Cleaning - the good ol' days

in_my_wellies

My nan was a cleaner. She said it dove her nuts where she couldn't find the cleaning stuff where it was supposed to be. Time she spent looking for it meant less cleaning time and it looked as if she hadn't done enough.

Get one of those plastic tool boxes with a handle and the cleaner can carry it round. Make sure it has all the necessary bit in like clean dusters, cloths etc.

Churchmouse

Thanks all! I'm now inspired! Am going to get off this computer where the hours slip by and go do some cleaning!

catherineblack

my biggest cleaning tip is to stick to one room at a time. I often wander around the house, tidying things away and getting distracted. So now, I try to stick to one room, tidy it, any stuff that needs filed away or put away goes in the hall, then I clean the room, then put the things in the hall to their right places! It does save a lot of time because you don't potter around.

tootles_2

Chocclare...........I used actually to do a house like that, I did 9 hours a week.........one floor at a time plus kitchen and bathrooms every time I went.........total cost then was £45..............so top floor plus kitchen and bathrooms Monday, Second floor plus kitchen and bathrooms Wednesday, Ground floor, kitchen and bathroms on Friday ready for the weekend............. Oh I forgot I also did the ironing.If I had to do the lot in a day it would possibly have taken me 6 hours......with a break for lunch.......

in_my_wellies

catherine is right! Or am I the only one who sets up the ironing board, goes to the kettle for the boiled water, sees the plants need watering, then that the window needs a clean because just then the sun is shining on it, then having gone outside find about two hours of tidying to do before I come in, then on washing my hands decide the cupboard under the sink could do with a good sort, find the polish for the hearth I had been looking for and once that is done well I might as well clean the lounge. So I never do get the ironing done.

Ticklemouse

wellies - you must have seen me clean too

However, I have the added 'advantage' of having a 3yo 'helping'. We cleared out DS1's room today and I did manage to take a bin liner of old/broken toys and halves of jigsaws etc. However, the biggest problem was with DS2 saying "this is rubbish" and putting perfectly decent things or school work into the bin liner then dragging out something that he decided wasn't rubbish I give him a duster and he polishes whatever he can - but the fact he was scaring the fish half to death with his manic dusting of the aquarium didn't help.

On the plus side - he's a dab hand at vacuuming - moves everything he can ie mats, shoes, toys, and vacs underneath. Shall I rent him out?

On a serious note - I think it's the tidying that takes the time - not the cleaning. Also, my mum could clean easier and faster - even if the vacs and WM's etc weren't as good, because they just didn't have the stuff we all seem to have nowadays. I should know actually - because she lives in the same house she did when I was little - but I do her cleaning now

ChocClare

Tootles, where do you live, I'm definitely sending a taxi for you! :rotfl:

I used to have a lady who did my cleaning and ironing years ago, but then we moved. Actually, it was probably just as well, as she was gradually getting blinder and was more of a liability than an asset, but she'd been with us so long we couldn't possibly have sacked her!

Perhaps I'll pay myself £45 per week to spend on chocolate or gin or something to give myself an incentive!! Oh no, wait, I'm supposed to be money saving :rolleyes:

exlibris

Ticklemouse wrote:

On a serious note - I think it's the tidying that takes the time - not the cleaning.

I agree and can prove it.

Last year it took me about an hour to clean the living room ,without pulling out the sofa every time. Last summer, we had a conservatory built and changed the kitchen into a kitchen diner. Now some of the furniture has been moved to diner and conservatory it takes me 15-20min to clean the same room more thoroughly than I did last year!

[Deleted User]

When we downsized our family home ten years ago on retirement to the little terraced house that I now live in I hated the fact that there was no space to spare. My husband used to walk around putting things away saying
"Think caravan" meaning of couse find a spot to keep something and put it away immediatly.
I now am on my own in my little house and still 'think caravan' apart from the room that my computer is in which is a tiny bedroom. As I enjoy genealogy -which takes up loads of space for files ect,.- this little room is crammed to the rafters in paper ,files ,records certificates andf all the other assorted bits and pieces to do with evey other of my hobbies -Adult-education,history,knitting ect,.# it means that there is only one room that is a tip instead of five. If I want to I can just close the door on it as the rest of the house looks O.K. Although my eldest daughter is always saying 'why don't you have a good clear-out in there' it may look messy but i know where everything is and I can guarantee that if I binned something then the next day I would be looking for it. I have a Family Tree programme on my computer but I still like to keep paper records as well.
It's my own personal junk but as it's only in one room I can live with it.

SueRob_2

I downsized dramatically due to my divorce, went from a house with 6 bed, dining room 2 reception, study & playroom, to a house with 3 bed, kitchen-diner & lounge. At one point there was me & my new hubby, his son, my son & his gf, my daughter her hubby & their baby, it was a bit of a squeeze. I did't have to worry about getting rid of stuff though. My ex hubby kept everything except my clothes, lol.
Sue