Years ago, when we were expecting our second baby I read the book Home Management: Plain + Simple by Kim Brenneman. The thought of caring for two kids ages two under while also trying to manage our home seemed like ALOT! While life has continually changed over the years this book helped me create a strong system for completing what I needed to in a week. Whether that be Household Chores and Tasks. Homeschooling our older children. Navigating the rough waters of First Trimester, etc. While our cleaning routine has changed many times over the years and may change again in the coming months as we adjust to becoming a family of 9, for now this what our Cleaning Routine in a Big Family looks like.
Daily Cleaning Routine
My four older Kids (ages 4, 5, 6, and 8 years old) are responsible every morning for making their beds. Cleaning their rooms. Getting themselves dressed and putting their dirty clothes in the laundry hampers. Only the 2-year-old and 1-year-old don’t participate in this as they still need Mom and Dad’s help.
Downstairs we divide chores up. This looks like, Asher (4-years-old), and sometimes Anderson (2-years-old) picking up the Living Room of toys, couch pillows, and blankets. Luc (5-years-old) is in charge of unloading the Dishwasher and putting everything away. I will load the Dishwasher when he is finished. Olivia (8-years-old) is the one who wipes down the table and sweeps after meals. Wyatt (6-years-old) will water any outside plants during the warmer months and straighten shoes and outside toys in the Garage. From there we go about doing our Weekly Cleaning Routine OR the chores assigned to the day.
Weekly Cleaning Routine
Sunday is Laundry and Cleaning Day.
Sam handles the laundry in our family. However, he and I will fold the huge mountain of laundry in the evening once kids are in bed. Sam is over 6 feet tall and years ago he took over washing clothes because I kept shrinking his… oops!
As for cleaning, we usually do this Sunday afternoon after the Kids have had Quiet Time. Sam takes two kids as helpers, I take two kids as helpers, and the two youngest boys usually play downstairs. Sam handles the cleaning of the downstairs, and I handle the upstairs. Upstairs, we gather up trash from the bathrooms. My kids are starting to show excitement when it comes to cleaning the toilets, so I gladly let them have at it. When they are finished, I go back behind them to give the toilets a mom clean. We clean the bathroom mirrors and windows. Dust throughout the upstairs. Put clean trash bags back in the trash cans. Restock toilet paper in the bathrooms and put the cleaning items back where they go when we are done. Finally, the trash gathered is taken out. Sam will handle changing the sheets on the beds and vacuuming the house when we are all done.
Downstairs they are dusting, cleaning windows, watering indoor plants, sweeping and mopping, and taking out the kitchen trash. When we all come together the kids will disinfect the doorknobs, kitchen knobs, and light switches throughout the house. I handle cleaning out the fridge, coffee maker, wiping down the appliances, etc. While it may seem like a lot, we can usually get our house cleaned up in 45 minutes or less when everyone works together. Offering a fun reward when the work is complete also helps everyone to do their best. 🙂
Monday is Trash Day
The evening before Sam will roll out our Trash and Recycling Bins to the curb. If for some reason he forgot, a Kid will help me on Monday morning with this chore. By the time Sam gets home from work Monday evening he will bring the Trash and Recycling Bins back into the Garage.
Tuesday is a Miscellaneous Day
If there is something I just didn’t get to on a specific day or if our days need to be shifting around due to a wonky week this is the day I can accomplish those things. Lately this has been the day my Mom comes over to help with any Prepping for Baby #7 that needs to be done. It is nice to have the extra help whether that be with the Kids, schoolwork, or whatever Baby Task is on the agenda for the day.
Wednesday is Office Day
We live in a complex where all the mailboxes are housed together by the Pool and Playground area. Sam tends to check our mail every few days. Typically, he brings it in and sticks in a metal envelope I have hanging on the wall. On this day I will be sure to check and sort the mail he has brought in. Prepare any letters OR packages that needs to be mailed out. Pay Bills online OR at least make sure the correct amount came out via AutoPay.
Later in the evening, Sam and I will have a Financial Check In. This way we are on same page about what bills are getting paid the coming week, and perhaps what other expenses need to be covered, etc. I will also be sure to make any appointments, return emails, and complete any other Household Administrative Tasks that need to get done on this day.
Thursday is Yard Day
Our complex hires the Lawn Maintenance out, but I do have the Kids clean up the yard in the morning. This way their toys are out of the way when the Lawn Service comes to mow. Later in the day when the Lawn Maintenance is complete, we will sweep the front porch and patio of any debris left behind. Wyatt likes to do this for me, and I will go back and check to see if it needs any help when he is through.
I will also spend the afternoon preparing for any errands or appointments that we need to run the next day. I make sure to have everything ready to go the day before, so we are not scrambling in the morning. This makes for a much less chaotic morning. Packing the Diaper Bag. Gathering items needed for the outing. Such as a Cooler for cold things we plan to purchase from the store. Quarter, Reusable Bags, OR Coupons for whatever store we are shopping at. Packages OR Mail that need to be dropped off at the Post Office. Library Books ready to be returned. I walk through the stops in my mind to make sure I have everything I will need for the next day.
The older boys help me clean out our Ford 12 Passenger Van. They climb over seats and under benches finding trash, toys, stray socks or shoes that need to be put away. Meanwhile I am cleaning up the driver and passenger sides. Then we load up anything going with us the next day that is safe to be in the Van overnight.
Friday is Errands Day
This may look like Appointments, returning Library Books, Grocery Shopping, etc. Or if by some miracle we have nowhere to be and no errands to run then we enjoy an extra lazy day at home.
Saturday is Planning Day
After a busy school week, we like to enjoy a lazy day. While the kids play outside or watch a movie in the afternoon, I am planning for the coming week. This may look like prepping anything for school such as… Sharpening pencils. Changing out the Bible Verse we are memorizing. Writing down our person to pray for that week. Picking a new Hymn to sing, etc. Baking something for Breakfast. Thawing some things from the Freezer for dinners the next few days. Changing out the toys in the toy basket kept in the Livingroom for the younger Boys.
Seasonal Cleaning Routine
I try to make it a habit to declutter quarterly and do other odd chores that we sometimes neglect. This way things don’t pile up or go a long length of time unnoticed. Some examples would be Cleaning under the Couch. Washing Throw Pillow Covers. Cleaning scuffs and toddler “artwork” off the walls. Sorting and packing away clothes as the seasons change. Having the Kids clean out Treasure Boxes, etc.
While we don’t religiously Spring Clean we tend to kick it into high gear during the following life changes which for us happens yearly. During third trimester when we are awaiting a new baby, two months or so out from a move, OR when the house feels like it is closing in on me after Christmas or Birthday Season. I’ll make a list of the things that need to be accomplished and then schedule for them to be completed the following week so the tasks can be spread out. Trying to do a marathon cleaning in a day is not logical for us in this stage of life but chipping away at it every day over the course of a week, sometimes even two, is much more doable.
For More Cleaning Inspiration…
Here are some Ways to Clean House When You Have Young Kids. OR check out my Big Family Logistics Series on the Blog if you are curious how life works for our Big Family. Thanks for stopping by!
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