How to Keep Your House Running Smoothly In Less Time Than Ever Before

As a mom, it feels like you never have enough time in the day to get everything done. It seems like no matter how hard you try, there’s always more laundry to do, dishes to wash, and floors to sweep. But what if I told you that there were ways for you to save time while still keeping your house clean and organized? In this blog post, we will discuss some tips and hacks for doing just that! So read on and learn how you can manage your home in less time than ever before!

6 Tips for Keeping Your Home Clean and Organized In Less Time (Even As A Busy Family)

Organizing and cleaning your home can feel like a never-ending task, especially if you have kids. But it doesn’t have to be that way! There are some easy ways that you can keep your house running smoothly in less time than ever before. Here are a few of our favorite tips.

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#1: Always Start With Realistic Expectations

The first step to being efficient in home management is to have realistic expectations. This means that you shouldn’t expect to be able to do everything in one day or even in one week. Start by picking a few tasks that make the biggest difference and make everything else easier (like keeping up with dishes and laundry). Try to think about the things you can realistically accomplish on a regular basis and focus on those first. Once you have a routine down for those tasks, you can start adding in more. But don’t try to do too much at once or you’ll end up feeling overwhelmed.

Some realistic expectations might be:

– Doing a load of laundry each day

– Focusing on one room per day for cleaning

– Doing the dishes after each meal

And remember…Not everything needs to be done all at once and your house isn’t meant to look like the homes in magazines! It can still be tidy, clean, and peaceful while being lived in. Also, keep in mind that your routines and systems will change with every season of your life. What works this month may not work next month and that’s okay. Keep your expectations and standards realistic for you and your family while following the next several tips.

#2: Plan Ahead and Schedule It In

When you need to keep your household running smoothly and in the least amount of time possible, you need to plan ahead so you know what needs to be done ahead of time and can get started right away. A great way to start planning is to first assess what needs to be done, like decluttering and meal planning. Then you can create something like a cleaning schedule that you can follow each week. This will help you to know what needs to be done and when so that you can be more efficient with your time while also reducing stress and decision fatigue. It will take time to figure out what you can realistically put on your schedule (as mentioned above) but you’ll be able to create a flexible plan soon enough.

You can use time blocking or have a general window of time when you do your house management tasks, but knowing when you will get to it not only ensures it gets done but it’s also easier to feel motivated to start.

#3: Establish Routines and Systems

Having set systems and routines in place will help you save time because you won’t have to waste time thinking about what needs to be done next. This means having a system or routine in place for each task. This can be anything from having a specific place for your keys and purse when you walk in the door, to making your bed every morning, to having a weekly cleaning routine. You can create a flexible and efficient routine or system for everything. For example, when you are putting away laundry, sort it into piles for each room so you can grab and go. Or when you are cooking dinner, make enough for leftovers so that you can have a meal ready to go for the next day. Another example is to start dinner in the crockpot after you do breakfast dishes or always start the washer before cooking breakfast.

The point is to have predictable and simple routines and systems that are repeated every day (or most days). It might feel harder at first, but as you get used to them and figure out what works and what doesn’t, it will become second nature.

#4: Involve the Whole Family

Another great tip for saving time is to involve your kids and partner (if applicable) in housekeeping tasks. This may seem like it will take more time at first, but it will actually help you get things done quicker in the long run. Depending on their age, you can assign each of your kids a chore to do each day and make sure they know that it is their responsibility to complete it. If you prefer a different approach, you can simply have them help with one-off tasks when you need an extra hand, like meal prep and clean up. Whatever you decide, involving the entire family in housework will help you get it done in less time! You can also involve them in the planning and organizing process so that they can learn how to be efficient as well!

Not only does this take stress and pressure off of you, but it encourages a helpful family culture and teaches your kids independence and essential adulting skills. Everyone wins!

#5: Learn to Clean and Organize Faster

In order to save time in home management, you need to be efficient. Part of being efficient means knowing how to clean and organize quickly and effectively. This doesn’t mean being messy or doing a poor job, but rather knowing how to do each task in the most time-saving way possible. For example, when you are doing dishes, fill up the sink with soapy water and then wash all of the glasses at once and save the dirtiest pans for last so you save soap and clean water. Or when you are making your bed, strip the sheets and then put them in the laundry hamper before remaking the bed with clean sheets so you don’t make a mess on the floor. There are many ways to be efficient when cleaning and organizing, and the more you practice, the better you will become at it!

If you don’t know where to start, the Clean My Space book is a great place to begin! It goes over simple tips and techniques for cleaning and organizing in less time while still producing really great results.

#6: Delegate and Hire Some Help

There’s no shame in hiring some help, whether it’s a cleaning service once a month to deep clean the rooms you don’t get to or a lawn care company to mow your yard for you. If you have the means to do so, it can be a game-changer when it comes to saving time. If you don’t have the budget for regular help, you can always ask friends or family for assistance every once in a while. Even if you can’t afford ongoing help, there are always services like Task Rabbit that can help you get things done, for one-time projects.

Delegating and hiring help is a great way to save time and stress. You can’t do everything by yourself all the time, and your time is just as valuable as anyone else’s.

The Gist

Saving time in home management can seem like an impossible task, but it doesn’t have to be! By following these simple tips, you’ll be on your way to a well-oiled machine of a household in no time. From developing routines and learning to clean quickly, to involving the whole family in housekeeping tasks, there are many ways to make your life easier. And don’t forget to delegate and hire help when you need it!