3 Cleaning Habits to Stop NOW

Is my house spotless? Definitely not. But I am learning to keep it cleaner most of the time. And in doing so, I've discovered three bad cleaning habits we should all stop doing right now.
STOP:

1. Doing it all yourself. If you're trying to do all the housecleaning yourself, you're not only making your job too hard, you are failing to teach your children an important life skill. For ideas on age appropriate chores, click here.

2. Cleaning only once a week. It took me too long to figure this one out! Pre-kids, I could clean the house all in one day and it would stay clean for a week - usually longer. But once kids enter the picture, the simple fact is you must clean more frequently. So start cleaning a little every day. Ultimately, it's easier, plus it will keep your house cleaner. For ideas on figuring out what chores should be done daily, weekly, and monthly, see my "Making a Mama Chore Chart" post.

3. Putting off cleaning messes right after they happen. Spills and other messes are so much easier and quicker to clean if you do it right away. Spills that are allowed to dry require scrubbing - plus you have to see them while you put off cleaning. This rule applies to clutter, too. Make sure you are a great example to your kids and clean up one mess before making another. And start implementing a new rule in the house: No one is allowed to get out more than three toys (or sets of toys), or tools, or whatever, without putting away one or more first.


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