Do you have a cleaning rota? How do you keep on top of things? Any tips appreciated!

[Disenchanted3]

I have 3 kids now and want a tidy home!

Ive had my house for 3 years now and NEVER have i managed to keep it tidy for more than a week, lol.

I need help.

I need structure though,

any ideas?

[Writergirl]

Need some more info! For starters - do you work? if so - full time? Part time? same - how old are your kids - can they help? do you have a partner.. do they/can they help...?!

[Disenchanted3]

Im a SAHM,

kids are 4, 2 and 6 weeks, eldest goes to playgroup 9am-11.30am.

DH can help yes, hes off work for now, but he is proably going to go back soon, which Im kind of hoping for so I can get into my own routine properly iykwim.

I really meant a rota for me, not the whole family, lol.

[Cocodrillo]

Have you tried FLYing? It does work, even if it seems a bit like overkill at times.

[LilianGish]

I think being tidy is down to having a place for everything. If you don't have loads of storage get lots of plastic boxes for children's toys (always biggest source of clutter in our house) that way you can just chuck everything in (or better still start teaching the kids to do that themselves - let's play a great game of tidying up the toys!). Once you've got a place for everything I find it easiest to tidy up as I go along. Eg after bathtime dirty clothes in linen basket, clean clothes in wardrobe drawers. I also find doing little and often better than weekly splurges - I only have two children, but I usually end up doing a load of washing everyday and maybe 10 to 15 minutes ironing (that's all I can stand). I'm also really strict about throwing stuff away - old newspapers at the end of the day so I don't end up with loads of unnecessary clobber cluttering the place up.

[needtodohousework]

Watching with interest!

[Ivykaty44]

four plastic different coloured boxes - they go somewhere near the stairs or under the stairs and each colour belongs to a different child (and yes one for your dh )

Any of the dc "stuff" that gets left lying around - gets popped in the box. Easy when the box is ull the said dc gets given the box. Easy when said dc asks where is myxxx? its in the box. Easy the dpwnstairs stays tidy

[needtodohousework]

Hmm, quite liking the box idea! Although don't have children old enough!

[TeenyTinyToria]

I do dishes, vacuuming and laundry every day, and mop once a week.

Then I tidy one room thoroughly each day of the week. It works quite well if I stick to it, but I do get behind sometimes (well, quite a bit actually, which is why I'm on the slatterns' thread)

[Jas]

Another vote for FLYing, but I do it mn style with the daily threads in here.
Keeps the motivation going and got me in a decent routine.

[blossomsmine]

Teenytiny has a good point, about doing one room thoroughly once a week, on top of what you do daily. That way it won't all build up. I have been going completely decluttering mad lately, can't believe how much better i feel!! I am finding homes for everything, throwing/recycling things and i am starting to feel organised! It is so true that once things are in order the normal cleaning is so much easier!

[LilianGish]

Decluttering is definitely the way to go. If I buy something new I throw something away and I'm also quite unsentimental about worn out toys, books, bits of plastic out of kinder eggs, stuff the dcs make - it goes on the fridge or on their wall or in the bin and I usually take something down if I put something new up. Have a memory box for each child for anything of particularly sentimental value otherwise be ruthless.
I always make beds first thing - dcs (5 and 7) now trained to make their own - and clear up after every meal. If you can keep on top of the routine chores, don't have loads of clutter all over the place then a quick vacuum round and a bit of cushion straightening soon has the place looking shipshape.