They say, “A mother’s job is never done.”

The above statement is true for the most part. Moms have been given the noble and yet, herculean task of taking care of everything – including the house! 

We want to make sure every nook and cranny is squeaky clean and pleasing to the eyes.

On the other hand…

Cleaning is tough whether both for #SAHMs and working moms. But we’ve got you covered with this guide. 

While much of the tips we include are tailored for working mothers, mommies staying at home can benefit, too.

A typical day for a working mom…

Just imagine this: 

You have to wake up so early in the morning (even if your mind and body still wants to be in bed) to prepare breakfast for the family.

You have to get the kids bathed and dressed up for school. 

Lucky you if your kids are already responsible enough to fix their beds after getting up. Otherwise, you have to do it yourself. 

Then there are the dishes. And yes, don’t forget about your husband who’s about to go to work, too.

Now that the house has finally quieted down, it’s now time to get yourself prepped up for work. 

And after a long day in the office, you still have to prepare dinner, wash the dishes (again), and tuck the kids to bed. 

Having a little more time to talk to your partner about how both of your days went is, in itself, a privilege.

All working moms out there can surely relate to the above scenario. 

Perhaps some of you have more on their plate. But you get it all the same — the life of a working mom is tough!

House cleaning tips for working moms

With so much stuff competing for your time and attention, how will you ever tidy up your home? 

We don’t have an instant fix. But the following steps can help lighten the burden of cleaning. Maybe even make fun!

So read on.

Get yourself organized

Almost all moms follow a routine for house cleaning. Not a bad thing at all.

But what if you can find not only a better way but a more efficient way to clean your home?

Perhaps, it’s high time you try the Eisenhower Method. It’s a method that was created by the late President of the United States, Dwight Eisenhower. 

Though an old technique to manage time and tasks, mastering the Eisenhower Method will prove useful in all aspects of life — house cleaning included.

The idea is to divide your tasks into four quadrants namely: Do First, Schedule, Delegate, and Don’t Do. 

The next step is to create a cleaning schedule for working moms like yourself. 

Here’s how it will look like:

  • Do first are cleaning tasks that are urgent and equally important. Ex. emptying the trash, washing the dishes, doing the laundry
  • Schedule quadrant is for those that are important but not-so-urgent. Ex. bathroom, kitchen, and fridge cleaning
  • Delegate are tasks that are urgent but not-so-important that you can assign them to someone else like your husband or older kids. Ex. cleaning the closet, garage, and the basement
  • Don’t do are tasks that have very little to no effect at all to the cleanliness of the house. This means that you may or may not do them but it shouldn’t make much of a difference. Ex. organizing pictures and cleaning the entire house

The examples provided aren’t set in stone, of course. The tasks for each quadrant may change depending on your situation. 

Nevertheless, adopting the Eisenhower Method is an excellent way to get your cleaning organized.

Take it one step at a time

One thing that can help you though is having a cleaning schedule laid out. 

Be realistic. Cleaning the house in one go isn’t good for your sanity.

Go room by room instead to make things easier and more manageable.

And remember: 

Take a break when you need to. Even the hardest working lot needs it once in a while.

Ask for help

As mentioned in the Eisenhower Matrix, you can delegate some of the tasks to other members of the family. 

For example:

Your husband can take care of the garage, while the kids can clean their closets.

Delegating also presents an excellent opportunity to teach your kids about responsibility. 

Children as early as two years old can put their toys back in the storage. The extra pair of tiny hands are helpful, and your little tot learns an important life skill. A win-win!

Teens, on the other hand, can wash the dishes, clean their rooms, or even perform basic repairs around the house. 

Delegate! Not only will asking for help lessen your workload, but everyone gets to feel as part of a team, too.

Declutter regularly

You want to declutter on a regular basis. Dealing with the small mess right away means you won’t have to face a huge pile later on.

Tidying up toys, books, clothes, and other clutter will also make your home look and feel more spacious.

Start as soon as you see the earliest signs of clutter.

If you feel like the house is overflowing with a lot of stuff, consider getting rid of the excess. 

Ask yourself: 

“Do we need all of these?”

If not, you can either sell, donate to charities, or give them to friends.

Don’t pressure yourself

All moms – working or otherwise – want to do an excellent job of cleaning their nest.

But don’t get too fixated on making your home as clean and as organized as that of your neighbor’s.

Comparing your home to another and trying to get other people’s approval will only put extra pressure on your shoulders.

Friends and family members may come home to a messy house once in a while. This will happen for sure.

But that’s no reason to feel bad. You’re striving for cleanliness, not perfection.

Conclusion

A mother’s job is truly endless, and you can only do so much cleaning. But we hope the tips we outlined above will make tidying one’s home a notch or two easier for working mothers like you.