House work

bridetobe9132013

Ok I know at some point in a thread we have discussed this but I can't remember when or where! I would love tips/tricks for getting house work/chores done. Our master bathroom hasn't been cleaned in about a month (I am embarrassed to admit that). If I get time to clean a bathroom, I choose the guest bathroom downstairs. DD's bathroom hasn't been done in awhile but I only use it for bathing her so it doesnt get too messy. Vacuuming desperately needs to be done also since we have cats that shed. Help! There isnt enough time in a day.

bridetobe9132013

I also want to point out that I am a sahm and still can't get everything done!

SurprisePartySue

I am a full time SAHM and work part-time. We ended up hiring a cleaning lady. i never could get everything done. I have a very clingy baby. Lately it's been easier to pick up since she will sit in the floor and play. If she's been extra cranky and clingy I put her in her high chair and wheel her around to everyroom with me.

busterbeagle

I have one room to clean each day, plus I try to clean up the living room/dining room/kitchen each night before I go to bed no matter how tired I am. Starting fresh in the morning is worth it. But things like vacuuming and putting away laundry always fall behind. I don't know how to do things I can't do with sleeping kids on a regular basis. I only have one bathroom and 950 square feet to keep clean, so that makes it more manageable, too.

NorthernGal248

I usually put L in her walker and tell her what I'm doing as a do it. I have switched from smelly cleaning products to more natural products so that it's perfectly ok for her to be in the bathroom with me. She is usually pretty intrigued. Good luck!

bridetobe9132013

Thanks ladies! @busterbeagle I do agree that starting fresh in the morning is very nice! Our dishwasher is a pos so I have to wash everything by hand, which takes up so much time!

hbird0723

I second the one room at a time. I am also a SAHM and if it wasn't for my MIL coming once a week I would never get anything done! I tried doing the dishes yesterday and got 3 dishes finished before having to stop. That went on most the day. Some days I have time to quickly throw a load of laundry in. I don't know how people do it with more than one kid. So one week I did one room at a time working from one side of the house to the other and got it done in a couple days. My husband usually takes her for a little while when he gets home while I make dinner so I'll pick up in between cooking and he also gives her a bath every night so that's been really helpful. Sorry I'm not much help but I understand! Maybe the one room at a time thing or I've put balls and toys in a laundry basket and put her in there in the kitchen or wherever I'm cleaning and that keeps her occupied for a while too. When she was only taking naps on me though nothing got done! I would try and pick up with one arm or hand. I'm kind of a neat freak too so it really bothers me some times. But you just have to do the best you can. I keep telling myself that

bazingaa

Two things that I have found to help.... (1) baby carrier. Strap baby onto you and vacuum away. (2) indoor umbrella stroller. I have a cheap stroller that stays indoors only so it keeps clean and put baby in that when we need to move room to room. Attach a few toys, spin him in circles every so often, and he keeps him occupied long enough to get some things done.

bridetobe9132013

@kc83 do you do all of that once a month? So I just got some vacuuming done while DH watched DD... until our vacuum stopped working DH says it needs a new filter. After DD is in bed I am going to clean our bathroom and wash about 5,000 dishes.

Helmink0804

LO is pretty happy to play on the floor with all her toys. I do a room at a time. Sometimes my hubby will do it or I'll do it when he's home.

jenb_99

I'm a SAHM of 2, and I get very little done when I'm home alone with the kids. Trying to clean with a 3-year-old boy in the house is like shoveling snow in a blizzard. Usually on the weekend I'll send them (or at least DS) out with DH or my parents for a couple of hours and get the big stuff done, like mopping, vacuuming, cleaning the bathrooms and mirrors, and sorting laundry.

My house is cluttered and probably always will be, but it's clean and sanitary. I try to do little things and basic daily chores (dishes, picking up toys, washing a load of clothes, etc.),  throughout the day so I'm not overhwhelmed at the end of the week, and I can get the place presentable in less than an hour if company is coming.

yepyepsms

I didn't read all the responses but baby wearing is how I have a shot at it. She wants to be held a lot right now so I strap her on and she's happy as a clam as I pick up and do chores

haylo33

We both work full time. The second I went back to work we hired a cleaning lady 2x per month. Only $60 and she does the entire house. Now all I do is spot cleaning, dishes, and cleaning up the clutter. My son sits in his bouncer while I cook and clean. He also still naps 3x a day (no more than 45-60 min though) so I get some stuff Done then. It may sound unrealistic, but when DS goes to bed, that is our time to relax, eat, or just hang out but sometimes housework runs into that time

mamagerman

I am a SAHM too and I was getting so down on myself for not getting things done.. Glad to know I'm not alone

bridetobe9132013

Definately not alone @mamagerman‌!

1sttimemomma2013

I have a pack and play and activities on each floor of the house. I try to let her play while I clean. Nap times and nights are out because she is held for every nap and she still shares a room with us at night. Or my husband watches her while I clean. I feel like it's a never ending battle to get it all done...

spinsoffresonance

Who was it that said in a previous thread , the reason you can't get it done is because you're a SAHM. You cook a lot more meals at home, your house is a playground and your bathrooms get a lot more use than if you were working and LO was in daycare. so true!

I'm home too, every evening after dinner either DH or I will clean the kitchen, do dishes, clean the dining room and make DD1 pick up her toys from the living room, while the other parent watches the kids. I also go around the apartment with the DustBuster and vacuum any visible dirt. This way the place is clean in the morning and you just have to put dishes in the dishwasher throughout the day. On the weekends I send DH to the playground with the kids so I can clean the bedrooms. I do laundry throughout the week and fold it during nap. Once a month or so I hire a cleaning lady to do the bathroom, and give the entire place a good clean. Our place is 2bed, 1bath, 700sqft and I still can't figure out how to do it all. It takes all the time I have just to pick up things and keep the place somewhat tidy, there's no time left for actual cleaning!

yvanehtnioj

Couple tips from me:

1. I gave in & bought a Swiffer (well a Swiffer-esque device with a washable cloth part cause eco guilt). Now it takes me 5 minutes to do the kitchen floor. Not as clean as my old hands-n-knees routine but I have no fucks to give.

2. We use those bleach tablets in the toilets. You drop them in the tank and the toilet stays clean and fresh for so long!

3. Each night I do the pick up clutter routine and 2-3 evenings I'll do something extra but quick, like wipe down the surfaces of one bathroom or pick up the bedroom. Usually it's Thursdays after the baby goes to bed because my MIL comes to watch him on Fridays

4. I really don't like spending my weekends on housework so instead of a 5 hour cleaning marathon, I just do one "big" thing like vacuuming or scrubbing a shower. I have realized that things stay generally decent if they're cleaned a couple times a month versus every weekend.

Honestly, the unifying theme to all of this is lower standards. I was coming home from work, trying to do dinner, and then wanting to get up & clean afterwards every night. I realized I could either keep my old perfectly clean house or spend time with my son. However, I will always put in some extra effort if company is coming over...I grew up in a hoarder/messy house and there's just no way I would let people see my house messy.

pandadair

@becole42‌ I was going to say Roomba + cleaning lady.

ns1

@Bliz1712‌ yes to all that.

DH and I work FT. Once we get hime, I get dinner ready and the toddler and baby fed and then to bed...and then bottles washed and filled for the next day - it's either bedtime or relax time. Rare days off I just want for me! Thank goodness DH is a neat freak. He does laundry and I do dishes. Once in a blue moon other things get cleaned (when I step on a crystallized green bean I take that as my sign to sweep).

So, what's worked for me is lowering my standards...sad and true story.

You all are amazing - kudos!

bridetobe9132013

So way before DD was born we borrowed a carpet cleaning machine from my parents. I finally went to use it today and we cant find a power cord on it and have no idea how to use it! I convinced DH to let me try and find a decent and affordable carpet cleaning company. I understand his thinking... if we can do it ourselves, why pay? I'm all about saving money but we have been wanting to clean them for over a year and we have never done it before. I'd rather pay someone to do them right and get it off my mind!

bridetobe9132013

Its a Hoover steam vac spin scrub. I wrote out tasks for everyday and I already feel less overwhelmed!

skyrockets

It is hard to get everything done that's for sure.   I had a cleaning lady come in to get us back into shape and that forced me to tidy and declutter before she came.  Now just trying to keep it nice is a bit easier!  

I do the kitchen every day (counters and dishes) and the fridge before grocery shopping.  I find that helps keep me calm.  I also do laundry every day to keep on top of it.  Everything else (vacuuming, bathrooms, dusting) I cram in where I can.  Sometimes that means on a Saturday/Sunday when DH is home and that sucks, but it only takes me an hour or two.