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How to Keep a Clean House @ AVirtuousWoman.org

How to Keep a Clean House

This post may contain affiliate links. You can read my disclosure policy here.

How to Keep a Clean House @ AVirtuousWoman.org

Some women seem to naturally know how to keep a tidy space. And then there’s the rest of us.

Maybe your mom didn’t spend a lot of time teaching you how to clean. Or maybe she struggled to keep the house clean herself.

But you really want to go to bed each evening with a clean {or mostly clean} house. I totally understand.

Unfortunately, houses don’t clean themselves. And unless you are fortunate enough to be able to hire a housekeeper, you’re in the same boat as me.

How to Keep a Clean House

Basically, if you want to keep a clean house, you’re going to have to put in a little work. But maybe not as much as you imagine!

There are basic steps to keeping a clean house that will make it less work overall. I call this my Daily Plan of Action.

Each morning, as soon as you can, get to work cleaning. You should be able to do most of these action steps in less than an hour, but at most it shouldn’t take much more than an hour and a half total for the day. If you put your children to work doing some of these tasks each day, then you’ll have even less work!

The Daily Plan of Action

  • make beds {5 minutes each}
  • start laundry {start, switch, fold, put away 10 minutes total}
  • sweep floors / vacuum {5 – 10 minutes}
  • tidy kitchen {20 – 30 minutes after each meal}
  • wipe down bathrooms {2 minutes per bathroom}
  • straighten house {30 minutes or less}
  • 10 minute declutter {10 minutes}
  • take out trash {2 minutes}

The Stay at Home Mom with Littles

So what does this look like in real life? First let’s look at this schedule for a Stay at Home Mom:

Please note: The ideas listed below are suggestions. There is no one right way to do things. You do what works best for you.

Let’s imagine for a moment. 

Mom wakes up at 6:30 am before the kids and a few minutes before her husband.

Or maybe in your real life, the kids wake you up at 6:45 crying for something to eat just as your husband gets out of the shower and you can’t get to the bathroom fast enough because your three year old is crying at the door and the baby is crying from her crib.

6:45 am: So, you use the restroom, brush your teeth and go to pick up your three year old and walk into the nursery to change the baby’s diaper. You talk gently to your toddler and ask him to hand you the fresh diaper and a clean wipe and praise him for being such a good helper.

7:00 am: Baby is still fussy, so you put her on your hip and make your way into the kitchen to make your toddler a bowl of oatmeal just as your husband is rushing out the door with a peck on your cheek.

Your toddler sits at the kitchen table while you make the oatmeal and you give him the job or slicing a banana into a bowl. You put the baby in her high chair with a board book. While the oatmeal cooks you put away the clean dishes in the dishwasher.

7:15 am: You spoon oatmeal into a bowl for each of the children and you sit down with them to eat breakfast. You say a prayer together and read a short toddler devotional story while eating breakfast.

7:30 am: You rinse the dishes and place them in the dishwasher. Wash the pot and wipe down the counters, table, and stove.

How to Keep a Clean House @ AVirtuousWoman.org

8:00 am: You give the toddler a simple activity to keep him occupied and put the baby in her swing.  This activity might include:

  • playdoh at the kitchen table
  • an educational video
  • felt book
  • wooden blocks
  • mega blocks

8:15 am: You go make the beds. {10 minutes for your bed and the toddler bed.}

8:25 am: Gather the laundry and start a load in the washing machine. Start the dryer if there was already a load in the washer. {2 – 5 minutes.} You check on your children.

8:30 am: Wipe down the bathrooms. If you do this daily it should only take a few minutes. Once a week swish out the toilets. {10 minutes for 2 bathrooms.} You check on your children.

8:40 am: Your toddler needs your attention, so you stop your chores for a few minutes to get him interested in another activity.

9:00 am: Sweep the floors and/ or vacuum. {10 minutes.}

9:15 am: You set the timer for 10 minutes and pick a drawer, table top, or other cluttered area to declutter. {10 minutes.}

9:25 am:

Check on the children. Take out the trash. {2 minutes}

You’re done for now. You can sit down and nurse the baby, play with your toddler, visit the park, run errands, visit a friend, deep clean the refrigerator, do weekly chores, or whatever else is on your agenda.

Around 4:30 pm take 30 minutes to straighten the entire house, put away laundry, put away toys, etc. before preparing supper.

9:30 pm: Before bed, clean the kitchen one last time and shine your sink.

The Mom Who Works Outside the Home

5:30 am: Your alarm goes off and you wake up. You spend a few minutes reading a devotion for the day.

5:45 am: Take your shower and get dressed.

6:30 am: Wake up the kids, help them get dressed.

6:45 am: Make beds. {10 minutes.}

7:00 am: Wipe down the bathrooms. {5 minutes.}

7:10 am: Start a load of laundry, fold laundry that’s in the dryer. {5 minutes.}

7:20 am: Fix breakfast and unload clean dishes in dishwasher.

7:45 am: Load dirty dishes into dishwasher. Wipe down counters, stove, and table.

8:00 am: Load the car and leave for work.

6:00 pm: Come home from work. Switch laundry over to dryer. {2 minutes}

6:15 pm: Cook supper. 10 minutes declutter while you wait on food to be ready. {10 minutes.}

7:00 pm: Eat supper. Tidy kitchen afterward. {30 minutes}

7:45 pm: Sweep floors and/ or vacuum if needed. {10 minutes.}

7:55 pm: Take out trash. {2 minutes.}

8:00 pm: Family time.

9:00 pm: Straighten house and put away toys, clothes, and clutter. {30 minutes.}

10:00 pm: Bedtime.

Of course, every family’s schedule and routine is different. So, this may not work exactly for you the way I have them written out. But it gives you an idea of how you can stay on top of your housework no matter what your schedule looks like.

There are lots of time saving ideas you can implement to streamline this daily routine as well! And if you miss a day or two each week? It won’t be a big deal because your house is relatively clean to start.

How to Keep a Clean House

How to Keep a Clean House @ AVirtuousWoman.org

Download my free printable cheat sheet: How to Keep a Clean House. Just fill out the form below and you’ll get instant access!

What works for you? Have you tried my daily plan of action? Let me know in the comments below.

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About Melissa Ringstaff

My name is Melissa Ringstaff and I've been blogging here at A Virtuous Woman since 2001. I'm a pastor's wife and homeschooling mom living in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of Southeastern KY. I believe in finding freedom from perfection and living life with purpose and I want to help you do exactly that.

I'm so glad you've stopped by to visit with me. I hope we can be friends!

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Home for the Holidays

This post may contain affiliate links. You can read my disclosure policy here.

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Previous Post: «It's Not About Perfection | Creating a space that feels like home. @ AVirtuousWoman.org It’s Not About Perfection #ATimeToClean
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Melinda J Mitchell

    November 4, 2017 at 1:22 pm

    Melissa, thanks for laying it out for me! I need concrete instructions!
    Reply
    • Melissa Ringstaff

      November 10, 2017 at 10:25 am

      I'm so glad you found this helpful! If you have any questions let me know. :)
      Reply
  2. Glavonne

    November 7, 2017 at 5:16 pm

    Just wanted to thank you for all your inspiring blog posts. It's easier to clean now. I have the holiday planner up and working. Thank you.
    Reply
    • Melissa Ringstaff

      November 10, 2017 at 10:24 am

      I'm so glad! Thank you for sharing!
      Reply
  3. Rachel

    February 8, 2018 at 10:29 pm

    I love the list. I'm a checklist kind of person, I need a concrete list of instructions to function effectively. Any chance you could make a list like this for homeschooling moms?
    Reply

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Hi There! My name is Melissa Ringstaff and I believe that being a Proverbs 31 Woman isn't about being perfect. Here at A Virtuous Woman you'll find freedom from perfection and the confidence to live your life with purpose.


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purposenotperfection

Freedom from perfection. 🪁
Live with purpose. ✝️
Proverbs 31 for modern women. 👱‍♀️
Wife + Mama + Homemaker + Kentucky
Life: @melissa.ringstaff

Melissa Ringstaff
Not gonna lie. 2020 was a hard year. And not just Not gonna lie. 2020 was a hard year. And not just because there was a pandemic. Our family has faced many trying times in the past but 2020 gave us some doozies.  I’m looking forward to a new year. The beginning of the new year always feels like a fresh start to me. It feels like HOPE.  But the truth is, whatever heartaches and hardships you and I were facing on Dec. 31 will most likely still be there on Jan. 1.  That’s why it’s hard to keep New Years resolutions. It’s easy to feel motivated for a few days or a couple weeks until we realize life hasn’t really changed and things are still hard.  But if we want to see real change it takes hard work and real effort. It takes showing up every day - even when it’s hard.  Whether that means working on your fractured relationships or setting healthy boundaries or cultivating self disciple... whatever that hard thing is that you need to work on ... it will only get better if you work on it.  We aren’t promised an easy life. But we are promised an “Ever Present Help in times of trouble.” Psalm 46:1  *
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#faithblogger #faithfulness #faithandfamily #bibleverseaday #christianbloggers #dailyverses #christianlife #jesuscalling #shereadstruth#proverbs31women #proverbs31life #10virtues #daughteroftheking #jesuslovesme #womenoffaith #faithquotes #proverbs31
We’re coming into the new year with all the same We’re coming into the new year with all the same problems we had in the last year. And that’s okay! Life doesn’t have to be perfect to still be amazing. Perfectionism is a joy stealer. Let’s determine to enjoy life right now in all its messiness.  I believe you can find freedom from perfection and the confidence to live your life with purpose. #purposenotperfection  #christian #Jesus #love #quotes #quoteslife #quotestoliveby #godisgood #votd #lifequotes #inspirationalquotes #life #motivationalquotes #inspiration #bible #bb #bestoftheday #happiness #wordofgod
🏠 Being a homemaker is such an important role. 🏠 Being a homemaker is such an important role. It’s a ministry to your family and all who enter your home.  But I want you to know: You don’t have to be perfect. ❤️  There’s a fine line between teaching your children to be neat and insisting on perfection. No one can meet that kind of standard and it can be detrimental to the emotional health of your family.  What we want for our homes is to provide a space that is neat and clean enough that your family and friends feel comfortable and well loved.  There is freedom in accepting the fact that you’re not perfect. Not to make excuses for slovenliness - but to give yourself grace.  It’s when we recognize our weakness that we find ourselves reaching out to Jesus to receive the power that comes only from him. As homemakers, when we can find grace for the moment when we accept His Gift.  “But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage. Ezra 9:8  Let His Grace wash over you, cleanse your weary heart. Homemaking isn’t about creating a perfect space. It’s about creating a home where loved ones feel cared for and nurtured. 
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#proverbs31 #proverbs31woman #purpose31 #10virtues #homemaking #homemakingministries #happyhomemaking #homemaking101 #cleanhome #cleanheart #fromchaostocalm #housekeeping #cleaningroutine #inspiredhome #makingahome #lovewhereyoudwell #homemaker #homebody #biblicalHomemaking #wearethehomemakers
❤️Your attitude about homemaking matters.⠀
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A homemaker by definition is someone who manages and makes a home. 🏠⠀
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But, anyone can clean and organize a home. ⠀
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☑️ Homemaking is about more than checking off the items on your to do list.⠀
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Learning how to be a homemaker means you learn how to make your home feel like haven of peace and love. You seek out ways to make your home feel inviting. You work at it.⠀
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There is no easy button for homemaking. There are easier, more efficient ways to do chores, but the chores still have to be done. If you live in a house, you will create the need for the house to be tidied every day and cleaned on a regular basis.⠀
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Having the right attitude about homemaking is the first step in learning how to be a homemaker.⠀
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The good news is, even if you’ve been struggling with your homemaking, you can always go to God and ask Him for help. ⠀
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He sees the unseen work of your hands. And He loves you very, very much. He wants to help you succeed. ⠀
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#proverbs31 #proverbs31woman #purpose31 #10virtues #homemaking #homemakingministries #happyhomemaking #homemaking101 #cleanhome #cleanheart #fromchaostocalm #housekeeping #cleaningroutine #inspiredhome #makingahome #lovewhereyoudwell #homemaker #homebody #biblicalHomemaking  #youngwife #housewife
🙏 If you’ve found it difficult to have a regu 🙏 If you’ve found it difficult to have a regular time with Jesus every day, you’re not alone. Lots of busy Christian women struggle to find time for a daily prayer and devotion time. ⠀
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But I still want to encourage you to start your day with God! ⠀
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⏰ If it’s hard to spend 30 minutes in the morning for a quiet time, I want you to remember you can still begin your day with God – even if that means saying a short prayer before your feet hit the floor in the morning.⠀
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✝️ I also want to encourage you to memorize this verse:⠀
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“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.⠀
Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” Psalm 143:8 📖⠀
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In the morning you can recite this verse and say a prayer. It doesn’t have to take a long time. Although – if you do have time – you will be greatly blessed by spending more time in prayer and devotion.⠀
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📌 Free Printable Morning Prayer Prompts on the blog today: https://avirtuouswoman.org/morning-prayer-prompts/  #linkinbio ⠀
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#faithblogger #faithfulness #faithandfamily #bibleverseaday #christianbloggers #dailyverses #christianlife #jesuscalling #shereadstruth #Christ #Church #Christian #Jesus #Jesuslover #JesusChrist #JesusisLord #CreatorGod #Devotional #verseoftheday #Love #Faith #biblestudy #God #dailydevotional
🏠 As a homemaker, one of my goals is to be inte 🏠 As a homemaker, one of my goals is to be intentional with how I plan our days. I love any opportunity to create a good memories at home for my family and guests. ⠀⠀
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📌 If you're looking to make this holiday season really special, you need to be intentional. Goodness knows 2020 has had a lot of ups and downs. And maybe you feel like it's been mostly downs. ⠀⠀
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🎄 But the holiday season is a chance to focus on celebrating the life we have right now. Things don't need to be perfect for us to celebrate life right now!!⠀⠀
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☑️ Inside the pages of my Purpose 31 holiday planner, you'll find 8 weeks of planning and cleaning all laid out for you. Recipe pages, journaling pages, and more - 120 pages total. ⠀⠀
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✏️ The Purpose 31 Holiday Planner is by far one of the most popular resource I produce each year. ⠀⠀
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Thousands of women have downloaded it over the last four years I've offered it.⠀⠀
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So, even though it's early still, you can go ahead and downlaod it. Print it out and then set it up so you're ready to go.⠀⠀
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I usually take my holiday planner down to Office Depot and have them spiral bind it with a plastic cover for about $5.00. This year, though, I just bought a new 3 ring binder at Walmart, printed off extra cover pages to slip in the clear sleeve, and created a binder with it. ⠀⠀
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📌📌📌 If you use the planner this year, be sure to share and tag me in your photos! ❤️⠀  Download: https://avirtuouswoman.org/holiday-planner/ #linkinbio
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#proverbs31 #proverbs31woman #purpose31 #10virtues #homemaking #homemakingministries #happyhomemaking #homemaking101 #cleanhome #cleanheart #fromchaostocalm #housekeeping #cleaningroutine #inspiredhome #makingahome #lovewhereyoudwell #homemaker #homebody #biblicalHomemaking #christmas #holidayplanning #planningaddict #plannercommunity #freeprintables #thanksgiving #christmastree  #plannerobsessed
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