Are you tired of seeing your messy house and thinking a way on how to keep your home clean and tidy with little ones running around? Organizing and keeping your clean house is not really that easy specially when you have kids at home. You may be wishing that toys are generally cleaned up and in their place, the kitchen table is usually free of dishes and clutter, and the beds are always made. There’s really no secret formula, there are a few things to do to keep a clean and tidy home with kids running around. Here's some few tips:
Teach simple routines.
The easiest and most simple way to keep things clean is by establishing routines with kids. This sounds a bit more fancy than it really is, but it’s basically teaching them easy concepts like make their beds in the morning, put their clothes away, and clean up toys when they were done playing. Sure, go ahead and scatter every block across the living room while they’re playing. Go for it! But remember, you’ll help put things away when playtime is over. Obviously how much they can help will depend on your child’s age, but it’s important to teach them early that we clean up before moving onto the next activity. It’s become one of my golden rules and it’s really the easiest way to keep things tidy.
Set rules and stick to them.
Create simple rule and stick to them. For example, kids can't eat in your living room. It’s not uncommon for snack time to happen on the couch or the living room rug, but there are only certain things you'll allow them to eat outside the kitchen. For example, food that is sticky stays in the kitchen. Juice is always in the kitchen. Chocolate? Always in the kitchen. But things like cheese sticks and granola bars can be eaten anywhere. This goes a long way in keeping the furniture clean. Obviously things happen and there’s occasionally an accident here or there that causes a mess, but all you can do is clean it up and move on. That’s life–accidents happen.
Creative toy storage.
I strongly believe that a home should not look like a daycare center just because I have sweet, adorable children running around. Obviously I want my kids to have toys and fun things to play with, but I think it’s important for those things to be organized and kept in their place. I don’t want every room to look like a toy factory. For example, in our living room we have only one bin of toys that always stays out. All the other toys are stored in the reading nook bench. We take them out when the kids are playing, but they go right back in when it’s clean up time. That bench is a fabulous way to store their stuff and keep things organized. I’d definitely recommend investing in cute baskets, bins or other creative storage options that will help keep the toys cleaned up and tidy.
Set boundaries.
I obviously love vintage decor and my house is full of antiques. And you might think that antiques don’t really mix with kids, but I can honestly say it’s simply a matter of setting boundaries and teaching them that not every item in the house is something they need to play with and touch. Obviously this takes time and a bit of strategy on my part. For example, I don’t put fragile or expensive items within their reach–it’s just not worth the risk. But at the same time I don’t think I should stop decorating with items I love because I have kids. They know what is “theirs” and what is mine. And to be completely honest, it’s never been an issue. For example, I have a crate sitting on my coffee table right now that is full of old books, a few spindles, and a galvanized watering can. The kids never mess with it, despite it being in the middle of the living room. They know it’s off-limits and not a toy. I set those boundaries early and I think it’s important for them to understand what’s a toy and what’s not. Obviously this depends on how old your kiddos are, this won’t work with a six-month old and you’ll have to adapt accordingly, but it’s an important boundary to establish early.
Our front room is a great example of boundaries. This room is overflowing with some of my favorite antique treasures. Nothing in here is necessarily breakable, and honestly a few more scuffs here and there would only add more character, but it’s not exactly a kid-friendly space. And you know what? That’s ok. This is mama’s favorite room and the kids don’t really pay much attention to it. Sure, they’ll occasionally drive their cars around in here or run through while chasing each other, but it’s not where they want to spend their time. We have other areas of the house they’d much rather be in, like the living room or playroom.
Give them household chores.
I think one of the greatest tasks of being a parent is teaching our kids responsibility. And I believe it starts at a young age with simple and age-appropriate chores to help keep a tidy home. For example, my two year old is responsible for taking her plate to the sink after meals. Nothing difficult or fancy, but she loves doing this simple job and takes pride in it. She knows we clean up the mess after dinner and she’s happy to a be a small part of it. My five year old is responsible for making his bed every morning, getting himself dressed, and putting his clothes away. He also does things like help me unload the dishwasher and wipe down the kitchen table. Even with little chores, they’re gaining a sense of accomplishment and learning that their contributions to the household are important. And helpful!
30 minutes a day
Every night before going to bed,spend about 20 to 30 minutes tidying up the house. Pick up any toys that are still out, put dishes away, and straighten things up. You can sleep better when you do this and it definitely helps the next day start on a positive note. You will absolutely love walking into a tidy, clean kitchen first thing in the morning.
It's all about creating a home that is warm and comfortable for your children. You want them to have fun, play, and make messes. But at the same time you think it’s important to establish boundaries and routines that help keep things tidy. And really, a little effort goes a long way. It doesn’t have to be extreme and it’s not even that hard. In fact, it’s more a matter of discipline than anything. Even when you don’t have the energy to tidy up and put things away, you will always feel better after it’s done. And you really believe the kids feel that too. Everyone benefits from a clean, organized home.
I hope most parents can relate to these simple tips and if ever that you will need a cleaning service, Divine Maids is here to help you out.
