Spring cleaning with kids is no easy task. I’ll let you in on a little secret– I hate cleaning. I didn’t like it without kids, and I don’t like it anymore now that we have kids. It’s a necessary evil. I mean, once the house gets too bad, it starts making me anxious, and I have no choice but to do something about it. It’s not like I find it calming though. I’m no Danny Tanner (who are my fellow 80s babies??). Having said all of that, I will do anything in my power to make cleaning easier and quicker.

I’ve managed to pick up a few tips here and there over the years that help me tackle spring cleaning with kids.

Spring Cleaning with Kids

Don’t expect it to happen all in one day.

I have issues with finishing a project once I start it. I don’t like to leave anything half finished. I may be the world’s worst procrastinator, but once I start something, you’d better believe I am going to finish it. This is nearly impossible with kids. Going into spring cleaning with kids knowing this, has made me focus more on one project at a time. This week alone, I have organized the garage, organized the boys’ room, cleaned out my drawers, and cleaned the floors and stairs. I had to do one thing each day though because each thing took about as long as any of my children could handle.
Find a way for your littles to help.

Once they are older, it gets harder to convince them to help. At least that’s how it is in our house. Sometimes I think I’d rather just get it done without an extra hand, but giving them something to do actually helps me to feel better about the time I am spending cleaning. I handed T a towel today, and let her clean the floors and she was in HEAVEN! Bona for the win! It’s non-toxic so I wasn’t worried about her wiping the floors again after I had wiped them.
Do not ask for help cleaning out toys.

I realize there will be some dispute about this. Many times I have read that it’s a good exercise to have your children choose the things they would like to give to other less fortunate children. I have friends whose children are wonderful with this, and happily hand over their toys. Not mine. They are not greedy or selfish, but they are kids, and they are suddenly attached to everything in their rooms the moment I suggest giving some away. I cleaned their room today, and I made sure they weren’t home. I filled my entire van trunk with toys, and they have absolutely no idea I got rid of anything…
Use products that are non-toxic and safe for your kids, and pets.

We have been using Bona for a few years now. On top of the fact that it’s non-toxic and safe, it’s so easy! Remember what I said at the beginning of this post?? I will cut corners in any way I can when it comes to cleaning! This stuff is awesome, no buckets, no mops. Just spray it, and wipe it with a microfiber cloth. Most of our house has hardwood floors so it’s perfect in our house. The bathroom and kitchen have tile, and linoleum so we use Bona’s floor cleaner on those, and the hardwood floor cleaner on the wood floors.
Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t seem to catch up.

You’ve got kids. They’re a bit demanding, and sometimes, cleaning while they’re awake is pointless, and once they’re asleep, the last thing you want to do is clean! Cut yourself some slack, and make it easier on yourself with products like Bona.

What tips do you have for spring cleaning with kids? Have you found anything that makes things a lot easier for you?

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