The 3 Step Cleaning Routine for Working Moms You Need Now

This post is all about a cleaning routine for working moms to make life easier.

Let's be honest: most cleaning routines are overwhelming and designed to make you feel like you're failing as an adult. If you feel like you’re simply trying to survive some weeks, you don't need a million-step weekly cleaning chart or color-coded schedule because it will only add to the overwhelm you’re feeling.

What you need is this three simple, sustainable step cleaning routine for working moms that actually works with your real life. Here are some of the ways that I keep my home clean without losing my sanity.

The Reality Check: Why Most Cleaning Routines Fail

Before diving into what works, let's talk about why that cleaning schedule is collecting dust in your junk drawer. Most cleaning routines fail because they:

• Assume you have unlimited time and energy
• Don't account for life's curveballs (sick kids, work deadlines, social lives)
• Try to tackle everything at once (unless you’ve used my cleaning guide)
• Set you up for all-or-nothing thinking (which is not helpful)

The solution isn't more detailed planning, but fewer, better systems.

Cleaning Routine #1: The Daily Reset (about 10 Minutes)

This routine is by far the most helpful if you’re prone to feeling overwhelmed by clutter like I am. 

It isn't about deep cleaning but preventing your home from becoming a disaster zone that requires a full weekend to recover.

What it includes:

• Make beds (2 minutes, each person is responsible for his/her bed)
• Load/start dishwasher or wash dishes (3 minutes)
  • Quick tip: if you don’t let dishes sit in your sink and place them in the dishwasher as you go, it’s so much easier, I promise.
• Quick kitchen counter wipe-down (1 minute)
  • Quick tip: Make a habit of keeping countertops clean of clutter
• 5-minute pickup of common areas (living room, entryway)
  • Quick tip: I know there are memes galore about “Don’t put it down, put it away,” but the reality is that it works. By making a habit of putting things away when you’re done, you’ve eliminated the chance that it will build up

Why it works: Small daily actions prevent big weekend cleaning marathons. If you're maintaining during the week, you’re not catching up on the weekend.

How to stick to it: Attach these habits to something you already do consistently. Many people find success doing this right after dinner or while their morning coffee brews. I like to do most of it right after dinner.

Cleaning Routine #2: The Weekly Deep Dive (about 45-60 Minutes)

Pick one day that works for your schedule and stick to it. This routine is a level up from the reset because it tackles the stuff that makes your home actually feel clean, not just tidy.

Choose the option based on what matters most to you and alternate:

Option A: The Bathroom & Kitchen Focus

• Clean one bathroom thoroughly (20 minutes)
• Deep clean kitchen (30 minutes): appliances, sink, counters
• Vacuum/sweep main living areas (10 minutes)
• One load of laundry start to finish (throughout the day)

Option B: The Surface & Floor Focus

• Dust main living areas (15 minutes)
• Vacuum/mop all floors (20 minutes)
• Clean mirrors and windows in main areas (10 minutes)
• Bathroom quick-clean (wipe surfaces, clean toilet, fresh towels) (15 minutes)

Why it works: One focused hour prevents the need for those dreaded all-day cleaning sessions. You're addressing the big stuff before it becomes overwhelming.

How to stick to it: Make it as enjoyable as cleaning can be. Play your favorite music, podcast, or audiobook.  Heck, treat it like a workout—put on activewear and get your heart rate up.

Cleaning Routine #3: The Monthly Refresh (2-3 Hours)

This is your chance to tackle the stuff that doesn't need weekly attention but makes a huge difference when done consistently.

{Related Post: How to Organize your Kitchen Cabinets}

The rotation approach: Pick 2-3 tasks from this list each month instead of trying to do everything:

• Deep clean one bathroom completely
• Organize one closet or storage area
• Clean out the refrigerator and pantry
• Wash windows throughout the house
• Deep clean appliances (oven, microwave, washing machine)
• Declutter one room or area
• Change HVAC filters
• Clean light fixtures and ceiling fans
• Wipe down baseboards and doors

Why it works: By rotating tasks, nothing gets too gross or overwhelming, but everything gets attention throughout the year.

How to stick to it: Put it on your calendar like any other appointment. Try the first Saturday or Sunday of the month because it works well.

The Psychology of Sticking to Your Routines

Here's the secret sauce that makes these routines sustainable:

Start Stupidly Small

In your first week, just make your bed every day. That's it. Once that feels automatic, add the dishes. Build slowly.

Embrace "Good Enough"

A quickly made bed with wrinkled sheets is better than a bed that’s not made. Perfect is the enemy of done. It will get better with time.

Make the Task Easy

Keep cleaning supplies accessible. If you have to hunt for the glass cleaner, you won't clean the mirror.

Track All Success

Mark off days you complete your routines, but don't restart your streak when you miss a day. You're building a habit, not maintaining a perfect record.

Plan for the Unplanned

Sick day? Only do what you can manage. Busy week at work? Maybe skip the weekly deep dive and just maintain the daily reset. Flexibility keeps you from giving up entirely.

Customizing for Your Real Life

These routines work because they're flexible frameworks, not rigid rules. Here's how to make them work for your life:

Apartment dwellers: Focus more on surfaces and organization, less on extensive floor cleaning.

Families with kids: Involve kids in age-appropriate tasks to help you and help them learn responsibility.

Pet owners: Add daily pet area cleanup to your reset routine and weekly pet-specific cleaning to your deep dive.

Minimal time: Even 5 minutes of daily reset is better than sporadic hour-long cleaning sessions. Don’t let things sit around. If you’re going from the living room to the kitchen, bring a dish with you.

The Cleaning Reality

You don't need to clean like you're preparing for Marth Stewart to come over. You need routines that maintain a comfortable, functional living space without taking over your life.

I love these three routines because they're realistic, flexible, and focused on maintenance rather than perfection. You can start with whichever one feels most manageable, build the habit, then add the next one.

Your future self will thank you for choosing sustainable systems over impressive-sounding schedules that fizzle out after two weeks.

Remember: the best cleaning routine is the one you'll do consistently. Keep it simple, keep it realistic, and keep going.

If you're loving what you've read, I have tackled more in-depth posts on cleaning: Learn How to Clean Your Bedroom for Best Results, How To Do A Kitchen Cleaning For Best Results, and Knowing How To Clean A Bathroom Is Surprisingly Easy.

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