Help me to like cleaning!

BritAbroad

The title says it all, really. I dislike cleaning, but I'm also one of those folk who can't have anyone visit unless the place is pristine! Which means, for the most part, I can't have anyone visit as the house is generally never tidy! I manage to keep the kitchen clean, though the island is usually a sea of paper. The bathrooms that get used are generally ok too, but I never seem to get everything really done. I get bored and/or overwhelmed within about 5 minutes usually.

It doesn't help that both OH and I are clutter bugs, and despite my best intentions, the whole house clear out I'm always planning to have has never materialised! I do periodically clear out some clothes and the like but never seem to get any further.

Our house is big (7,000 sq ft over three floors), and we're in the middle of renovating too, so we are constantly tripping over the chaos! I can't justify a cleaner just now as I'm not working. I have the time but not the motivation to get everything done - I do the basics and that's it.

Inspire me please!

TeamLowe

If you can only stand it for five minutes, why not do it in five minute bursts? When the house gets messy but I can't be bothered I put on the TV and do the cleaning in the adverts.

Or considering housework is so dull, I make sure I have something to listen to, either download some podcasts or listen to one of the Radio 4 comedies on iPlayer

But tbh most of my cleaning got done in the hour before someone came to visit, I found myself purposely inviting people round and not minding if they were noncommittal because I'd think 'even if they don't come round at least the cleaning will get done' lol

fluffnutter

This isn't about cleaning, it's about your being a perfectionist, so much so that it's starting to impact your quality of life. I bet no one notices your house when they visit; they're coming to see you, not the state of your skirting boards.

No one likes cleaning. It's just one of life's necessary evils. Personally I think you'd do better to concentrate on why you feel your house needs to be perfect rather than ways to make cleaning more fun (it's not fun).

tea_lover

fluffnutter wrote: »

No one likes cleaning.

I do! Not all of it admittedly but I love things like cleaning the shower screen or changing the bed

dibuzz

I do what TeamLowe suggests, it's amazing how much you can do in 5 minute bursts.
In my mind I can go right through the house cleaning and tidying every room but when it comes to actually doing it I find my get up and go has got up and gone.
I find being at home all day makes it harder too, I spent a lot of time with my elderly neighbours until they recently went into a home and got so much more done in the half an hour between coming home and the kids getting in.
Now they have gone I just can't get motivated at all.

Battleaxe44

I do my cleaning in bursts one room at a time. Monday it is generally the living room, Tuesday evication of dust bunnies from the main bedroom, second bedroom gets done on Wednesday, Thursday back to the Living room, Friday it is a quck vacuum through the house. The kitchen gets done every morning as do the two bathrooms, The Conservaroty is done when I finish using it.

I do pick up as I go, put the clean washin away when it comes in from the line.

I do the ironng watchng TV and as I sew and embroider most days, I make it rule, the beds has to made every day before I start having fun.

If anyone drops in, I am not worried as I know everything has been cleaned at once in the week,

I gave up being Polly Perfect years ago, especially when I was working full time and raising kids. Life it just too short.

I prefer to have time in my garden, enjoy my hobbies and if The Hobbit says, says let's go to the beach for the day, I am all for it. the housework will be here when I come home.

if I decide to bake, I make sure the kitchen is clened when I finish and I mean floor swept and generally washed.. it is easy to do it this way and no guilty feelings.

shegirl

Pay a cleaner

Battleaxe44

Ah, a cleaner, I think when you stay at home all day, you really can't justify getting a cleaner in, BUT maybe a cleaner for three weeks in OP's case might help.

Don't worry I have thought of this also for our house. Living in building chaos does not help, I have lived like this until last month for over two years and you cannot keep a house clean, no matter how hard you try.

belfastgirl23

I found the flylady website very helpful at the start of trying to get my house in order You might not feel comfortable with all of it - I'm not really into the whole christian ethos and I don't have kids so some of it is less relevant, but the basics of dividing your home into zones is spot on.

ca55ie

BA I know exactly where you are coming from. I keep the lounge clean and tidy by being ruthless about what is kept in there. I aim to keep the hallway free too. Then when I have visitors at least there is somewhere for them to sit.
But please if you visit me do not open any cupboards - I repeat do not open any cupboards - we will never rescue you from the deluge of very necessary clutter we hide in them!!!!!!

valk_scot

fluffnutter wrote: »

This isn't about cleaning, it's about your being a perfectionist, so much so that it's starting to impact your quality of life. I bet no one notices your house when they visit; they're coming to see you, not the state of your skirting boards.

No one likes cleaning. It's just one of life's necessary evils. Personally I think you'd do better to concentrate on why you feel your house needs to be perfect rather than ways to make cleaning more fun (it's not fun).

Yes, what Fluffnutter said. No-one really cares about the state of the skirting boards and if they do, it's none of their business really. Or you're doing them a favour by making them feel better about their own house.