This week we are sharing a series of posts all about spring cleaning sponsored by Sandia Green Clean. We want to know: what are your best spring cleaning tips?
Whether you love to or not, every home needs to be cleaned. And when you have kids, it needs to be cleaned a lot more. From spilled drinks and crumbs to potty training accidents and baking projects, there’s no shortage of messes to be cleaned. As moms, we understand that keeping a home clean is a never-ending battle, which can sound a bit depressing. But when you embrace the fact that cleaning is just part of your life, you start to see that it’s an opportunity to truly take care of your family.
Yes, you clean every single day, whether it’s a full deep-dive into every room or just spot cleaning immediate needs. And because you spend so much time doing it, it’s important to look at your entire cleaning process from start to finish. More than just the “how” you clean (although that’s important, too), taking a closer look at how cleaning actually impacts your life can reveal what you need to change in order to live your best (cleanest) life.
The Time You Spend
Take a moment to think about how much time you spend cleaning your home each week. Add up the minutes and you quickly start to see how time-consuming the process really is. And while you can’t (and shouldn’t) stop keeping your home looking great just to save time, there are some secrets to making the most out of the time you have.
First, don’t be afraid to do just a little bit at a time. Even though you might not be able to get everything that needs to be done all at once, don’t let that deter you from doing what you can, when you can. Second, if you find you’re spending hours each week keeping your home clean (and most of us moms are), don’t be afraid to ask for help. You are no less of a great mom if you get a little help doing the deep-cleaning each month. In fact, you are an even better mom because you understand how valuable your time is, especially when you are spending it with your kids.
The Products You Use
Chemicals and toxins are everywhere. Unfortunately you can’t avoid all of them, no matter how hard you try. But you can do your best to keep the biggest offenders out of your home and away from your children. Many cleaning products contain some pretty nasty ingredients, ones you definitely don’t want to expose yourself or your family to. When cleaning your home, remember that sometimes it’s the simplest ingredients and mixtures that really do the best job. (Hello, vinegar!) And if you do have someone come into your home to help you clean, be sure that they are committed to only using cleaning products that are safe for people and the planet.
Who You Invite In
Your home really should be a sanctuary, somewhere you and your family can feel safe and comfortable. It’s important, then, that you guard your home against people who don’t have your best interest in mind. If someone always makes you feel bad or guilty about your home, or if they make you feel anything less than your best, kindly keep them on your front porch. The same is true for the people you let in virtually. If something you are watching or listening to doesn’t uplift the environment of your home, then clean it up and get it out.
How You Clean
The more you clean, the more you learn there’s a science to it. As busy moms, we often forget that there’s a better, more effective way to clean and, instead, just clean however we possibly can in the moment. Details, however, are important. For example, the towels you use to clean the bathroom should never be used to clean your kitchen. Cleaning from top to bottom in each room always makes more sense. (Who else is guilty of cleaning the floor before cleaning the counters and then having to clean the floor all over again?)
And, of course, there’s also the energetics of how you clean. If you clean in a hurry, when you’re angry, or completely mindless, then you’re potentially doing more harm than good. Having a place to live is a gift, and cleaning it should reflect your gratitude. If you’re not in the mood to clean, try going for a walk or do something else to improve your attitude. It will make you so much more effective. And your home will look even better because of it.
Why You Clean
Cleaning, for most people, is just “one of those things.” You have to do it. But when you start to look at your motivation for cleaning, you realize that there’s more to it. For a lot of moms, we clean because it makes a better home for our families. We clean because it makes us feel better, happier, and even more joyful. Reminding yourself of your “why” for cleaning can help you enjoy it when you do it. And, as a bonus, it will take away some of the “I have to’s” out of your vocabulary.
With spring officially here, it’s a good time to stop and really appreciate your home for what it is–a wonderful place for your family to grow and love together. As a family-owned business founded by your Albuquerque neighbors, Sandia Green Clean gets it. Together, our families have five kids, which means we’re no strangers to messes. But the reason we started Sandia Green Clean was less about cleaning up houses (although that’s exactly what we do), and so much more about giving busy parents back their time, so that they can spend it with their kids, friends, and family.
At Sandia Green Clean, we clean because we love Albuquerque and the people who call it home. We know that the happier our neighbors are, the happier we all are. Schedule your free estimate with us today by calling us 505-404-3071 or visiting our website.
