Can I just say… if it feels like you’re barely keeping your head above water when it comes to housework, I see you. Been there, done that, had the messy house to prove it.
I’m a working mom with ADHD, and keeping my home organized used to feel downright impossible. Between work, family, cooking, and all the life things, cleaning felt like a crushing weight I couldn’t manage. I was overwhelmed, constantly playing catch-up, and truthfully? Totally burned out.
But here’s the good news—for the first time, I’ve found a system that actually works. It’s not about having a Martha Stewart Level house, but it’s doable, life-changing, and keeps my house under control. What’s more, it doesn’t demand hours of cleaning every day or expect me to magically turn into a superhuman homemaking machine (because LOL).
This system? It’s all about simple, time-saving habits and tools designed for real life (even when said life feels hectic and ADHD-brain gets in the way). Here are the six game-changers that have totally saved my butt.
1. Starting Laundry First Thing in the Morning
Okay, hear me out. I used to leave laundry for the weekend, but by the time Saturday rolled around, the mountain of dirty clothes and sheets was so overwhelming that I just… didn’t do it. Now, every morning before work, I toss in a load. I’ve even got a set schedule (Monday is whites, Tuesday is workout gear, Wednesday casual clothes, and so on. You can find my laundry schedule here.)
Planning my loads and starting them early in the day has made all the difference. I’m no longer buried in laundry piles, and bonus? It’s so much faster when I spread it out. When I’d leave the house to go to work (I work from home now) I’d just open the washing machine lid so they didn’t get musty (yes, this is actually Martha Stewart approved) then put them in the dryer as soon as I got home from work.
2. The 30-Minute Daily Clean Routine
I swear by this. Every day, I spend just 30 minutes in the morning hitting the basics. Now I know waking up 30 minutes earlier feels like shi*…at first. But when I say that waking up an extra 30 minutes early to get this done has saved my mental health (not just my home!) it really has. Here’s the routine…
- Air the beds (find my post on airing the beds here)
- Start a load of laundry (as I mentioned earlier)
- Unload the dishwasher/put away clean dishes
- Timed clutter pickup around the house
- 15 minutes on a weekly task (find my weekly tasks here)
If you’re a working mom, this routine is a lifesaver because it doesn’t feel overwhelming or eat into your evenings. Trust me, little bits of cleaning add up in a big way. I actually have a podcast cleaning routine I listen to that has new episodes daily that takes me through these tasks while listening to 1950s radio shows! You can try some episodes here! Or, if you prefer a printable checklist I have that here.
3. Keeping a Recipe Master List for Meal Planning
Raise your hand if you’ve stared into the fridge at 6 PM, wondering what on earth to make for dinner while two ingredients short of every recipe on Pinterest. Been there!
Now, I keep a “recipe master list,” aka a cheat sheet of go-to meals my family loves. Once a week (usually after cleaning the fridge), I plan out a week’s worth of meals in minutes, shop for what’s missing, and I’m set. The best part? I also prep ingredients ahead of time for the week. You can get my meal planning printable here!
4. A Cleaning Cart That’s Always Ready to Roll
Another ADHD win right here. My cleaning cart is my ride-or-die. Instead of running around the house looking for sprays, gloves, cloths, or forgetting what I was cleaning in the first place (#relatable), I set up a little cart with everything I need. Bonus? It’s portable, so I can roll it wherever I need to clean. I have everything labeled, and all my cleaning recipes right there on the cart. You can check out the labels and recipes I use here.
5. Once-a-Week Fridge Cleaning + Grocery Shopping
If I learned one thing the hard way, it’s never to skip cleaning out the fridge. Not only does it save space, but it also saves the whole “Ew, what is THAT smell?!” drama.
Once a week, I pull everything out of the fridge, toss anything questionable (RIP mystery leftovers), wipe down the shelves, and put it all back in. Then, I plan meals based on what we already have, make my grocery list, and shop all in one go.
6. The Domestic Daydreams Printable Bundle
Finally, my not-so-secret weapon. After years of trial and error with cleaning routines, this printable bundle saved my sanity. It includes everything I need to keep my home running smoothly and my ADHD brain in check, even if I’m short on time. Here’s what’s inside:
- Daily Cleaning Routine Guide: A 30-minute checklist that keeps me from spinning out or cleaning random things I don’t need to be cleaning.
- Ultimate Laundry Guide + Tags: Honestly, these were a GAME CHANGER. The tags are on my laundry baskets, telling me exactly what load to wash on which day, plus what settings to use. This made it so easy to delegate if I’m too busy, too.
- Ultimate Cleaning Recipe + Supply Stickers: These honestly make setting up my cleaning cart stupid easy. No more standing there wondering what goes where!
- Meal Planning Guide + Labels: My recipe master list MVP. It seriously cut down meal planning time from 30 minutes to five.
- Cowboy Cleanup for Kids: This one’s a HIT. Pair this printable with the kids’ audio cleaning routine, and your little ones can press play and follow along while they tidy up.
- 5-Minute Deep Clean Miracles Checklist: Every week, I do two quick deep clean sessions that get all the forgotten areas (hello, baseboards and inside fridge shelves) without the giant chore of spring cleaning.
Oh, and guess what? If you snag the bundle (you can get it here!), you can also sign up for a free month of audio-guided cleaning routines! These turn boring chores into (dare I say it?) something fun by adding vintage-style radio shows. Nothing like a little Wild Bill Hickok to keep your kiddos cleaning or Dragnet! and Suspense! for adults to make tidying feel like me-time.
Final Thoughts
Having a clean home while working full-time and managing all. the. things. is possible. Is it easy? No. Are there days I crash before I get it all done? You bet. But shifting to small, simple habits and using tools that actually help my systemize my life has changed everything.
You don’t have to be perfect to have a home you love. Progress over perfection, always. And if a system like this sounds like something you need, grab the Domestic Daydreams Printable Bundle. It might just save your tail, too!
Click here to check out the bundle and grab your free audio routine episode!