House Cleaning Tips for the Busy Mom
House cleaning is one of the dreaded chores of families today. There always seems to be too much to do without enough volunteers. But this project doesn't have to take all day and it doesn't have to be done perfectly every time. Sometimes, just making the home liveable is all that is required.
Define the Expectations
Have a reasonable expectation and vision of what the house should look like. There is no chance that the floors will sparkle and the bathrooms will be germ free every single day. There are too many other things that happen or need to get done for moms to spend the entire day cleaning. Decide what is really achievable for your family. It is okay that the bathrooms will only be cleaned on the weekends? Is is reasonable to ask every member of the family to have their room picked up at the end of the day or their bed made in the morning. Each family needs to take the time to make these decisions together. With a clear standard that everyone is aware of,
there will be less confusion and disagreement.
Share the Work
Divide and conquer the jobs that lay ahead. Moms, take advantage of the other people living within that dwelling! Everyone needs to help. Decide on chores based on everyone's age, ability and time. It may be unreasonable to expect a toddler to mop the floors in the kitchen, but he can take the time to put the toys away in the playroom. Dad may spend a lot of hours at work, but he can squeeze in a few things here and there. Try to make sure that cleaning is a team effort.
Provide a Prize
Consider offering an incentive to keep everyone motivated. There is nothing wrong with making everyone interested in helping out. In fact, members of the household may be completing their responsibilities with a terrific attitude if they know there is a pay off at the end of the assignment. Start with activities that everyone enjoys and build them into the positive reinforcement system, so that the reward is spending time together doing something fun. With older children, it may be time to look into an allowance to keep them on track.
Relax and Don't Worry
It isn't going to be perfect, so accept that the house is going to look okay. Mistakes will be made, chores will be skipped and that adorable five year old attempting to dump the trash is going to miss the trash can and make a bigger mess than when he started. Remember, because there is no way for you to do all of this alone, you will need to rely on people of different strengths and abilities. Just accept it and move on. Encourage those around you who are helping out and be sure to let them know that you appreciate it. The house will never be perfect, but with everybody pitching in, this group effort will make things easier and pull the team together.
