Summer vacation brings with it great memories with your little ones and…so ….much …. mess. If you’re at your wit’s end and looking for a solution to how to keep your home under control with the kids underfoot 24/7, then consider this your practical, realistic starting point for getting your priorities in line.
Focus in on what matters
Odds are that you’ve probably read all sorts of articles about how to convince your young ones to help you clean. After all, they’re home with you all day and can certainly do their part, right?
This is all great advice, and there is something to be said for adding some daily cleaning chores or bribery-induced clean-up time into your summer schedule (more on that later).
But is that really addressing the core issue? After all, who wants to spend their time reading more parenting advice about how to keep the house clean?
Not only does it create some complicated feelings, but it also pulls the focus from what is the most important thing this summer: making memories with your loved ones. Those memories are best served by planning pool parties, picnics, movie nights, and day trips.
Keep cleaning in manageable bites
You may be thinking: “But what about the house?” We’ve got you. Instead of turning your young ones into cleaning sidekicks, adjust your cleaning routine to fit the season. Here are some realistic ways to do that.
Plan cleaning resets with the whole family
Whether it’s a 5-minute speed reset or a 30-minute checklist, design reset times to help minimize clutter from toys, LEGOs, beach towels, and more. Bring the whole family into the situation to make it fun, achievable, and spread the clean-up weight around for a fair approach! Want to make it more fun? Put on some dance music and lean into the vibe!
Embrace clutter zones
Most homes have catch-all baskets and other clutter collectors (junk drawer). This summer season, save yourself the stress and simply add in more of them. Create ones for all of the most important summer activities: beach/pool gear and toys, rainy day craft activities, and more. This will help you find what you need when you need it, and also give everything a home that is not in the middle of the living room floor!
Focus on “good enough”
Give yourself permission to accept “good enough” instead of “done perfectly” when it comes to the end goal of your cleaning sessions. So what if there are smudges on the bathroom mirror? Who cares if you don’t have time to scrub the baseboards in the playroom? Focus on a hygienic, tidy space and keep that your focus this season.
Bring in the pros
Give yourself and your family the gift of a clean home by hiring professional house cleaners to come in and handle all of the cleaning tasks that don’t fit into the categories. Not only will it be a glorious feeling to enjoy a clean home without having to do the work yourself, but it will also help you see just how good it feels to put your focus where it matters most: on spending the summer with your family. That’s the part that you’ll remember forever, after all. Get a free residential quote here. Let us know if you have any questions.
