BUSY HOUSEWIFE TIPS

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My home is not always clean. The laundry baskets are usually full. And I am not an expert housekeeper. But we try so hard, despite our insane schedules to keep up on things. Over the years, we have figured out a few secrets (or just common sense things) that work for us.

1.) Make the bed. Every single day. It takes just a minute and it makes a world of difference as to the feel of the room...even if the rest of it is a disaster area.

2.) Set a timer. For twenty minutes to be exact. Then clean like mad until the buzzer rings. It's amazing what you can accomplish in such a short time. So often, we arrive home exhausted, to a messy house, with still so many more obligations to meet that night. But messy house = frazzled Rachel. So we just set the timer, clean for our allotted time, and then move on to the next thing without the housework weighing on my mind.

3.) Do some laundry every day. This might have to be modified after our family grows, but by doing SOMETHING everyday...even if it is just washing one load, or simply matching the socks up...it doesn't ever become an overwhelming task.

4.) Clean up after dinner. Don't be tempted to lay down, log in to Netflix, or get started on any other project before the food and dishes are put away. Otherwise, it won't get done. And after a few days, it is an unmanageable stack.

5.) Create a dinner schedule. It saves time, eliminates the pain of having to come up with something to make every night, and I'm wiser about using the food we have before it spoils.

6.) Anti-bacterial wipes. If you're in a hurry, these guys are the best. With one extra little minute, I can have the entire bathroom wiped down.

7.) Invite people over for fun once in awhile. Prideful or not, theres no motivation to clean up like the thought of others seeing how messy you are. You suddenly have a great desire to dust the base boards, mop the floor, and fold that pile of laundry you've been ignoring in the corner the past week. Invite friends over for dinner or games or family home evening. I guarantee you, the house will look great before they arrive.