It’s funny. When I was a senior in high school dreaming about my future and leafing through college pamphlets, I never, ever predicted that one day I would be a glorified cleaning woman who does a little cooking on the side. I’m not complaining. When I wake up each morning, I have tons of choices. Laundry, vacuum, clean toilets…the list is endless.

Summer vacation definitely adds to my cleaning options as there are wet swimming suits on the floor, sand in sneakers, and my school-aged children are at home contributing to our huge collection of crumbs on my kitchen counters and floor.

I do have chores for my children during summertime but the amount of work they complete doesn’t even come close to equaling the amount of mess they produce. There’s a math equation there somewhere. Something like this:

1 child minus 30 minutes of chores plus 60 million messes=1 tired mother

Don’t despair as I do have a few cleaning tips for busy moms!

1. A 10-minute family clean up. Set the timer and then everyone runs around for 10 minutes picking up stuff, running the vacuum, whatever. It’s amazing what can be accomplished. This is my personal favorite way to make a big impression in a little bit of time. 

2. Use shortcuts. Keep Clorox Disinfecting Wipes or LYSOL Disinfecting Wipes on hand to wipe down sink and toilet.  ( Pledge and Windex also sell wipes for quick cleaning.) Obviously, young children should not handle cleaning wipes but I let my five-year-old “help” with a baby wipe. Always have lots of paper towels on hand. An easy mop to use is the Ready Mop by Clorox. The Magic Eraser is great for getting marks off of your walls.

3. Take care of little messes before they grow. Instead of piling dishes in your sink, stick them right into the dishwasher. Train kids to do this at about four-years-old.  My kids are programmed to put their dishes immediately into dishwasher (still working on husband). Keep the laundry going throughout the day rather than letting it become a huge task. Vacuum everyday at least once. Clean as you go when preparing meals so kitchen never becomes a disaster area.

4. Label shelves in your linen closet and pantry so items always have their place.  This is great for kids when they’re learning to help put things away.

5. Put a damp washcloth in your microwave for 30 seconds. The steam from the washcloth will help loosen any stuck on food particles for an easy wipe down.

6. Keep a piece of aluminum foil on the bottom of your oven so that any drips fall onto the foil rather than into your oven.

7. Train your kids to pick up one mess before they are allowed to go on to their next activity. Baskets, storage bins, labeled shelves all make this easier for kids to handle successfully.

8. Invest in items that make a difference. I finally purchased a heavy-duty vacuum and it is so much better at picking up dirt and dog hair than the cheapo one I lived with before. I sprang for a Kenmore Progressive vacuum ( Consumer Report pick) that runs for about $300. My other recent splurge is a Simple Human trashcan. It makes my kitchen look neater and trash easier to deal with.

Finally, kick your kids outside! I remember my mother forcing me to go outside against my will and I believe those are the summer days I remember most fondly. I certainly don’t remember the hours I wasted watching TV or draped on the couch complaining of being bored. I do remember exploring, swimming, and running around at dusk. 

Best of all, your kids can’t mess up the house when they’re outside!

-Kay