What do you mean by clean, do you mean it’s dirty or messy?
Mess I find comes from too much stuff or lack of storage.
Dirty is, dirty dishes, sides, floors etc…
My house is clean but messy. It’s gotten better as my DDs have gotten older as there are less toys around. My 6yo still has toys but we’ve gotten rid of loads and it’s made a huge difference in our house.
With a 5yo and 22mo it’s going to be hard. I remember looking at my lounge about 5 years ago and saying to myself I’m going to have to resign myself to the fact I’m never going to have a show home with young kids. I was a lot less stressed after that.
Things I’ve done
Not kept hold of things. With 3 DDs I would keep toys, clothes, coats absolutely everything to hand down. It got so overwhelming. I’ve gradually built myself up to be brave and get rid of as much as possible. It means I now have to buy clothes as my DDs grow. But it’s made a huge impact on stuff I have lying around. I donate to charity shops and buy from them so I don’t feel too guilty about the waste of getting rid of stuff.
Have 1 room child/toy free. This has been happening for about a year. We have 2 reception rooms so it’s not been impossible. I also have a robo vac just in this room so the floors vacuumed every night while I sleep. The feeling of walking into a child/toy free room with clean floors is amazing 🤩
Set yourself 1 task rather than do it all. Whether it’s vacuuming, dishes, washing, dusting.. that’s your 1 main job for the day, everything else you manage to do is a bonus.
Let things slide. I no longer stress about the fact the beds need changing, so what if the bedding dosnt get washed for a few extra days, the same with towels. They get done when I get round to it. I use to get worked up about them needing changing after x amount of uses/days.
I wash the kids bedding with the duvet inner still inside the cover. Saves me taking it off and putting it back on. Now I wash it all, hang it to dry and chuck it back on the bed. I’d do it with mine but it’s too big. I also keep a spare duvet and pillow made up in case of illness, so I’m not messing with making duvets up in the middle of the night. This also helps on washing day, strip the kids beds and chuck the clean made up duvet straight on. It only works with 1 bed though, I now have 3 in big beds but no room to store 3 ready made pillows and duvets. But every little helps.
Put rubbish and recycling in the outside bins straight away. I hate emptying the kitchen bin, I leave it to my DH. When he’s away for work I don’t use it, I use a carrier bag and chuck it in the bin each night. Or I will use a dirty saucepan to collect all food waste and empty straight in the outside bin.
My favourite, paper plates and cups. I buy cheap basic ones and most of the kids meals are severed on them, same with drinks. Once finished it’s straight in the bin, no washing up. I will also use kitchen roll and napkins as a plate if I’m making a sandwich or something, rather than use a plate then have to wash it up.
I will also serve food on one giant serving plate and everyone can just pick off that. Obviously it’s dependant on the meal. Sometimes I have to suck it up and use real plates and bowls.
There are certain things that upset and get to me, dirty sides. I don’t care if the dishes don’t get done (we don’t have a dishwasher) as long and foods been scrapped off and they are in a neat piles with the kitchen benches and draining boarded cleaned down. I can cope with walking into the kitchen and doing the dishes in the morning, but can’t with dirt and stains on the counter. It’s the same in the bathroom, it takes seconds to put the empty toilet roll in the bin & bleach in the toilet especially after a poo. It also if not hard to make sure toothpaste spray is washed off taps and sinks. I’ve always taught my DDs part of their teeth cleaning routine is to spray and wipe the sink before leaving the bathroom.
MOST IMPORTANTLYas your DCs get older, give them jobs to do. Whether it’s put toys away, make their beds, get the feather duster out. Teach them to contribute and as they get older give them more jobs. All 3 of mine do jobs including my 6yo. The other day I was sweeping up the dogs hair, without even asking my 6yo went and got the dustpan and brush to sweep the piles I’d made. They all get pocket money and chore money, however if I have to remind them about their chores they don’t get paid.