Spring Cleaning…
I know what you’re thinking, who has time for that? Being a single parent is hard. Between managing kids, school, work, cooking, and everything else, it can be overwhelming. Often, the household chores take a back seat to everything else, but we have put together some pointers, we call this “The Single Parent’s Guide To Spring Cleaning”.
1) Get your kids to help
The first thing to remember is that you do not have to do everything, you are not a lone! You can always ask your kids to help you. Yes, the people who help to make the mess can also help you to clean it up.
While they may not be able to take on huge projects, your kids can start taking on age-appropriate tasks. If you make them fun, they may even enjoy them. Taking on responsibility is also great for their self-confidence and builds character.
They can start by learning to make their own beds, and tidying up after themselves. Emptying the dishwasher and sorting and putting away clean laundry are also great starter jobs for children. Once you’ve got them into the routine of helping, these small jobs will collectively take some of the responsibility off you and save you time and energy.
Below is a chart from mummyitsok.com that shows age appropriate chores.
2) Organize your time
Being organized its important when time is limited, but it’s not always easy, especially when you have kids.
To help you get organized, try making a to-do list. You can work cleaning into your schedule, just like you do sporting events the kids, or play dates, etc. Then block that time into your calendar for that day. Get into the habit of making cleaning a regular priority and you’ll start to stay on top of it – making it easier over time.
To help you get started, check out this free printable cleaning check list.
3) Do a little every day
Let’s face it, no one looks forward to cleaning. When you have no free time, why would you want to spend hours laboring over a house that, let’s face it, is probably going to be messy again by the weekend?
So don’t. Instead of spending hours at a time, spend minutes. Break up your tasks into smaller tasks.
Every day when I get home from work I spend 10-15 minutes picking up. I fold the fleece blanket left on the couch. I pick up the coffee mug I set down as I ran out the door to work. I throw away any trash left in the common areas. Then, once i’ve tidied up, I kick back on the couch and relax. I give myself an hour or so to unwind, and then I get up and do the dishes before I make dinner.
Large tasks can seem overwhelming, but when broken up into smaller goals, it becomes doable.
4) Make cleaning fun
This might sound odd, but if you can do anything to make cleaning more enjoyable, give it a try.
I like to turn up my favorite music while I do my chores. Sing and dance with the kids while you clean the house. Try turning cleaning into a game with your kids. Race to see who can pick up the most laundry, or put away the most toys. If you turn it into something fun, you won’t dread it quite as much, and more likely to get the kids involved.
Good luck with your spring cleaning, we hope you found these tips and tricks helpful. We would love to hear what cleaning tips you have to share. Please connect with us on Facebook and Instagram and tell us your thoughts!