I consider myself a full-time homemaker. As a homemaker I am responsible for day-to-day operations at our house. When I was single, I still considered myself a homemaker. I took pride in the opportunity of having a space to call my own and would relish in the joy homemaking brought me. I truly believe that being a homemaker knows no bounds. The title isn’t reserved for just Christian housewives who have children. To me, being a homemaker simply means creating a space, and nurturing it. Being a military spouse has afforded me the opportunity to be a full-time homemaker.

Cleaning:

A typical day of cleaning consists of using products that are safe for me and to use around my family. Since we are a one income family I need something that fits within our budget and something that works the first time. I look for products that are environmentally friendly as well since I have small kids. Mabel Clean is formulated with clean ingredients that are effective yet gentle. My favorite product is the All-Purpose Cleaner that is 100% naturally derived from plants and completely non-toxic. I have used the spray on highchairs, bouncers and even a changing pad. The product does wonders in the kitchen as well. You can get Mabel Clean products here.

Organization:

I tidy my home frequently. Having small children has taught me that there is no joy in trying to keep everything put away. The children have their main source toys in their playroom, they have free rein to do whatever they want in the playroom. They are responsible for the upkeep and management of that space. I will declutter and organize once a quarter to keep the playroom from getting out of hand. I also provide baskets for age appropriate toys and books for the kids in their rooms. The baskets are to keep them entertained while having quiet time in their room. I have had great success in giving them something to occupy themselves while having quiet time. The last bit of toys the kids have in the home are in the living room. This is where the majority of the babies toys live. Currently we have a small collection of the Montessori toys from Lovevery. I decided that having Montessori toys would allow the kids to play together while keeping the noise minimal. So far, the kids collectively have been interested in playing with the lovevery toys without guidance from me (which is a huge bonus). Overall, baskets have been a clutter saver in my home. I even have a basket designated for our shoes when we enter the home.

Floors:

I have given up on sweeping. I have three different vacuums for various tasks in my home. A stick vacuum allows me to suck up dry cereal, hair and crumbs left on the floor. It has almost completely replaced my broom. The robot vacuum was worth the splurge, I turn that sucker on and it saves me hours on cleaning time. I purchased the model we currently have from a wholesale club to maximize savings. The kids don’t appreciate the magic of the robot vacuum, such as life. I find owning a carpet cleaning machine is important when needing to refresh carpets and rugs within the home. The fourth and final indoor vacuum we have is upright and corded. I pull the upright vacuum out for tough messes. Since the majority of our home is hardwood I use the floor attachments to clean areas in our that aren’t assessable from the other vacuum I use.

Having an exclusively homemade home is not what I strive for. I aim to turn my house into a home; memories in the making. I allow it to provide shelter, comfort and safety for myself and my family.

Sincerely,Schwartz