Does it ever feel like there just isn’t enough time in the day to keep your house clean? You’re not alone. After 14 years of professional cleaning, I’ve learned that busy moms don’t need a full day of cleaning. They need a simple routine. This 30-minute morning cleaning routine helps you keep your home tidy without giving up your whole day.

The secret is to get a head start. Set your alarm 30 minutes early and clean while the kids are still sleeping. If mornings are tough, split it up: 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening works just as well.

Before You Start Your Morning Cleaning Routine

• Stock a cleaning caddy. Keep all your supplies in a caddy with a handle, so you can carry it from room to room instead of running back and forth.
• Set a timer for each room. It keeps you moving and stops you from getting stuck in one spot.
• Ask for help. Your partner and kids can pitch in, too.
• Don’t stress. You don’t have to clean the whole house in one day. A little each day adds up.

Morning Cleaning Routine: Kitchen (10 Minutes)

• Rinse dishes and load the dishwasher.
• Wipe down countertops and surfaces with a non-toxic all-purpose spray.
• Empty the trash and add a fresh liner.

Living Room: 5 Minutes

• Fold blankets and put things back where they belong, like remotes, cups, dishes and clothes.
• Give the furniture a quick dusting.

Bathroom: 5 Minutes

• Spray the sink, counters, tub and toilet with a non-toxic cleaner, using a clean microfiber cloth for each area.
• Empty the trash.
• Toss dirty clothes in the laundry basket.

Bedroom: 5 Minutes

• Make the bed.
• Pick up dirty clothes and put them in the laundry basket.
• Dust the furniture.

Laundry: 5 Minutes

• Gather the laundry baskets, sort the colors and start one load.
• Aim for one load a day so laundry never piles up.

Make Your Morning Cleaning Routine a Habit

Tomorrow, pick up where you left off. Doing a little each morning saves you from an exhausting cleaning day, and you get to come home from work to a neat, clean house. Rinse and repeat!

Want a simple, natural cleaner for your routine? Try my homemade non-toxic dishwasher detergent. For more on choosing safer cleaning products, visit the EPA Safer Choice program.

Happy Cleaning!
Diana