How to Keep Your Home Clean Despite Busy Schedules

With a little planning, it’s easy to keep your home clean even with busy schedules. We’ve put together a guide to help you conquer housework without spending too much valuable time doing it. Whether you’re cleaning a small space or a large one, these tips can help you stay tidy and organized:

Create a Cleaning Schedule

One of the most helpful things you can do when it comes to cleaning efficiently is to create a schedule that works for you. On your busiest days, keep cleaning tasks simple. On days you have more time, try to tackle more time-consuming tasks like cleaning the refrigerator or the bathroom. You may want to schedule your laundry for a specific day or wash certain items on certain days.

For example, you could launder your work clothes over the weekend and wash bath towels and bedsheets on a weekday. The great thing about creating a cleaning schedule is that you’re in charge and can modify it as needed. Switch days, times, and tasks around as needed until you’ve fine-tuned a housekeeping schedule that works for you.

Use a whiteboard and erasable marker to write down your house cleaning schedule and keep it somewhere that’s easily visible. If you don’t have a whiteboard, write or print your cleaning schedule on paper and attach it to the refrigerator where it won’t be overlooked.

Recruit Help

Designate each family member a housekeeping task to get things done more quickly. If you use a cleaning schedule as mentioned above, consider making a chart with each family member’s name, which tasks they’re assigned, and the day on which the task needs to be done. You can make things colorful and fun by placing stickers on the chart for each day tasks are successfully completed.

Housecleaning tasks are a bonding activity that also teaches kids valuable life skills. Assign kids tasks based on age and ability; young children can dust and pick up toys, while older kids can wash dishes and do laundry. Dress your kids in comfortable, durable apparel for doing chores — like girls’ or boys’ jeans with IronKnees technology to prevent wear and a soft T-shirt.

When it comes to your own housecleaning apparel, there are plenty of options. Wear your favorite sweatpants and tee, or opt for leggings and a tunic. The most important thing is to choose an outfit that’s comfortable and machine-washable. A breathable, high-performance fabric, like a cotton/polyester blend, is also a plus.

Gather Supplies Ahead of Time

Cut down on cleaning time with a little preparation. Use seagrass baskets or a tote with handles to hold your cleaning supplies and carry them through the house with you as you clean. That way, you won’t have to leave the area you’re cleaning to get the cleanser or sponge you might need.

Keep your laundry contained with a wicker laundry hamper. A hamper liner can prevent odors and moisture from damaging the hamper, and many liners double as drawstring laundry bags so that you don’t have to carry the entire hamper to the laundry room.

Clean As You Go

One way to keep your house clean even if you’re always busy is to clean as you go. That means when you — or anyone else in your home — dirties a dish, they wash it and put it away right away. After dinner, wash all your dirty dishes instead of leaving them for later. As you’re cooking, wipe surfaces so that you don’t have a big mess to clean up afterward.

When it comes to laundry, you may have to let things build up until you’ve got a full load. When the clothes come out of the dryer, fold them and put them away while they're still warm instead of allowing them to linger in the dryer or the clothes hamper. Doing so cut down on tasks you have to do later and helps prevent clothing from looking crumpled and wrinkly.

If you’re walking through the house and happen to see a dusty area, wipe it. Another easy strategy is to clean in small spurts. Even a three-minute cleaning spree in one room can make an improvement. Set a timer and do as much as you can. Then finish cleaning the rest of the room on your scheduled cleaning day.

Reduce Surface Clutter

The minimalist look isn’t just for fashion’s sake — it’s also a smart strategy for keeping your home clean in less time. Reduce the items you keep on shelves so that there’s less dusting to do, and try to keep table surfaces bare or minimally decorated. The bathroom sink is another area where cutting clutter can help. Instead of keeping your toiletries on the sink, keep them in storage baskets or bins. When cleaning the bathroom, you won’t have items to move and replace when wiping the sink.