Is my Windowcleaner right? Need advice from the OS ladies and MATH.

MrsMW

I used to be like you until I was very ill and the nurse was visiting me every day. She made me realise that there is more to life than cleaning and even if you only sit and think for an hour, you shouldn't feel guilty. This was 25 years ago but I took notice of what she said and I'm happy being a slob!!
Nowadays I am disabled and can't do many things so I have to rely on my DH. I admit that I do have to bite my tongue sometimes because things are not how I like them, but it doesn't really matter so long as the place is tidy.
You should definitely have some time for yourself.

FRUGAL_4

speranza wrote: »

Um, wow. I thought my mum was obsessed for hoovering every day. Our kitchen cupboards get cleaned maybe twice a year. Clutter gets dumped in the junk cupboard - that too gets cleaned a couple of times a year. Everything else (kitchen, bathroom, etc.) gets cleaned when something starts to smell or we realise we're actually inventing new types of antibiotics in the shower. Bedding gets changed when you can't see the colour of the bedding for the cat hair.

We're of the "only dull women have clean houses" school of thought. Sorry, but I just can't imagine how any interesting person could spend this much time cleaning. I mean, do you really want to look back at your life and think "well at least my cupboards were tidy!"

Speranza, I not sure whether to thank you for that post or not, "only dull women have clean houses", I can tell you one thing I am not a dull woman, I may lack alot of confidence but dull NO, I may do too much, but by the sounds of your post you don't do enough! The reason I posted this original thread was to get some idea what others do, most posters have said I do too much so I am going to slow down a wee bit and learn to take some me time.

Kickstart...I love to come over and help you, I only have one condition, an ice cold G & T after doing your cleaning.

FRUGAL

Aril

If you are happy with the level of housework you do per week Frugal then that's fine. I know myself that if my house is not tidy and reasonably clean [I've had to cut back on the amount I do since going back to work full time and having an 8yo but the basics are always done] I am not able to relax...however, I also know that if I am unable to stop cleaning and just sit down and do something relaxing or a hobby without feeling guilty then it's a sure sign that I'm overtired and stressed. Everyone will always have a different opinion on this one!! I would say that when I was a SAHM or working part time I regarded the home as my job and worked 9-5 as I would if I had been going out to work. I've now had to learn to ask OH for more help which completely goes against the grain with me but he's brilliant and working part time so we've swapped some roles. Superwoman I'm not!!
Aril

belfastgirl23

I know when I'm off work and at home it's amazing the cleaning things that I 'see' that I don't see when I'm not in the house in the daytime. It does sound like you're doing a lot but the main thing is that you/the family are happy. But you definitely have a lot of space to cut down if you want to

For me the cleaning thing is half and half. Things like windows, cupboards, floors get washed when they're dirty enough for me to notice them (or more usually about a month after this point ). But bedclothes etc are by routine.

carly

Frugal, I used to do as much as you ( well very nearly ).
Since I discovered the internet ( and more latterly this site ) I do about half as much. No one else has noticed ! The house is always tidy and I only polish when I see dust ( not everyday out of habit like I used to ). I hoover when the floors need it and I mop the hard floors if they get marked. bathrooms and kitchen surfaces are wiped daily with appropriate cleaner for reasons of hygiene and I find I have hours spare each day. I felt guilty at first, but now I just feel I was a slave to it before and a bit of a mug. Relax and enjoy your life now , you never know what may be around the corner

speranza

FRUGAL wrote: »

Speranza, I not sure whether to thank you for that post or not, "only dull women have clean houses", I can tell you one thing I am not a dull woman, I may lack alot of confidence but dull NO, I may do too much, but by the sounds of your post you don't do enough! The reason I posted this original thread was to get some idea what others do, most posters have said I do too much so I am going to slow down a wee bit and learn to take some me time.

Kickstart...I love to come over and help you, I only have one condition, an ice cold G & T after doing your cleaning.

FRUGAL

How can you not be dull? The fact that until now you seem to think what you've been doing is normal kind of proves my point! You're right I don't do enough - cleaning is not anywhere on my list of interesting ways to spend my time. I have a brain and a life and to be stuck in a house cleaning half the day would drive me crazy.

I'm sorry if I offended you, but it annoys me when I see women blatantly waste time with what is essentially thankless drudgery and then don't like it when people challenge them on it.

jcr16

i'm sorry but i think that's a nasty thing to say Speranza. maybe in your opinion it is a thankless drudgery. but to many myself inculded , there is a wonderful sence of achievement keeping a home really nice and tidy. u don't always need to be thanked to do something. but having a home to be proud of and being house proud is a wonderful quality in a person.

mum2kathryn

Ummm.... I don't think I do that much cleaning in a year!
Granted our house is a tip most of the time, but there has to be a happy medium.
And I'm sure you could get away with cutting the lawns just once a week (or even once a fortnight).

Pink.

Hi speranza,

Welcome to MSE.

I see that you have recently registered on the chat forums, so you may have missed Martin’s request at the top of every page:

MSE_Martin wrote:

Please be nice to all MoneySavers. There’s no such thing as a stupid question, and even if you disagree courtesy helps.

The original poster came here asking for advice and opinions. Let's give her what she’s asked for without resorting to personal insults.

Pink

Three_Dancing_Dragons

speranza wrote: »

How can you not be dull? The fact that until now you seem to think what you've been doing is normal kind of proves my point! You're right I don't do enough - cleaning is not anywhere on my list of interesting ways to spend my time. I have a brain and a life and to be stuck in a house cleaning half the day would drive me crazy.

I'm sorry if I offended you, but it annoys me when I see women blatantly waste time with what is essentially thankless drudgery and then don't like it when people challenge them on it.

Okay, that's just rude. Being a stay at home mum (SAHMs in American parlance) is actually a very money saving practice. No childcare costs, someone to do the 'grunt work' so the working partner can concentrate on the main income producing job and someone to put full time attention into financial management for the family [See MILLIONAIRE WOMEN NEXT DOOR by Tom Stanley, chapter on "Running the Family Office"].

As long as your housekeeping isn't damaging to yourself or your family (do you make everyone take their shoes off at the door for example) then it's fine. I envy the energy level you are capable of as I have a disability so I no longer think of cleaning as someone 'anyone with half a brain can do'. I have more than half a brain and I need Home Help four hours a week to give me any kind of quality of life.

The reason your windowcleaner is so impressed is that in most modern homes cleaning simply doesn't get done at all. You are obviously achieving a lot, but perhaps you are not as productive as you could be. By rescheduling tasks and perhaps changing your methods it might be possible to carve out some personal time for fun. Are you arty? Like movies? Want to write the great british novel? Want to try Tai Chi? Do you have an hour off-duty every day? If not, why not? You're allowed.