"Cleaning house while children are growing is like shoveling snow while it’s still snowing” is a saying that has been printed on many images. “Cleaning a house while children are growing is like shoveling snow while it’s still snowing.—Refrigerator magnet” was printed in a 1996 newspaper.

American actress and stand-up comedienne Phyllis Diller (1917-2012) is often credited with the saying, but there is no evidence that she ever said it.

“Cleaning with kids in the house is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos” is a related saying.


16 August 1996, The Signal (Santa Clarita, CA), Escape sec., pg. 2, col. 4:
I Came Upon A Rhapsody
Cleaning a house while children are growing is like shoveling snow while it’s still snowing.
-- Refrigerator magnet

30 January 1999, Times Recorder (Zanesville, OH), “Down Memory Lane” by John Hoopes, pg. 7A, col. 3:
Thought for the week:
Cleaning house while the kids are growing is like shoveling snow while it’s still snowing.

3 May 2000, Pittsburgh (PA) Post-Gazette, “What to do when mother-in-law cleans your place” by Jane Miller, pg. N-12, col. 2:
It’s like the plaque my friend, Jenny, also the mother of a 2- year-old, has inside her front door: “Cleaning house while the kids are still growing is like shoveling snow while it’s still snowing.”

Google Books
Follow & Find
By Carol Conner and Marvin Wengerd
Sugarcreek, OH: Carlisle Press
2000
Pg. 283:
Cleaning house while children are growing is like shoveling snow while it is snowing.

Google Books
The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas:
500+ Fun and Creative Learning Activities for Kids Ages 3-12
By Linda Dobson
New York, NY: Three Rivers Press
2002
Pg. 295:
I always kept a little saying on my refrigerator to remind me: “Cleaning the house while kids are growing is like shoveling snow while it’s still snowing.”

Google Groups: alt.wisdom
Thursday the 8th
donna
1/8/04
I have a sign that reads:

Cleaning the house
While the children are growing
Is like shoveling snow
When it’s still snowing.

Twitter
Michelle‏
@MotherTongues
Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling snow while it’s still snowing~Phyllis Diller. My sentiments exactly!
12:09 PM - 9 Feb 2009

Google Books
Wake Up Laughing
By Rachel St. John-Gilbert
Barbour Publishing
2013
Pg. ?:
Recently a friend gave me a magnet that reads, “Cleaning house while the kids are young is like shoveling snow while it’s snowing.”

Twitter
She Quotes‏
@SheQuotes
“Cleaning ur house while the kids are still growing is like shoveling snow while it’s still snowing.” ~ @pearlwise #SheQuotes #quote
3:20 AM - 16 Jun 2017

Twitter
megan.‏
@mlangester
Replying to @Shanalee1982
My mom gave me a painting when I had Rosie that says, “cleaning the house while children are growing is like shoveling snow while it’s still snowing”
The truthhhh!
😂😂😂
5:32 PM - 18 Feb 2018