Diary of a Working Mum

As a busy mum, keeping my home clean can feel like an endless battle. Between school runs, work, and trying to squeeze in some family time, finding the time to scrub the house seems impossible. Here are five practical, time-saving cleaning tips that I now use to keep my home clean and tidy without stealing precious moments.

1. Embrace the 10-Minute Tidy
I always set a timer for 10 minutes to tackle each room. It’s suprising what you can get done in ten minutes. Whether that is clearing the kitchen counter, folding clothes, or sweeping the living room, knowing that I only have ten minutes to get the job done means that I don’t have time to talk myself out of it. I have found that small, consistent bursts of cleaning prevent messes from piling up. I often will involve my daughter, and turn it into a game. One of our favourites is seeing who can pick up the most toys in a minute and the winner gets a sticker!

2. Keep Cleaning Supplies Handy
I used to find that not having cleaning products to hand often resulted in me just not bothering to do much needed housework. For a while now, I have kept a small basket in each room filled with cleaning products that I use everyday. This means that instead of havign to run downstairs for the glass cleaner, I can just get it out of the basket under the bed. Some essentials I store in these baskets are all purpose surface cleaners, micr fibre clothes and a duster.

3. Master the Art of Multitasking
One of the best tips I know is to tidy or clean something everytime I walk into a room. If I need the to use the toilet, I will make sure that I take the pile of clean laundry up the bedroom at the same time. Or if I need to get something from my daughters bedroom, I will wipe down the surfaces whilst in there. I have found that the trick is to combine cleaning with daily routines. The bathroom always tends to be the most difficult to keep clean. I tend to spray black mold problem areas before heading off ont he school run. I will wipe down the shower screen on my lunch break, and bleach the toielt before bed. These micro-tasks add up, saving me from dedicating entire weekends to chores.

4. Declutter to Save Time
This is a difficult one for me. I do not like to get rid of stuff, but I am slowly learning that having too much stuff means that cleaning is much harder. Less stuff means less to clean. I try to spend a few minutes each week sorting through toys, clothes, and papers. I also have started to donate or bin what’s not needed. Having clear surfaces makes dusting and wiping quicker and keeps the home looking tidier.

5. Use Time-Saving Tools
I have Invested in a cordless hoover for quick floor clean-ups to handle crumbs when i’m out. Washable microfibre mop pads are great for speedy floor shines, and I also use a long handled mop to be able to clean the shower walls and ceiling, as they tend to get grubby. These tools cut cleaning time, giving me more precious moments with my family.

Bonus Tip: Let Go of Perfection
Letting go of perfection is hard but I have learned that my home doesn’t need to be showroom-ready. I just need to focus on high-impact areas like the kitchen, living room, and bathroom, and let the rest slide occasionally. A happy, lived-in home is better than a spotless one that stresses me out.

With these tips, you can keep chaos at bay and still have time for what matters most—your family. Happy cleaning, supermums!

Cheerio

E x