Time Savers / Shaving Time off Your Daily Duties?

Updated on April 18, 2011
M.B. asks from Santa Monica, CA
6 answers

Okay busy moms. How and where do you save time?
For example, I keep Amoral wipes in glove box and wipe down dash w/them.
But what else?
What are you lovely, smart moms holding out?
I need time savers, corner clippers, organizational tools I am missing out on. Eek. Thanks for your help!

1 mom found this helpful

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More Answers

L.C.

answers from Washington DC on

If you pick something up, put it where it belongs right away. Don't pick it up and put it somewhere "for now". It creates clutter.
Do at least one load of laundry every day.
Make the bed as soon as you get out of it.
When you finish your shower, wipe down the tub, swish the toilet, and wipe down the sink. Now your bathroom is clean for the day.
I keep my counters clean and clear -- makes the whole house seem cleaner.
Sort mail into the trash/recycling bin as soon as you come into the house.
I pay bills as soon as I get them. If I pay online, I set them to pay online 2 days before the due date.
During marching season, I keep a large basket in the back of my car with blankets, mittens, valve oil, personal hygiene supplies, extra reeds, water, hand warmers, extra warm clothes, and more. When it's time to load the bus, I just grab my basket and go. I re-stock it the minute we get home with clean blankets, fresh water bottles, and anything else we might need.
I keep my crocheting in a tote bag. If I'm going somewhere that I'll be waiting for someone or something, I just grab it and go. I always have everything I need and I can keep going on a project.
I keep a hairbrush in my car at all times.
I keep a toothbrush in the downstairs bathroom, so I don't have to run all the way to my bathroom to brush my teeth before I leave the house.
My kids go to summer camp. I keep the things they only use at summer camp in their camp trunks. I have their bathroom buckets in there -- complete with soap, shampoo, hair brushes, toothpaste, etc. I clean it all before I put it away, so it's ready for the next year. All I have to do is add a few items.
I keep all of my craft items together in one room. If the kids have a project due for school, they know where to get everything. I also insist that they put everything away they way they found it. If we are running low on something, they know to tell me or when they need it, they won't have it.
YMMV
LBC

6 moms found this helpful

M.M.

answers from Detroit on

Thursdays I run to the grocery store on my lunch and scoop up anything that is not cold. I get 1/2 my shoppin gdone in no time at all because the kids are not with me slowing me down. All I have to get on Friday or Saturday are the cold items.

I also fold laundry when my kids first get in the tub. They want to play and I sit right outside the door and fold a load of clothes.

4 moms found this helpful

C.J.

answers from Milwaukee on

OHIO=Only Handle It Once

THAT alone will change your life.

I also open the mail right at the recycling bin.

3 moms found this helpful

L.S.

answers from San Francisco on

If I know we're going somewhere rather early in the morning and we don't need to look very neat, I will have my kids bathe the night before, and then sleep in their clothes! Please don't judge me - I live in California where anything goes, lol! It saves a ton of time. I also have my daughter braid her hair at night if we need a fast start. It's much easier to brush in the morning when it's been braided.

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J.B.

answers from Phoenix on

While the kids brush their teeth I load the dishwasher and start it on my morning out so we always have cleans dishes and pots when I am ready to cook. I always plan my meals for the week so I am not rushing to the grocery store and this also helps me spend less. Have the kids and hubby lay out their clothes at night so everyone is not running around and kids know exactly what to wear. Pack lunches at night and store in refridge packed. Lay out dinner to be thawed in fridge at night so the next day you don't forget and have to order something for dinner. Play a game with the kids and turn on the radio, they can clean any area of the house and lets see who can beat the music before it turns to a different song. My kids love trying to beat the music and it gets my house clean in a jiffy. Clean one room a day like bathrooms on monday kitchen from top to bottom on tuesday so it doesn't get overwhelming and your house is always clean. Do lanudry on one day of the week and hold everyone accountable to fold their laundry and hang it up including hubby.

Hope these few things help

C.M.

answers from St. Louis on

I usually wipe down the counters, toliet and floor in the bathrooms while my kids are in the bath. They are only 3.5 and 1.5 so I'm in there anyways.

I used to lay out different options for my kids clothes at night. This used to work great when they went to daycare but now that they are home with dad, they usually are dressed in something different, so this doesn't really help us out anymore.

I usually straighten/clean up before I go to bed. That way we can start the next day with a clean or at least uncluttered house!!

My lunch for work including snacks is ready for me to just grab and go in the morning. I try to go to the gym a few mornings a week so I have a packed gym bag and my work clothes in the car - I do this each night before I go to bed so I don't forget something in the morning.

If I'm in the basement and I go upstairs, I try to remember to take a load of laundry or clothes on hangers each time (this seems like a no brainer but sometimes I forget!).

Shoes go in our rooms right when we get home. Jackets get hung up right away.

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