Working parents - what's your routine?

[NC4now]

Frankly, I'm a shambles. I'd love to know how you keep on top of your housework and admin while working full time.
Do you stick to a routine?

[LaPampa]

not really, although we do load dishwasher over night, rubbish goes out for the correct day for bin day. we have a cleaner once a week. Washing is done when there is good drying days - I make sure there is enough school uniform options to have a clean top every day, and I lay out the clothes every evening.

[Almostthere15]

Admin is the real challenge here. It's got better since we synced on online calendar and also transfer into paper calendar. Which is overkill but does help us catch stuff.

Cleaning wise, we make sure everyone is pulling their weight. The dishwasher is loaded every night and goes on to be emptied in the morning. I think a dishwashers major benefit is it keeps the kitchen clear.

We wash most everyday, and usually dry on hangers unless it's drying weather because it cuts out the middle man.

But I couldn't do it without a cleaner. We have two hours a week and it keeps everything on track. I know in the main things are clean, we still have to do bits but no where near as much.

Life is much tougher at certain times of the year like christmas with all the varied outfits and end of terms. So we sort things out at the weekend, hang them up and stick a post it note next to it.

[revolution909]

My house is a mess, as simple as that! I've also prioritize d looking after myself above anything else :/

[NC4now]

I hear you Revolution. On top of work I spend five hours a week in the gym. Then I'm knackered.
I need to get the kids pulling their weight, I think. At 15 and 11 they are more than capable.

[WorkingBling]

It's bloody hard. Cleaner helps a lot as the big jobs are done - bed changing, floor mopping etc.

My main trick is multi-tasking. While kids are bathing we're inevitably tidying up/ cleaning the kitchen. I put loads of washing on with a delay so I can hang them up on the airing things while kids are getting ready for bed etc. I use the tumble dryer more than I should too if I have got behind and just need to get stuff done.

[se22mother]

Have a cleaner , and organisation- prepare bags the night before helps. As per another thread don't put stuff down, put it away immediately

[RhubarbCrumbled]

I've got to the point where I'm decluttering and it's making things easier to keep clean and tidy because there's less of it to clean and tidy!

I'm very much a morning person and cba to do much after work! Dishwasher helps keep the kitchen clear and goes on every night regardless of how full it is. Emptied (mostly) on a morning.

Kids have their baths / showers on a morning to save the arguments on an evening. All the shoes, coats and bags live in one place and are always put back there after school and ready for the next day. I have a calendar on my phone that has everything in plus a bullet journal that is full of lists and reminds me of the daily stuff as I rewrite it each week.

Washing gets done as it needs doing and either hung out before work or in dryer on an evening. I have enough uniform for the week so no need to wash every day.

I try and do dusting, vacuuming, floor mopping at least once a week but sometimes it just doesn't happen. I do get the little Dyson out quite a bit though for the kitchen / dining room.

Basically, so long as we're fed, don't smell and not living in a complete hovel I'm happy!