Let’s be honest, keeping a house clean can be a lot of work. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked around and thought “What’s the point?” Laundry never ends. As soon as you clean a room, someone comes in and messes it up. It is a never ending circle that just leaves you feeling tired and discouraged.

That’s why I started a new system to keep my house clean! (I’ve also created a $0.99 Chore Breakdown for you to use to keep yours that way as well!) Here are my 5 steps that can be a big help when applied to your home!

My 5 Tips

1. Make a list of daily chores

You know those chores that you have to do every single day. These will be called your “daily chores”. For example, because I use cloth diapers, washing diapers is one of my daily chores. There are plenty of others. You know what they are in your home.

Write these out, or use my Chore Breakdown, so that you can see them every day. Just go down the list daily. Cross them off as you complete them, if that helps. Do the dishes, fold the laundry, clean up the clutter. You don’t have to tackle everything completely in the beginning, but after you start doing this on a regular basis the messes will start to get smaller.

Sometimes it helps to give yourself a little treat once those tasks are completed. For me, my treat is sitting down and watching one episode of Friends!

2. Make a list of weekly chores

Some of the chores do not need to be done every day, but are still very regular. For example, cleaning the bathroom is something I do once a week. Again, you know what these chores should be. Without your weekly list, these chores may get put off and contribute to you seeing your home as a dirty house. 

Just set a regular weekly time to get these chores done. It doesn’t need to be the same day every week. You don’t even have to get them all done in one day. But by the end of the week, they all need to be completed. And because you’ve been keeping up with these chores weekly, they won’t be as big of a task each time you tackle them in the future.

3. Make a list of monthly chores

I bet you didn’t see that one coming.

Yes, monthly chores are next. These are those deeper cleaning chores that make your house shiny to its core. For example, cleaning the stove or dusting the baseboards. You know the chores you feel like you can never get to, because other chores are more of a priority? They belong in this category. However, the beauty of monthly chores is that you have an entire month to get them done. 

Another positive for monthly chores is that every month may look different. You don’t have to do every single deep cleaning chore in one month. Look at your schedule and make a list for what works with you and your schedule for that particular month. I promise after one month of doing these chores, you’re going to feel so good!

4. Just put your head down and do it

You know how sometimes you just don’t feel like doing chores, so you sit there on your phone for a few minutes? Then, those few minutes turn into an hour? Just me? 

Well, my secret sauce for getting motivated is to just do it. Count to five, get up, and get going. You may never FEEL like doing your chores. But avoiding them isn’t going to keep your house clean. You don’t get to simply do things because you feel like it. Sometimes you just have to put your head down and do it! No excuses!

Again, give yourself an incentive to get everything done. Sometimes those little rewards help. Eventually, you may learn to enjoy some of those tasks. I honestly love folding clothes. I call it a folding clothes party. Bring the joy into your work and cross those things off of your lists!

5. Let some things go

I know, I just got done telling you to go and do that chore regardless of how you feel. However, there is a time to let some things go. Every day is not the same. Stuff comes up. There are doctors appointments, or busy weekends that you need to recover from. Sometimes your child just wants you to sit and hold them. In those moments, it’s ok to let the chores go. 

While taking your appropriate break, there may be a piece of guilt or anxiety at the thought of the mess that will come from this rest. In those moments, I start to find some truths. The truth is, my house isn’t going to fall apart (especially since I have been regularly keeping up with my lists). Another truth is that sometimes my child really does need my attention more than the dishes need scrubbed. The biggest truth is that there are more important things than a clean house. Embrace those things.

Conclusion

Part of keeping your house clean is making lists of those daily, weekly, and monthly chores. (If you need some help with those lists, here is my Chore Breakdown.) Decide what chores go on which list. Then, just do them. Don’t let those feelings of not wanting to do work get in your way. However, there are times that it is ok to let the chores go. Put these tips into action consistently and watch your house become a more tidy home!

Do you have any other tips to add? I’d love to hear them!