Working couples and housework

Snuggles

Me and my OH both work full time. We usually get home anywhere between 6-7pm. OH usually does the cooking, and it's often 8pm by the time we eat. Then it's sorting out lunches for work the next day, showering etc, relaxing for an hour, then bed. I usually leave the dishes and do them as soon as I get in from work the next day. Then the whole process starts again.

The problem is that there never seems to be time to get any other housework done. Saturday's are spent doing all the laundry, grocery shopping, and any errands we haven't had chance to do during the week, plus visiting family etc. Sunday seems to be the only day we get to really chill out, but there is always housework which needs doing - cleaning the bathroom and downstairs toilet, general tidying, dusting, hoovering etc, not to mention the heavy duty stuff like cleaning windows, oven etc.

I just feel so fed up that half the weekend is wasted doing housework. We both work hard and just want to relax and enjoy spending time together at the weekend. How do others manage the housework? Do you try and do a bit on a night during the week? Or do you just blitz it on a weekend? I can't even imagine how those with children manage to get all this stuff done - I am in awe!!

Running_On_Empty

Dusting?
I need you to explain this to me, please.

Fruit_Gum

Hi

How about employing a cleaner? Meal plan or batch cook so you can pull stuff out the freezer in the morning then just put it in the oven to warm up in the evening

I've been a full time student on a very intense course for the last three years and also have a OH who works 60+ hours per week.
My house was a tip for most of that time.
I am waiting to start work at present so find a can do a bit each day, however I don't know how we are going to get on when we are both working full time, oh and I have 2 kids as well.
My OH is very good with housework usually but if I had the money I would def get a cleaner.

goodgodthatonesevenbigger

I know how you feel, I work 12 hours a day and by the time i've showerd and eaten packed lunch for tomorrow its time to hit the hay ready to start over again. Unfirtunatly i dont have the money for a cleaner so i do what i can on a saturday and sunday morning and then devote saturday evening and sunday afternoon to chillaxin. I will be watching this thread with interest.

Can i suggest also that you have a look at the weekly fly lady thread on the OS board it may be of help for you.

nearlyrich

You shouldn't need to do such a lot of housework every weekend with just two of you, windows don't need cleaning every week for example...I keep the kitchen and bathroom clean as we use it, ie pots in DW and surfaces cleared, bleach in the loo and wipe over the vanity top in the bathroom after cleaning teeth each night. I never need to do a big clean in bathroom as it's kept tidy and clean.

We hoover when it needs doing put the washer on at the weekend mainly too, if I see dust I deal with it same with cobweb OH does the same, wipe the oven if you spill something easier to deal with it when it happens rather than an industrial clean on a cold oven.

If all else fails try the fly lady thread on old style..hope you find a way that works better for you both.

Snuggles

Fruit_Gum wrote: »

Hi

How about employing a cleaner?

I would LOVE to, but I don't think we could afford it.

Fruit_Gum wrote: »

Meal plan or batch cook so you can pull stuff out the freezer in the morning then just put it in the oven to warm up in the evening

Yes, we definitely need to be more organised about meals. I keep planning to cook some meals which can be frozen, but then I think that's just one more chore to do at the weekend!

Fruit_Gum wrote: »

I've been a full time student on a very intense course for the last three years and also have a OH who works 60+ hours per week.
My house was a tip for most of that time.

I feel like our house is a tip most of the time, and I really don't like it. It's funny, when I was single, I used to spend almost my entire Sunday doing the housework, and my house was always really tidy. But since my OH moved in, there's obviously more stuff about, more tidying to do, and I'm much less inclined to do it!

Sambucus_Nigra

Snuggles wrote: »

I would LOVE to, but I don't think we could afford it.

If you earn more than a cleaner and your time is precious - can you afford not to?

Noctu

Hiya,
I can really sympathise with you!

Have you tried online food shopping? It's so much nicer to sit back and wait for it all to be delivered.

Have you got/have room for a dishwasher at all?

Batch cooking is also great for lunches at work, for example we make a big batch of sandwiches/wraps/paninis etc and whack them all in the freezer. You can take them out the night before or even in the morning and they'll be defrosted for you.

Laundry, I try and set the machine off so that the cycle will end when I get home from work so I can put it out to dry whilst dinner is cooking and at a stage where it doesn't need an eye on it for 10 minutes or so.

Hope some of those ideas help.

Snuggles

nearlyrich wrote: »

You shouldn't need to do such a lot of housework every weekend with just two of you, windows don't need cleaning every week for example...

Hi, no I didn't mean those things needed doing every week. I meant that it's hard to get round to doing them even when it does need doing, as I don't seem to have time to just keep up with the basics. The windows have needed cleaning for ages and I just can't imagine when I'll get round to doing it.

nearlyrich wrote: »

I keep the kitchen and bathroom clean as we use it, ie pots in DW and surfaces cleared, bleach in the loo and wipe over the vanity top in the bathroom after cleaning teeth each night. I never need to do a big clean in bathroom as it's kept tidy and clean.

We hoover when it needs doing put the washer on at the weekend mainly too, if I see dust I deal with it same with cobweb OH does the same, wipe the oven if you spill something easier to deal with it when it happens rather than an industrial clean on a cold oven.

This sounds so simple, and I have no idea why it doesn't seem to work in this house! No matter how much I try to keep on top of things, by the end of the week, the house is always a tip.

Tinkabell25

Hi, My OH and i are full time workers too and my house is at the moment a complete nightmare where we have been so busy. I've started to find that silly things like throwing some washing in as soon as i get home while dinner cooks or before i leave in the morning, batch cooking etc helps and there are some weeks when i'll have one late night to get some housework bits done, this means i have more time for myself at the weekend. Good luck with what you decide to try and let us know how you get on! Tink x

thorsoak

As others have said - Flylady could be your friend! You can do anything for 15 minutes, and basically, its a case of little and often! You don't attack anything in one hit - just keep taking bites at the elephant and it is soon consumed!