Nobody really enjoys deep cleaning their home, but once it’s done, there’s a great feeling of satisfaction, and you’ll walk around for the next few days enjoying the tidy, organized atmosphere. The problem is, there are always things that get in the way of cleaning, from wasting time on the internet to being busy with work, but one thing that’s guaranteed to thwart your cleaning plans is having kids around. Whether they’re too young for school or they’re on a break, kids can really get in the way when you clean, so here are some tips for working around them.
1. Hire Professionals for Dangerous Jobs
A few deep cleaning jobs, such as cleaning your oven or carpet cleaning, can be dangerous with kids around because they’re using chemicals. Consider leaving it up to the professionals and take the kids out for the day while they do their thing. Companies such as Moxie Pest Control, who can remove pests such as fleas and ticks before you deep clean, will be happy to give you an estimated finish time so you can stay away from the house.
2. Focus on One Room at a Time
Don’t even think about cleaning a room when the kids are in it. Instead, do a bit of a juggling act, moving the kids from room to room as you clean different areas. It’s easy when they’re in the living room, just stick on a movie and they’re happy, but if you’re cleaning that space then look for other ways to keep kids entertained. Of course, a little bit of screen time never hurt a kid, and tablets can be moved from room to room easily.
3. Call in Some Babysitting Favors
Cleaning with kids around can be a slow and frustrating process, so if you can get a sitter for a few hours, then you can be a lot more productive as you’re not constantly having to check on them or fetch things. If you don’t have family locally, you could consider setting up a babysitting circle, so you can watch each other’s kids and get some peace and quiet.
4. Do Quiet Jobs When They’re in Bed
A good thing about young kids is that they have early bedtimes, so once they’re fast asleep, you can get quieter jobs done. Save the noisy stuff like vacuuming for during the day.
5. Get Them to Help
While you may feel sorry for kids who do chores, they’ll grow up and leave home one day, so they need to learn this stuff. Find them some age appropriate jobs to do and they’ll love helping, especially if they get a small reward at the end. Even at preschool age, they should be able to pick up toys, put dirty clothes in the hamper or do a little supervised wiping and mopping. By middle school, they should have responsibility for their own bedroom and bathroom.
Deep cleans can be great in spring or around the holidays when you just want to give your house a fresh look. Follow our tips, and even if you have kids underfoot, you can get a great result.
Nickida
Nickida is a first-generation Trinidadian American wife and mother of four. She enjoys sharing recipes from her childhood growing up in Trinidad with her readers. Nickida has a son with Autism and shares posts around traveling with a child with special needs to help other families like her own. She loves television, movies and is a true 80's baby.
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