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Keeping a home clean with a baby felt overwhelming when I first became a mom. Some days, my baby wouldn’t let me put him down, and my home looked like a tornado had run through it. I spent every nap time and at least an hour each evening after bedtime just cleaning up from the day. Afterward, I’d take a quick shower and go straight to bed—leaving no time for my husband or any self-care.
One day, I decided that something had to change. Here are the practical tips I now implement daily to keep my home clean while still having time for myself.
A Gentle Reminder: Give Yourself Grace
If you have a newborn, please give yourself grace. It’s completely normal for newborns to want to be held constantly. During this stage, lean on your partner, family, or friends to help—whether that means holding the baby while you clean or taking care of the cleaning for you. I started implementing these tips when my baby was around 12 weeks old.
Also, some days, despite your best efforts, your home may still get messy. Babies have fussy days, and your energy levels will fluctuate. That’s okay! If you accomplish 80% of your cleaning goals 80% of the time, you’re doing an amazing job.
Practical Cleaning Tips for Moms
1. Create a Cleaning Schedule
The first thing I had to do was come up with a plan. Before having a baby, I would clean my entire house in one day—but that quickly became impossible. So, I sat down and thought about when I could realistically complete certain chores. From there, I created a daily and weekly cleaning schedule.
👉 I have a whole blog post on this! Check it out here for specifics.
2. Clean While your Kids Are Awake
This is my number one tip!
For the longest time, I felt guilty if I wasn’t actively entertaining my baby while he was awake. But the truth is, babies benefit from independent play—it fosters creativity and self-soothing skills.
How This Works in Real Life:
Today, I needed to clean our bedroom. So, I grabbed a few toys, placed my baby on the floor, and began cleaning. At first, he watched me, then he started playing independently.
✔️ Did I have to stop when a toy rolled too far? Yes.
✔️ Did it take longer than if I had waited until nap or bedtime? Yes.
✔️ But am I now able to write this blog post at 7:23 PM instead of cleaning my room while my baby sleeps? Also yes!
If your baby is used to constant entertainment, they may get fussy at first. But with time, they’ll adapt to you doing other things while they play.
Getting Your Baby Involved as They Get Older
Right now, my baby is still little, but as he grows, I fully plan to involve him in cleaning in small, age-appropriate ways. Not only does this help lighten my load, but it also teaches responsibility and life skills early on!
Here are some simple ways toddlers and young children can help:
🧸 Picking up toys – Even at a young age, kids can start learning to put toys in a basket when they’re done playing.
🧹 “Sweeping” with a small broom – Giving them their own mini broom lets them feel involved (even if they’re just moving dirt around at first).
🧺 Helping with laundry – Letting them toss clothes in the hamper or help “push” wet clothes into the dryer makes them feel included.
🧽 Wiping surfaces – With a damp washcloth (or even a dry one), they can “clean” tables or counters while you do the real work.
🐾 Feeding pets – If you have pets, toddlers can help scoop food into their bowls with supervision.
It won’t always be perfect (and sometimes, it’ll be more work at first), but getting kids involved early makes cleaning a normal part of their routine. Plus, it helps turn chores into fun bonding moments instead of something I do alone!
3. Automate, Automate, Automate
If you have the means, investing in tools that automate cleaning can save you so much time and energy. Here are some of my favorites, plus a few others that could be helpful!
🧹 Tineco Vacuum Mop – game-changer! I originally bought this when I was working long hours in corporate tax, but it’s been a lifesaver as a mom. It makes floor cleaning so much faster. Plus, you can throw the vacuum roller in the washing machine for an easy, deep clean!
🤖 Robot Vacuum – Another essential! I bought this for postpartum and have it set to vacuum every night at 10 PM. The one I have linked isn’t super fancy and honestly not very smart, but it’s more affordable than the leading brand and gets the job done. With two pugs that shed like crazy, this has been a sanity saver.
🧺 Automatic Litter Box – If you have cats, an automatic litter box can reduce the need for daily scooping, keeping your home fresher with minimal effort. (I don’t personally use this, but I’ve heard great things!)
🍽️ Dishwasher – Running a dishwasher every night instead of hand-washing dishes throughout the day can save so much time. If you don’t already, try loading dishes throughout the day and running it once before bed!
4. Simplify Your Cleaning Supplies
I used to have a cabinet full of specialty cleaners, but now I stick to just a few essentials:
✔️ All-Purpose Cleaner – I love Fabuloso in lavender, but Thieves is a great natural alternative. You can clean everything from toilets to countertops with a good all-purpose spray.
✔️ Swiffer Duster – Great for trapping dust quickly.
✔️ Vacuum Cleaner – I use a corded Shark, it is more affordable than the cordless options, i don’t have to worry about it dying halfway through my house and the suction is better.
✔️ Dawn Dish Soap – A multi-purpose staple! It works for tubs, toilets, and even diluted for wiping down surfaces. I usually buy a big bottle at Sams Club and then refill the smaller bottles in the kitchen and bathrooms.
By keeping things simple, I save time and avoid decision fatigue when cleaning.
Create a List of Your Own Must-Haves!
I’ve shared some of my favorite cleaning tools and supplies, but I’d love to know—what are your cleaning must-haves? Comment below with your top items, or share your list on Instagram and tag me. I’ll feature some of your favorite products on my next post
Conclusion
These simple but effective tips have helped me maintain a clean home while still having my evenings free for myself and my family. Motherhood is already a full-time job—cleaning doesn’t have to take over your life too.
Do you have any cleaning hacks that help you stay on top of things as a mom? Let me know in the comments!
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