Having kids and a clean house may seem like an impossible dream. But with our cleaning tricks, you'll satisfy even the neatest of neat freaks.

Get over your high standards
That's the main obstacle to a clean and pleasant house, not the spitup stains and spilled Cheerios. "We say we don't have the time to clean because perfectionism takes over," says Marla Cilley, whose website, FlyLady.net, offers housecleaning advice. "Or we burn out because we do too much in one room. Instead, just set the timer and see what you can get done."

Even if you were a gung ho housekeeper before you had a child, there are probably a few Cheerios and toys (or toy parts) hiding between your sofa cushions now. And if you were a little lax before, you're most likely facing more muddy shoes, broken crayons, and smudgy fingerprints than you ever imagined.

It may seem like you have only two choices -- clean constantly or throw in the towel before you've even tried to wipe anything with it. But there's a happy medium. We asked cleaning experts and normal moms for strategies that'll give you the home you want in the time you have. Here's how:

Figure out which messes matter most

Set out to clean your house from top to bottom, and you'll exhaust yourself long before you've achieved your goal. Instead, concentrate on the high-traffic rooms, says Laura Dellutri, author of Speed Cleaning 101. Usually, this means the kitchen and bathroom, plus the entryway, living room, and any rooms that visitors may see during the next week -- say, your child's room, if that's where she and her friends play.

Decide what you'll do within each room, too. Grab a laundry basket and gather up any clutter (especially stuff that belongs in another part of the house), so you can get a clear view of the big picture. Then leave the room and reenter it with your eyes shut, advises Julie Edelman, author of The Accidental Housewife cleaning guide. When you open your eyes again, what jumps out at you? The dirty dishes on your dining room table? The spots on your carpet? Deal with your top five or six gripes and leave the others for another time.

Deborah Skolnik is senior articles editor at Parenting.

Collect some key cleaning tools

Grab your favorite products so you don't have to keep backtracking. Also, consider these basics, says Debra Johnson, training manager for Merry Maids housekeeping company: * Microfiber cleaning cloths (such as Rubbermaid's Microfiber Cloth Multipack, $9). They can absorb up to seven times their own weight in fluid, and they attract dust naturally, so you don't have to use chemicals.
* Glass cleaner
* A multipurpose cleaner
* A scrub brush
* Disinfecting wipes (stronger than baby wipes and good for germy surfaces like bathrooms)

Break it down
Estimate the total number of minutes you can spend on housecleaning, and divide it by the number of rooms you want to tackle. Subtract five minutes from that, to leave yourself a little cushion of time, and set a timer for the resulting figure.

Starting with the dirtiest or most-used area, take a top-down approach. Begin with tasks that are at or above eye level, leaving the floor for last. Dust knickknacks and furniture with a microfiber cloth, and also use it (or a plain one with glass cleaner) for windows and mirrors. Use disinfectant wipes on anything that's handled frequently, such as doorknobs and telephones.

If the room has a focal point, spend extra time in that area. Make sure your living room sofa is crumb-free and the cushions are plumped, for instance; and, of course, no bedroom feels neat unless the bed is made. Last of all, sweep or vacuum the floors.

Use your remaining time to put away whatever's in your clutter basket and to make a note of what you wish you'd had a chance to do so it'll be a priority for your next cleaning spree.

Know when to call it quits
Remember "At the sound of the bell, put down your pencils" when you had a test at school? Same here. When the timer's rung and you've emptied your clutter basket, your obligations are over.

If you're feeling an urge to do one last thing, make it a preventive measure -- something that will make it easier the next time you clean. Do what Kathy Allen of Los Angeles does: Keep a trash can near the front door so junk mail never piles up on a table. Or make a note to buy a good welcome mat so your guests don't track dirt inside.

Or enlist your husband and an older child and start a new tradition of tackling one project a day. "My husband and I do the 'Great Toy Pickup' every night after we get the kids in bed," says Jill Goodrich of Amarillo, Texas. "At least we turn in knowing we've put away all the major stuff on the floor."

CLOSE PRINT

Speed Through Cleaning By Deborah Skolnik, Parenting Having kids and a clean house may seem like an impossible dream. But with our cleaning tricks, you'll satisfy even the neatest of neat freaks. Get over your high standards That's the main obstacle to a clean and pleasant house, not the spitup stains and spilled Cheerios. "We say we don't have the time to clean because perfectionism takes over," says Marla Cilley, whose website, FlyLady.net, offers housecleaning advice. "Or we burn out because we do too much in one room. Instead, just set the timer and see what you can get done." Even if you were a gung ho housekeeper before you had a child, there are probably a few Cheerios and toys (or toy parts) hiding between your sofa cushions now. And if you were a little lax before, you're most likely facing more muddy shoes, broken crayons, and smudgy fingerprints than you ever imagined. It may seem like you have only two choices -- clean constantly or throw in the towel before you've even tried to wipe anything with it. But there's a happy medium. We asked cleaning experts and normal moms for strategies that'll give you the home you want in the time you have. Here's how: Figure out which messes matter most Set out to clean your house from top to bottom, and you'll exhaust yourself long before you've achieved your goal. Instead, concentrate on the high-traffic rooms, says Laura Dellutri, author of Speed Cleaning 101. Usually, this means the kitchen and bathroom, plus the entryway, living room, and any rooms that visitors may see during the next week -- say, your child's room, if that's where she and her friends play. Decide what you'll do within each room, too. Grab a laundry basket and gather up any clutter (especially stuff that belongs in another part of the house), so you can get a clear view of the big picture. Then leave the room and reenter it with your eyes shut, advises Julie Edelman, author of The Accidental Housewife cleaning guide. When you open your eyes again, what jumps out at you? The dirty dishes on your dining room table? The spots on your carpet? Deal with your top five or six gripes and leave the others for another time. Deborah Skolnik is senior articles editor at Parenting. Collect some key cleaning tools Grab your favorite products so you don't have to keep backtracking. Also, consider these basics, says Debra Johnson, training manager for Merry Maids housekeeping company: * Microfiber cleaning cloths (such as Rubbermaid's Microfiber Cloth Multipack, $9). They can absorb up to seven times their own weight in fluid, and they attract dust naturally, so you don't have to use chemicals. * Glass cleaner * A multipurpose cleaner * A scrub brush * Disinfecting wipes (stronger than baby wipes and good for germy surfaces like bathrooms) Break it down Estimate the total number of minutes you can spend on housecleaning, and divide it by the number of rooms you want to tackle. Subtract five minutes from that, to leave yourself a little cushion of time, and set a timer for the resulting figure. Starting with the dirtiest or most-used area, take a top-down approach. Begin with tasks that are at or above eye level, leaving the floor for last. Dust knickknacks and furniture with a microfiber cloth, and also use it (or a plain one with glass cleaner) for windows and mirrors. Use disinfectant wipes on anything that's handled frequently, such as doorknobs and telephones. If the room has a focal point, spend extra time in that area. Make sure your living room sofa is crumb-free and the cushions are plumped, for instance; and, of course, no bedroom feels neat unless the bed is made. Last of all, sweep or vacuum the floors. Use your remaining time to put away whatever's in your clutter basket and to make a note of what you wish you'd had a chance to do so it'll be a priority for your next cleaning spree. Know when to call it quits Remember "At the sound of the bell, put down your pencils" when you had a test at school? Same here. When the timer's rung and you've emptied your clutter basket, your obligations are over. If you're feeling an urge to do one last thing, make it a preventive measure -- something that will make it easier the next time you clean. Do what Kathy Allen of Los Angeles does: Keep a trash can near the front door so junk mail never piles up on a table. Or make a note to buy a good welcome mat so your guests don't track dirt inside. Or enlist your husband and an older child and start a new tradition of tackling one project a day. "My husband and I do the 'Great Toy Pickup' every night after we get the kids in bed," says Jill Goodrich of Amarillo, Texas. "At least we turn in knowing we've put away all the major stuff on the floor."