This house cleaning post was sponsored by Art of Green® and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
I wish I could always blame my kids for those days when my house is a mess, but to be honest, they probably got some of their messy tendencies from yours truly. 😆 But, I will say that we’ve all gotten better over the last few years when it comes to keeping our home clean and even with kids, it’s not as impossible of a task as it seems!
We’re all spending lots more time at home now with lots of spaces now doubling as homeschooling centers or living rooms turning into mid-day recess areas, so it’s become even more important to have an efficient cleaning system in place. I’m sharing my top 3 easy tips that helps me keep my home clean, even with kids!
You’ll notice that I recently stocked our house with cleaning products by Art of Green. It’s not everyday that a household cleaner makes the Product of the Year, so when I noticed that Art of Green was awarded the title for 2020, I knew I had to check it out! I love the fact that their products are 98% naturally derived and contain no harsh chemicals, yet are incredibly effective!
Art of Green products are safe for use around kids and pets, plus it’s available at all the stores I shop at already including Target, Sprouts, and H-E-B. There are two scents available, lavender eucalyptus and citrus & white flowers — neither are too overpowering but my personal favorite is the citrus & white flowers. Art of Green is making eco-friendly products truly accessible for everyone as their line is less than $3.00!
House Cleaning Tips
TIP 1: Keep Cleaning Wipes Visible and Accessible
I don’t think our bathroom has ever gotten as much constant use as it does now with my husband and I plus two little ones at home everyday now! It’s so easy for the bathroom to easily get dirty and it’s always the last place anybody wants to spend time cleaning, so our trick is just to keep wipes sitting right on top of the toilet tank. By making the wipes visible and easily accessible, it then becomes super easy to just spend 5 seconds quickly wiping down the area. This keeps messes from building up and keeping the wipes conveniently next to the toilet flush makes it just a part of the cleanup routine whenever anyone is done using the bathroom!
TIP 2: Make It Fun and Time Yourself
This is a trick that I use on my kids whenever I’m motivating them finish a certain task, and it’s honestly just as fun for adults too! Oftentimes the hardest part about cleaning is just starting, so I turn it into a game where I try to beat my own time. Just kick off a timer right before tasks such as unloading the dishwasher (a task which I have down to under 2 minutes now!) or wiping down the kitchen counters (3 minutes for me!).
The added benefit of turning it into a speed game is that you’ll also look for ways to get the job done faster. I discovered that it’s a lot faster to unload the dishwasher by first taking everything out, setting it into groups on the counter, and then putting it away, instead of just putting away the dishes directly when taking them out of the dishwasher! I kinda surprised myself with when I changed up my technique here, but it’s testing out these different techniques that have helped me figure out the best way to clean. Another suggestion is to experiment with using wipes and/or cleaning spray — I’ve found that I’m faster at cleaning the kitchen table with the spray since usually that area requires a heavy dousing of product in certain areas, but with countertops I’m actually much faster just giving it a quick swipe with the pre-moistened disposable wipes!
Plus, once I have an idea of how long a certain task takes, it becomes a whole lot less daunting of a task — I tell myself that it’s only “x” number of minutes and that mental time box helps to get me going!
TIP 3: THE “LAUNDRY BASKET TRICK”
And finally, if you have kids you know that there are always random items left around the house by the end of the day. No joke I almost always find shoes left under the table, toys that have rolled under the couch, and sometimes even underwear that I have no idea why has been left in the corner of the dining room. My best tip is to take an empty laundry basket and do a quick sweep around the house filling it up with items that aren’t in their proper place. In a short 5 minutes, I have of items that I can then take put in the proper rooms.
This “laundry basket trick” means that I only take one trip through the house. This is usually the last step for me at the end of the day before I’m about to sit down and relax, and trust me, I am all about maximizing that time!
Life can be pretty messy (especially when kids are involved!) so hopefully these tips will help you speed clean your way to a cleaner home. I know I always feel like I have more mental headspace when I wake up to a clean home and oftentimes, it’s having a few tricks up your sleeve to help with the daily maintenance that will help you get the job done. Be sure to pick up Art of Green to help with their lineup of effective sprays and wipes!
Use the Art of Green store locator to find the store closest to you!
What’s your favorite time-saving trick when it comes to house cleaning? Let me know in a comment below!
Shop This Post
- KENZZI: at-home laser hair removal device and can be used to treat hyperpigmentation on face! CNL50 for $50 off
- KINSLEY-ARMELLE: the most beautiful gemstone accessories! CUTENLITTLE for 15% off
- SAFE + FAIR: allergy-safe food products that taste delicious (try the Honeycrisp Apple Granola!!). KILEEN10 for 10% off
- TULA: clean skincare enriched with probiotics. CUTENLITTLE for 15% off (click here for my TULA product reviews)
- VEJO: like a portable Nespresso for smoothies! Get a free 8-pack set of pods with code CUTENLITTLE8PACK
For a full list, please visit my coupon codes page!
House clean… Plus kids. Yeah. Those two don’t go in the same sentence – LOL!!!!
They seem trivial things to say and not being a mother I don’t know, but let’s admit that they are actually real problems and your advice is objectively useful even for those who are not moms!
Keeping the house clean when you have kids is so hard, and it doesn’t get easier as they grow. LOL These are excellent tips. Every little bit helps!
These are great tips! I am terrible at keeping the house clean and I live alone, haha. Time to put these in practice.
Oh man, I have always struggled to stay on top of the cleaning! It always turns into a “do everything all at once” which tends to ruin one of my weekend days. I love the tip to keep wipes handy at all times & I’ve definitely tricked myself into making cleaning fun by timing myself. Or, I’ll tell myself “you only have to clean for 5 min” and I end up just finishing what I’m doing regardless. Thanks for the tips & I’ll have to check out this cleaning product!
I don’t have kids but have two pups and they’re so messy! I use Art of Green because they’re safe for pets and love their products!
These are great tips! I totally “time myself” and make aa game of it. My husband and I also love to put on throwback music on the weekends and just dance around while cleaning 🙂
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
I don’t have kids yet, but I can imagine these tips working. My husband and I also like keeping the cleaning supplies visible, especially in the toilet.
Keeping everything organized while having kids is kinda impossible?? Lolz. But thanks, I enjoyed reading your post.
I actually haven’t heard of this brand before, thanks for sharing!
I can only imagine there’s so much more to try to keep clean and tidy with little ones….great tips! xoxo, Sarah
I love these tips! It’s so difficult to keep the house clean when kids are around. It seems that as soon as everything is clean, things start getting dirty again.
Lol to what Gigi said above! I agree! But seriously, we moved a month ago and so far it has been so much easier to keep the house clean. Unfortunately nobody wants to keep moving to keep things functional though, lol. Your tips are awesome.
I don’t have any trick in the bag but I sure love to time myself when I am cleaning up.
These tips are so common and basic- but SO EFFECTIVE and so overlooked! I use these exact tips for my 4 kids and they are life SAVERS!!
This looks like a great product for keeping the home clean when you have little ones! I imagine that it’s no easy feat.
I don’t have a kids but I do have younger siblings and worse is they’re all boys and I swear they are the messiest. Anyways, I find this very helpful thanks!
I am sending this to my sister. She will definitely need this.
time-saving trick? hmmm. I think my favorite is cleaning the all the kitchen clean-up after breakfast (gives you time to let it rest before luncheon).
Yes! Big fan of the laundry basket tip! I love these! I need to do them.
I love the idea of timing yourself, or even giving yourself a time limit to pick everything up around you and clean up!
These are all great tips for keeping your workout gear looking fresh and new.
I am always looking for cleaning products that are natural! I will have to check these out! Do you know if they are available in Colorado?
Great tips! I have kids and let me tell you it is not easy to keep the house clean so I can use all the tips I can get!
Cleaning can be cathartic, so I like the idea of making time for yourself while cleaning.
These are great easy tips for a clean home. I like the laundry basket tip. This is something I would do.
YES! Art of Green is my go-to to keep my house clean!
Always good to have some music playing when we’re cleaning. Timing the task does work and gets you motivated. Love that laundry basket technique! Will definitely apply this.
Green cleaning is so important in the home especially with children. Definitely going to check this product out.
Seems like a good range of products. I personally use cleaning wipes actually. Great tips!
these products sound amazing and these tips are wonderful! sending to my sister now!
xo Laura Leigh
https://louellareese.com
Thank you for sharing
Having wipes in the bathroom is a nice idea, it would be a lot easier to clean up the little messes that occurs. I also found it helpful to have a natural cleaning spray handy in the bathroom, whenever the occasion calls for it.