10 time-saving Spring cleaning hacks for busy parents
Balancing being a great parent with having a clean, tidy home can feel impossible - but it doesn’t have to be. Today, we’re sharing our top cleaning hacks for busy parents, to keep your home looking spotless all year round!
It’s getting to that time of year again, where we all want our homes to be reset and ready for the year ahead. You really can’t beat the feeling of sitting down on your freshly plumped sofa and lighting a candle after a super productive cleaning session. But finding the time to get it all done is a whole different story!
Balancing being a great parent with having a clean, tidy home can feel impossible - but it doesn’t have to be. Today, we’re sharing our top cleaning hacks for busy parents, to keep your home looking spotless all year round:
- Create a realistic cleaning schedule
Let’s get real. You’re not going to have the entire house perfectly clean and organized in one day. So don’t set yourself up to fail! Your first step should always be to break down your household tasks into manageable chunks and do it over the course of the month.
For example, you could break things up by task (vacuuming the upstairs on the Monday, decluttering the bedrooms on the Tuesday, and so on), or work on decluttering a different room each day.
- Say goodbye to stains in minutes with white vinegar and baking soda
Don’t waste time scrubbing away at stubborn stains for hours. Mix equal parts white vinegar and baking soda to create a powerful cleaning paste. Apply it to tough stains in the kitchen or bathroom, let it sit for a few minutes, and then scrub away grime effortlessly. To get rid of stubborn mold, use a cloth soaked in white vinegar and leave it to sit on the mold for a few hours before wiping it away.
- Use baking soda to keep your carpets smelling fresh
Before you vacuum them, sprinkle a little baking soda on your carpets and rugs, and let it sit for fifteen to twenty minutes first. This helps to absorb odors and freshen the carpet, making that post-vacuum feeling even more satisfying!
- Use lemons to freshen your microwave
Cut a lemon in half and place it in a bowl of water, then microwave for a few minutes to create steam. The lemony steam will loosen any stuck-on food, making it easier to wipe away, and leave your microwave looking and smelling super fresh.
- Use an old toothbrush for hard-to-reach spaces
An old toothbrush can be a powerful tool for scrubbing grout lines in the bathroom or kitchen. Just dip it in a mixture of baking soda and water for an extra cleaning boost!
- Use a dish wand to speed up cleaning your bathroom
Add equal parts white vinegar and dish soap into your dish wand (you can buy the Dishmatic and Scotch-Brite ones from Amazon) for an easy way to clean your bathroom showers and sinks. Just be sure to get the non-scratch sponge pads to avoid damaging your taps or chrome!
- Use white vinegar to banish drain blockages too!
To unblock your drains in a matter of minutes, start by pouring a pot of boiling water down the drain, then follow that up by pouring one cup of baking soda (mixed with a cup of water) and one cup of white vinegar down the drain. Then cover your drain up with the plug and leave it for five to ten minutes before pouring another cup of boiling water down too. And voila - you’ve got yourself some clean drains!
- Invest in some time-saving cleaning tools
It’s definitely worth investing in a high-quality vacuum cleaner and cleaning supplies that genuinely work wonders. But this doesn’t always have to mean buying expensive cleaning supplies - it just means doing your research into what’s going to clean your house best.
If you have marble countertops in your kitchen, for example, the Bar Keeper’s Friend stain remover will work wonders to remove tea stains and discoloration in seconds, while the powerful Pink Stuff cleaning paste will save you hours of time on getting rid of stains and dirt around your home. Neither are expensive, and both are super easy and quick to use!
- Get rid of unwanted new items with ReturnQueen
As a parent with so much on your plate, it’s a huge inconvenience to have to keep heading out to the post office to get your returns ticked off your to-do list.
But did you know you can get your unwanted items picked up right from your doorstep? With the ReturnQueen app, you can schedule your returns to be picked up from your doorstep even when you’re out and about - with no packaging, labeling, or posting required. Just schedule your pickup on the app, then sit back and let our drivers sort the rest!
You can try the app out completely free of charge with a 7-day free trial - no strings attached!
- Get the kids involved!
Start a gold star system where your children can earn pocket money or special treats by helping with the hoovering or the dishwasher. Not only does it lighten your workload, it teaches your kids the importance of responsibility and teamwork, and shows them what it means to run and manage a household.
Enjoy your sparkling clean house - and all your free time!
By planning well, getting the whole family involved, and making use of these cleaning tricks, you can have a tidy home without missing out on fun times with your kids.
Remember, cleaning together can actually be enjoyable, and you'll love having a clean, cozy home that's all about family. 💜
To find out more about how you can save time with hassle-free doorstep returns, find out more about how ReturnQueen works and download the app here.