Simple Cleaning Hacks For The Busy Mom

Whew! Anything I can to make cleaning our house easier is amazing. I really love a clean house, but I don’t really like spending time cleaning. Most people would tell me to invest in a housekeeper, but at this stage in our lives – we can’t. So I have to compromise with my dislike for cleaning – I clean every week and then about once a quarter I do a deep clean – preferably when J and Dent are both gone for a few hours. The last time I deep cleaned our house, I spent over 6 hours and tackled every inch of our home.

I felt amazing when it was done, but it didn’t take long to get it messy again – #toddlermomproblems.

I’ve learned shortcuts and cleaning hacks to make life a little easier. These also help us to make sure our house is clean – doesn’t just look clean, but is actually clean – in less time. Here are some of my simple cleaning hacks:

Refresh Your Carpets With Baking Soda

Don’t have time to run to the story for that smell-good carpet freshener? No worries! Grab a box of baking soda and sprinkle on your carpets. Let it sit for a bit (I like to let mine sit for 10 minutes or so) then vacuum. Easy! Plus, this option is great if you have smaller kids or pets that have allergy problems.

You can also use this trick on your furniture, too.

Clean Carpets With Vinegar

If you’ve run out of your carpet steam cleaner then opt for your white vinegar instead. You can use it in place of your carpet cleaner. It cleans just as great and doesn’t have all those chemicals commercial cleaners have.

Microfiber ClothFor Your Swiffer

Run out of swiffer cloths? No big deal! Grab an microfiber cloth and use it instead. I love wrapping one of these cloths to my Swiffer and then shortening the length before handing it over to my toddler. He’ll ‘play’ with it for over an hour.

Easily Dust Your Ceiling Fan

Grab a pillowcase to dust your ceiling fan without making a mess. Make sure your fan is turned off and then slip the pillowcase on to the blade. Wipe it down and pull the case off. Make sure to keep the pillowcase study so that any dust will fall inside and not onto your bed or floor.

Foil As A Dryer Sheet

If you’re in a pinch for a dryer sheet then grab a large piece of foil. Just roll it into a ball and throw in your dryer. It will help reduce any static cling while your clothes dry. I typically throw in 2 for larger loads.

Sweep A Room A Day

We removed most of our carpet when our son was first born. So now I tend to grab the broom and sweep at least the family room, kitchen or hallways and bathroom once a day. It saves from having a big mess once a week – especially since we have three dogs and a toddler!

Clear A Drain

Grab your baking soda and pour it down your drain. Let it set for a minute and then pour in your white vinegar. It may bubble so watch out! But it will help de-clog your shower drain or sink drain in no time.

Clean and Protect Dirty Baseboards

Easily clean your baseboards with a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water. Then after they dry, grab a dryer sheet and wipe them down. The dryer sheet will help protect them from hair and dust.

Stop All The Dog Hair

Grab a squeegee and run it along your fabric to remove dog hair. You can use this on carpet, rugs and furniture.

Clean Your Beauty Tools

Grab some baby shampoo and warm water to clean your beauty blender. Squeeze the soap and water into the blend and then rinse with clean, warm water until it runs clear. You may need to repeat a few times.