Happy New Year everyone! I am just getting around to wishing all of you a great start to 2016, but that is for a very good reason. You see, our family just had a big move. Right after Christmas, we closed on and moved into a new home! What a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s present for our family, isn’t it? We certainly think so. However, it has been a very busy holiday season and start to the new year and we are just (barely) starting to get accustomed to life in our new home.
While the kids have started their routines at new schools, boxes remain in every corner of our home as we work our way to unpack our belongings and organize our life. Transitioning from one home to another takes a bit of work, I’ve come to learn. This isn’t our first time moving from one home to another, and though I have learned a few tricks with each move, the process is still a challenging one. Still, it doesn’t have to be an impossible feat. Let me share a few tips that helped make moving easier for our family that may help you, even with just reorganizing your space for starting 2016 with less clutter in your life!
5 Tips to Make Moving Easier for Your Family
1. Plan ahead
Planning ahead of time will save you a lot of time and frustration in the end. Figure out an area of your house that is least used and convert it to a packing stage area. For us, this was our living/dining room, so we began to collect empty cardboard boxes and other useful supplies months before our moving date. We also estimated how much time we’d need and took our time in sorting and packing, so we weren’t as rushed. With two young kids, this definitely helped to ease the sense of balance as our life and routines continued amongst the packing.
2. Pack in batches
Instead of doing massive packing marathons, pack in small batches. We tried our best to tackle one room at a time and would work to pack a section of that room each time we sat down to pack. For example, we packed the kids’ play room closet one time, then the next time, the kids’ play room bins. This allowed us to not feel overwhelmed and little by little, we moved from room to room, packing everything up!
3. Get kids involved
While it’s true that your kids will probably be feeling sad about moving from one home to another, involving them in the process of packing will help. My kids were able to verbalize a lot of thoughts as we sat and packed their belongings, so it was great for them to be involved in every step of our move (packing, cleaning, loading the truck, etc.), since I think it allowed them to work through their feelings of nervousness, sadness, and apprehension.
4. Use convenient cleaning supplies
Moving is more than just packing boxes and relocating them from one home to another – you also have to clean out your former home before turning over your keys or selling it, as well as ensuring your new home is clean before you bring in your belongings! Using convenient cleaning supplies like the Precision Angle Broom, Freedom Spray Mop, and No Knees Floor Scrub from Libman will make your move more efficient, so you can get into your new home that much faster. Because trust me, by this point in the moving process, you’ll be ready to throw in the towel – but, hang in there!
5. Consider bins instead of boxes
This time around, in addition to boxes, we also used plastic storage bins to help with our move. We found that for heavier, bulkier items and for items where leakage was of concern (i.e., cleaning supplies, beauty items), the bins were especially useful and worked better than cardboard boxes. They were easy to carry and stack and held a substantial amount of items, plus they can be reused!
Libman Cleaning Supplies Giveaway!
Using the Libman cleaning supplies we received helped us expedite cleaning out the rental home we moved out of and has been super useful in cleaning our new home as we work on unpacking area by area. I especially like the No Knees Floor Scrub, since I can scrub out construction marks left behind on the tile floor without hurting my back. My baby boy also loves the Freedom Spray Mop, which allows him to have fun mopping our tiled areas as he glides back and forth! Many other products will come in handy too, such as the Flexible Microfiber Wand and the Window Squeegee (great for my shower door) – Libman really has a wide array of cleaning tools and supplies, which you can find at various retailers such as Walmart (ongoing partner of modernmami).
Libman and I want to help you get 2016 off to a clean start, much like I’ve been doing as we work on settling into our new home. One lucky reader will win a Libman product kit with a variety of cleaning supplies similar to those mentioned in this post. (Specific products may vary, but trust that you’ll receive a great kit for your home!) See giveaway details below and enter to win!
All photos © Melanie Edwards/modernmami™
Disclosure: I was compensated for my time and effort in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
My daughter likes to dust so thats how she helps
I get everyone involved with cleaning at home by delegating responsibilities and offering rewards once the work is completed.
I am a single dad raising all 5 of my kids so we have to work together. They are all wanting allowance now so we are discussing that.
We put on some music, assign certain people to do certain chores, and clean the house as a family. Afterward we will go out to eat or to a movie as a reward.
They help with laundry, dishes, and making beds.
My kids clean their rooms. My oldest does his own laundry and the youngest takes out the trash. They also vacuum for me and load the dishwasher among other things.
We clean together as a family. We have cleaning day and everyone takes a chore and begins working on it every week and we all get it done faster. We share the tasks.
My daughter helps me clean by taking out the trash and dusting.
Mine help with the kitchen dishes
Everybody has chores to do.
My kids clean and sweep their own bedrooms and hangout areas.
Kids clean their own bedrooms
Mine are older and will tackle the tougher jobs (spring cleaning) with me.
They each have to clean up their dishes.
I try to rotate the duties with a wheel of chores. The house needs to be kept really clean due to some allergy problems. Children start to understand when they feel better with the cleanliness of the house.
My kids have a chore list each week that they do to help around the house
When my children were actual children, they would hide when it came time to clean anything. Now that they have wives, I am amazed at what those men can, and will, do!
we share duties, and take turns. if she washes the dishes, i put them away or vice versa
They help by loading and unloading the dishwasher. They also like to use the swiffer dusters 🙂
I have been slowly introducing my son to new chores around the house. Today he gets to vacuum!
My daughter as always been involved with the cleaning and housework. She even does her own laundry now.
My son is responsible for cleaning his room, his bathroom and his own laundry. He also helps take out trash and helps with the dishes. He’s 24, so, he has always helped pitch in since he was younger 🙂
My children all have an assigned chore that coincides with their age.
My son likes to dust.
My kids have chores they must finish before they have game time every day. It def helps. Thanks!
My daughter likes to mop floors and use the duster to help us on chore day.
My son helps set the table
when they were really young i made it look liek a game. now i assign a small dollar value. or change the wifi password.
We try to make a game out if it and play music. We sometimes even have races.
My older girls are well trained so they automatically help out. My little one has a set chore schedule that he has to follow daily. They aren’t huge chores, but so far he is getting it as far as pitching in to help. He empties all small trash cans and helps with recycling which is his main job.
They help out by picking up their stuff and putting away.
We play loud music and try to make a family fun event out of it.
They have chores that they need to do every week and we all work together to get them done.
We have a chore chart and they get allowance. This tends to motivate them. Thank you for the chance.
No kids, but I’m moving so this would be a great package to win. Thanks for hosting!
We have required chores, but then we have extra chores you can do to earn certain amounts of money. It works for us!
My kids like doing anything with a spray bottle.
Mine are still little, so they clear their plates and put away their clothes. (well, most of the time!)
I talk to my little one as I do the daily chores so she will learn to help out when she’s older.
We love putting music on and have a cleaning day! We sing and we clean. 😛
the boys have helped around the house since they were young-simple things when they were younger-now they clean their rooms, help in the kitchen and dust and vacuum
Chore list works for my family and a reward after of a nice walk with the dog.
They are given chores and appreciate having clean clothes and food to eat
They are still little but we make a game of picking up toys
My son helps by keeping his room clean, washing dishes and putting his clothing away.
My son loves to help clean! I usually give him the swiffer and he loves to run it around the house picking up dust.
Each kid has their own set of chores and they get bigger as they get older.
We try to give out some sort of reward for helping and they have the responsibility to keep their rooms clean
My 10 year old has a chore list she must complete each day and my 2 year old has to pick up toys r and loves to help wipe down the tables!
We have a chore list for everyday task such as folding laundry, putting dishes away and such.
My kids have daily chores so they can help keep the house clean.
My Granddaughter loves to mop the floors. I am not sure she will once she get’s old enough to realize it is hard work.
The Kids Get Involved With Cleaning By Making It Fun For The Whole Family With Music And Singing!
My son is to young to be involved with cleaning yet.
Oh we always try to have him help out in ways that he can. Have some fun like singing or dancing as we clean!
My kids are responsible for cleaning their rooms and helping with the dishes…we make it fun.
My kids clean their rooms and also help tidy up the kitchen after dinner.
Our daughter is 4mos so no helping yet!
My grandchild just turned 1, and she’s learning to put toys away.
My kids always had chores according to their age- one would empty the trash cans around the house, someone may dust the tables, some one else might sweep the floors I love Libman products they do the job with out a large cost
My kids are on their own cleaning their own homes.
My kids both have a list of daily chores that they have to do.
Mine is young now…but she is learning how to put her toys away.
We have a chore chart and do a special evening out every month for their help.
My youngest son helps sweep and fold and put away laundry. The older ones clean the bathroom and vacuum.
I am the kid and since my mother is disabled, I do a lot of the cleaning and heavy lifting around the house, especially now come moving time. 🙂
My kids help out with laundry, putting it in the basket, and when it’s done, putting their own clothes away in their dressers.
My kids both have chores that I’ve pushed since they were little. Now they’re just habits. We’re still working on putting dishes in the dishwasher and getting laundry to the laundry room! ARgh!
coriwestphal at gmail dot com
we use a chore chart and take turns with sweeping and dishes and things like that.
I started the kids on chores when they were only 2-3. Everyone has a weekly list that has to be done plus there are chores we all do together.
I don’t have any children yet.
My son likes to help me sweet with the smaller sweeper. He always tries to help.
My little girl it’s still in the phase where it’s fun for to help me clean lol. Though her help isn’t all that helpful yet, I usually let her go to town with a feather duster. That seems to be a good job for her.
They can hold the dust pan!
my kids help me with daily chores around the house sweeping and clothes
We try to make it quick and fun by having everyone clean, or pick up as fast as they can for 5 min. Its amazing how much you can accomplish doing that.
Have them do age appropriate chores early on.
Mostly just taking out the trash and unloading the dishwasher.
My daughter sweeps and dusts.
We each have chores every one chips in
We clean together as a family. We have cleaning day and everyone takes a chore and works on it.
My kids have chores every day, which are age appropriate. My son wipes down the table and counters, and my daughter dusts and vacums! Thanks so much for the opportunity! This is a fantastic prize pack!
My kids are teenagers and they know they cannot get their after school snack until they finish their chores. THank you
Daughter helps all the time!
Our kids help by vacuuming the carpets / floors, taking out the trash, and dusting.
We tried a chore chart but it didn’t work so now they just do the same chores daily.
No kids. I get to do it all myself, which is why I like this prize.
Thanks for the contest.