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Cleaning as a mom is like trying to brush your teeth while eating a chocolate bar—pointless and never-ending. The moment you wipe down the kitchen, someone strolls in with a biscuit, and suddenly, it’s like it never happened. And let’s not even talk about the state of the sofa cushions after the kids have used them for a WWE match.
If you’ve ever shoved a mess into a cupboard because someone was “popping by”, you’re not alone. Cleaning with kids in the house is an extreme sport, and frankly, no one has time for a full deep clean every day. That’s why 5-minute cleaning hacks are the way forward—small, easy wins that make your home feel less like a war zone without sucking up your entire day.
This isn’t about achieving Pinterest-perfect levels of cleanliness (spoiler: those houses don’t have kids). It’s about damage control—hacks that keep your home just clean enough to function while keeping your sanity intact.
So, if you’re ready to fake a clean house in record time, let’s dive into the best 5-minute cleaning hacks that will make life just a little easier.
The 5-Minute Cleaning Mindset
Let’s be honest—no one has time for deep cleaning every day. Between school runs, snack requests, and trying to drink your tea while it’s still hot, cleaning often falls to the bottom of the list. But here’s the secret: you don’t need hours to make your home look (and feel) cleaner.
The key is quick, high-impact tasks—the kind that make a big difference fast. Think surface-level clean, not “spring-cleaning-every-nook-and-cranny” levels of perfection. Because let’s be real, the only people judging your baseboards are the ones who clearly don’t have kids.
Here’s the 5-minute cleaning game plan:
- Focus on what’s visible—If it’s in your line of sight, it matters.
- Tidy over perfect—A home that’s lived in is normal.
- Use sneaky cleaning tricks—Multitasking is your best friend.
Instead of waiting for the “perfect time” to clean (which doesn’t exist), work with the time you have. Five minutes here, five minutes there—it all adds up. And before you know it, your home looks tidy enough to fool unexpected guests (or at least not make you cringe when you walk into the room).
Ready? Let’s jump into the quickest cleaning hacks ever.
5-Minute Cleaning Hacks for Busy Mums
🧺 Hack #1: The “Basket Blitz”
This is my go-to when the house looks like a bomb went off, and I only have a few minutes before someone knocks on the door. Grab a laundry basket and go room to room, scooping up anything that doesn’t belong—random socks, half-eaten snacks (ew), rogue toys, and that coffee mug that’s been living on the windowsill for a week.
Once everything is in the basket, hide it in a bedroom, wardrobe, or even the car if necessary (no judgment). The mess is out of sight, and your home instantly looks neater. Bonus points if you actually put everything away later.
Mom hack: Hand the basket to your kids and turn it into a game—whoever puts away the most items wins a treat!
🧽 Hack #2: The “Multitasking Magic” Trick
When you’re short on time, multitasking is everything. Instead of waiting around while dinner is cooking, the kettle is boiling, or your toddler is definitely not getting into trouble, use those few minutes to tackle a quick cleaning task.
Here are some easy cleaning wins while doing other things:
- Brushing your teeth? Wipe down the bathroom sink.
- Microwaving food? Use that time to clean the counters.
- On the phone? Fold a few items of laundry.
- Boiling the kettle? Do a quick sweep of the kitchen.
These micro-tasks add up fast, and suddenly your house is cleaner without you even realising you were cleaning.
Mom hack: Keep disinfectant wipes in multiple rooms so you can quickly wipe surfaces whenever you have a spare minute.
🛋 Hack #3: The “Guest Illusion” Trick
We’ve all been there—someone texts, “I’m popping round in 10 minutes!” and suddenly, you see the house through their eyes (yikes). Enter the Guest Illusion Trick—a super-fast way to fake a clean house when you’re in a panic.
Here’s what to do in five minutes or less:
- Fluff the sofa cushions—it makes the whole room look neater.
- Light a candle or spray some air freshener—a fresh scent = instant clean feel.
- Stack dirty dishes neatly in the sink (it looks better than scattered mess).
- Close doors to messy rooms—out of sight, out of mind.
It’s not deep cleaning, but it’s enough to fool visitors into thinking you’ve got your life together (or at least your living room).
Mom hack: Keep a decorative basket or bin in the living room—if time is short, toss random clutter in and deal with it later!
🧺 Hack #4: The “Laundry Shuffle”
Laundry is one of those never-ending chores, but with the right system, it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Instead of letting it pile up for Laundry Day™ (aka disaster zone day), spread it out with the Laundry Shuffle.
Here’s how:
- Start a quick wash first thing in the morning—even if you’re still half asleep.
- Switch it while making lunch—get it drying early.
- Fold while watching TV or listening to a podcast—it makes it feel like less of a chore.
This method stops the laundry mountain from growing and makes the whole process way less stressful.
Mom hack: If folding laundry is your enemy, ditch it—hang as much as possible to skip the extra step!
🖥 Hack #5: The “Commercial Clean”
If you ever watch TV (or, let’s be honest, Cocomelon on repeat), use ad breaks or loading screens as built-in cleaning sprints.
Every time there’s a commercial, jump up and clean one thing:
- 1st break? Wipe down the coffee table.
- 2nd break? Do a quick vacuum in one room.
- 3rd break? Load or unload the dishwasher.
It sounds small, but these micro-cleaning bursts prevent mess from piling up—and before you know it, your home looks much tidier without ever setting aside “cleaning time.”
Mom hack: If you don’t watch live TV, use song lengths as timers—one song = one cleaning task!
The “Good Enough” Cleaning Rule
If there’s one thing you should take away from this, it’s this: “good enough” is good enough.
Your home doesn’t need to be spotless—it just needs to be functional and comfortable. No one is inspecting your skirting boards (and if they are, kindly escort them to the door).
Instead of aiming for perfection, focus on the high-impact areas:
- Keep floors and surfaces mostly clear—it instantly makes things look cleaner.
- Tidy up daily, deep clean when necessary—don’t stress over the little stuff.
- Accept that mess happens—especially with kids (it’s called living).
At the end of the day, your kids won’t remember a spotless house, but they will remember a happy mom. So, let’s embrace the “good enough” rule—because done is better than perfect, and your sanity is worth more than spotless countertops.
Listen…
Cleaning as a busy mum isn’t about achieving perfection—it’s about finding small, manageable ways to stay on top of the chaos without losing your mind. By using these 5-minute cleaning hacks, you can keep your home looking tidywithout spending hours scrubbing.
Remember: small habits add up. Whether it’s a quick wipe-down while making tea, a 5-minute clutter blitz, or tackling laundry in shifts, every little effort counts. And if all else fails? Close the door to the mess and light a candle.
Now, I’d love to hear from you! What’s your go-to 5-minute cleaning trick? Drop it in the comments below—I’m always looking for new ways to fake a clean house. 😉
Until next time—may your floors be crumb-free (for at least five minutes). 😉
Love, Jordan 💛
