Time, energy and motivation is what I sometimes lack when it comes to cleaning and I’m sure I’m not alone! I’m a full time working mum of a very adorable but very messy 5 year old. I am currently working from home on a full time basis so there is more opportunity for me to create a mess. Oh and I have a cat that comes in and out of the house, often with muddy paws, and she likes to leave her fluff all over the sofa! Being so busy I have little time for cleaning so I realised I had to start using some cleaning hacks to get my home in order. Here’s some of my top cleaning tips that I use to make sure our house stays nice and clean! 

Use the dishwasher to clean your kids toys

The top shelf of your dishwasher is your new best friend when it comes to cleaning your kids toys. This is particularly useful for grubby duplo and lego, or bath toys. Use a mesh bag for small parts like lego and place on the top shelf. The dishwasher will not only clean them but
will steam them, meaning they are disinfected too. 

Be careful what you put in the dishwasher i.e. don’t put battery operated toys, pull string toys or wooden toys in the dishwasher. 

While some toys require special care, others are often designed for durability and easy maintenance, making them ideal for busy parents. For instance, building sets like magna tiles are known for their robust construction, allowing for quick wipe-downs or even gentle washing without damage. These high-quality magnetic tiles can not only withstand vigorous play but also encourage children to explore concepts in geometry and spatial reasoning.

Use a squeegee to get pet hair out of carpets and sofas

One of the things that drives me mad is helping my reception year son get into his freshly laundered school uniform, for him to then sit on the sofa where the cat was sleeping the night before and get covered in cat fur! Yes, that has happened on a number of occasions. So I was delighted to discover this cleaning hack on Tik Tok. 

Use a clean dry squeegee and simply pull along the fabric gently. This will lift the fur off the fabric in piles. You can then just add the fur to your composter or leave the fur out in your garden for the birds to use in their nests. 

Buy a door mat that traps dirt

Muddy kids feet and muddy paws are a fact of life if you’re a parent and/or pet owner. In fact Beko have carried out a survey to find out some of the messiest pet traits and have discovered that in the UK, it takes pet owners 4 times as long to keep their households clean each week! That’s 4 hours for pet owners compared with 1 hour for non-pet owners. 

As such, having a way to prevent some of the dirt coming into the house is a good idea and there are a few dirt trapping door mats on the market now. These work by actively absorbing moisture and dirt.

Get kids bouncing on the bed to remove dust from the mattress

Clean feet and hoover at the ready! Strip the bed and get your little ones to jump up and down to raise up any settled dust. A brilliant way to prevent dust mites and also to get your kids helping with the cleaning and feeling part of the team! 

Use Denture tablets for your toilets

If you want to get the bottom of your toilet stain free and sparkling, use a denture tablet. Pop into the toilet and allow them to fizz. Leave for 15 to 20 minutes, give the toilet a quick brush and then flush. A quick and easy way to kill germs and remove stains. 

Get your kids involved

Let’s face it, the little ones tend to be the ones that make the most mess. So try and get your kids involved (and not just bouncing on the bed).

Dusting the skirting boards or cleaning windows are all things my son loves. Reward with stickers, marbles, reward slips, or whatever works for your child.

I hope these cleaning tips have been of help. Let me know in the comments below your top tips for keeping your home nice and clean.

Disclaimer: I was paid to write this article.

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