The Cleaning Routine That Changed My Life
Tired, busy, overwhelmed? I hear you. As a fellow busy person, I used to spend my weekends playing catch-up, scrubbing and scouring until I could finally collapse on the couch, only to repeat the cycle the following week. That is, until I discovered the life-changing power of a consistent cleaning routine.
Let me share a story that’ll hit close to home. A few months ago, I received an email from a new follower of mine, Michelle, who had just implemented my tried-and-true cleaning routine. Here’s what she had to say:
“I’ve used your system for just a week and – excuse the hyperbole – this feels life-changing! I’m a business owner, and would typically spend the better part of Saturdays cleaning and doing laundry. This past weekend, I had a REAL (normal) weekend! I had TIME. I got to relax, take long walks in the snow with my dogs, bake a cake, and even take on declutter projects that have been bothering me for months. In the past, all that got done was a ‘weekend reset’ – just get the house back to ‘zero’ for the week. Rinse and repeat the following week. Nothing more ever got done (without a long weekend) because that was all the time and energy I had for the house. Now I can envision not only more time to relax and have fun, but I can see actually taking on home projects that might make life better. Taking on those daily tasks seems do-able knowing the reward is getting my Saturdays back (plus a consistently clean house). It’s so simple, and it’s brilliant. I’m beyond grateful!”
If you’re anything like Michelle, you’re probably feeling skeptical. But hear me out – this cleaning routine can truly transform your life, even if you feel like you’re the busiest person on the planet.
The 4 Components of the Clean Mama Routine
I created this cleaning routine years ago out of sheer necessity. I was tired of spending my entire weekends cleaning, only to have my home descend into chaos during the week. So I developed a system that would allow me to maintain a clean and tidy home with just a little bit of effort each day.
The Clean Mama Routine has four key components:
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Daily Tasks: These are the non-negotiable, essential tasks that you’ll do every single day. We’re talking about things like making your bed, wiping down the counters, and doing a load of laundry.
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Weekly Tasks: Each day of the week is assigned a specific cleaning task, like mopping the floors on Thursdays or dusting on Tuesdays.
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Rotating Tasks: These are the deep-cleaning jobs that get done on a rotating basis, like cleaning the oven or polishing the silver.
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Monthly Focus: There’s one organizing or decluttering project that you’ll tackle each month, slowly but surely transforming your entire home over the course of the year.
The beauty of this routine is that it’s completely customizable to your unique needs and schedule. Whether you work long hours outside the home or you’re a stay-at-home parent, I promise you can make this work.
Tackling the Daily Tasks
Let’s start with the daily tasks, as these are the foundation of the whole system. I recommend beginning with just one or two tasks per day, and gradually building up from there.
The five essential daily tasks are:
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Make the Beds: This sets the tone for the day and makes your bedroom feel instantly refreshed.
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Check the Floors: Give a quick sweep or vacuum to pick up any visible dirt or debris.
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Wipe the Counters: This prevents the kitchen from descending into a cluttered mess.
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Tackle Clutter: Spend a few minutes putting away anything that’s out of place.
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Do a Load of Laundry: This keeps the piles from getting out of control.
Once you’ve got these daily tasks down, you can start incorporating the weekly cleaning responsibilities. For example, on Mondays you might tackle the bathrooms, Tuesdays are for dusting, and so on.
Fitting It Into Your Busy Schedule
I know what you’re thinking – “But I barely have time to breathe, let alone clean!” Trust me, I’ve been there. As a working mom with three kids, I’ve had to navigate all kinds of wild schedules and challenges.
The key is to start small and be flexible. If you only have 5-10 minutes before work, use that time to tackle one daily task. When you get home, set a timer for another 10-15 minutes and see what you can accomplish.
The beauty of this routine is that if you miss a task on its assigned day, you can simply move it to the next Friday’s “catch-up” time. No guilt, no pressure – just keep moving forward.
And remember, progress over perfection. Some weeks, you may only have the bandwidth for the daily essentials. Other times, you’ll be able to tackle the whole shebang. Either way, you’re building momentum and creating a cleaner, more peaceful home.
The Privilege of a Clean Home
One final mindset shift that’s been hugely helpful for me: Reframing cleaning from a chore to a privilege. Think about it – you get to maintain a comfortable, organized space for yourself and your loved ones. That’s pretty special, don’t you think?
So take a deep breath, give this routine a try, and celebrate the small wins along the way. Before you know it, you’ll be the one sending me an email about how this simple system has transformed your life. I can’t wait to hear your story!
In the meantime, I’d love to invite you to check out our website to learn more about how our professional cleaning services can complement your new routine. Happy cleaning!
