Housework

FatVonD

DH does all the day-to-day stuff in our house but never does a proper 'deep' clean (I've learned a new work courtesy of MSE!) so I'm *trying* to tackle one room each weekend where I do windows, skirting boards etc. but there are some rooms I prefer cleaning to others so they get cleaned more often and I've not done any this weekend

peachyprice

Maureen43 wrote: »

My kids are at their dad's every other weekend. At the moment I can only envisage being able to do housework then, so the house will get one blitz per fortnight and nothing in between!

Sorry if it's all ready been asked, but why on earth can't you do housework if your children are at home? Makes no sense at all, especially with the ages of your children, they're not little tots who need constant supervision.

I do all my housework on a Saturday norning 2-3 hours and it's done. If my boys are in their room asleep theirs is the only room that doesn't get done, but they know that they then have to live with it.

January20

Maureen43 wrote: »

Thank you for your "support".

How can anybody give you "support" when you don't give the full picture and then you jump at people's throat because you don't hear what you want?

I have been in your situation: a divorced mother on my own with all the responsibilities it involves. If you want "aww there, there poor you! what a hard life you are having with all this housework" I'm not the woman to come to!

If you're going to jump at my throat because I tell you what I think, which I didn't do in a nasty way, then I'm just going to leave this thread and let you get on with it!

cutestkids

Hi Maureen43

I also assumed from your opening post that the kids were not involved in helping around the house, sorry that my answer to your question seemed to focus on that aspect.

I would still take a weekend to get everything in order before you actually go full time, do a really deep clean of the house from top to bottom and including washing down paintwork etc.

After that it is a case of keeping on top of all the little things which build up if left.

I have started to make sure that the kitchen is done every night before bed, so any dishes that have been used etc are done that way I am not coming down to a mess in the morning.

I dont have a dishwasher so throughout the day I will put cups and plated in the washing up bowl then wash them up when it is full., sometimes I washup once a day sometimes it can be 5 times.

also i do things like wipe down windowsills etc when I am opening the curtains in the morning that way they never really get dirty, I just go from room to room with a damp cloth and as I open the curtains give i a quick wipe.

I will do things like folding laundry while watching TV in the evening, then before bed take it to each persons room and they will put it away the following day.

For things like washing towels I have accumulated loads of towels over the years so I do one large towel wash one a week, that way I can start the week knowing that I have enough to get through the week.

When cooking I try where possible to make at least one more than I need, so if I am making a shepherds pie, lasagna, chilli, stew, sausage casserole etc I will make at least two and freeze the extra, that way whoever is in first in the evening can start the evening meal with not too much hassle.

I will give the bathroom a wipe over in the evening and bleach the loo before bed, then in the morning wipe over when getting ready.
I will give it a deep clean once a week

Also keep a basket or box either in the hall or somewhere else that you are passing a lot and anything you find lying about pick it up and pop it in the basket the you just need to go from room to room once a day putting things away.

We have mainly laminate flooring which I sweep everyday the once a week hoover and mop it.

Things like washing the windows inside is probably once a month but again I would let the kids do their own rooms providing it is safe for them to do so.

Other jobs like cleaning the oven are as and when they are needed.

Outside jobs are weather dependent, but I try to sweep down the steps and generally keep it tidy as I go so if I come home and there are leaves everywhere I will get changed and go out and do it straight away whenever possible as it usually only takes 10 mins but if I left it then it will build up and I will be out there for hours.

I think the main thing though is to realise that your life has changed a lot over the last few months and that you may not be able to have the same routine as you have previously has so it will take time to get used the new way of doing things and you may find things that work for your family and things that don't.

Good luck.

mummyroysof3

surely the house doesnt get too messy if you are all out all day?

CH27

Maureen43 wrote: »

Thank you for your "support".

You've had some good tips on this thread but you are only sniping at the ones you don't like instead of taking on board the good advice.
If you only want sympathy & support then you've misjudged this board.

JC9297

NewKittenHelp wrote: »

Don't forget to brush your windows and brickwork every month too and scrub down your steps etc. You wouldn't believe the dirt that gets left at the bottom of outside doors!

Do people really brush the walls on the outside of their homes?:shocked: I've never heard of anyone doing that- do you use super-extending brooms or something?

Maureen43

I am bowing out of this thread now.

Many thanks for all the good suggestions. The plan of action is:
1) Prioritise!
2) Don't sweat the small stuff
3) Get the kids to do a bit more

Fire_Fox

Maureen43 wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies. Interesting!

Eldest is 13 and goes to bed when I do (!!) so no chance of getting stuff done when she is in bed.

My standards are quite high currently and I can see they will have to drop!

I think is is a question of setting priorities from high to low i.e. Food (incl cooking and shopping), laundry, other stuff (paperwork and bills), cleaning and gardening at bottom of list.

And, if I had to prioritise cleaning, then kitchen and bathroom top, with hoovering next and other stuff not really on the radar at all!

I'm pretty good a multi-tasking generally but it all seems rather daunting at the moment.

Kids help with the housework and laundry. Be sure to wet dust and use a good vacuum cleaner - cyclone/ high quality filter - that doesn't kick dust right back out again. Don't launder stuff that doesn't need washing.

You purchase a slow cooker/ multi-cooker to help with the cooking - I can throw a meal together in under five minutes. Stews, casseroles, bolognese, chilli con carne, soups, curries: meat and onions go in raw to save time. If you need extra veg use frozen where possible because there is no preparation or waste, for carbs use canned beans/ lentils or brown rice (precook and freeze in batches or use the rice setting on a multi-cooker).

Grocery shopping can be done online, often quicker than you can go around the store especially if you have kids in tow. Buy anything longlife that you use regularly in bulk so you are buying fewer individual items each time you shop.

mrcow

Maureen43 wrote: »

At no stage did I say my kids didn't do anything!

They strip and remake their beds with clean linen, make beds, empty dishwasher, wash and dry dishes, do bits and pieces of shopping.

That was not what my thread was about!

What is the thread about then? If you've got two teenagers that help you with your housework, then surely you have even less to do than someone who works full time and has no kids?

How does anyone cope with it? You just get on and do it. Start with the urgent jobs first.