Is anyone else's house just grubby everywhere?

[PassTheTwiglets]

I regularly do all the basic bits of cleaning - hoover, wash floors, clean bathrooms, do dusting etc. but I'm feeling utterly overwhelmed at the other stuff that I can't seem to keep up with. Things like marks on skirting boards, fingerprints up the stairwell (we don't have a handrail so DS puts his hands on the walls to steady himself), splashes on wallpaper by the cooker, dusty wallpaper in the kitchen, toys permanently filthy from Child Grime, marks on bookshelves (why did I paint the shelves white?! WHY?!), marks all over kitchen cupboards, all that sort of stuff... I swear I could clean all day, every day and it would still be the same :( Is anyone else's house like this? How do I stop it happening? How do I motivate myself to deal with it?!

[HopeClearwater]

I don't know how to stop it happening (two DSs) but it's the same here... The general standard of decoration and upkeep isn't great either and that doesn't help. I'm working my way round it, budget allowing

[PassTheTwiglets]

Oh we are completely the same - loads of DIY/decoration to be done as well. It's just SO depressing.

[RacheyMo2]

Mine is the same, we just seem to have lots of clutter! Both me and my DH are messy and then we have a toddler on top of that! We're expecting DS2 any day now (7 days and counting til dd) and its driving me mad, I know it doesn't take long to put all our bits and bobs away but by the time DH gets home from work I'm shattered and ached and ready for a sit down! I think I'm destined to always live in a messy house :)

[PassTheTwiglets]

I'm not too bad with the clutter - we need a good declutter but it was a lot worse last year until I sorted that (Ikea Trofast!!)

Glad I'm not on my own :)

[Yorkieaddict]

Yes, same here. I really don't mind it, as I have very low standards. I do get a bit paranoid when people come round though! I mostly think life is too short to spend too much time and energy stressing about having an immaculate house.

[Huffpot]

Am also delighted its not just me!!! By the time the day to day stuff is done am knackered!

[Yonididnaedaethat]

Yip me! my house is clean and tidy most of the time but i have hand prints on walls, dogs shaking muddy water on walls, the hall banisters are disgusting and the skirting boards need a good wash down. I hate these jobs tho!

[BackforGood]

Babywipes (or surface wipes if you prefer) are your friend - really quick at getting marks off paintwork, both wood and walls.
Alternatively, hire a teen for an hour. Loads of teens struggle to find a PT job, but would jump at the chance of the occasional hour (or two's) work, and you can direct them to get on top of those sorts of jobs. Much cheaper than a regular cleaners and will do 'odd' sorts of jobs like that. £10 every couple of months well spent if you are able.

[nicename]

Absolutely. I was brought up in a huge house that was always spotless and very tidy (we used to joke that mum wanted the place presentable should the queen drop in for elevenses). I am just rebelling.

[PassTheTwiglets]

I wish I could not care about it but it reaaaally bothers me. I knnow it will have to be done eventually so I just see it as an endless list of jobs to do. It makes me feel a bit claustrophobic sometimes.

BackforGood, the magic erasers (50p in Poundland!) are even better than babywipes but it still needs me to actually use them :) Brilliant idea about hiring a teen - I need to find one...

[ShowOfHands]

Yup, we're 3yrs into our 5yr plan of doing up this house and we will completely do a room, like the bathroom, and it's pristine. But while getting on with the kitchen, the bathroom slowly has kick marks on the skirting and handprints on the walls and the odd mark from muddy boots which won't shift. We've just repainted one of the walls for the 3rd time in a year to stop the grubbiness but it's endless. One primary child, one just turned 2yo and they just excrete sticky mess. We want to sell this place and get somewhere which has enough bedrooms for a start but I despair of how anybody will ever buy it when it's all just grubby despite my best efforts. I'm buying a steam cleaner after next pay day in the vain hope it will help.

And now the weather's just changed, I have to add wiping condensation from every ruddy window to the list of ever expanding jobs each day.

[PassTheTwiglets]

ShowofHands, the magic eraser sponges are ACE at getting marks off walls - you won't need to repaint if you use those.

I had a steam cleaner but wasn't a fan and sent mine back, I'm afraid. For all the faff it took to get it out of the cupboard, fill it with water, plug it in, cart it about etc. - you may just as well have used a wipe instead.

The problem is that it's just too boring to deal with. I'm a SAHM with kids out at school all day so I could easily deal with this if I could be arsed. Also there just always seems to be something more urgent to do like MNing

[BackforGood]

Thanks - I'd not come across magic erasers... most go and look.
I could put you in touch with lots of teens if only you lived near me

[CatAmongThePigeons]

I am drowning in a sea of grubby marks/food splatters/ crumbling plaster, our house is lovely, but it's over 80 years old and it shows! It doesn't help having two boys who release some kind of sludge everywhere they touch.
Every time we do something, something else falls aoart or three other things need our attention. It's never ending!
Will check out those magic erasers, while I save up for wipeable paint for the walls and woodwork.

[happyyonisleepyyoni]

My mum bought me a magic eraser and it is ace for paintwork. But where can I buy more ?

[PassTheTwiglets]

They are sold everywhere, happy (supermarkets, Wilkinsons, Lakeland, anywhere that sells cleaning thing, really) but the best place is Poundland because they're SO much cheaper for exactly the same thing. Buy quite a few though as they disintegrate quite quickly - this isn't a fault of the Poundland ones, they all do the same. It's called thigns like Magic Sponge, Sponge Eraser, that sort of thing - it's melamine foam.

[samuraispider]

No not here. I do have a strategy though...

When I see something that needs doing (i.e. grubby book shelves) then I write it on my to do list. Once I've done it, I add it to my routine at whatever interval it needs doing (i.e. after one week, one month, three months, six months, etc.). I use the Remember the Milk app on my iPhone.

I sound a bit smug and I'm by no means perfect but if you can keep chipping away at the jobs it is so much easier. Our house is generally clean and tidy.

[NeoMaxiZoomDweebie]

Mine's the same....I was thinking today that I MUST make DH paint it and if he won't I will. He hates me painting as I am messy and he's a pro...but tough!

I want paint and paper on those walls in time for Christmas!

Make the DC wash hands more is my tip!

[duchesse]

Yes, mine. I spend probably about 2 hours a day cleaning, but the combination of pets, teenagers and living in a house that seems to ooze crud is very overwhelming. We live in the countryside and a fully cleaned window sill is covered in dead insects in less than a week, two or three days in the kitchen. In order to keep this house in the state I'd like to keep it, I'd have to stop working and just clean about 20 hours a week.

[PassTheTwiglets]

Samurai, good to know that it is possible then! I think maybe getting on top of it once and for all and then having a regular 'uokeep' list may be the way to go.

NeoMaxi, oh don't, I've been up since 5am, stressing about getting the lounge done in time for Christmas! I think this will be Christmas No.7 of saying "this year the lounge will be done by Christmas" :( We came really close this year but I still need to choose wallpaper, put up skirtings, choose curtains, put up bookshelves, get a hearth/fireplace etc. Oh the list is endless...

[Pinkbutterfly31]

I'm another fan of magic erasers, I recently bought a new one from asda. I'll usually grab one and spend 10/15 mins just wondering round the house getting rid of marks from walls, floors, skirting boards, tiles etc. Baby/surface wipes are also a must have for me. Also when I Hoover, I make a point of quickly going over the skirting boards, just to get rid of the dust.

I also tend to buy tester pots of the colours that are in my house. That way, if some paint chips off or gets damaged, I can just dab a bit on and it looks good as new.

Every now and then, I get a half hour where the urge to clean takes over. I always use those (rare) moments to get all these sorts of jobs done. The rest of it falls into my daily chores routine. If all else fails, I watch an episode of hoarders - always gives me some motivation lol.

[BranchingOut]

We have just bought a dyson mini vacuum and it is great.

Having a weekly cleaner to keep on top of it.

Not giving juice or squash.

If you give a snack, always putting it in a little plastic bowl.

[PassTheTwiglets]

What a great tip about buying a tester pot of paint for touch-ups!! Brilliant!

Are all wipes the same, do you know? I buy the bathroom ones - are they just the same as surface wipes or are they too harsh as they seem to hvae germ-kllilng stuff in them?

I feel motivated after having a rant. I am thinking of doing one room at a time until it is exactly how I want it, no leaving the difficult bits until later. Then having a maintenance list - I like lists, they make me feel in control even though I'm not :) I recently saw a list of weekly, monthly and seasonal cleaning jobs - perhaps I'll print those out and stick them on the fridge.