How do you organise your housework when you work full time?

[Princessdivaaa]

I'm looking to return to work in the very near future after a 4 year career break.. Unfortunately part time positions are very hard to come by so it will be full time..

I've been wondering how I'm going to manage to get house work done at a weekend, prepare for next week at work as well as spend time with children..

How do others organise themselves?

[jasminerose]

Me and dh manage to do it all in a few hours a week 15 mins here and there. It doesnt take long unless you live in a mansion

[noisytoys]

Marking place I start my full time job tomorrow and DH works full time. We have 2 DDs 5 and under!

[Arisbottle]

This is the one thing we do well.

Normally we both do an hour each morning before work and someone does chord while the other cooks so about another 30-45 minutes in the evening .

I am pregnant and struggling so we have hired some extra help but hopefully as soon as my energy levels are back we can get back to normal .

[angelinterceptor]

I have always worked, so don't know any difference.

General tidying - keep on top of it every day

Washing clothes - as and when, in the evenings

Ironing - sunday mornings while DC do any lingering homework's

Cleaning bathrooms - proper blitz every now and again - but more general toilets and so on, every other day by either DH or me

Windows - when we can be bothered

Oh and big deep clean when we are having visitors round!

[reddaisy]

We have two DC and we both work FT, irregular shifts and a lot of overtime (we are knackered!)

We have struggled through for years but we have a cleaner popping round on Tuesday to have a look around and a chat and we might bite the bullet and pay for her to do a couple of hours every Friday. Our spare time is so valuable now that I would rather it was used having fun with the DC than doing chores all weekend. We will have to make cutbacks somewhere else to pay for it though...

[jasminerose]

Have little clutter, everything has its place, and storage solutions are my tips. We do 90 hours between us and have a 5 and 1 year old. Organisation is key.

[cupcakeicing]

I do a quick hoover and dust of front room each morning taking 15 minutes. Wipe down kitchen surfaces as you go. Deeper clean on days off. Bathroom wipe down and clean takes 20 mins every 2/3 evenings. Iron as you go (15 mins per day).

Tidy up toys, books etc in bedrooms before bed. These get hoovered and dusted once a week.

Me, DH and DS in house. I work up to 10 days in a row and this works for us. No showhome but clean and tidy.

[Johnny5needsinput]

I am a line parent. Just working f/t for six weeks. And about to step up to a much more difficult role. So watching with interest.

Me and DD aged 11 and the house looks like a shit tip.

[Princessdivaaa]

Thanks for the tips..
I'm already very organised and tidy (I could have a panic attack thinking about a messy house!!) so it seems it maybe down to doing a few jobs in the evening too..

[VeryStressedMum]

I'm on my own with 3 dcs and it's a total nightmare, never seem to have time to do anything and the house is a total tip. Either I need to get a cleaner or leave my job...

[WhoNickedMyName]

Can you afford a cleaner and/or someone to do ironing? It really is money well spent.

If I'm cooking something like lasagne, curry or casserole I always make double for the freezer.

Let your standards drop.

[78bunion]

Washer and dishwasher on every day without fail 7 days a week.
Do not go to bed until house is tidied.
Never tolerate any sexism. Make sure you both do a fair share, if there are two of you.

[spanky2]

Most people I know who work have a cleaner .

[jasminerose]

I wouldnt need a cleaner now we both work full time as it doesnt really get messy. You will find when you work there isnt much housework at all.

[sarahtigh]

I would make a list

start with fixed things like rugby tuesday night, swimming sunday am brownies tuesday etc then list jobs

and a few jobs each day make sure chores do not last all weekend; a blitz saturday morning while DC do homework then ironing while watching strictly/x factor

each evening wash up straight after dinner and wipe kitchen tops/ table cooker if kids old enough they can wash/load dishwasher, they can also tidy their own toys and put laundry in baskets

select days for laundry bedlinen / towels/ white/ coloured/ uniform on fridays

while one prepares dinner the other supervises homework
if leave really early in morning bags packed and lunches night before,
if work late consider school dinners instead of packed

consider a cleaner

if out all day things do not get so dirty, tidy as you go you do not need to clean bathroom/ vacuum every day

[Princessdivaaa]

Some really good tips.. Thanks
I think it's going to be a bit of trial and error to get into a new routine.

[sanam2010]

Sit down with DH and make a plan together. Don't see it as your responsibility. It's a family responsibility. Don't do more than your DH or you will burn yourself out. Hiring a cleaner also very important.