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

ampersand

liney wrote: »

I'm a slothern compared to some of you, but my husband thinks im a neat freak.

I mop/hoover once a week. Give the bathroom and kitchen a good scrub once a week, then wipe over daily. Polish once a week including light switches and fiddly stuff, then dust every other day or so. Tidy daily and remove clutter. Washing is done daily, and hung to dry. Meals are cooked from scratch each night. I work 22.5 hours a week, and study for about 10 plus with OU. I have a son who is 3.

Big jobs get done (like windows and cleaning oven) get done when i can get Dh to take Ds out for the morning, so about once a month. It would be nice to live in a spotless house, but until Ds is at school i cant see it being close.

#
How can you write your 1st sentence?
Well done you!

ampersand

In fact, scrolling back through other posters, I declare you ALL Saints!

diddydiddydondon

Here here!
A wise woman once told me: "Don't worry about the dust, just make sure your kids can spell when they write in it."
A mother only has to be good enough. if you strive for perfection or compare yourself to impossible media images you only cripple yourself .

lil_me

Definately not a clean freak, in all honesty the place still looks like a bombsite even if I do all that. I have 2 boys, 2 dogs and a useless partner who leaves everything where he last touched it. I'm not a naturally tidy person AT ALL, hence why I got involved with the flylady thread, I was struggling to walk into a room and not fall in/stand on/in something. My kids still have crafts stuff, models etc all over the dining table most of the time, it's the clean bit that matters the most to me, I've got used to the fact my house will never be 'tidy' we just are not tidy people. Like today, I had to clear the 'coffee' table which is huge because I couldn't put my cup on it it was covered in books, magazines, OU stuff, post etc etc.

I have that list printed and laminated with tick boxes next to it, but all tasks like clean toilet, which takes seconds are on seperately so there is something like 30 tasks on there. I work my way through them, most take seconds/minutes like a quick clean of the loo, bathroom wipe over takes what 2 minutes and I feel better cleaning my hands knowing I'm not adding muck.

I did suggest to my partner seeing as he's at home all day most days that he could do some and initial them like I do, well there has only been my initial apart from one dog walk this week, just shows how little he does.

I would say as long as I keep on top of it, the actual cleaning and not the making meals, school runs etc takes me less than 30 minutes a day, I might time it all actually just to be ubberly sad, it's amazing what you can do in a short space of time as I timed myself vacuuming the sitting room, kitchen and halls today and it to 2 minutes and 4 seconds. It was getting on top of it which was harder. I have Moggins who started the flylady system we use now and the encouragement from the other flylady girls to thank for that.

With the Flylady thread. Even some days now I only do level one but it means I have achieved something. I've always said the most important thing is noticing what you do and not what you don't do. Lists help with this I find as makes such a thankless task like housework and being a Mam achievable! I used to feel completely worthless, but now I see what I do in black and white it makes it easier to do if that makes sense.

JillD_2

I am only really a neat freak (not clean freak) because the time I have let it all go to pot it then drives me round the absolute bend if I can't find something that I know is in the house somewhere.
Good example is I had a tas credits voucher for money off my specs and I spent 3 months last year turning the house upside down for it. I thought I was going to go mad. (I should have phoned to ask for a replacement but I kept thinking it woud turn up.)

So I try to keep on top of piles of clutter i.e. prevent them from creating in the first place so I can find stuff.

Mics_chick

lil_me wrote: »

Definately not a clean freak, in all honesty the place still looks like a bombsite even if I do all that. I have 2 boys, 2 dogs and a useless partner who leaves everything where he last touched it. I'm not a naturally tidy person AT ALL, hence why I got involved with the flylady thread, I was struggling to walk into a room and not fall in/stand on/in something. My kids still have crafts stuff, models etc all over the dining table most of the time, it's the clean bit that matters the most to me, I've got used to the fact my house will never be 'tidy' we just are not tidy people. Like today, I had to clear the 'coffee' table which is huge because I couldn't put my cup on it it was covered in books, magazines, OU stuff, post etc etc.

I have that list printed and laminated with tick boxes next to it, but all tasks like clean toilet, which takes seconds are on seperately so there is something like 30 tasks on there. I work my way through them, most take seconds/minutes like a quick clean of the loo, bathroom wipe over takes what 2 minutes and I feel better cleaning my hands knowing I'm not adding muck.

I did suggest to my partner seeing as he's at home all day most days that he could do some and initial them like I do, well there has only been my initial apart from one dog walk this week, just shows how little he does.

I would say as long as I keep on top of it, the actual cleaning and not the making meals, school runs etc takes me less than 30 minutes a day, I might time it all actually just to be ubberly sad, it's amazing what you can do in a short space of time as I timed myself vacuuming the sitting room, kitchen and halls today and it to 2 minutes and 4 seconds. It was getting on top of it which was harder. I have Moggins who started the flylady system we use now and the encouragement from the other flylady girls to thank for that.

With the Flylady thread. Even some days now I only do level one but it means I have achieved something. I've always said the most important thing is noticing what you do and not what you don't do. Lists help with this I find as makes such a thankless task like housework and being a Mam achievable! I used to feel completely worthless, but now I see what I do in black and white it makes it easier to do if that makes sense.

Well said lil_me :T :A MC

Mics_chick

16011996 wrote: »

my top tip is to start small, get in the habit of doing one thing, (i started with beds every sun morning, then added from there) then add one at a time, small steps, but it gets you there.

I've found this the most inspiring so far :T

I've made a small list of what I'd like to achieve on a daily basis that is based on what I/we do already...

1) Think about what to have for dinner early enough to cook it so we don't end up going out for a takeaway
2) Wash pots after every meal (or at least once per day) so they don't mount up - either me or OH will cook the main meal so the other will wash up.
3) Fold and put away any clothes dried that day.
4) Tidy up toys at least once before kids go to bed - get kids to help :rolleyes:

I plan to do this for a few days and then try to add other stuff in a bit at a time as I get used to the routine...


Editted to add: it was worth starting this thread then if I get started and more importantly keep going

lil_me

Sounds like the action plan is starting, getting your partner and the kids involved will help too. I agree with starting with small things that can become routine, for example never say 'I will wash up every day before work' if some days you won't have the time, it has to work for you. If you want to join us on the flylady thread when you are ready and give it a go, even if you only do level one it might help you too. We've got a fab bunch of members new and old always willing to offer support, some are completely crackers (and will freely admit it) but they definately keep you smiling

Good luck with it, I am sure it'll all fall into place eventually, remember it's about what you do, not what you don't get done that matters.

Mics_chick

lil_me wrote: »

Sounds like the action plan is starting, getting your partner and the kids involved will help too. I agree with starting with small things that can become routine, for example never say 'I will wash up every day before work' if some days you won't have the time, it has to work for you. If you want to join us on the flylady thread when you are ready and give it a go, even if you only do level one it might help you too. We've got a fab bunch of members new and old always willing to offer support, some are completely crackers (and will freely admit it) but they definately keep you smiling

Good luck with it, I am sure it'll all fall into place eventually, remember it's about what you do, not what you don't get done that matters.

Thanks for your support and advice lil_me :T

I will have another look at the Flylady threads coz I didn't realise there were different levels you could follow the last time I was reading them so that will probably work better for me once I've got the hang of my mini-routine

grahamliza4

DUST...............

High in fat? Low in fat?

Dust?

:rotfl: