For the longest time, I was on a mission to find the perfect Daily Cleaning Schedule for the Stay at Home Mom. Let me give you a little background on my relationship with house cleaning.
Before becoming a Stay at Home Mom to my brood of beloveds, I hated housecleaning. Since becoming a SAHM to my large family, I hate house cleaning even more.
So. Much. More. Arrghhh…..
Finding a Daily Cleaning Schedule for the Stay at Home Mom
There was a time when I thought becoming a SAHM would cure my inability to maintain a spotless, always company ready home. That the magic of childbirth would bring forth a perfect child AND a “perfect” housewife that would suddenly relish in making daily cleaning schedules and wiping down baseboards; all while my precious infant gurgled away peacefully during tummy time. Naturally, a perfect ray of sunshine would stream through the window and gently shine on my child.
Yeah, so that DIDN’T happen.
I am slightly embarrassed to say, that I did actually think I would easily transition into a sun-filled life, complete with daily cleaning routines and perfectly organized toy bins once I became a SAHM. Oh momma’s, I was so very wrong……
Is it Possible to Have a Cleaning Schedule With Constant Messes?
But, like it or not, cleaning is a very big part of my day as a SAHM. Children are messy; they’re supposed to be messy! That’s how they learn!! Which is delightfully fun, but also really, messy. And sometimes, over-the-top, disgustingly, gross.
Things always seemed to not go as planned, but having this checklist at least I had a plan in mind and could plot things out.
Every mom has a horror story involving childcare and unimaginable messes that usually involve a mixture of bodily expulsions and the word “EVERYWHERE.” They’re unforgettable and earn you points at book club meetings, but, for me, those aren’t the messes I fight to get under control.
Routine can be a blessing in disguise
For me, it’s the little messes that are a problem. The routine tasks, that if done daily and with consistency, prevent a stockpile of recycling and unfolded laundry from forming. Keeping a room by room checklist helps me to know what needs to be done and where I am slacking.
When I fall behind on my daily cleaning schedule, it tends to send my home into a house of chaos making the daily, “Where’s my shoe?” scavenger hunt takes twice as long. And leads my family towards being twice as late than we usually are. Which continues to spiral until our house looks like it belongs on some kind of intervention-based reality program. Then we are all cranky, and I just don’t like that.
So, I do my best and enlist the family when appropriate. I put energy that I would much rather put towards getting to the next level of Candy Crush, into keeping up with daily chores. Chores, that in the end make my home much more organized and efficient.
I still hate house cleaning, I’ve accepted that will never change. But, I’ve also accepted it’s worth the effort. For me, a tidy home is like a breath of fresh air. It takes effort, and I really dislike it, but I also like the atmosphere it creates for me and my family. And with a cleaning schedule that gets my daily tasks done in less time than an episode of Caillou, I don’t dread cleaning quite so much.
As you embark on finding the best daily cleaning schedule for you as a stay at home mom, work at home mom, or even the momma that leaves home for work you may find this Cleaning Checklist helpful. It covers every room and even garage and yard. You can even use it to assign the kiddos tasks. Always remember good momma, it’s progress, not perfection.
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