Thanks to Unelko Corporation for sponsoring this post.
Out of all the things that I have to do as a mom, cleaning definitely tops the list of my least favorite tasks (with listening to my kids whine as a close second lol). Nevertheless, cleaning is something that must be done so today I’m sharing some of my top cleaning tips for busy parents. The best part? These are all realistic! I’m not giving you a list of 20 things you need to clean in a day or expecting you to make cleaning your house a full-time job. After all, we all have errands to run, kids to love on, and a few dozen shows we’d love to binge watch. Whether you are in the season of motherhood known as the toddler years, your kids are finally back in school after the flu ravaged your home, or you just can’t seem to keep your house tidy even on the best of days, read on for cleaning tips that will work for you!
The room-by-room cleaning method
We are going to start with one task that will work on even the messiest of homes- pick a room that is the easiest to clean up (or parents of littles may want to start with a room the kids don’t frequent often) and tackle that room at naptime, after the kids go to sleep, or (if you have older kids) on the weekend when they can help. (BTW- the entry of your home can totally count as a “room” here!) Personally, I have found this is the best way to clean because you can actually see the progress which creates momentum, unlike cleaning a little bit here and there throughout your home and then an hour later it looks exactly the same. This motivates me to not only keep it clean but makes it easier to tidy up.
When doing this room-by-room cleaning method I start by moving stuff that belongs elsewhere. I don’t put it away but instead just drop and run back to the room I was working on (because we all know that story about the mouse who wanted a cookie and ended up doing a million other things….) Those who have a large home may want to just gather up anything that doesn’t belong into a laundry basket so you aren’t running around and wasting time. I put away and tidy things up and then sweep or vacuum and clean surfaces. I don’t organize drawers. I don’t pull everything out of the closet and start an organizing project. I pick up and tidy what can be seen and save the projects for another time. After all, I just want my house to be presentable should someone stop by. Once I’ve gone through the above and done this for all rooms, I mop the floors. This may take a few days but then you can start my next steps with a semi-clean home.
Create a cleaning plan that works for your schedule
I found a daily/weekly/monthly schedule works best for me and suggest that you create a cleaning plan that works for your schedule. I have a short daily list that consists of two 15 minute pickup times (one in the morning after my kids have gone to school but before I start my work day and one in the evening) and some basic bare-minimum cleaning. I have a weekly list that are things I don’t need to do daily but at least want to do once during the week, along with larger deep cleaning tasks and organizing projects I have on a monthly list. Some days I’ll get one or two weekly or monthly tasks done, other days I just get the daily basic tasks completed and then there are the days when I’m trying to meet work deadlines or am too busy to even enjoy my coffee and nothing gets done. It happens to us all and honestly, if your kids are fed and happy, just call the day a win and realize that tomorrow is a new day to try again!
Use Invisible Shield® cleaning products because they work well and minimize future cleaning time
If you are spending time cleaning you want to use products that work well and make cleaning easy. I love the line of Invisible Shield® products that shield and protects glass and other surfaces because not only do they work, but they minimize cleaning time in the future by protecting against re-soiling and stains without all the harsh chemicals. When you go back to clean the second time, you’ll notice far less soiling, dust and spotting and how effortless it is to go over the surface. The Invisible Shield® Marble & Granite Cleaner and Protector even leaves a lustrous shine that will last longer than any other Marble or Granite cleaner! Their products also prevent corrosion around water areas such as faucets, sinks, shower doors, wall tile, and tubs, extending the life of hard surfaces & fixtures. Anything that protects our home investement and lets us spend less time cleaning the shower and more time cuddling on the couch with the kids is a must-have if you ask me!
While all the products are amazing, my favorites in the line are the Invisible Shield® Water Spot & Stain Remover and the Invisible Shield® Protective Glass & Surface Coating that let me tackle one of the most difficult and time consuming areas to clean- the bathroom- with ease. They specifically help with the shower, removing stains and protecting the build up from coming back. Just look at the difference below and it only took minutes to clean! Plus, the protective glass & surface coating saves valuable time because it reduces the need to squeegee and keeps glass cleaner longer.
I love the brighter appearance that cleaning with these products give all my surfaces because shiny glass, counters, and more make my house look cleaner, even when there are toys strewn about the floor as my kids play!
Keep a list of quick tasks you can do when you have a few minutes
When you are a busy parent you need to utilize every second of the day to the best of your ability. So often I’d find myself checking my phone or just standing around as I waited on hold or for the water to boil or any of the other times I’d find myself with a few minutes. I suggest making a list of quick tasks you can do in 3-5 minutes of time so when you find yourself with a few extra minutes you can complete something on the list. Things like cleaning a mirror, wiping down the baseboards in a room, or throwing a load of laundry in the washer can all be done in minutes. Five minutes may not seem like a lot of time to get something done but if you had just 10 minutes a day to do a quick task or two, you’d have about 60 hours of “extra” cleaning time each year!
Ask for help
As much as we think we can do it all, we can’t. Don’t be afraid to ask your partner or kids for help with cleaning. I know it often seems like there is so much to do around the house and we get frustrated when they can pass up that stuff on the step waiting to go upstairs or the overflowing trash can, but sometimes our family members just need us to be clear about what we need from them. They aren’t mind readers after all! Start by giving them specific tasks or asking them to do something on a daily or weekly basis to take some of the cleaning responsibilities off your to-do list.
You can purchase the Invisible Shield products on Amazon and they even have bundles like the Household Spray Cleaner Combo (which includes the Invisible Shield Glass & Surface Cleaner & Stainless Shine and Marble and Granite) and the Glass Essentials Combo (which includes the Invisible Shield Glass & Surface cleaner, Water Spot & Stain Remover, and Protective Glass & Surface Coating).
Do you have any cleaning tips to share? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below but before you go, enter the giveaway to win some of these amazing products yourself!
I like that they have specific cleaners for different surfaces. This way the kids can’t say they don’t know what to use.!!1
Hi Maria! Thank you for your comment! And you are right, we do have cleaners for multiple surfaces. A one in all never will do the right kind of cleaning and most importantly, protecting. As a mom myself I can relate to what your saying about the “excuses” from kids with chores. Should you have any questions about any of our products please give us a call at 800-528-3149 and you will speak directly with us!
I like using multipurpose cleaners- helps save space and money
Hi Latanya, The Invisible Shield Multi-Surface Cleaner, Cleans, Shields and Deodorizes hard surfaces. It’s completely safe on all vertical and horizontal surfaces. It leaves zero sticky residue and is such an excellent product. Wow… You will love. Use the code EasyClean15 for the products aside from the bundles offered in the blog.
We do have a Multi-Surface Cleaner that sounds right up your ally! It cleans with Hydrogen Peroxide and resists dirt, grime & food spills, controls odor causing bacteria, mold & mildew. You can use this on virtually most things! Always keeping in mind if there is one thing in particular you are looking to clean well and keep clean, let us know because we will certainly have it for you :)
Something my mom taught me. Take a few pieces of TP and run them along your baseboards every other day. It helps get all the hair and dust off the floor.
Wow, your shower door looks absolutely amazing after using Invisible Shield! My shower door never ends up looking that clean no matter what I have tried using!
My number 1 cleaning tip is to stay on top of the small tasks like picking up items that are out of place and putting them away. That way when you need to actually CLEAN, you won’t need to put things away first.
Hi Jaclyn, Wow, the shower is the toughest area to clean, wouldn’t you agree? The Invisible Shield Protective Glass & Surface Coating really saves valuable time, it’s been on the market forever, and if only more people would hear about it, it makes all the difference. It prevents permanent staining and improves the glass appearance. Quick wipes with a soft cloth or the Invisible Shield Glass & Surface Cleaner is all you need…as time goes on. Re apply maybe every 6- 12 months. Life saver and work saver!
Hi Jaclyn – All you need is Water Spot and Stain Remover followed up by Invisible Shield Protective Glass & Surface Coating! And Your shower glass doors will look the exact same! Call us at 800-528-3149 or email at [email protected] and mention that you saw us on this blog and you would like to order :)
For me, cleaning where I am works best. If I’m in the kitchen making lunch, I’ll try to spend a few minutes after (or during) tidying up, wiping down counters, etc. If the kids and I are in the living room, I try to pick up in there. We move to different rooms throughout the day, so I do what I can when I’m in there.
Hi Nina,
I am the same way! I like to clean as I go as well. I also clean my kitchen as I go using the Invisible Shield Multi-Surface Cleaner on my countertops. Since it cleans and protects and deodorizes, I know that I am getting the best of both worlds and next time around when I am making something in the kitchen for my son I know it will be a much easier clean. Of course, you can use Multi-Surface on any part of the home. Invisible Shield Products will make your necessary cleaning much easier on you. Our products are also environmentally friendly and free of harsh chemicals so no need to worry about the little ones :)
We use reusable rags when cleaning. I buy cleaners because I like to “smell” the clean but save $ with the rags we use.
I always rinse my shower with our hand-held shower head after showering to remove all the soap and shampoo splatters before they dry on to the walls and doors.
That’s not a bad idea… rinse every time?…but still water gets left to evaporate. The Invisible Shield Protective Glass & Surface Coating really saves valuable time, it’s been on the market forever, and if only more people would hear about it, it makes all the difference. It prevents hard water, permanent staining and improves the glass appearance. Quick wipes with a soft cloth or the Invisible Shield Glass & Surface Cleaner is all you need…as time goes on. Re apply maybe every 6- 12 months. Life saver and work saver!
Hi Colleen, You would completely, 100% benefit from our water spot and stain remover. Which not only rids grime, soil, and soap scum build up, water spots and mineral deposits. it’s a lifesaver! Future cleanings you’ll notice immediately are very quick and a lot less maintenance. We recommend you follow with Invisible Shield Protective Glass and Surface Coating that is designed to treat glass by adding a barrier that resists scratching, permanent staining, soap scum build up and repels water. Both products will definitely exceed your expectations. Just look at Alicia’s shower glass doors! Call or email us at 800-528-3149 or [email protected] and mention you saw us on this Blog!
I clean room by room (and then tell my kids they aren’t allowed in the clean room). I thrive on that sense of accomplishment of seeing an entire room done. The Invisible Shield did a great job cleaning. I can imagine how great it feels to see through the shower.
We’ve been doing some cleaning in all rooms since the weather is breaking. I must say I ‘ve never heard of Invisible Shield before but I ‘m definitely interested in trying them after seeing your shower doors plus I’m all for multiple purpose cleaners.
Hi Lisa,
Absolutely her shower doors look fantastic! Use the code EasyClean15 for the products, aside from the bundles offered in the blog. You will love Invisible Shield and what they will do to save so much time with your necessary cleaning. Clean, Shield and Protect is what you will get every time you use Invisible Shield Cleaning Products. Let us know if you have any questions about products, we are happy to answer!
I put the wrong link the rafflecopter form for 3/7/18 https://twitter.com/sweetums82/status/971445464926220292
I like to use vinegar for natural cleaning. I use vinegar and baking soda to help clean our clogged drains in the bathroom.
Clean one room at a time. Start at the top and work your way down.
My cleaning tip is to do a section at a time. Do not overwhelm yourself trying to clean a big area all at once. Nice and easy is my go to.
I find that vinegar and baking soda do wonders in the bathtub.
My best cleaning tip is to work on one room at a time! It can be overwhelming if you try to do to much at once!
I clean as I go to keep it from piling up.
Put on a skin Exfoliating glove to clean the shower/sink/tub works very well.
I always use lemon in whatever I clean..fresh smell and gets stains out
make cleaning a game for the kids
I use dryer lint sheets to scrub shower scum!
Clean your countertops down daily and pick up trash as you come to it
I try and clean as things get dirty to stay on top of it.
I try to clean some each day to make it easier.