Old style housekeeping question?

Cookie_monster_7

I loved this thread....even if I do say so myself :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Just wanted to bump it back up to see if anyone has any other stories of housekeeping the old style way

I need inspiration...the house is in a mess :rolleyes:

Patchwork_Quilt

I'm sure my parents had less stuff than we do. When I was little, we had a toy box in the corner, a doll's house, some Lego, some paints and a bike each. When my children were little, we had a playroom with one entire wall of built in cupboards just for their toys.

I think the key thing is to declutter. I do this once a year. Every drawer and cupboard. Then, I have a routine. Lastly, I go round before I go to bed and put as much away as possible. An untidy house looks dirty, even if it isn't, which seems unfair.

Cookie_monster_7

I agree that having less stuff would make it much easier. I don't have a lot of clutter but the living room also has the computer desk and, now that I think about it, most of the rooms are multi purpose in our house. That wouldn't have been the case in the olden days My dd has far too many toys. She hardly ever looks at half of them but we are holding on to them, and all the equipment she has needed, in case of any siblings....is that a wise decision?

What is your routine Patchwork Quilt?

lucy*locket

tara747 wrote: »

That's fine if you don't have a FT job and can be in the house till midday!! :eek: I could be the cleanest tidiest person in the world if it weren't for my job. :rolleyes:

Warning: long post! I love this thread. So interesting to see how people live their lives.
I like the old saying "if you want something done ask a busy person", I find the busier I am the more organised I am. I work f/t 50 hours + per week, but working in a school I do have most holidays off so can catch up then and have time for other things such as Ebay, crafting, reading, cooking, relaxing.
Have husband/ 2 teenagers/2 cats but manage to keep the house looking reasonable. Get up 6.20am, every day put washing on & hang it out if time/empty dishwasher/clean loo & sink, empty bins, give kitchen worktops a quick wipe down before sitting down with a cuppa and the paper for 20 mins.

DH does a few things when he gets home, puts more washing on, tidies up a bit (not to my standard;) but still a help).
I always do a few chores when I get home from work before I sit down, tidy up, put stuff away, luckily we all eat at work so only a quick snack needed during the week, DS sorts himself out.
I'm not obsessed with housework though and only give the house a good clean once a week on a Saturday morning. If I get myself in gear I can have it all done by lunchtime and have the afternoon doing nice things. Usually have HM curry Saturday night in front of TV with DH (who works 7 days a week). Sundays I iron, cook a roast, bake a couple of cakes during winter, but in Car Boot season we have simple lunches, and I fit the ironing in before going to work through the week. I sometimes work on Saturdays until very late which leaves me k*******d so housework doesn't happen on those weekends :eek: but hey-ho can't worry about it too much.


My Mum used to have a saying "My house is clean enough to be healthy but dirty enough to be happy" and that's my mantra. If anyone looked too closely they'd find the furballs under the bed (which I haven't hoovered under for a long time...). DS and DD take care of their own bedrooms, I just don't go in them they are disgusting but I haven't got to sleep in them. I don't iron for them any more, they have to do their own or wear creased clothing. DD does a few things around the house but DS is a lazy wotsit despite my nagging. Goes in one ear and out the other.

Currently obsessed with MSE so have to fit that in too, hence still being up at 2am:D (I dozed off on the sofa earlier and now I'm wide awake, must go to bed or I'll be fit for nothing tomorrow). Also planning to go to a jumble sale tomorrow morning, try and fit those in when I can.

Happy weekend:j

Cookie_monster_7

That was an inspiring read lucy*locket, thanks for posting:T. What a busy family you are! What do you both do working such long hours/7days a week? You are right about busy people getting more done. I definitely was more productive before I had my dd and worked in the outside world.

lucy*locket

Cookie_monster wrote: »

That was an inspiring read lucy*locket, thanks for posting:T. What a busy family you are! What do you both do working such long hours/7days a week? You are right about busy people getting more done. I definitely was more productive before I had my dd and worked in the outside world.

aww thanks CM, I'm a Domestic Bursar at a private school, sounds posher than it is, I look after cleaning and catering with a bit of Health & Safety thrown in:eek: . Also organise occasional functions (weddings, parties). Love the job, don't mind how hard I work during term time 'cos I get nice long holidays:j
Husband lost his job after the Buncefield explosion 2 1/2 years ago, had worked for the same firm for 27 years, expecting to be there until he retired. Started work at the same school as groundsman and found his dream job but on half the salary he was so delivers for Mr T weekends to make things easier. Probably could drop the weekend work now and we'd manage but he's got used to it and it keeps him busy;)
Sorry went off topic, I'm new here please don't tell me off anyone

Cookie_monster_7

lucy*locket wrote: »

Sorry went off topic, I'm new here please don't tell me off anyone

There's nothing wrong with a bit of ot chat Welcome to the boards:hello: they are addictive though so good luck keeping up with your routines Your job sounds fab, I'd love a job like that.

*Paris*

I've really enjoyed reading through this thread - I've been inspired to put the washing machine on!

I was talking to my mum, as her flat is immaculate - even when I was little, our house was the same! Mum tends to get up early, and clean the bath and sink after taking a shower and she will clean the toilet every 2-3 days (again this is done when in the bathroom anyway).

To keep the kitchen clean, re-use the mug or glass you are drinking from. Wipe down the surfaces whilst the dinner is cooking. Wash up after dinner, then clean the sink and washing up bowl.

Put the clothes washing through as soon as there is enough for a full load. Towels are used once or twice and then washed & bed linen is washed every 1-2 weeks depending on time of year.

Hoover every 3 days and dust about once a week.

Basically everything is cleaned as you go, and just take 20 minutes to hoover every room and then it doesn't feel like it takes much time at all.

SammyD_2

My Granny's house was immaculate. But I think her answer was:

-not many clothes and dont change every day: she would wear a sort of smock to do her housework and an apron for her cooking
-less ingredients - she only made 7 dinners - and traditional meat and 3 veg meant no need for the huge variety of spices/rices/pastas that overflow in my cupboard
-less stuff - no magazines, no computers, no CD's, one book at a time from the library.
-no pets
-her children were sent outside to play
-no work outside the home
-less paper - no health insurance/life insurance/ ISA's/pensions/tesco club cards/school notices and all the other STUFF that keeps creeping into my space

In short, I think life was probably less varied and more routine.

My Nana on the other hand had a "junk room" which she was always going to sort out one day. But her house was like a railway station - three busy kids and their friends, assorted relatives. My Granny and Grandad didn't really have any close friends, and had emigrated to New Zealand, so no rellies either.

As I look around me, the clutter comes from:
-paper (see above)
-kids toys - far more than they need, plus numerous examples of their art work, projects, glue, paper, bits of wood with nails half out, glitter...
-clothes - partly caused by my need for multiple clothes - work clothes, home clothes, exercise clothes (as if...), ski gear, summer holiday clothes, several different pairs of shoes, and all the same with hubby and kids as well.
-work and study
-food and kitchen equipment - all used, but much more than I had as a kid...

I love this thread.

MrsE_2

blueberrypie wrote: »

I don't iron. Occasionally I'll use the iron for iron-on sticky stuff for Cub badges, but that's pretty much my limit. Almost all our clothes are cotton or other natural fibres and the creases disappear with body-heat soon after you put them on.

When one of my children was about 7, we discovered he didn't even know what an iron was for - had never seen one in use, didn't know it got hot, and looked very sceptical when I told him you could use it to take the creases out of things LOL

My cousin doesn't iron either.

I can't work it out

95% of our non-underwear clothes HAVE to be iron, how can you not iron.

Do you & DH not feel embarrased about going to work or just out in unironed clothes?
I don't mean that to sound rude, I just can't understand how you don't "do" ironing