Housework routine

bluebag

Elmo1985 wrote: »

im worrying this is going to happen to me once i give birth in september - im already slipping up as im so exhausted - im lucky if i stick to the fly lady list a few days a week and end up exhausting myself on the weekend trying to get everything sorted.

Elmo, you are doing one of the most important things in your whole life...giving life to another human being. So great a task MUST come first, everything else doesn't matter. Take care of yourself.

tori.k

Try a move it or lose it approach,you may have to throw some stuff out the first couple of times but it will work in the long term, the kids rooms are still a mess but at least its contained to there rooms i make them clean there rooms once a week so i can change the bedding, even my 16 yr old isn't allowed out untill this is done, on the promise that if i have to clean it they have to pay me for it i still have to throw the toys out the pram every now and again, but everyone pretty much pulls there weight, DH was told if he wanted me to do all the housework then i will quit my job and do it all, but he would have the cost of keeping me as a housewife, he cooks at least once a week and does the ironing i think the key to keeping yourself sane is to drop your standards a bit, im happy if someone just puts a brush over the floor im not going to fuss that i always wipe the skirting over at the same time.

vasseur

I just do certain things on certain days. i don't turn it into an 'event' and sometimes I end up doing stuff 'by accident' like cleaning the fridge out :rotfl:

Tuesday - Hoover downstairs and mop floors before bed
Wednesday - clean bathroom
Saturday - change beds and hoover upstairs

Ironing - as and when (make sure there's something good on TV )
Dusting - a quick swish each week
Polishing - when I can be bothered
Laundry - a bit done every day.

Just make sure everyone else keeps things tidy too!

dronid

I think the best advice is structure. Allocate a specific number of hours for cleaning and often (if you can) use the washing machine timer to guide you. Use the time to do a load of washing as cleaning time and afterwards stop. I find it a quite useful technique as it tops and tails your work and means that you're doing two things at once ;-)

Of course there is an alternative solution. 'Fire, and lots of it' but I don't think the insurance will stand it!

quintwins

i'm the same, i have started doing it when the kids are in bed (even tho i'm home all day nothing really gets done other than washing) i start and do the whole livingroom hen i'll sit down and watch something then go do the kitchen and everything else can be done in the ad breaks then one night a week i'll sit and sort out all the washing and ironing and put it away, however our house is never 'tidy' when people come to visit and i'm sure everyone thinks i'm a tramp i'm hoping this will get better as the kids get bigger but since i have boys i very much doubt it

vasseur

polesalot wrote: »

I just do certain things on certain days. i don't turn it into an 'event' and sometimes I end up doing stuff 'by accident' like cleaning the fridge out :rotfl:

Tuesday - Hoover downstairs and mop floors before bed
Wednesday - clean bathroom
Saturday - change beds and hoover upstairs

Ironing - as and when (make sure there's something good on TV )
Dusting - a quick swish each week
Polishing - when I can be bothered
Laundry - a bit done every day.

Just make sure everyone else keeps things tidy too!

Just realised it looks like I don't clean my kitchen That is wiped over/tidied after every meal so it doesn't even feel like housework :T

vasseur

quintwins wrote: »

i'm the same, i have started doing it when the kids are in bed (even tho i'm home all day nothing really gets done other than washing) i start and do the whole livingroom hen i'll sit down and watch something then go do the kitchen and everything else can be done in the ad breaks then one night a week i'll sit and sort out all the washing and ironing and put it away, however our house is never 'tidy' when people come to visit and i'm sure everyone thinks i'm a tramp i'm hoping this will get better as the kids get bigger but since i have boys i very much doubt it

It DOES get easier as the kids get older. You aren't chasing your tail by putting stuff away which they then get back out again, also it's easier to be in another room doing some tidying whilst they are amusing themselves with the Tv or in their own bedrooms.:)

quintwins

polesalot wrote: »

It DOES get easier as the kids get older. You aren't chasing your tail by putting stuff away which they then get back out again, also it's easier to be in another room doing some tidying whilst they are amusing themselves with the Tv or in their own bedrooms.:)

well my oldest 2 are coming 5 and are acally quite good now they will tody there toys and put clothes in a laundry basket, by we also have a 21 month old who's fav game is tipping out the toy box, not playing with it tipping it out ( were very bad we bought toy boxes with lids and underbed storage boxes to hide alot of toys away from him because with 3 kids that are the only grandkids we have loads) he also makes a huge mess in our diningroom 3 times aday so i suppose all that will get better aswell and he won;t be under my feet 24/7 cause he's a real mummys boy who's scared of the hoover :rotfl:

bluebag

quintwins wrote: »

i'm the same, i have started doing it when the kids are in bed (even tho i'm home all day nothing really gets done other than washing) i start and do the whole livingroom hen i'll sit down and watch something then go do the kitchen and everything else can be done in the ad breaks then one night a week i'll sit and sort out all the washing and ironing and put it away, however our house is never 'tidy' when people come to visit and i'm sure everyone thinks i'm a tramp i'm hoping this will get better as the kids get bigger but since i have boys i very much doubt it

Don't worry, once they get to 14 they disappear into the 'vortex' and issue grunts to communicate, if your lucky you may even have some dishes left to eat off and occasional food in the fridge.


WARNING:
Do not step into the 'vortex'... you will not come out sane, just shut the door and pretend it isn't there.

[Deleted User]

Easy I dig out a good book and a nice cuppa and to hell with the housework It will still be there tomorrow and if its getting you down then walk away from it.I do what I can when I feel like it I have a hard and fast rule though what isn't done in the morning won't get done in the afternoon as thats the time I set aside for doing what I feel like .It helps I suppose that there only me to look at it and my house raely gets that untidy as I put things away as I go along .But life is far too short to worry about a bit of dust.,especially when I have a good book to read