Finding the Balance: Cleaning Hacks for Busy Homeschooling Parents

Being a homeschooling parent comes with its own set of challenges, and finding the right balance between teaching and maintaining a clean home can feel overwhelming. But fear not, because we’re here to help you tackle this dilemma with some smart cleaning hacks that are perfect for busy homeschooling parents like you.

Whether you’re a seasoned homeschooling parent or just starting out on this exciting journey, these cleaning hacks will help you optimize your time, so you can enjoy a happier and more stress-free environment for both learning and living.

So, if you’re ready to find that perfect balance between teaching and keeping a tidy home, let’s dive in and discover these game-changing cleaning hacks for busy homeschooling parents.

Why Clean When Another Mess Is Just Around the Corner?

When you are homeschooling your home always looks lived in. It never feels perfectly clean. There is always another job that can be done, and another mess is always being made. Mopping the floor seems like an impossible task because little feet are always pottering and planning their next idea. It doesn’t take long for your home to turn into a chaotic jumble of dirty washing, dishes, books, paper, and toys.

However, education is an atmosphere is one of Charlotte Mason’s mottos and when we homeschool our home is our educational atmosphere. We are not just trying to inspire our children with beautiful things in their education, we are also trying to provide them with beauty where they work.

I don’t live in a mansion and I’m not a fabulous cleaner. However, I have come to understand the atmosphere my home provides is a ministry to my family and friends. Healthy relationships, good food, order, and cleanliness are all part of that home ministry.

What is your vision for your cleaning your home?

Mine: We clean our home to have a haven of beauty, order, and peace.

Ask yourself:

How is your home lifegiving?
What is he atmosphere of my home?

Books To Inspire You

Benefits of Maintaining a Clean Home While Homeschooling

A clean and organised home has numerous benefits for both you and your children. Firstly, it provides a conducive learning environment where your kids can focus and concentrate better. A clutter-free space reduces distractions and helps promote productivity during homeschooling sessions.

Furthermore, maintaining a clean home helps create a sense of calm and order, which can positively impact your family’s overall well-being. When your living spaces are clean and tidy, it reduces stress and anxiety, allowing everyone to feel more relaxed and comfortable.

Additionally, by involving your children in the cleaning process, you’re teaching them valuable life skills such as responsibility, organization, and the importance of cleanliness. These skills will serve them well as they grow and become independent adults.

Cleaning Hacks for Busy Homeschooling Parents

Organizational Tips for Homeschooling Supplies and Materials

One of the biggest challenges for homeschooling parents is keeping track of all the supplies and materials needed for a successful learning experience. To stay organised, consider implementing the following tips:

Reassess your expectations. A clean home is desirable, but a magazine picture perfect home is unrealistic. Most homeschool parents eventually come to this conclusion. If your kids are helping you clean, then your house won’t look like a Home Beautiful Magazine. It will still probably look like it’s been cleaned by a bunch of kids.
Create dedicated storage areas: Designate specific storage spaces for homeschooling materials, such as shelves, bins, or cabinets. This will make it easier to find what you need when you need it. You don’t need a homeschool room but having or a dedicated supplies cupboard can help you keep everything in its place.
Use labelled containers: Invest in clear, labelled containers to store different types of supplies. This will not only keep everything organised but also make it easier for your children to find and put away their materials.
Homeschool workboxes or storage trolleys can help you organise work. A corner basket can store all the library books.

Daily Cleaning Routines to Keep Your Home Tidy

To maintain a clean home, it’s essential to establish daily cleaning habits that fit into your homeschooling schedule. Here are some daily cleaning tasks you can incorporate:

Make the beds: Start the day by making the beds. This simple task instantly makes your bedrooms look neater and sets a positive tone for the day.
Wipe down surfaces: Take a few minutes each morning to wipe down kitchen counters, bathroom sinks, and other frequently used surfaces. This prevents dirt and grime from building up, making your cleaning tasks easier in the long run.
Encourage tidiness throughout the day: Teach your children to clean up after themselves as they go. Encourage them to put away toys, books, and other materials after they finish using them. This habit will help keep your home tidy and organised throughout the day. More kid chore ideas are found here.
Laundry: Some families like to wash daily, others like wash a few days a week. Consider hanging out washing later in the day and leave overnight or load your machine in the evening and set the delay button on the machine to early morning so you can hang out a load before homeschool starts.
Get rid of the washing basket: Hang unironed clothes up on hangers and only iron as needed.

Weekly Cleaning Tasks for a Deep Clean

While daily cleaning routines help maintain a tidy home, it’s important to set aside time each week for deeper cleaning tasks. We set aside a day a week to do this and usually added deeper cleaning to holidays or Spring.

Write a list of 6 things you want to clean and tackle one a day for the week. This will keep you accountable.

Check out the Fly Lady for more ideas.

Time-Saving Cleaning Tools and Products

As a busy homeschooling parent, time is of the essence. To optimize your cleaning routine, consider using time-saving cleaning tools and products. Here are a few recommendations:

Microfiber cloths: These handy cloths are great for dusting and wiping down surfaces. They are highly effective at trapping dust and dirt, and they can be easily washed and reused.
Multipurpose cleaners: Look for cleaning products that can tackle multiple surfaces and tasks. This way, you can streamline your cleaning routine and minimize the number of products you need.
Cordless vacuum cleaner: A cordless vacuum cleaner allows you to quickly clean up messes without the hassle of cords. It’s perfect for spot cleaning and maintaining a tidy home in between deep cleaning sessions.
Spray Mops: These are fantastic and quick to use. It also means you can get rid of your cumbersome mop and bucket.

Creating a Cleaning Schedule That Fits Your Homeschooling Routine

Treat homeschooling like a job. If you were in paid work, would you be trying to clean at the same time? If you’re itching to clean when you should be doing lessons, you will feel stressed. Give yourself permission to teach. Yes, less will be done but don’t try to multitask you’re cleaning all the time. Give yourself permission to do the housework after homeschooling. It will make you feel more engaged with lessons and not worried about the housework.

To find the perfect balance between homeschooling and keeping a clean home, it’s crucial to create a cleaning schedule that works for your unique lifestyle. Here are some tips for creating an effective cleaning schedule:

Assess your priorities: Determine which cleaning tasks are most important to you and your family. Focus on areas that get the most use and need regular attention.
Break tasks into manageable chunks: Divide your cleaning tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks that can be completed throughout the week. This prevents overwhelming yourself with a long list of chores.
Be flexible: Understand that your cleaning schedule may need to be adjusted at times, especially when unexpected homeschooling activities or events arise. Allow yourself the flexibility to adapt and modify your schedule as needed.

Find Your Neatness Threshold

Natural neatness thresholds are different for everyone, but neatness can be taught.
Finding the balance between homeschooling and keeping a clean home can be challenging, but with these cleaning hacks, it’s definitely achievable. By implementing organizational strategies, establishing daily and weekly cleaning routines, using time-saving tools and products, involving your children in cleaning tasks, and creating a cleaning schedule that fits your homeschooling routine, you can maintain a clean and organised home without sacrificing your children’s education.

Remember, a clean and tidy home creates a conducive learning environment and promotes overall well-being for your family. So, embrace these cleaning hacks and enjoy a happier and more stress-free homeschooling journey.

Finding Balance: Cleaning Hacks for Busy Homeschool Parents