Keeping Your House Clean After Having a Baby

By Maid Brigade of Northern Connecticut

If you have kids, you already know how difficult it can be to keep the house clean.

Something about shoveling the sidewalk while it’s still snowing...

Once that adorable little bundle of joy arrives, you may need to adjust how you approach house cleaning – and how you actually get it done.

The first thing you need to do is to be organized. You don’t have a lot of time to pick up additional clutter or look for things that have been misplaced. It is also very helpful to have all the other members of your household pick up after themselves.

Something that goes along with that is prioritizing. Decide what is most important and what can wait.

You may find it more efficient to do tasks in a large chunk – like doing all the laundry at once – instead of doing it a little bit at a time.

However, doing a bit at a time can help you reduce the stress. Every time you get up, put one thing away. Making sure things go back in place on a regular basis can make a difference.

One thing that moms and dads of newborns get good at is multi-tasking. While on the phone, unload the dishwasher or get dinner ready. Fold laundry while watching TV. If you’re going to be doing something for a while, put the baby in the car seat or bouncer and let him or her watch you.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, get take out, buy baby food instead of making it, or use paper plates instead of regular dishes.

You also want to simplify things where possible. Buy clothes that don’t require ironing and are easily washed.

Baby carriers are a wonderful invention if you have a baby who doesn’t want to be put down. Wearing the baby will keep your baby close to you, free your hands, and allow you to complete your tasks.

If you need to vacuum, do it just before the baby’s bedtime or naptime. As an added bonus, the droning may lull him or her to sleep.

While the chores need to get done, you can still have fun doing them. Involve your baby in what you’re doing. Cover him or her with warm clothes from the dryer, play peek-a-boo as you fold, or hand him or her a plastic dish to wave as you unload the dishwasher.

You need to be realistic when it comes to cleaning. Your house probably won’t be pristine, but it will be fine. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, ask a friend or relative to babysit so you can clean – or do some of the many other things you’ve probably been neglecting since your baby arrived.

Maid Brigade of Central Connecticut can help you get – and keep – your house nice and clean so you can focus on the new addition to your family. Give us a call at 860-645-6243 and we’ll help you out.