I go into my laundry room at about 4:20am; towels are sitting in the washing machine, ready to be washed. I pop in a detergent pod and go to start my workout. These seamlessly mundane tasks help me stay on track, I clean the bathrooms three times a week and every time I clean the bathrooms, I vacuum the upstairs. The downstairs portion of the house is vacuumed every day. It is the place where we spend the most time and with a toddler, life gets messy. I used to be extremely overwhelmed by the thought of keeping everything in order or if I had to organize a room that looked like a tornado hit it. I would be in the middle of the mess crying. Instead of letting those weaknesses become a part of my life, I changed my mindset and now cleaning and organizing are some of my biggest strengths.

Everyday Cleaning Tips

Here are a few tips to help get you started if you feel like you are drowning in the mess:

1. Start small:

• Finish one task at a time. The kitchen needs cleaned and the dishwasher needs emptied. Start with the dishwasher, then you will have a place to put all the dirty dishes.

2. Schedule it:

• I know what I am cleaning on certain days. I clean all of my bathrooms three days a week. Vacuum at least three days a week and I dust once a week. Make it a mental checklist. I never have written it down – I just know. Then I can add projects to the days that I need to or at least know that something got done.

3. Clean as you go:

• This one is a huge one for me! As I cook, I clean my mess as I go. Once the dish is in the oven, everything gets cleaned and put away. I rarely ever wait until the end of a meal to do the cleaning up. Cleaning up happens in the middle and it makes the result so much more enjoyable.

4.  Involve the kids:

• I involve my son in the process. We pick up his toys together. He will put the clothes into the dryer, and he loves putting the trash can away if I have taken it out. This teaches them at an early age to value cleanliness and gives them a sense of responsibility. Now not every mess my son makes he cleans up, since he is still so young, I base it off what he is able to accomplish.

5. Learn to Love It:

• I love having a clean house. It gives me a sense of calm. I feel accomplished, even if I didn’t do a lot. I love having a clean kitchen every morning. I love doing things that will help me out in the end, even if I am gone for the day, like running the dishwasher or doing a load of laundry while I am away.

6. Make Your Bed.

• This is such a simple one, but Admiral William McRaven says it best:

“If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another…And, if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made-that you made-and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better.”

These are just some of the things I do in my everyday life. These small steps help keep me grounded and focused and in a small way give me a sense of purpose. A clean house is not the end all to being the best parent or spouse, but it does give your family the space they need to relax and destress. I never feel relaxed sitting in the middle of a mess, I do not think most people do, so having a clean home gives me the opportunity to love my family better and be able to unwind myself. Creating small habits for your home, no matter what they look like, will become so ingrained in you that your normal tasks don’t even seem like much of a chore, they are just a part of your life.

Be encouraged friend and clean on.