Helpful Tips for Keeping the House Clean with Kids

Ever since I can remember, my mom has always said, “A happy house is a clean house.” I’m not sure where she got that from, but in my mind, it will forever be one of her quotes. I’ve even heard her repeating it to my son now, which makes me laugh.

She’s the kind of mom who has to clean everything. If I head upstairs while she’s hanging around past bedtime, there’s a 99% chance the kitchen counters are wiped down, the floors are swept, and things are more spotless than when I left. She genuinely loves to clean.

Growing up, I could care less if my space was clean. Now, I cannot function in a messed up space. My husband and I make a trip to Goodwill every single Saturday, even if it’s just a few items. Luckily, I found someone who is also on board with with having clean and tidy spaces, too. I sorta envy those who can.

There’s something about having a toddler that makes it feel nearly impossible to stay on top of things. They’re always go-go-go, onto the next adventure (or mess), and when it’s time to clean up after dinner, you’re suddenly also playing defense, keeping them from jumping off the couch, sliding down the stairs, or pulling more toys off the playroom shelf. Now, I will say as he’s gotten older, it’s gotten a bit easier. He’s going to be four in May, and we’ve finally realized that mom and dad are NOT going to let him destroy the house. “Let kids be kids” is fine, but not when it’s disrespecting the spaces we live in. There has to be refinement taught in there somewhere.

Trust me, it can be overwhelming at times, and definitely hard to keep up. The best thing you can do is try your hardest to not let it get out of control. One laundry basket leads to another, and to another, and well…another.

Lately though, I feel like I’ve finally found a rhythm that works for us. And now that winter is here and we’re inside a bit more, I figured I’d share my routine and a few tips that help me keep the house somewhat tidy, even with an energetic toddler running around.

#1 – Pick up before you move on.

This is my number one rule in the house: you must pick up what you were doing before moving on to the next thing.

I have a toddler who loves to start a puzzle, put two pieces together, and then suddenly feel inspired to build with blocks. Nope. We pick up the puzzle before moving on. We stay consistent with this method.

He used to fight it, but now he picks things up as fast as he can so he can get to the next activity. I’ve even caught him telling his grandma that he has to clean up before getting new toys out. It’s made a huge difference.

It helps us avoid piles of toy chaos that start to look like human-sized ant hills. It’s the “clean as you go” method but toddler-style.

#2 – Designated play areas.

I’ve created two main areas in our home where toys live.

One is a downstairs “library room” with cabinets full of toys, easels, Play-Doh, shelves, and a little table, basically our unofficial playroom.

Toys can be brought out to the living room while he plays, but when we’re done, they go right back to their home. This helps the rest of the house feel like an actual home and not a daycare center.

The second spot is a cozy loft area off his bedroom, which is more of an evening wind-down space. Books, puzzles, more toys, his trampoline, pile of pillows for him to jump off the couch into, and where he loves to rough house.

#3 – Go outside.

I know it’s hard when it’s rainy, cold, or way too hot, but when possible, we spend most of our day outside.

We blow up the bounce house, visit the library and read in the park, find new playgrounds, hit the neighborhood pool, go for walks, run through sprinklers, kick a soccer ball, do some gardening, paint on a blanket in the yard, or just sit on the porch with crayons and the lego table.

It’s good for the soul and the house.

If you’re buying toys, prioritize outdoor things: chalk, bubbles, sandboxes, mini gardening tools. Also, I keep a basket of towels by the door for drying off wet toddlers (and muddy dogs) on those messy days.

I also save my errand running for when I’m with him. I don’t use my time alone to do it (unless I’m clothes shopping.) But he loves outings and it’s a good way to get out of the house and away from making messes.

#4 – Set timers!

I love using my Alexa for two things: turning my lamps on and off automatically, and setting cleaning timers. She’s also OK for music now and then.

Something about a 45-minute Alexa countdown turns me into a speed-cleaning machine. I race through straightening the downstairs, tidying the kitchen, and throwing a load of laundry in.

I do this after school drop-off, in the morning during breakfast, or right after dinner when he’s upstairs playing. It seriously works. Nothing like racing the clock to feel productive.

#5 – My Laundry Method

Laundry is my least favorite chore, but I still do it, because the alternative is pile-on-pile panic mode.

Here’s what works:
In the morning, I throw a load in. I let the dry clothes pile into a basket (yes, just one). Then, during my son’s 20-minute Little Bear session before bedtime, I put it all away. That’s it.

Every two weeks, I wash all the blankets, sheets, bathroom rugs, and random fabric things that often get neglected. A fresh batch of cozy blankets always feels good.

My husband is in charge of unloading the dishwasher every morning. I know that’s an easy task, but it helps a lot. He’s also a super tidy person, which definitely makes the house stay a little cleaner. He does his own laundry, takes out the garbage, cleans the bathrooms most of the time, and always keeps things organized. I really can’t complain about him.

#6 – Cleanout Days = Garbage Day

Garbage day is purge day in my house.

That’s when I clean out the fridge and say goodbye to forgotten leftovers or strawberries with a single speck of mold. I toss out expired pantry items, recycle food boxes, and clear out my car (random wrappers, old cups).

It’s the reset I need before a new week builds up more clutter.

Another random thing we do that keeps life feeling sane is going to the car wash right after church on Sunday, before our Costco run. There is just something about starting the week with a clean car that sets the tone for everything else.

#7 – Make a Chart

We’ve finally hit the sticker chart age! I made a simple one with four tiny tasks per day—super age-appropriate things like:
• putting your dish in the sink
• picking up a toy you brought out
• tossing your shirt in the hamper
• putting shoes in your cubby

We also make our beds first thing when we wake up!

Now, I catch him telling me to put my boots in the cubby, not to walk into the house with shoes on, and correcting me if I leave something lying around. Honestly, I kind of love the little monster we’ve created.

He also loves helping with laundry, so we turn it into an activity. He pours in the detergent, presses the buttons, and even helps put clothes away in his closet. It might take a little longer, but it’s so worth it.

Once the row is filled, he gets to pick a surprise from our little treasure bin filled with stickers, trinkets, candies, and mini toys. It motivates him and builds good habits at the same time.

#8 – Minimize & Rotate Toys – Organize Everything in Bins

You knew it was coming: declutter.

This past year, we implemented the toy rotation method. Our playroom is now officially semi empty, and I am so glad we made the change.

I was so tired of pieces of toys laying everywhere, the room getting destroyed whenever he took advantage of Grandma watching him, and everything just feeling way too overwhelming for all of us.

My husband and I purchased a bunch of clear bins from Walmart, and I started organizing everything. I put games in one, puzzles in another, then separate bins for dress up clothes, Play Dough, cars, and so on.

We bring out one bin at a time as he wants to play with something, and when he’s done, we put it back in the guest room closet.

What’s great is that he forgets about a lot of his toys, so when we bring them out again after a few weeks, he gets so excited to play with them like they are brand new.

It has been such a helpful system, especially leading up to Christmas when we knew more toys would be coming into the house. It kept things from feeling chaotic and gave everything a proper place.

I try hard not to overcrowd our home with stuff. I regularly donate what we don’t use and rotate toys so they always feel new.

Honestly, when my son walks into a room full of hundreds of toys, he doesn’t even know where to start. He gets overwhelmed. Rotating a few bins out every few weeks keeps him engaged without the chaos.

We do leave some of his favorites in his playroom like his lego table, books, rocket ships, magnet tiles, his chalk board, and I have crafts in organized bins in the cabinets.

My #1 sanity saver? BINS.

Locking storage bins with labels are everything. They keep toys from being dumped out, Legos from stabbing my feet, and art supplies from being scattered across the floor.

I’m a sucker for a good bin and a label maker. You’ll find them in every room—easy to grab, easy to clean up, and honestly kind of satisfying to look at.

Keeping your house as minimal as possible (you don’t have to go crazy) will help so much with keeping your space clean.

#9 – Go elsewhere for playdates

This might make me sound uptight, but I do not love playdates at my house. Unless they’re outside, it just feels too chaotic. I’m easily overstimulated in chaos, so maybe it’s for my mental peace as a mom.

I will say since implementing toy rotation, the house stays a lot cleaner during playdates.

When toddlers get together, they love to go wild. And sure, kids can be kids, but there’s a limit. Outside? Go for it. Get muddy, get soaked, play in the sand. But inside the house, we respect the space and the toys.

I want my home to feel calm, and that means creating boundaries, even during play.

I just can’t sit there sipping coffee with a mom friend while the playroom is being turned inside out. It’s all I can think about. Last time I tried, I walked in to find: flashcards dumped out, toy food all over the floor, chalk ground into the rug, play dough smashed on the floor, cabinets emptied, and metal shopping carts slamming into the walls.

Nope. Not for me.

Unless I’m running the activity and we’re outside or in a very controlled space, I prefer parks, playgrounds, backyards, or the pool for playdates. My playroom is part of my living space, and I just can’t give toddlers full reign. Maybe when they’re older or we have a basement! My anxiety cannot take it.

Anyone else feel this way?

#10 – Purchase fun new cleaning supplies

This might sound insane, but it is just like when people buy new workout sets to motivate themselves to hit the trails or go to the gym. For me, I LOVE buying new cleaning supplies like organizing bins, mops, scrub brushes, and keeping everything neatly stored in my cleaning caddy in the hall closet.

I get excited about things like buying mop heads in bulk or testing out new cleaning tools. It just makes me want to clean more.

I do a deep mop cleaning every two weeks, and on the nights in between, I use the Bona floor cleaner. I love that you can wash the mop heads, so I bought a pack of twenty and just rotate them as I go.

Another helpful thing? I got my son a little Dyson vacuum and a toy mop, and he follows me around to help. It is adorable, and honestly, it makes cleaning feel like less of a chore.

What are some things you love to do to keep your spaces clean?