Does the nighttime rush in your home always feel chaotic? Are the dirty dishes left undone most nights because you are just too exhausted and don’t have a system? My relaxing & consistent nighttime routine will help you to control that crazy time of night and give you back some of your much-needed calm.
Nighttime cleaning is not something I am a pro at, but when I do it, I feel so much better. Our days are hectic enough as it is, so having a nice and clean home by bedtime takes such a weight off your shoulders.
Do you enjoy cleaning at night? Make sure to comment own below so we can connect!
Originally published October 2020, updated January 2022, with new links and images.
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How-to Create a Nighttime Cleaning Routine
What really calms me down and gets me ready for snuggling up in my bed at the end of the day, is having a nighttime cleaning routine that is consistent but also flexible. There is nothing worse than waking up to toys all over the floor and dishes all over the kitchen counter. In order to make sure that doesn’t happen, I need a routine that’s going to work for me and my anxiety-ridden mind. I’m so excited to share my Relaxing & Consistent Nighttime Routine. I hope you implement some of these steps into your own routine. Let’s get started!
- Take note of the tasks you tend to do nightly
- Write them down on a piece of paper and check them off as you go
- Stick it to your fridge for a good visual
- Visit my Simple Morning Routine post for a FREE checklist
Nighttime Cleaning Routine Checklist
Before we get started, just hear me when I say THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY NIGHT. It rarely happens during the week and I’ve come to realize that it is ok not to have it all together! Yes, I love it when my kitchen is clean at the end of the night but it’s OK to leave it for the next day or even the day after that. We HAVE to give ourselves grace and leave perfection behind. Progress over perfection here and I really hope that sinks in. Here are my nightly to-do’s:
- Clear off kitchen table
- Wash dishes and load dishwasher
- Get the kids backpacks all set for the morning
- Fold any laundry from the dryer
- Sweep the floors
A few other tasks I do are listed down below for you, and these are the ones that really help keep things in order.
After Dinner Clean Up
- Once we’ve had dinner, I make sure to do my best to get all the dirty dishes from the house put into the sink. I will always miss one or two, but if the majority of them are collected then I’m a happy camper. I call the ones I find the next morning my ‘husband dishes’.
- Once that’s done, I will then get all the counters wiped down. I love my Mrs. Meyers counter spray in the seasonal scents.
- I clear the table and get that wiped down, as well as clean up my kids homework station in the kitchen. I like things to be put back where they go at the end of the night so it’s less to do during my morning routine the next day. BUT I have come to embrace the chaos of having small kiddos, so as long as I’ve done my best then I call that a win.
Do the Dishes & Scrub the Sink
- Dishes get washed and everything either goes into the dishwasher or on the drying mat. I will wash three dishes or an entire load because I NEED to run it every night if I want my morning routine to go smoothly.
- Next, all the air-dry dishes get dried off and put away, which always feels so great.
- My Sink Scrub post shares all about my DIY sink scrub, but I amke sure the sink is nice and scrubbed out.
- I will move everything off the counters that are on either side of our sink and wipe down those counters, move all the towels from that day into the laundry room, and put out a brand new dish drying towel, stove towel, and washcloth for the next day.
- I have my husband and daughter take out the trash and recyclables and I try to spray our garbage can with disinfectant spray and let it air dry overnight. This REALLY helps with any lingering odors as well.
Nightly Clutter Check
- I will go through the first floor and put anything that belongs upstairs into the upstairs baskets. The idea is to reset the house and get it shut-down for the night, so this really helps with that.
- Time to close the windows that I like to have open during the day. After that, I run the vacuum very quickly around the first floor. Sometimes I run my Bissell Spinwave mop over the kitchen floor if it’s really messy. If you’d like to read all about my love for that thing, I’ve linked it above.
- I lock all the doors and make sure the dog’s bowls are up on the counter and then head upstairs.
Kids Nighttime Routine
- We get both kiddos in pj’s and have them put their dirty clothes into their hampers. They both head into the bathroom and brush teeth and hair, and use the potty.
- Both kiddos take a few minutes to pick up their rooms, emphasis on the floors.
- They pick out their outfit for the next day and lay it out. This makes school mornings run a bit smoother.
- Then it’s FINALLY bedtime. We both lay with our kiddos (I can share more on this in a post) until they fall asleep. We have both finally given up control over this (Me… I’m both).
And there you have it! It seems like a lot, but it’s starting to feel like a known routine so it’s second nature. There are expectations I have for our home and are expected to be carried out. But let me preface by saying I am NOT perfect and there are times when none of this will happen.
Sometimes days or weeks, especially when I’m in the middle of an anxiety spiral. So when I am feeling good and have the urge to keep our home clean, then this is what happens. It definitely keeps my anxiety in check and in turn helps keep my temper at bay as well.
More Home Management Ideas
- Simple Morning Cleaning Routine
- Cleaning With The Bissell Spinwave
- 5 Easy Ways To Reduce + Maintain Clutter In Your Home
- The Best Laundry Routine
FAQ’s about nighttime routines
There’s nothing inherently wrong with cleaning at night; people have all different kinds of schedules, and at night might be when they have time and energy to do it.
You need time to sort things out and relax. If you obsessively clean you could be using it to avoid something. People who clean night and day are subconsciously cleaning up other things in their lives.
Take note of the tasks that get done nightly, and write them down. Check each one off as you go. You can also check Pinterest for pre-made lists. My morning cleaning routine has a FREE printable for you that includes out nighttime cleaning checklist.
Give yourself grace. Do what you can, the things that will help your tomorrow self, and leave the rest for the next day.
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Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out Kelsey Farley! If you get inspired to organize your pantry and use these steps, I’d love to see it! Share your experience on Instagram with the hashtag #kelseyfarleyblog and tag me @kelsey.farley so I can follow along and share your photos on my page/stories. Make sure you subscribe before you leave so you can snag your FREE Weekly Meal Planner. I hope it inspires you to take control of making dinner for your family and make sure to tag me when you use it! I love you guys, and I’ll talk to you soon.
I wish I had a nighttime routine. I used to, but my life seems so chaotic these days. I have more of a morning routine of straightening up before I get to work. I like your ideas and will have to try and implement some.
It can be so hard. Keep up the good work of your morning routine though!