How to Stay (Relatively) Sane and Tidy During the Summer Holidays

Summer holidays with kids? A glorious mix of longer days, more family time—and let’s be honest—quite a bit more mess. With the kids home all day, life can feel a little more chaotic, and your house might start to reflect that. But staying on top of the cleaning doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your sanity (or the holiday spirit).

Here are a few low-stress ways to manage the extra mess, without turning your summer into one long to-do list.

Why Summer Mess Hits Different

During the school term, your home gets a breather during the day. But once the holidays roll around, it’s a full house: snacks on rotation, crafts happening in every corner, and mysterious crumbs that seem to multiply overnight. That doesn’t mean you need to run a tight ship—it just helps to have a few realistic strategies in place.

Childrens Footprints

1. Get the Kids Involved—In a Way That Works

You don’t need to hand them a mop and call it a day, but giving kids some ownership over their space can make a real difference. Think: putting away their toys, helping wipe the table after lunch, or folding small laundry items.

Turn it into a challenge or a quick game if that helps. It won’t be perfect (and that’s fine), but it gets them used to pitching in—and lightens your load a bit.

Child helping with laundry

2. Keep a Loose Routine

No need for a rigid schedule, but having a general rhythm to the day helps. A quick tidy-up before dinner, or a "reset" after a big play session, can stop things from snowballing. A little goes a long way—and it’s easier to do a 10-minute sweep than face a giant clean at the end of the week.

3. Declutter as You Go

Summer’s actually a good time to gently declutter. You’re home more, and the kids are using different toys and clothes. If something hasn’t been touched in weeks (or causes daily frustration), it might be time to pass it on or pack it away.

There’s no pressure to do a full KonMari session—just chip away when you can.

Open baskets or labeled storage bins

4. Embrace the "Quick Fix" Mentality

Keep basic supplies close—like wipes, a handheld vacuum, or a stash of clean cloths. When messes happen (because they will), it’s much less overwhelming to deal with them on the spot if your tools are within reach.

Consider making a small “clean-up caddy” to stash in a high-traffic area. It’s a simple thing, but it can really help keep chaos from spreading.

5. Set Up Spaces to Contain the Mess

You don’t have to ban glitter, paint, or snack time—but guiding them to specific zones for the messier activities can save your floors and furniture. Use placemats for crafts, or set up a “snack station” at the kitchen table.

It’s not about strict rules—just giving the mess somewhere to go.

A messy activity (like painting) contained to one small area, possibly outside

6. Let the Small Stuff Slide

Truthfully, some mess is just part of the summer experience. Try to focus on the things that really matter—like keeping the kitchen functioning and the floors walkable—and let the rest ride. The living room might be a bit chaotic for a while, but it’s also full of life and activity. And that’s okay.

Enjoy the Messy, Fun, Beautiful Chaos

Summer holidays aren’t about having a spotless home—they’re about making memories. By setting up a few simple habits, you can keep things manageable without becoming the household drill sergeant. Go easy on yourself, pick your battles, and don’t forget to enjoy the season.

After all, the mess will wait—but summer won’t.

And to Make Things Just a Little Bit Easier...

We know summer brings plenty of joy—but also a lot more foot traffic (and mystery stickiness) on your floors. So, to give you a helping hand, we’re offering a FREE bottle of floor cleaner with all purchases during the six-week summer break.

Just add the floor cleaner of your choice to the notes at checkout, and we’ll include it in your order—no code, no fuss.

It’s our little way of saying: you’ve got this (and we’ve got your back).