The Cleaning Hacks For Moms That Keeps My Home Sane

Let me just say this: googling ‘simple cleaning hacks for moms’ is the only reason my house isn’t currently buried under a mountain of burp cloths, breast pump parts, and Amazon boxes.

Because listen—life with an infant is no joke. Between feedings, naps (or the refusal of naps), work calls, and trying to remember the last time I drank water, the idea of “keeping a clean house” used to feel laughable.

But then I found something that changed the game: the 5-minute rule.

I came across this little trick a while back and didn’t think much of it at first. But now? It’s basically the only reason my house doesn’t look like a baby tornado touched down in every single room.

So what is the 5-Minute Rule?

It’s this:
If something takes five minutes or less, just do it now.

Simple. No apps. No planners. No fancy productivity system. Just:
“Oh hey, this will take five minutes or less? I’ll knock it out.”

Wipe the spit-up off the counter instead of walking past it for the fourth time? Two minutes.
Throw the diaper box in the recycling instead of stepping around it all day? One minute.
Reply to that quick email before it disappears into the void of my postpartum brain? Done.

It seems small, but trust me—it adds up.

Why the 5-Minute Rule is a cleaning hack for moms that actually works (especially in the newborn stage)

When you’ve got a tiny human who needs everything, it’s easy to let the small stuff pile up. And then suddenly, the “small stuff” has turned into a mountain of laundry and a mysterious smell you don’t have time to track down.

But these quick little five-minute wins? They keep things from reaching critical mess. They help me stay a little bit ahead of the chaos instead of constantly playing catch-up.

And let’s be real—those big, aspirational organizing systems look great on Pinterest, but they don’t always translate into real life. What I needed were simple cleaning hacks for moms that actually worked in 10-minute bursts between diaper changes and client calls.

Also, and I cannot stress this enough: doing just one small thing feels like a win when your entire life has been reorganized around feeding schedules and diaper changes.

It’s a way to reclaim a tiny piece of control—and that goes a long way when your days are ruled by an adorable (but very opinionated) baby dictator.

It’s not about perfection—it’s about momentum

The 5-Minute Rule won’t magically make your house look like a Pinterest board. I still leave bottles in the sink too long. I still have no idea what’s growing in the back of the fridge. But it helps. It keeps things moving.

Because when the baby finally naps and I look around, I don’t want to feel more overwhelmed by the mess. I want to feel like I can breathe. Like I did something. Even if that “something” was tossing the burp cloth in the laundry instead of letting it live on the coffee table forever.

TL;DR? Try this.

Next time you spot something that needs doing—ask yourself:
Will this take 5 minutes or less?
If yes, do it now. You’ll feel better. Future-you (and maybe your future guests) will be grateful.

Whether you’re in the thick of baby chaos like I am, or just trying to keep your home from falling into disarray during a busy season, the 5-minute rule is one of those simple cleaning hacks for moms that’s actually doable—and that’s what makes it stick.

And if you ever need a home that fits your new normal a little better—or just want to vent about life, homes, or how many baby items one tiny human can possibly need—let’s connect!