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Article ‘I’m 8 Months Pregnant And This Is My Spring Cleaning Checklist For Cleaning-Averse Mums!’

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Kaylie Dunn is nearing the finish line of her second pregnancy while running after a toddler, working and studying – and she has a dilemma. She loves a clean and tidy house, but isn’t a fan of cleaning. So we challenged her to come up with a Spring Cleaning Checklist for mums just like her. You’re going to love this!

The busy Queensland mum says she’s currently in between a rock and a hard place.

“I’m ready to nest but at the same time just generally exhausted. It’s such a juggle your second time around when you’ve already got children working, studying as well. So cleaning is one of those things that I know I’ve got to do, but I absolutely hate. So anything I can find to make that process easier, I’m going to jump straight at it.”

Kaylie has revealed the ways she gets through her spring cleaning routine, and all of her tips are simple enough for any family who’d rather be doing anything else!

Spring Cleaning Checklist Oates

Using background noise as a distraction is one of Kaylie’s secret spring cleaning weapons.

“I do really need to get into the rhythm sometimes. So I find that actually the listening to a podcast or one of my favourite reoccurring TV shows helps. Sometimes that’s going back to comfort of Seinfeld or Friends or something I’ve watched so many times. But it just gives me that positive mindset when I can hear it going in the background.”

If music is more your jam, it’s time to pump up the tunes. And the bonus? You can also get a workout done.

“I also put on my watch so my fitness tracker, keep a bit of track of my calories, make it almost a little bit of an exercise as well. Because at the moment, cleaning probably is my main form of exercise. So trying to find the positive and fun ways to clean and also keep up the exercise at the same time. So make a little bit of a dance routine.

“Sometimes I’ll pop on my favourite music, it’s got to be something light and upbeat, is what I usually find, because it really kind of gets you in the groove. I’ll try and make it as fun as I can.”

Spring Cleaning Checklist Oates

Kaylie also recommends making sure you have the right tools to get cleaning done efficiently and effectively.

“I think, if you have a mindset like me, making sure that you’ve got the right things makes all the difference. And that’s one of the things that I have actually loved about the new Oates Microfibre Multi-Surface Cleaning Kit is they’ve actually got the name tags on them. This makes all the difference.

“I’m someone that cannot remember the differences between which clothes to use or when. So these make it super simple. I’ve got stainless steel for the fridge, general kitchen cleaning, all my appliances. I’ve got glass for windows.

“Before having these I just used those general cleaning cloths and got constant smudges. And of course, the dusting one so much easier than trying to use any old conventional dusting methods, where, really you’re just kind of mixing it up and it comes back anyway. No, this was a great time saver. And to be honest, I actually love the product so much I went and bought a second one.”

Spring Cleaning Checklist Oates

Kaylie also loves that they can be tossed into the washing machine, cleaned and reused over and over. The busy mum also recommends adding Oates Wonder Cloths to your spring cleaning kit, particularly because it helps with one of her other tips!

Spring Cleaning Checklist Oates

“I had my two and a half year old daughter helping me around the house with using these cloths. It’s also helping teaching her how to help help me in the cleaning process, helping her clean up her mess as well.”

Spring Cleaning Checklist Oates

The top of Kaylie’s cleaning products list is the Oates Ezy Spray Mop. This time saver is perfect for wooden floors, with an easy-to-change refill and machine washable pad.

“It has made the process so much easier. For me, it’s time saving, it’s an easy, easy mechanism, easy functionality, and it’s multi use, so I don’t just use it on my tools and floors and tiles. I’ve actually used it this week on my glass sliding doors and also on my outside windows.

“It’s much easier for me with the reach, as well as with the spray, and then also having the detergent already built into having that mechanism, it’s made it so much easier, easier to use around the house and other things that I usually find too strenuous or I’m quite short and can’t reach.”

Make sure you check out Kaylie’s other spring cleaning tips in the downloadable checklist below.

 

downloadable checklist (200 x 150 px) (766 x 90 px)

MOUTHS OF MUMS_Oates checklist

 

This Real Mum Story was provided as part of a paid sponsorship opportunity. Kaylie was chosen to share her story because she was sent and tried out Oates cleaning products and genuinely loved them!

We may get commissions for purchases made using links in this post. Learn more.

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Comments

  • I can’t stand the touch of Microfibre so I’m out.

    Reply

  • I know for me, as a mum of 3 under 5 it can get very overwhelming trying to keep the home nice and tidy, on top of everything else that needs to be done on a daily basis. But that checklist is such an awesome idea. Definitely have to try the Oates product!

    Reply

  • Such a great share, I remember the pre-birth urge to bring bubba into a beautiful and clear space. Great tips!

    Reply

  • Initially, I wanted to say that at 8 months pregnant you should be putting your rest as a priority, but I do also remember forgetting that once the baby is born, everyone wants to visit and see the baby. My cleaning motivation tip is to declutter on bin day. I see how much space is in the bin and try to fill it up by tackling a small spot of clutter each week. It really helps me with being overwhelmed.

    • I found when I was 8 months pregnant I wanted to clean and have everything ready before buns arrived. It is only natural to want to do this, especially given she had. 2 year old to entertain too. People can say rest as much as you can but that is not easy for some people. Thank you for sharing your tips mum to be, it’s important to do what makes you happy and if this is it, then great.

    Reply

  • Ahhhh, reading all of your comments makes me SOOOO jealous!!
    I need one now!!!

    Reply

  • I have the same Oates cleaning cloth pack and it definitely makes the job easier. I agree with having music on but I think I’d just get distracted with having a television show on in the background because the next thing I’d know I’d be sitting down and watching Monica clean instead of cleaning myself. The mop sounds fantastic. Love the idea of not having to carry a mop bucket around.

    Reply

  • It is always hard to fit in spring cleaning when everything seems to be so much harder because it has just got to be done. Your list makes complete sense and I have always jived around the house when I am cleaning with mops and buckets and brooms and vacuums. Good luck for your cleaning – mine is finished, now to de-clutter, ha ha!

    Reply

  • Love this! I’m also eight months and struggling to find the time to clean!

    • Aw bless, I can only just imagine that it’s hard to not only find the time to clean, but also the physical strength and the motivation to do a spring clean ! The first thing I thought reading this article was “how in the world would an eight month pregnant woman find the ability to do a sprig clean indeed ?!” I can tell you it wasn’t on my priority list ;)

    Reply

  • Having music definitely lifts the mood! I work full time and much prefer spending the weekends hiking, so cleaning has to be fit in of a night usually. I find it simplifies things a lot to use a steamer for most of my cleaning – I can do a whole bathroom with it. We also have a robot vac, which isn’t as thorough as a human, but can cut down on the mess and allow me to take longer in between vacuuming.

    Reply

  • I know one thing for sure that I wasn’t doing a spring cleaning when I was 8 months pregnant. But then, I never do a spring cleaning as such. I clean a lot on the go and when I have some time. And yes, cleaning whilst listening to music is the best :)

    Reply

  • The mop would have been so handy when I was pregnant – it’s so much easier to use than any other mop I’ve ever come across. Seriously, it feels like less bending and there’s definitely less work as I wasn’t wringing or rinsing the mop while working. I totally loved it.

    Reply

  • Yep, using the idle time is the best ! That’s when I a lot done without having the feeling that’s you’re cleaning as such. It’s a great idea to use the Oates Ezy Spray Mop for the glass sliding doors and the outside windows. Window cleaning is one of the things I don’t like

    • The reason why I don’t like window cleaning is that it doesn’t stay clean for long. My youngest never uses the handles to open the doors, but always goes full on with her hands on the glass: the windows aren’t clean for long, maybe five minutes when I’m lucky, lol !

    Reply

  • I have always chosen a playlist and music to listen to when cleaning the house and cooking. Listening to music sets the mood for cleaning and cooking. The music for cleaning of course has a faster beat and the music for cooking is slower. The added benefit of listening to music when cleaning is a good cardio workout.

    • I do use colour coded cloths for cleaning around the house because it simply makes good sense. Cloths are so easy to use and to then wash, dry, store and reuse again. Using cloths is friendly for the environment and sustainable. Using cloths is also very good on the family budget.

    Reply

  • With the right products – cleaning can be done easier!

    Reply

  • I totally agree about these products- I reviewed them too and they’re fantastic. I also particularly agree with using idle time. I get so much done waiting for bread to toast, water to boil, and so on. A whole lot of three minutes add up surprisingly quickly. It’s easier than doing it all at once.

    Reply

  • Love this checklist. It’s always helpful to smash out a task while you’re waiting for something and to clean while you go. Stacking the dishwasher while in the kitchen, not leaving it to be done from the start after dinner always feels like a big help. And I love the comfort tv while cleaning, I do the same! The amount of times I’ve seen both The Office and early seasons of RHOBH while cleaning and cooking are countless haha

    Reply

  • I am a big believer of clean as you go rather than setting a particular day to do cleaning as it makes it easier to manage. I love her idea of putting on some motivational music, this is a really great idea, as i know good music really does cheer me up so tomorrow when i do some cleaning, I am putting on some happy fun tunes.

    Reply
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