Before becoming a mom, Friday evening after work, i would come home and clean my entire house. Then I’d light a candle and get a glass of wine, and soak in the tub. There was no need for a cleaning schedule.
Then i had my baby, and i quickly realized that cleaning my home all in one go was unrealistic. Either my baby would wake up early from his nap, or worse, he wouldnt nap at all. I truly value having a clean home, so i knew i had to create a cleaning schedule that fit into my life as a mom.
Of course, if you the cleaning schedule i created, but i also want to go into the mindset shifts i had to make surrounding keeping my home clean with children. Hopefully, if you are a new mom, you can find some value in this cleaning schedule and implement the parts that work for you.
Shifting to a Sustainable Cleaning Schedule
Once i realized that a perfectly clean home was not possible in the early stages of motherhood, the first thing i had to do was reframe the way i thought about a clean home. I first had to be ok with the fact that my home would not be clean all at once. I knew for a season i would need to be ok with breaking down my cleaning into small, manageable daily and weekly tasks that were flexible and sustainable.
Daily Tasks
These are small things I do each day to keep the house from becoming overwhelming:
- Make the beds
- Wash the dishes and wipe down the counters
- Tidy up living spaces (put away toys, fold blankets, wipe down surfaces)
By tackling these quick tasks daily, I prevent messes from piling up and making cleaning feel like an impossible mountain to climb.
Weekly Cleaning Schedule
Instead of trying to deep clean the whole house in one day, I break it up throughout the week: This routine is inspired by the Cleam Mama Routine, just adapted to fit my life.
- Monday: Laundry Day
Mondays are for washing and folding clothes. I try to get it all done in one day so it doesn’t drag into the week.- Curious how I keep up with laundry? Check out my Simple Laundry Routine for busy moms — simple, repeatable, and totally doable.
- Tuesday: Bedrooms + Floors
I tidy up bedrooms, dust surfaces, and mop or vacuum the floors. Clean floors makes such a difference in how fresh the house feels! - Wednesday: Bathrooms
- I give the bathrooms a good scrub, wiping down sinks, mirrors, and counters, and giving the toilets and showers a quick clean. This is not a deep clean, rather a way to keep the bathroom from becoming filthy in between deep cleans.
- Thursday: Rest + Family Time
My husband is home on Thursdays, so instead of spending that time cleaning, I make a point to enjoy our time together. - Friday: Sheets + Reset for the Weekend
Fridays are for washing sheets and doing any last-minute tidying to prepare for a fresh weekend.
Mindset Shifts That Made All the Difference
Beyond creating a routine, I’ve also had to shift my mindset about what a “clean” home really means. Here are a few reminders that have helped me embrace a more realistic and peaceful approach:
- Done is better than perfect.
I used to think that if I couldn’t do it all, I shouldn’t do it at all. Now, I remind myself that even small progress is still progress. A five-minute cleanup is better than nothing. - The house is for living, not for looking perfect.
My home is meant to be lived in, and that means it won’t always look like a Pinterest-worthy space, and that’s okay! A little mess means love, laughter, and real life are happening here. - There will be a season for a spotless home. This is not that season.
There will come a day when my house stays clean for more than five minutes. But today is not that day, and I refuse to waste these precious years stressing over it.
Practical Tips for Staying on Top of Cleaning a Cleaning Schedule
If you’re struggling to maintain order in your home while balancing motherhood, here are a few things that have helped me:
- Set a timer. If cleaning feels overwhelming, set a 10-minute timer and see how much you can get done. You’d be surprised at what you can accomplish in a short burst of focused effort.
- Clean as you go. Wipe down the counter while waiting for your coffee, do the dishes while dinner is cooking, or tidy up toys as your kids move from one activity to the next.
- Lower your expectations. Some days, you’ll be productive. Other days, survival is enough. Give yourself grace and adjust as needed.
- Make it fun! Play music, listen to a podcast, or turn cleaning into a game with your kids.
Finding Peace in the Imperfect
Motherhood changes everything, including how we keep our homes. But that doesn’t mean we have to live in constant chaos. By adopting a realistic cleaning routine and shifting our mindset, we can maintain a home that feels peaceful enough without sacrificing the moments that matter most.
So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the mess, take a deep breath. Tidy up a little if you can, but if not, let it be. Hold your baby, soak in the snuggles, and remember: the mess will wait, but these moments won’t.
What works for you when it comes to keeping your house clean as a mom? Share your tips or struggles in the comments below!
