How long do you spend cleaning per day? per week? especially anyone with kids under 5

anonymousie

Hardup_Hester wrote: »

I've always done the same amount of house work, as little as possible!
I have 4 kids, tho they are now 20, 24, 26 & 30.
When the kids were all little the house was always a mess, now they are all gone the house is always tidy, lol.
I used to keep it clean, especially loo's, floors & kitchen surfaces, but never used to worry about it being tidy.

Totally agree- as little as possible!!

I am not a tidy person, and we have too much stuff, so will always be untidy-it really doesn't bother me- I get stressed by over neatness- I can'trealax and get snappy at the kids etc (we had to try it for a few months when we had the house on the marked- I hate it!).

What is necessary is clean- people, clothes, bedding, towels (manky hand towels are a pet hate of mine, but bath towels that you use when clean are re used for a week or so). Bathrooms and kitchen surfaces that are regularly used are very clean too (but the side with the toaster, radio and bread bin isn't spotless..).
Hoover etc when needed.
Skirtings/windowledges/windows only when you can really tell the difference:rotfl: Certainly not a regular thing at all.

There are things that I don't do too- I never make beds (other than changing bedding) I fling the duvet straight on our as I get out, and the kids either do or don't- OK it "doesn't look good" but at bed time they'll still be tucked up! I don't iron much either- "specials" only.

I do multi task- do the sink whilst dinner is cooking if it needs it etc. and the best multi task whith littlies is to flig them in the bath and clean the loo/basin/floor whilst you have to be there supervising (or, when they are a bit bigger sit on the landing facing the bath and read your book- remember "me time" is importeant too!)

THere is a poem that ends like this. It might be soppy but it is right!

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep

halia

Yep, I tell myself that I could have a spotless house but then I wouldn't have time to do the stuff I enjoy!

Also although I would LIKE to have a tidier house right now me getting more qualifications to improve our standard of living, us being able to spend weekends with DS, etc is more important. The house is a tip righ tnow because at the weekend we went to visit an old friend all day saturday and on sunday we did garden stuff, put in a new oven, washed clothes and then DH had to go to work and I took DS to visit aunties.

Sure I could have cut down the socialising or not played chase with DS and tidied instead, I am annoyed the sheets didn't get changed but when push comes to shove I prefer the weekend we had over one where DS was bored and we spent our time on housework.

poodlehorse

HAven't read all the posts but I noticed Flylady mentioned and that is the way to go in my opinion. I have been a Flybaby for years and fall on and off the wagon a bit but I must say that some things stick with you once your routines are in place, the trick is to not worry about it being done perfectly and not to make yourself a slave to it (15 mins achieves a lot and is better than nothing, you will be surprised). I got up at 6.15 today so that I could do my Home Blessing before DS got up so that he isn't undoing my good work but that is it now, tis done. I will still do the daily things but I do believe that if you stick to the Flylady way it all does come together and you still have time for you. An hour is about it I would say on average. I found this system a lifesaver when I first had DS and was existing on autopilot - thankfully that was following routines. I have never had such an organised home as I did then, I got a bit lax when he got older and we moved house and we are having work done at the moment so the whole place is in a bit of uproar but I am still sticking to my routines as much as I can and trying not to sweat about the other stuff as there is nothing I can do. If I fall off the wagon a bit though I can feel like I do nothing but clean and tidy but never get anywhere. So I know it is Flying that is helping me.

tallulah_beaulah

I have one DS (3 yrs old). I have an OK tidy house some days and a pig-sty other days, but I've picked up two invaluable tips:

Keep a pile of cloths and some spray cleaner in the bathroom. (I use J-Cloths, then wash and re-use them, but you could use kitchen paper and chuck it out). When DS is finished in his bath I send him off to play quietly for 5 minutes before bed and spend that 5 minutes at high speed cleaning the bath, sink and toilet. A quick spray and wipe round keeps you on top.

Baskets are fantastic for dealing with kids mess. DH has a book case in his room and I keep baskets on two of the shelves and books on the other one. If a room is strewn with toys, you can run round with a basket and fling stuff in, then pop it back on the book case and the place looks tidy and tranquil again in just seconds! Messy things that may end in disaster (felt pens, crayons, play dough) are stored in tupperware because DS struggles a bit to get them open, so I have a bit of warning before they come out so I can provide paper, move light coloured fabric away, etc. (I know that's a bit mean, but it helps keep me sane!)

vivw_2

I also use baskets a lot to help keep things at bay. When the kids were younger we shelved one whole wall of our back room[ of a terrace house] and that was used to store all teir toys, games, books, craft materials. Things were put in boxes and labelled so they were easy to locate

pigpen

A bigger house is a bigger mess!!!!

We have a huge house.. 3 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms and a monster of a kitchen.. there are 10 of us.. hubby and myself, and the children.,. 15, 13, 11, 10, 8, 6, 4 & 2.

The oldest 2 are responsible for their own rooms... though if they get too gross they are grounded until it is tidied.

The younger ones help do their rooms.. filling bags with rubbish, putting laundry in the basket, putting toys away etc.

the 'communal' rooms they pick up the mess and I clean it.

There are so many of us I just couldn't possibly manage to clean it all on my own.

I'm another sadcase on teh flylady thread here.. and it is really working for me.. I have been motivated to declutter, dejunk and decant.... There is a noticable difference in the house now and though the first 2 weeks were HARD (took me 2 hours to clean a loo the first week.. takes about 5 minutes now!) it is SO much easier and more rewarding now. Today for example I've cleaned the whole kitchen the front room the hall stairs and landing and spent an hour asleep on the sofa!!!

I hate toys with a passion.. they really don't need as many as they have and it is my summer holiday mission to get rid of most of the toys in here... charity shops, GP surgeries, opticians, dentists, and even the local hospital.. noone will be safe from my flinging!!!

I actually probably spend 3-4 hours a day cleaning and doing laundry.. I only iron hubby's work shirts because it pee's me off as he takes so long doing them I can't bear it. Daily things like wiping down kitchen surfaces/tables I do while cooking dinner so I am in there anyway. I give the bathroom a quick whizz over with a sponge (the ones that have the green pan scrubby bit on the top.. 14p for 10 in tesco!) when I go up to the loo.. and a baby wipe can clean half your house!!! lol.

There have been times my house has been appalling.. but there is a huge difference between mess and clutter and dirt and filth... I hate dirt.. but mess is fine.

xx

kazmeister

pigpen wrote: »

A bigger house is a bigger mess!!!!

We have a huge house.. 3 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms and a monster of a kitchen.. there are 10 of us.. hubby and myself, and the children.,. 15, 13, 11, 10, 8, 6, 4 & 2.

The oldest 2 are responsible for their own rooms... though if they get too gross they are grounded until it is tidied.

The younger ones help do their rooms.. filling bags with rubbish, putting laundry in the basket, putting toys away etc.

the 'communal' rooms they pick up the mess and I clean it.

There are so many of us I just couldn't possibly manage to clean it all on my own.

I'm another sadcase on teh flylady thread here.. and it is really working for me.. I have been motivated to declutter, dejunk and decant.... There is a noticable difference in the house now and though the first 2 weeks were HARD (took me 2 hours to clean a loo the first week.. takes about 5 minutes now!) it is SO much easier and more rewarding now. Today for example I've cleaned the whole kitchen the front room the hall stairs and landing and spent an hour asleep on the sofa!!!

I hate toys with a passion.. they really don't need as many as they have and it is my summer holiday mission to get rid of most of the toys in here... charity shops, GP surgeries, opticians, dentists, and even the local hospital.. noone will be safe from my flinging!!!

I actually probably spend 3-4 hours a day cleaning and doing laundry.. I only iron hubby's work shirts because it pee's me off as he takes so long doing them I can't bear it. Daily things like wiping down kitchen surfaces/tables I do while cooking dinner so I am in there anyway. I give the bathroom a quick whizz over with a sponge (the ones that have the green pan scrubby bit on the top.. 14p for 10 in tesco!) when I go up to the loo.. and a baby wipe can clean half your house!!! lol.

There have been times my house has been appalling.. but there is a huge difference between mess and clutter and dirt and filth... I hate dirt.. but mess is fine.

xx

Pigpen what a brilliant post - a woman after my own heart (but I dont have as many children) - I couldnt cope with any more after no2 now 8yrs. I think I am going to call you Pigpen on a pedestal and worship you because I dont know how you do it. Everything must be a marathon and puts it all into perspective for me. Thank you

emmie1234

Hi all, just saw this thread and thought I'd put in what I do day to day, as I think sometimes I do too much housework and my time could be better spent doing other things lol! Get up 7.00am, wash, dressed, coffee(!) get DD ready for school. Breakfast for DD. Walk DD over to get her taxi to school. (DD goes to a special school)Come back in, let the dog out. Let the cat out for the day.Make all of our beds. Tidy up toys in DD's room (sometimes she wakes up early and gets everything out!!!) Collect up any dirty clothes and put in washing basket.Put a load of washing on. Get an old carrier bag and go round collecting up any rubbish, empty bin in bathroom, get rid of old mags etc. Clean cat litter tray ( no 2's) . Empty kitchen bin and take it all out to our communal bins.Come back in give toilet a scrub, put some bleach down. Clean bath and sink. Tidy toiletries up. Change towels if needed. Vacuum bathroom and toilet.Mop bathroom and toilet. Next Living room. Wipe sofa over and give shelves etc a wipe over. Tidy toys up. Tidy up computer desk. Vacuum and mop. Polish table. Wipe TV screen over. Next Kitchen, wash up from breakfast, wipe down sides, stove top, put all clean crocks away, feed the dog, dry the washing and put it away, put another load on if I need to. Vacuum the kitchen floor. Mop it.Hallway, vacuum, straighten coats up, mop. Take dog for walk.This is what I do everyday. The living room gets vacced in the morning and then gets vacced again before DD goes to bed. Afternoon, I get DD's school uniform ironed and my clothes for the next day and snack box ready, swimming kit if needed. Get PJ's ready for after her bath.Start getting Dinner ready. DD comes home from school, put dinner on, empty school bag out, pack ready for next day, dish up and eat dinner, wash up and put away.Take dog outside. Come back in Bath DD and Jamas on. Put toys away, tidy bathroom up and rinse bath out. Play with DD for a bit and read books. 7.00pm DD goes to bed. I usually come on here then for a few hours, do some ebay listings etc. catch up with emails etc. Let the cat in and feed him. Then about 1030 have bath get ready for bed, watch some TV and then usually go to bed around midnightish.Every Monday, I change the bed linen and do food shopping.Tuesdays, pay the bills, go to bank and pay in ebay money etc.Wednesdays, misc jobs, washing nets, cleaning windows. Thursday, Give DD's bedroom and thorough tidy and vac.Friday, iron all of our clothes for the weekend and get DD's bag ready for school on Monday. Snacks ready and in the fridge. Go to post office and post ebay stuff. Give our bedroom a thorough, polish, tidy and vac.Saturday, just general tidy round and visiting family etc.Sunday, give the kitchen a good thorough clean after sunday dinner and make weekly menu and shopping list.I wouldn't say I was obsessive, but things tend to niggle me when I know they need to be done. We've got hard wood floors all the way through our flat, I vaccum everywhere, everyday and the bits on the floor drive me mad. I like to walk around barefoot at home and I can't stand walking around on bits of stuff!!!! lol I don't know. All in all I probably spend about 2 - 3 hours a day cleaning, ironing etc.Em X

milkydrink

arlybarly wrote: »

hi all
i work as a housekeeper/cleaner nearly full time, i have 2 teenagers a hubby 3 cats and 2 dogs, i am a clean freak. i do other peoples homes every day and i cant stand it when i go back the next week and their houses are messy again. i come home and do my house from top to bottom and it takes about 90 minutes as i cant stand clutter, i clean my windows in the kitchen and living room about 3 times a week as the cats snot on them. i
beds are changed every week and bathroom ect is every couple of days, but i hace a confession to make i never ever clean my car out as i hate cleaning cars so this gets done every 6 months lol x

Funny you should say that, I'm not big on cleaning my car either:o
I collect the rubbish (parking slips, receipts ect) every couple of weeks, but a was outside is rare & a hoover inside rarer:o
I have a window cleaner does all mine once a month. He used to do inside & out for £15, but now I've started working I won't ever be in for him to do the inside:mad: , so just the outside for £7.50. I though once a month plenty:o
Sheets every week. HATE clutter, HATE dust collectors. I really don't think I could fall asleep in a messy room

Penny-Pincher!!

emmie1234 wrote: »

Hi all, just saw this thread and thought I'd put in what I do day to day, as I think sometimes I do too much housework and my time could be better spent doing other things lol! Get up 7.00am, wash, dressed, coffee(!) get DD ready for school. Breakfast for DD. Walk DD over to get her taxi to school. (DD goes to a special school)Come back in, let the dog out. Let the cat out for the day.Make all of our beds. Tidy up toys in DD's room (sometimes she wakes up early and gets everything out!!!) Collect up any dirty clothes and put in washing basket.Put a load of washing on. Get an old carrier bag and go round collecting up any rubbish, empty bin in bathroom, get rid of old mags etc. Clean cat litter tray ( no 2's) . Empty kitchen bin and take it all out to our communal bins.Come back in give toilet a scrub, put some bleach down. Clean bath and sink. Tidy toiletries up. Change towels if needed. Vacuum bathroom and toilet.Mop bathroom and toilet. Next Living room. Wipe sofa over and give shelves etc a wipe over. Tidy toys up. Tidy up computer desk. Vacuum and mop. Polish table. Wipe TV screen over. Next Kitchen, wash up from breakfast, wipe down sides, stove top, put all clean crocks away, feed the dog, dry the washing and put it away, put another load on if I need to. Vacuum the kitchen floor. Mop it.Hallway, vacuum, straighten coats up, mop. Take dog for walk.This is what I do everyday. The living room gets vacced in the morning and then gets vacced again before DD goes to bed. Afternoon, I get DD's school uniform ironed and my clothes for the next day and snack box ready, swimming kit if needed. Get PJ's ready for after her bath.Start getting Dinner ready. DD comes home from school, put dinner on, empty school bag out, pack ready for next day, dish up and eat dinner, wash up and put away.Take dog outside. Come back in Bath DD and Jamas on. Put toys away, tidy bathroom up and rinse bath out. Play with DD for a bit and read books. 7.00pm DD goes to bed. I usually come on here then for a few hours, do some ebay listings etc. catch up with emails etc. Let the cat in and feed him. Then about 1030 have bath get ready for bed, watch some TV and then usually go to bed around midnightish.Every Monday, I change the bed linen and do food shopping.Tuesdays, pay the bills, go to bank and pay in ebay money etc.Wednesdays, misc jobs, washing nets, cleaning windows. Thursday, Give DD's bedroom and thorough tidy and vac.Friday, iron all of our clothes for the weekend and get DD's bag ready for school on Monday. Snacks ready and in the fridge. Go to post office and post ebay stuff. Give our bedroom a thorough, polish, tidy and vac.Saturday, just general tidy round and visiting family etc.Sunday, give the kitchen a good thorough clean after sunday dinner and make weekly menu and shopping list.I wouldn't say I was obsessive, but things tend to niggle me when I know they need to be done. We've got hard wood floors all the way through our flat, I vaccum everywhere, everyday and the bits on the floor drive me mad. I like to walk around barefoot at home and I can't stand walking around on bits of stuff!!!! lol I don't know. All in all I probably spend about 2 - 3 hours a day cleaning, ironing etc.Em X

Em...you do a fabulous job, but personally think you are doing some of the jobs too often. Wiping of shelves could be cut to even every other day, but twice a would would be fine. Hoover just once a day...I see you have a dog/cat...do they shed hair? Does the mopping need doing daily? What about a box in DD's room to throw everything in and will take a couple of mins to do

Good luck.

PP
xx