most of the projects still aren’t done (ahem, the kitchen), but I realized I was so wrong. This house is our home whether my cabinets are only half-painted and my back splash needs to be re-done. (Yeah, that’s no joke. I just may show you pictures once we actually get started on completing that long-awaited project.)
Making our small house cozy and comfortable is a priority. So is keeping it clean, especially with little ones running around. You won’t find a museum here. There may be blocks on my living room rug and crumbs underneath my kids’ highchairs, but that’s okay!
The Internet is full of housekeeping lists and calendars. They tell you what to do and when to do it. You know what? I tried keeping house with those types of lists and I failed. My life is busy! I may have a 15 month old who wants to be held most of the day, so I can’t scrub the toilet. When that happens the whole calendar gets messed up, and well, that bothers me.
My housekeeping routine is simple. I have things I do every day. These are the things that pretty much have to be done or there is chaos. I have things that I do weekly (or almost). These are the things that need to be done to keep my home really clean and healthy. Then I have things that get done on an as needed basis, aka when I have time and feel like doing them. These are things that are nice to do, but I don’t have time to do them as often as I would like.
My Housekeeping Routine
Daily Chores
Wash dishes. Put dishes in drying rack. Put away dishes. Repeat at least two more times during the day. I don’t have a dishwasher. It wasn’t so bad when it was just me and Mr. Simple. Now there are days I feel I am drowning in dishes.
Clean counter tops, stove top, and kitchen table. Yeah, crumbs, sticky gunk, it all collects in these spots and they need to be cleaned daily.
Sweep kitchen floor. Bust out the steam mop if the kids cooperate.
Vacuum main living areas. I have a three-year-old and a one-year-old. Daily vacuuming is a necessity.
Wipe down bathroom sink. See the reason above.
Do laundry. I do one to three loads a day depending on how far behind I get. This includes folding and putting them away. Much to my husband’s dismay, I don’t iron hardly ever, and I don’t fold to Army standards, lol!
Weekly Chores
Dusting and mirror cleaning.
Vacuum bedrooms.
Scrub the bathtub and bathroom floor.
Attempt to organize things around the house and give stray objects a home. I like to re-purpose things like baskets to hold stray objects. I recently added a basket to our entry table to catch keys. We were losing keys way too much.
Chores that are done when I get to them
Giving the kitchen floor a deep cleaning/scrubbing.
Cleaning baseboards.
Cleaning ceiling fans. I hate furry ceiling fans, but I hate cleaning them, too!
Deep cleaning/purging the office.
I think that about covers most of the stuff I do around here. It doesn’t look like a lot, but I feel like I’m doing chores off and on all day! Like I said, lists just don’t work for me. At least not in this season of life. Snuggling on the couch with a baby in my arms takes priority over scrubbing baseboards any day!
What’s your housekeeping routine look like?
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My parents lived with us this summer and she was shocked to find out I vacuumed everyday – kids are crummy!
I have found that bathroom cleaning works well while the kids are in the bath. Some times its just a 3rd of the floor that gets done at a time, but a little bit at a time.
I too have tried the schedule, but it is hard. AND I have to start ironing, now that I will be a SAHM I promised hubs that and putting buttons back on his shirts – too bad he doesn’t know where the missing ones are!
Yes, kids tend to make big messes on the floor. I am not so great at ironing, so it gets done very rarely!
Dear Joanie, you banner pictures are lovely, and the photo of your two children is just precious. Your post on your priorities is just so true! It is so much more important to cuddle that little one if sick or needy. Other things can wait, but I see you have balance, too. You can trust the Lord to help you through these years and you will not have to look back in dismay at missing the MOST important things 🙂 Thank you for sharing, dear one!
Thank you so much for the kind comment, Jacqueline! It was a pleasure to share this post!