'Trust me, this cleaning routine will save you hours each week.'

Thanks to our brand partner, ROBOROCK

There are 168 hours in my week.

Some go to work. Some to parenting. And too many to just lying there sleep-adjacent (thanks, peri).

I don't mind being busy if I'm adding value to my day or my family's life — I'll run on adrenaline and a colour-coded calendar.

What drains me are the rinse-and-repeat hours: Cleaning messes that'll be back in 10 minutes, re-folding sat-on laundry, resetting rooms like it's Groundhog Day.

It's 2025. We have smart tech, AI, robots. I don't want them to replace the fun stuff, just the boring, repetitive parts.

So, I've developed a six-step cleaning routine that actually saves me hours. One involves a robot (of course) and the rest are simple — but every single one makes a difference.

Step 1: Let a robot do the hard part.

The first step in my cleaning routine is also the easiest: I let the Roborock Saros 10 do its thing.

It's a vacuum with a built-in VibraRise 4.0 Mopping system, designed for homes like mine — busy, full of small humans and pet hair. We've got three kids and a beagle named Ruby who sheds in three colours (white, red, black) like it's her life mission.

Before this, it was either vacuuming twice a day or ignoring the mess and ending up covered in crumbs and tri-colour dog hair. Now, I just hit start on the Roborock app as I walk out the door or while the kids are in the bath.

Image: Supplied.

It's Roborock's slimmest model yet (just shy of eight centimetres), so it slides under the couch, the cot, the change table — all those spots that used to collect dust and despair. And with 22,000Pa of Hyperforce Suction, it doesn't just clean — it devours mess. Big, small, whatever — it's gone.

The obstacle recognition is clever, so it doesn't freak out over toys or get tangled in Barbie hair. And it's one of the only vacuums I've used that actually considers the pet in the room.

The pet recognition means Ruby isn't startled or chased around by a rogue robot — it just quietly works around her. Which, frankly, is more than I can say for the kids. Plus, the pet photo function lets me check in on her when I'm out. Genius.

Also unlike the kids, it cleans up after itself. The self-emptying dock means that I don't have to worry about dust disposal or maintenance. A massive tick in my books.

But my favourite feature, as someone in a house full of long-haired ladies, is the DuoDivide Anti-Tangle Brush. It strips and collects hair before it wraps around the roller — so no more crouching over the vacuum with scissors (if you know, you know).

Image: Supplied.

Step 2: Use a "clutter basket".

I hate clutter. My kids live for it. 

Instead of nagging them on repeat or putting things away every time I walk into the room, we keep a large, neutral-toned basket in the main living area.

Throughout the week, I chuck in random toys, socks, goggles, whatever's been dumped in the wrong place. Then when it gets full the girls have to take it upstairs and put everything away.

Step 3: Put your kids to work (yes, even the little ones).

Turns out, you can outsource cleaning to tiny humans, you just have to frame it as fun. Or use bribes.

We run a semi-functional chore roster based on age. Grace (seven) is in charge of putting away the laundry, Zara (five) handles unpacking the dishwasher and Lily (two and a half) is on light duties, which mainly involves putting things in the bin. She's very enthusiastic about it; I've rescued more than one toy and many hair clips from the depths of the kitchen bin.

The key? Lower your standards.

Are the clothes perfectly folded? Nope. Do kitchen utensils end up in random drawers? Constantly. But is it worth an hour back in my day? Absolutely.

Image: Supplied.

Step 4: Clean the bathroom while the kids are in the bath.

This one's a multi-tasking masterpiece. My husband or I are already in the bathroom supervising bath time, negotiating toy fights and explaining why the baby shampoo isn't edible. So we may as well use those 15 minutes to do something useful.

Here's a standard routine: 

• Wipe down the mirror.

• Clean the sink.

• Throw out the collection of empty toothpaste tubes.

• Put away the 12356 random headbands we've used that day.

• Once the kids are out of the bath, put the Roborock to work with the mop function. 

Step 5: Keep cleaning stuff where you actually use it.

This one is simple, but weirdly not obvious…

I used to have one "proper" cleaning cupboard under the laundry sink. Now I've got wipes in every room. Bin bags in every bathroom. Microfibre cloths stashed in the top drawer of the kitchen. 

It means I don't have to go hunting when there's a spill, suspicious smear on the wall or if someone's used toothpaste like finger paint. And it saves me time every single week. And that's the point.

Image: Supplied.

Step 6: Pick one project for the weekend.

A few spots in our house attract mess like magnets: the kitchen island end, my vanity, the laundry benchtop and my wardrobe.

They become temporary spaces for things without a home — random presents, work docs, a school shirt to mend, new shoes to spray or artwork the girls want to "keep forever".

Instead of stressing about keeping them clear all the time, I tackle one spot each weekend — sorting, putting away, tossing, resetting.

It makes a big difference. It's one less messy zone and in this house, that's priceless.

To shop the Roborock Saros 10, head to their website.

Feature Image: Supplied.

Roborock, the Global No.1 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner, makes home cleaning effortless with innovative robot vacuums designed to suit every lifestyle. Combining smart technology, powerful suction, and intuitive features, Roborock's range handles vacuuming and mopping with ease. From sleek, compact models to advanced robots with object-picking arms, each product delivers reliable performance that adapts to your home. Engineered for convenience and built to last, Roborock ensures your floors stay spotless without the hassle. With ongoing software updates and a commitment to quality, Roborock is your trusted partner for smarter, cleaner living.