Quick Cleaning Tips for Busy Parents

In the flurry of work, school, dance recitals and soccer practice that punctuate the life of the average parent, who has time for housework? You do if you make just minor changes in how you tackle the dreaded beast. The key is to downsize the way you see the task - by breaking big jobs into micro tasks, and keeping your cleaning supplies easily accessible, you can accomplish more than you think. Here are a few small changes in your thinking that can reap big rewards in your home.

*De-centralize your cleaning supplies. Do you have one closet where all of your cleaning supplies are kept? Consider splitting it up. Keep a roll of paper towels and all-purpose cleaner in each bathroom. Keep your dusting supplies close to the area where you use them most.

*Simplify your cleaning supplies. Disposable cleaning cloths are one of the greatest inventions of our century - use them! They are safe for most surfaces and are handy for quick and fuss-free cleaning and disinfecting. Whenever possible, choose cleaners and supplies that can multi-task.

*Don't clean the whole room. Don't even think about cleaning the whole room, it will only bring you down. If you just have a few minutes, de-clutter the floor first. If the floor is picked up, it makes the whole room feel more tidy and gives you a little psychological boost. If you tell yourself you're just going to do one small part of the room, you will find the energy to get it done quickly - and sometimes build momentum to keep cleaning, if you have time.

*Look for tasks that can be done in five minutes or less. Don't have time to clean the whole kitchen? Wipe down counters while you're cooking dinner. Unload one rack of the dishwasher. You will be surprised how many micro tasks can be done in five minutes or less.

*Bathroom - After you're finished with your business, what can you do in a minute or two? Cleaning a small vanity mirror only takes a couple minutes if you're supplies are handy. Tidy things up in less than a minute. This principle works in any room in the house. While you're in there, what tiny tasks can you do on the fly?

*TV time - My family never misses Grey's Anatomy, with the condition that during the commercials, everyone gets up and cleans something. Anything. Kids can take their things to their rooms. Dinner dishes can be rinsed and stacked. A small room can be swept up during a commercial break. If you're creative with this, it becomes a game, with the added bonus of getting everyone off their duffs for a few minutes of extra activity.

This is just a few examples to get you started. If you apply these ideas to your home, you will find tons of jobs that only take a few minutes. Get rid of the mindset that you have to clean the whole room at once - who has time for that? Staying on top of the cleaning in small chunks throughout the week means that when your regular "cleaning day" rolls around, you'll already be way ahead of the game.