How I Keep My Home Cleaner with the “Good Enough” Cleaning Method

I tend to be a perfectionist at heart. I like things done a certain way and I like my home to be clean. However, with 2 little kids and a husband who works long hours, some days I’m doing good just to feed everyone, let alone keep my home perfectly tidy. 

A few years ago I would have told you that I could keep a perfect home even with little kids. While I’m sure it’s possible, it’s not something I want to commit a large amount of time to during this time of my life. I would much rather build Legos, take long afternoon walks, snuggle up and watch movies, read books, or bake cookies with my boys than keep a perfect home.

My time is precious. My boys are growing. I want to spend my time with them and not stressing about a perfect home. 

Plus, who really has a perfect home anyways?

As a mom, if I want to do something perfectly, it will never get done.

If I wait to clean perfectly, it will get put off forever. I know this to be true because it’s what started happening to me. 

Since my second son, Ben, was born I’ve been following what I like to call the “Good Enough Cleaning Method.” I’m one to wait and wait to do something until I can do it “right.” However, I found that if I waited to do it just right, it never got done. By following the “Good Enough Cleaning Method,” I’ve actually been able to keep my home cleaner! This is how it works:

• Rather than waiting to dust when I have time to get to my entire house, I’ve been spot dusting certain areas and rooms when I notice it’s needed. It only takes me a minute or two and the dusting is actually getting done occasionally now! 🙂
• Instead of waiting until deep clean both bathrooms, I’ve found that doing quick 1-2 minute cleans with a Clorox wipe can go a long way to keeping the bathrooms much tidier (and more sanitized with boys!)
• I will clean out and organize one shelf in my pantry instead of waiting for a free afternoon to clean out and organize the entire closet.
• I will fold part of a basket of laundry when I have a minute or two instead of waiting until I can fold everything and get it put away.

A few other “quick” things I do to keep my home clean enough:

• I will often times set the timer for 5-10 minutes and do a quick pick-up. My 4 year old jumps on board, we turn on some music, and move as quickly as we can. By doing this, we really keep the main rooms in our home much tidier.
• I utilize small segments of time throughout the day. When my boys are eating breakfast, I will empty the dishwasher. When they are content to play on the floor for a few minutes, I will throw in a quick load of laundry. By using these small moments throughout the day, I get a lot more accomplished.

I think it’s important to note that I still believe in the importance of finishing tasks completely. However, in this short season of life I sometimes only have a minute or two between nursing a baby, changing a diaper, playing memory with my 4 year old, or running to preschool and back. By utilizing those small minutes, I’m able to make big changes to get my home clean enough. 

If you are stressed out, overwhelmed by everything you have going on, and just generally tired all of the time, then you may need to rethink your strategies and makeover your mornings! Crystal Paine from Money Saving Mom has a wonderful online course that is thorough, yet to the point that will help you transform your mornings and change your life. Just click on the link below to get your first day in the 14 day course for free! Psst…Crystal also has a new Make Over Your Evenings course that you can find here!