kids and clean don't mix

Whenever I try to clean up one room in the house, my kids are inevitably trashing another. This morning I was folding laundry while Alta and Ellie pulled out all the clothes from their dressers in their rooms. Then I took a shower and came down to find Ellie's hands covered in bike grease.


I walked in the room to find Ellie naked except a hat, with black all over her hands. Alta had gloves on ("to keep my hands clean, mommy!"). These little girls are turning into partners in crime. Ellie usually has the idea, and Alta helps her carry it out.

I may soon give up on cleaning altogether. Especially my kitchen:

Ellie signing "all done"
At least her seat would sort of contain the mess, but over the past month she has decided she is as big as Alta and doesn't need a chair to be strapped in. I tried, oh how I tried, but this girl is stubborn. So the chair is gone, and now she is still as messy but can get on and off her chair, touch everything in the kitchen, and when I try to wash her hands she runs back to the table because she wants to eat more. And the cycle repeats.

How do I keep my house clean and keep my sanity at the same time?