Cleaning While Homeschooling

So this has been the topic of conversation on several of the mom pages I follow on Facebook and among the small homeschool community to which I belong lately.  Here are a few things I've learned along the way that have proved to be helpful:

1.  Work together.  I'm not sure why some of us have this view that kids should be able to do it on their own.  Every adult I've ever talked to likes to have support while cleaning.  Unless there's some big decluttering project I'm doing, cleaning is much more fun and gets done quicker if it's a family affair.  I know there are some people who love organizing and decorating as a hobby.  What I'm talking about here, is simply everyone chipping in at the same time for the everyday upkeep of the home.

2.  Setup 2-3 10 minute pickup times each day.  Some will turn their noses up at this, but I live by it.  My kiddos can leave out ongoing projects but they need to be placed somewhere none of us will kill our selves as we walk through each room...ha!  Other than that, we pick up everything else right after lunch, right before we leave for dance, and on our way up to bed.
*This where you can do daily floor sweeping from food dropping during meals and dishes.

3.  I have found that everything else really depends on your family dynamics and personality.  Some people like to do one big laundry day while others like to split it up.  Some clean the whole house...like cleaning cleaning as in wiping down stuff...on Saturdays while others do one room per day.  Whatever your family can do without feeling crazy...go with it!

4.  Remember to draw the line between the things you personally like to clean/organize and what the family will do together.  When I decide to rearrange a room I don't enlist anyone else to help unless they love doing it as well, want to pass off a service project for a Faith in God project, want to earn some extra money, or in the case of my husband...there's something I just can't lift alone.

Personally, as a homeschool mom, I feel as though one and two above can help any personality of mom who's trying to keep the house from being a total minefield. The other stuff...do what makes you happy and what won't kill the happiness in your family:).

Toodles!
Erika