The Laundry Basket Trick – Clean your House in 5 Minutes!

Apr 8, 2020 | Cleaning Tips and Tricks, Lifestyle

Cleaning with kids in the house is like brushing your teeth while eating oreos… But, it's definitely worth the effort and there are ways to make it easier on yourself, mama! The Laundry Basket Trick will help you clean your house in 5 minutes.

The Laundry Basket Trick from Fun Cheap or Free will help you clean your house in 5 minutes.

Keeping the clutter in your house under control can be VERY CHALLENGING! Especially if you, like me, have a dozen children under foot, running around making messes faster than you can clean them up!! I'm only slightly exaggerating.

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Many of you have probably seen my deep-cleaning schedule. You know, the one where you keep your house deep-cleaned daily with only 1 chore per day that you can totally knock out in 30 minutes or less. Well, here's another quick tip for staying on top of the surface tidying throughout the day!

Introducing… the 5-Minute Laundry Basket Clean-Up Trick!

This is a very simple concept, but it works. So I'm going to share it.

Incorporate this little cleaning trick into your daily routines and you are going to love me for it! You're welcome!

SET A TIME TO TIDY UP

First off, through trial and error I have set 2 times per day where I will tidy up! 

  1. During nap time in the middle of the day, and
  2. Right after the kids go to bed, before I relax for the night.

I learned the hard way that if I clean more than that, it's in vain because I turn around only to find more messes. It's all about efficiency, people! After running around all morning getting myself and my kids ready, driving to preschool, gymnastics, playdates, lunch, errands or whatever else I have going on that day, I usually come home, put the kids down for naps, and come downstairs to… Clutter. Everywhere.

Nap time is MY time to actually get things done (like writing this post right now) so it's sacred to me and I don't want to waste a single minute… But I also don't want the messes to pile up all day. Solution?

THE LAUNDRY BASKET TRICK

Set a timer to help you clean faster, this works awesome with the laundry basket trick from Fun Cheap or Free

I look at the clock or set a physical timer on my oven for 5 or 10 minutes. I talk about timers a lot! Because they work! I take a laundry basket and…

…make a quick sweep around the house! Toss in anything that doesn't belong in that room. Usually the kitchen and living room are my biggest culprits.

This usually only takes a few minutes. I spend the last part of my time walking around and putting everything away. Typically, I start in the play room (because that's where the bulk of the random stuff belongs) and put everything away. I move on to the next room, put everything away. Then the next room.

Voila! Done!

By taking it one room at a time you're only making ONE trip, maximizing your time. In 5-10 minutes you have swept through and tidied up your house, and now you can nap…er…I mean… get really productive things done in peace!

…until the kids wake up and make a complete mess of things again.

GET THE FAMILY TO HELP

Kids don't nap? Even better! Get them involved! Who said YOU have to be the one to do all the tidying? This is an easy job for kids of all ages!

In the middle of the day set a “clean-up time” where you set your timer and you do a “blitz clean” as we call it. Give everyone their own basket or have them share (good luck with that one…) and make a game out of it. Whoever fills their basket the fullest and empties it the fastest, wins. Give them a treat or prize, and it will make everyone happy.

image with text that reads "how to use a laundry basket to clean your house", from Fun Cheap or Free

Here are a few more hacks that will make your life easier!

Happy tidying, everyone!

Jordan Page Signature from Fun Cheap or Free

5 Comments

  1. Diane

    Love your tips and your energy!

    Reply
  2. Kelli Downs

    I knew I liked you. I’ve been doing the laundry basket method for years, glad to see I’m not the only one who does this 😆

    Reply
  3. Henry Baker

    Hey Jordan – the laundry basket system is amazing! I know this would definitely reduce the time I spend pacing around…and the timer will help me be more on point like I’m working against the clock. About to check out your deep cleaning page. Thank you so much!

    Reply
  4. Sam Patrick

    I use this trick for the van too. We take a trashbag and a laundry basket. Everything goes in one or the other.

    Reply
    • Fun Cheap or Free

      Ohhh such a great idea, thanks for sharing!!!

      Reply

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