MOPS

Does cleaning your house seem like an impossible task when you are the MOP? (mother of a preschooler) At some point in just about every other day I think that I have finally gotten my house to a point of cleanliness that I can stand and then 10 minutes later, or one meal later, it seems to be all undone. As a mother, anything that can be done (as in finished/ completed/ DONE) will be undone...it's only a matter of time. Today I was reminded, though, that these days will not last forever and there will come a day when we can spend all the time we want on the dishes. Of course, I was also reminded that then it won't mean that much to me. :) (sigh) LIFE and all it's complexities. I am certainly not the one to talk to you if you are looking for how to keep your house in tip top shape at all times, but I have learned a thing or two for right before guests come over. ;)

Okay, so here are a few housecleaning shortcuts:

Create a cleaning carryall
This is not one I personally do, because I store my cleaning supplies under the sinks in my bathroom and my kitchen. If your house is large enough, though, it might help to have all your cleaning supplies in one bucket, along with a paper towel roll.

Use the dishwasher
The other day I was going to clean off and bring all the toys from the sandbox in. As I was freezing my digits off, using the frigid water from our garden hose to clean each individual one. it dawned on me: "I could use these fingers again someday. Maybe I should stop before the frostbite is so bad that the doctor has to amputate my hands off." DISHWASHER! It's for more than just your dishes. :)

...or the bathtub
For those huge toys that you wish you never bought because they take up half of your child's room. :) (it's okay, you can sell it at your next garage sale) Also, if you are cleaning a huge mass of toys all at once the tub can be your friend. Just add some dish washing liquid and scrub a dub with a dishtowel. When you are done lay them out to dry on a beach towel.

Dust off those old socks
Put one old sock on each hand and "wax on" and "wax off". Give your children a sock and let them help you with the coffee table and end tables while you get the entertainment center.

Use paper plates
I was talking to my friend not too long ago about how there was always a pile of dishes in my kitchen. I just couldn't keep up with them all. She suggested using paper plates for a week. I realize that this does not make me "green" at a time when everyone is supposed to be all about saving the planet, but you know what...that week was a little easier on me, at a time when I needed it.

Swap time to clean with a friend, or two, or three
Once every other week I am given two hours of no children in the house to do some kind of uninterrupted deep cleaning. Last time I cleaned out my refrigerator. I send my children to my friend's house and she watches them for two hours. On my off weeks she sends her darling to come and play at our house. It's great for our kids because they have a lot of fun together. It's great for us because we desperately need that time.

And lastly...
Work to music. You'll get a little pep in your step.
Set a timer so you are as efficient as you can be in 20 minutes. Try to beat the clock.

Okay, your turn. What have you done around your house to make clean up a little easier?