How do you keep your house clean?

LoriZ

I'm really struggling with this.  It's not like my house is ever disgusting, but I'd say most of the time I cringe when the doorbell rings.  I'm embarrassed to even say that, but it's true.  I stink at keeping the house as clean as I'd like.  I had enough trouble when it was just DD, but since DS was born it's been even harder to keep on top of things.  Short of hiring someone, how do you ladies do it?  It seems like the kids are messing up one thing as I'm cleaning another during the day, and I'm just so tired once they're both asleep.  DD doesn't really nap anymore, either.  I guess maybe I just need to figure out a way for DD to "help" me?  I'm just kind of at a loss here.

Superchicy

I have really struggled with this since DD was born.  DH seems to never see the dirty bathroom or the laundry that needs folded and by the evening I'm too tired to think about what to do first.  I have decided to make a list of all our chores and split them up over the week with the bigger ones on the weekend, so each day there is at least one thing that gets cleaned.  I think it will be easier for both of us to do one little thing a day and not feel so overwhelmed feeling like the whole house needs cleaned. 

I did try to get DH to agree to hire somebody, but he said he'd rather keep the $80 and clean himself, so I'm holding him to that!

MrsMandaK

It's definitely become harder since taking on the role of SAHM.  Seems like it should be the opposite, but when I stop to think about it we are here more and the house it just going to be messier because of it.  I do my best to straighten up during nap time or at time when the girls are quietly playing, but honestly, I guess you just have to let go a little bit and realize you're not superwoman and cannot do it all.  I do try to keep Mondays as laundry day and another day of the week as my 'big' cleaning day - bathrooms, floors, dusting, etc. but if something comes up and I don't get to it, I just let it go.  Have you heard of flylady.com?  It's a cleaning schedule website that gives you tips on what to clean each day of the week so you can calm the chaos a bit.  Maybe give that a try!

JLPT830

I don't!!!!  I know that's not the answer you're looking for, but I just do the best I can.  I try to stay on top of the bathrooms and the kitchen.  DS loves the swiffer duster, so I'll often just ask him if he wants to dust and we'll spend a few minutes dusting together.  He also likes to vacuum, but he doesn't do such a great job with that.  I try to pick up toys and clutter every night, but that really only happens a few nights a week cause I'm so dang tired.  Right now a cleaning service just isn't financially possible for us.  When I feel like it's really bad, DH will entertain DS for a few hours on Sat morning and I do a marathon cleaning session.  Just know you are not alone!

Mrs.Cooley2bee

I am pretty much like the other ladies.  Each night I always make sure the kitchen is cleaned up and wiped down and that the toys are tossed into their baskets.  Other than that I try to pick one thing to add-on most nights.  Like one bathroom/vacuum/dust/laundry.  By no means is my house looking perfect at all times.

One thing that I recently found helpfful was actually having a place for everything.  I went through the house bit by bit in the last few months (I had some nesting instincts going on) and cleaned out all closets, kitchen cabinets and the garage.  We have a smaller house and it the cluter just seemed to make it harder to tidy up.  Now that everything has a place I feel better about cleaning up and putting things away.

sistrkate

JLPT830:

I don't!!!!  I know that's not the answer you're looking for, but I just do the best I can.  I try to stay on top of the bathrooms and the kitchen.  DS loves the swiffer duster, so I'll often just ask him if he wants to dust and we'll spend a few minutes dusting together.  He also likes to vacuum, but he doesn't do such a great job with that.  I try to pick up toys and clutter every night, but that really only happens a few nights a week cause I'm so dang tired.  Right now a cleaning service just isn't financially possible for us.  When I feel like it's really bad, DH will entertain DS for a few hours on Sat morning and I do a marathon cleaning session.  Just know you are not alone!

I am totally in this category.  I find it exceedingly tough with two kids demanding my attention all the time, too, so I just try to keep it picked up as much as possible.  The rooms I focus on are the kitchen (gets wiped/swept multiple times daily) and the bathrooms, especially the one that they use for baths, etc.  DH picks up all of the toys at the end of the night and we have Justin helping to do that.

One thing I will say, it does help some when your second one is a bit older because then the two will play together.  I can usually get some stuff done upstairs, like putting laundry away or changing beds, while the kids play.  Actual cleaning with disinfectants, etc., has to wait until either DH is home or my little one is napping.  I let Justin watch a little TV during that time so he is occupied.

Lyons_in_2007

Granted we haven't called her since the spring (with DH home over the summer, it became part of "his" responsibility to ensure the house remained in order and everything received a good rotational clean); but this is the exact reason we finally broke down and employed a 1x/month cleaning service (just for a regular deep clean).  Overall, it's SO worth it!  Right not we can still find time to clean (as a 50/50 shared responsibility) while DS is napping - mostly on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, so the cleaning service is really a *nicety* to save our sanity and allow us to spend our weekend time on more enjoyable activities.  However, once DS2 is born, I will truly consider it a necessity.  IMO, having a [somewhat] clean house is part in parcel to my sanity; but it isn't worth spending a large majority of your free time slaving over.  

IAM4UK

Does it help that Katie cleans with me? She loves to wipe down anything with her paper towels. She helps unload the dishwasher. We sing songs to put away her toys. She vacuums, when I vacuum. Sweeps, when I sweep.

Where I struggle is with laundry. I can't keep up and keep everything put away.

This is all going to go by the wayside after the twins are here, but my mom said that she is going to come over and help. We shall see.

linzpinz14

I struggle with this too.  With doing in-home childcare, I feel like there are some days that my house is a complete disaster with toys everywhere and all the dirty dishes from the day.

We clean in the evenings and on the weekends.  DH definitely does 50% of the housework, unless there is yardwork or something in the garage to do.  And Cecelia will "help" when I am picking up, with the laundry, with her little vaccuum, dusting, etc.  If I am doing something major that she can't help with, I definitely use the TV. 

Really, when our house isn't being used for childcare, I just try to keep everything but toys cleaned up and in their "place".  It RARELY looks perfect, but I think most times, we see the messes in our own homes, when guests come in, they aren't paying too much attention to it.  (At least that's what I'll keep telling myself.  Ha!)

KYmama9286

I just had a meltdown about this to DH the other day--and I only have 1 baby! lol For me having my house messy, cluttered, etc. puts me in a rotten mood and drives me nuts (I've gotten better I used to actually have diagnosed OCD about certain cleaning things). Basically I feel like I can never just maintain--like I'll go nuts and clean the whole house one day (usually its because we are having people over or something) but its filthy the next day which confuses me since there are only 2 adults and 1 baby in the house, how the heck does it get so messy?! (Dh is HORRIBLE about cleaning up after himself and I get so overwhelmed that I dont know where to start)

My goal is to keep the kitchen somewhat clean (but I'm not going to lie, there are times we literally have used every clean plate/bowl in the house and I am forced to clean) and to keep the living room at least picked up (no toys out, no random stuff on the end tables, no cups, etc.) its tough and I think every mom I know struggles w/ it--sorry that wasnt much help just know many of us are in the same boat!