Even if you live alone, it can be difficult to maintain a spotless household and keeping your home clean can feel like a challenge. This becomes even more complicated when you add children and animals into the mix. However, it’s not impossible! There are plenty of ways for you to create a happy and clean environment that the whole family can enjoy. All it takes is a little forward thinking, some clever investments, and the will to make it happen. Below are five tips for maintaining a clean house when you have children and pets.
Have a huge clear out
One of the best ways to manage keeping your home clean and running a household that functions smoothly is to have a huge clear out. Are you constantly tripping over possessions that you don’t really need? Is your house filled with cupboards and draws that you’re scared to open? Could you use a little extra space? If your answer to these questions is yes, it’s time to be ruthless. If you find it difficult to make objective decisions about what should stay and what should go, invite a close friend or family member round to your house, and encourage them to be as brutal as possible when it comes to giving you advice. You could also take the approach of getting rid of anything that you haven’t used in the last month. Or, another technique is to take each item in your hands and ask yourself whether or not it brings you any joy. Whatever you do, make sure that your efforts will make a real impact on your living space.
If you don’t like the thought of being wasteful, why not take your old possessions to a thrift shop or a homeless shelter? This good deed will encourage you to find as much as possible to give away. If you are looking to make some money, you could always hold a yard sale. It is also an option to sell certain items to recycling plants. Clearing out your house will ensure that you have plenty of extra space for the equipment required to raise young children and take care of family pets. It is important to evaluate their items as well. Both pets and children are always moving from one toy to the next. Why not invest in a specific storage space? This way you can make sure that your home doesn’t become overrun with unnecessary bits and pieces. Perhaps introduce a one in one out rule. For instance, if you buy your pet a new bed, the old one should go. Or, if your child gets a new toy, one they never use should be passed on to a new home.
Stay on top of pest control
If you have pets and children in your household, it is especially important that you stay on top of pest control. Just imagine the harmful germs that your little ones could be picking up on a floor that has been infected by vermin! You might find that your children and animals are always running in and out of your property. You might also find that taking care of pets and babies has increased the amount of garbage your household produces. This could potentially increase your risk of a pest problem. If you are struggling with pests, it is important that you resolve the problem as soon as possible. Your pets and your children alike may not understand that pests are to be avoided at all costs. That is why it is so vital that you protect them from any potential dangers.
Make sure that your house is easy to keep clean
If you are looking after a young family and a pet, you may find that a great deal of your time is taken up by cleaning. Try to prepare for the inevitable event of a mess being caused. Why not invest in wipe clean wall paint? This is a fantastic way to protect your home from muddy paws and sticky fingers. Instead of being furious when your little ones draw on the walls, you can relax in the knowledge that all the mess can be wiped away. With popular brands such as Dulux stocking wipe clean wall paint, your practical decisions don’t have to ruin your design scheme. You will still have the choice of a range of colours, only this way you know that they’ll stand the test of time.
However, when it comes to buying furniture for your little ones or pets, longevity needn’t be a priority. Instead, try to find the best deals available. In the early years, you’ll find that your children are constantly in need of new possessions. This is also true of pets who will quickly wear out their beds and blankets. If you are concerned about keeping up appearances, why not buy slightly cheaper products that you don’t mind replacing? You could visit your local thrift shops or look online. Other parents or pet owners will be in a similar position, so you may be surprised by how easy it is to find the item you require. You should also consider investing in easy to clean floors such as linoleum. Perhaps you don’t want this throughout your house, but it could be the perfect choice for a playroom or a washroom for your pets. This way you don’t have to worry about getting tough stains out of expensive rugs of carpets.
Steam clean your home
If you do decide to opt for expensive rugs or carpets, you should also invest in having them steam cleaned. Most carpet manufacturers only stay true to their warranty if the carpet they’ve supplied is steam cleaned on a regular basis. This process is the best way to remove any difficult stains. It will also help to reduce the amount of harmful bacteria that collects on your floors. This is a huge benefit to anyone who has a home filled with young children and animals. For instance, say you have a cat who has just used their litter tray. They will walk all of that bacteria over your carpet. Then your small child may drop a toy on that carpet, pick it up, and place it in their mouth. If this happened all at once, you could intervene, but if these events are spread out, you may not even know they’re happening. That is why it is important that harmful bacteria is not allowed to fester away on your carpet. Instead, it should be dealt with as soon as possible.
Instead of hiring out a steam cleaner, you may want to consider purchasing your own model. This will be sure to come in handy, as a steam cleaner can be used on more than just your carpets. It can be used on your upholstery, mattresses, curtains, tiles, mirrors, kitchen appliances, and car interiors and is an incredibly useful and non toxic tool for keeping your home clean. This device is especially handy for pet owners and parents. It can be used on pet beds, blankets, cages, and litter boxes. You can also steam clean children’s toys, prams, and baby changing stations.
Use eco-friendly products
If you working on keeping your home clean when you have children and pets, you may think that now is the time to stock up on cleaning supplies. Before you do, it is important to know exactly what you need to buy. Seemingly harmless products can actually be incredibly dangerous. They can give out harmful toxins that affect your hormones and can even interfere with your ability to conceive. In a house full of children and animals, it is important that only the most natural products are used. Babies are beginning to learn about the world around them and are extremely sensitive to strong smells and harsh chemicals. Animals have incredibly strong senses that can be irritated by certain products. Why not consider making your own cleaning products? This is one way to make sure that you know exactly what is being used in your home. If this sounds a little too time-consuming, you could always invest in eco-friendly products. With a growing interest in caring for the environment, these products are becoming increasingly easy to locate.
Going green, in regards to your cleaning products, can also help your bank balance. There are many natural cleaning remedies such as lemon juice and vinegar. These can be purchased at a much lower cost, or may already be located in your pantry. If your children are slightly older, using green cleaning products could be a simple, yet effective way for you to set a good example. Not only this, but if you rely on products that don’t contain harmful chemicals, it will be easier for you to encourage your children to take on a wider variety of chores.
Keeping your home clean with kids and or pets in tow can feel a bit relentless but it can be done. Make things simple, get rid of clutter and have a routine for regular cleaning, and you will find it is not as daunting as you think it was.
What are your home cleaning tips for when life is busy and there are small humans and pets in the house?