Nighttime Cleaning Routine :: Stress Free Mornings
Why You Need A Nighttime Cleaning Routine
Waking up to a messy house is just plain stressful. Not only am I looking at a huge mess and walking over piles of clothes, but I have the whole day ahead of me. A whole list of things to get done, and now I have this mess looming over my head.
The solution to this problem… get it picked up before you go to bed. Start a nighttime cleaning routine.
To help you start your nighttime cleaning routine I am going to give you an example, plus a free printable. This free printable will help you design and track your cleaning routine. With this printable habit tracker, your nighttime cleaning routine will become just that… a habit. Grab your free printable below.
Before I Had a Cleaning Routine
Before I had a nighttime cleaning routine, my house was a mess. I have the natural tendency to put things off and let things pile up.
Until just a couple of years ago, I consistently had a pile of clothes on the floor of our bedroom and on top of the dresser. I would wake up to a kitchen sink piled with dishes. Every time I looked at these things they would drive me crazy, but I didn’t care to bother with them or change my habits.
Living in the chaos was causing me unneeded stress, but I thought I didn’t have time.
I was wrong. There was plenty of time, I just wasn’t using my time to my advantage.
I’m not really sure what caused the change. I think I was just tired of our house being messy. The day I had enough, was the day I started decluttering everything and when I started implementing these cleaning routines.
Before We Get Started
Please understand that if you have an extremely cluttered home a nighttime cleaning routine will not be a quick fix for you. A clutter-free house is an ultimate answer to a clean home. I know I say this all of the time, but it’s because I know this is the answer to your housekeeping blues. Declutter, declutter, declutter!
Decluttering will make it so you are cleaning less. You can actually clean instead of always “picking up.” You will be happier in your home and homemaking will be a lot more simple and productive.
Jump start your cleaning routine by reading Your Honest Guide To Decluttering Your Whole House In Your Own Time.
Example Nighttime Cleaning Routine
Each evening I start my nighttime cleaning routine right after dinner. I do not do it all at once. I break it up into pieces depending on what is going on that evening. Here is a quick list of all of the tasks that I do.
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put all dinner dishes in the dishwasher
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wipe down counters
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clean sink
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tidy up/declutter kitchen counters
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pick up toys and kids bedroom (have kids help)
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tidy up/declutter living room
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fold and put away laundry
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put away any last dirty dishes and start the dishwasher
Your Nighttime Cleaning Routine Habit Tracker
Use the habit tracker that I have provided to make this routine something that comes naturally to you. The tracker has a checklist for every day, for the next two weeks.
Print it out and check off each chore, every morning for two weeks. After two weeks it should start feeling like a habit. If you start slipping back into your old ways, print off the nighttime routine checklist again.
Maybe my routine doesn’t fit your family and your lifestyle. That’s okay! No two people are the same so I expect that to happen. That is why I also provided you with a blank habit tracker that you can fill in yourself. Pick the things that are important to you and that you can manage each day.
At the very least clean up the kitchen every night. I guarantee this will set up for a more productive and peaceful morning. This will also carry you through the rest of your day.
A Nighttime Cleaning Routine Can Be A Habit For You Too
I made myself do these things each day and now they are a habit. I do them without thinking. My nighttime cleaning routine, morning cleaning routine, and weekly chore list have made my house a more pleasant place to be.
And DECLUTTER! I can’t say it enough. How long does it take you to clean up the kitchen at night? Declutter your kitchen counters and it will take you half the time.
I know that sounds like a lot. Morning, evening, weekly routines, and decluttering… it’s actually all so simple. Get into the habit of staying on top of things and it really doesn’t take much time at all. Cleaning never takes as long as we think it is going to.
Don’t Forget to Grab Your Nighttime Cleaning Routine Habit Tracker >>>>>>> Get It Here From the Free Printables Library. 🙂
More Free Resources:
Simple Cleaning Routine Checklist
Morning Cleaning Routine Habit Tracker
A List of 101 Things to Declutter
Read More:
22 Habits of Productive Stay At Home Moms
12 Time Saving Tips For Cleaning The Kitchen
How to Keep Your House Clean When You Have Dogs
Vicky
May 7, 2019 at 11:09 pmIt was so obvious but so mindblowing at the same time! Great post! Why didnt I think of that? A nightime cleaning routine is what I need. I hate waking up to a mess. Thanks!
KatiesKottage
May 8, 2019 at 7:47 pmThank you Vicky! I hope it helps. It’s the simple things that keep our homes running smoothly. 🙂