Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Why is my house so dirty?

38 replies

TheTempest · 19/03/2021 10:31

It sounds like a daft question I know, but I’m sure my house is dirtier quicker now than it used to be!

I’ve never been particularly good at house cleaning, but in the last couple of years I’ve made a real effort to declutter, keep it tidy and clean. I do at least an hour a day, DH does about the same, and we have a cleaner 4hours a week. Yet every day I have thick dust, I hoover thoroughly daily but within 5 minutes it looks the same, and I cleaned the skirting boards a few days ago, thick dust again today. So am I missing something obvious?!

It’s a busy house with 4 dogs, so I know it’s going to be harder to keep clean than my immaculate sisters house with less people and one tidy dog. But help me out here, is there something I’m not doing/should be doing/ can make it easier to keep it clean?

OP posts:
thebabessavedme · 19/03/2021 10:43

Where do you live?, I have lived very rurally and also city centre, the dirt is different!

In the countryside the dust blew in from the fields and was pretty thick and coated most surfaces but was easy to get off, city dirt is more polluted and a pain in the arse to get rid of, I find that city dirt is less noticable but just takes more effort.

Okbussitout · 19/03/2021 10:45

I live in an old house with not great double glazing. The dust is really bad. Don't know if that helps?

BarbaraofSeville · 19/03/2021 10:46

Same here although we don't clean half as much as you which will account for a lot of it.

What I find most baffling is that DMs house is virtually dust free, but it's so cluttered and she has two dogs, that she can't possibly be doing enough dusting to keep the dust at bay.

Yet we constantly have dust on all the surfaces. Where does it all come from?

Easterbunnygettingready · 19/03/2021 10:47

Do you use polish? It's good for preventing dust settling.. Vacuum daily instead..

Palavah · 19/03/2021 10:48

It’s a busy house with 4 dogs there's your answer?

Seriouslymole · 19/03/2021 10:50

Do you have a wood burner? We do, and our house is very dusty. Frankly, it's worth it.

hoorayforharoldlloyd · 19/03/2021 10:51

Is it an old house? Do you have a basement/cellar? This is why we have quite a lot of dust and spiders.

Easterbunnygettingready · 19/03/2021 10:53

We have 4 ddogs. No carpets downstairs. Sweep and mop every day. Ddogs don't have free roam of the house as lounge is upstairs..

RubyFakeLips · 19/03/2021 10:55

I would guess the dogs, the areas of the house I don't allow dogs stay cleaner for longer.

Also when you say you're dusting, are you just using a dry duster, to move it around or are you using polish/ a damp cloth. I use polish or a damp microfibre then hoover after. Stays dust free for days.

StormyLovesOdd · 19/03/2021 10:55

I moved house from an old 1930's house on a very busy road to a newer house (10 years old) on a quiet road. The difference in dust is amazing.

I used to be like you, constantly cleaning before.

YorkshireTerror · 19/03/2021 10:56

I've moved a lot and some houses seem dirtier than normal. If you are near a main road that definitely makes for a lot more dirt. The dogs will contribute definitely. I dust with a damp E cloth and that seems to get rid of the dust rather than just move it around. One house I lived in hardly seemed to get dusty whereas this place I could dust every day and still be getting a cloth full of grey fluff. My washing line and outside windows leave the cloths black. It can't be good for the lungs if this is the state of the surfaces indoors and out.

idontlikealdi · 19/03/2021 10:56

We hardly have any dust and I am a slattern so hardly ever dust - I do tend to hoover dust up though as otherwise you're just kind of spreading it around to accumulate more.

Original poster
TheTempest · 19/03/2021 11:02

I use polish and a micro fibre cloth. I do have a wood burner, but we barely use it (like 3 times a year!). Dogs only downstairs except for one of them comes to bed with me! We have wooden floors, and leather sofas everywhere downstairs. Upstairs is just as bad to be fair though. I think it’s a 1940’s ish house on a quietish road.

I think part of it is just feeling like it’s never going to be clean, decorated downstairs in the last year and working on upstairs at the moment but feels like painting the forth bridge. I think I was definitely happier with it when I cared less 😂

OP posts:
HotCrossBumsticks · 19/03/2021 11:04

Yet every day I have thick dust, I hoover thoroughly daily but within 5 minutes it looks the same, and I cleaned the skirting boards a few days ago, thick dust again today. So am I missing something obvious?!

I don't see how thats even possible. If you have thick dust on something and clean it, you can't possibly have thick dust again 5 minutes later, or the next day. It's against the laws of physics.

ichundich · 19/03/2021 11:06

Second that there tends to be more dust if you live somewhere urban compared with a house in the countryside. I would use a damp duster and/or polish and hoover after dusting. Also some clothes and house fabrics create more than others.

IstandwithJackieWeaver · 19/03/2021 11:16

I'm not very diligent at cleaning and even when left for months, our skirtings do not have thick dust on them. We're in an old house, off a busy A road, have single glazing and a muck trafficking cat and DP. Having pets definitely makes a difference to general levels of dirt and hard floors don't trap hair and dust the way carpet does.

Pearbear · 19/03/2021 11:23

My cleaner recons having the windows open and outside air coming in can create more dust and dirt. I’d have though it’s circulating the air to stop dust settling.

userxx · 19/03/2021 12:05

Totally misses the point but how you decide which dog sleeps in your bed ? Are the other three not pissed off ?

candarelinthemorning · 19/03/2021 12:15

Because you've got 4 dogs!

PattyPan · 19/03/2021 12:52

Do you live near a railway? I think that can increase the amount of dust

Original poster
TheTempest · 19/03/2021 13:19

Yeah about half a mile away so not super close but close enough to the railway. They are all allowed but only one wants to sleep in my bed. Sometimes they jazz it up a bit and sleep with my DD instead but mostly they choose to sleep on the sofa, blankets, their beds etc.

Cleaner has been this morning and I’ve been cleaning so 6 hours today and it looks clean again. By tomorrow I’ll be amazed at how dusty it gets again! I’ve taken pictures of the worst dusty areas today before I cleaned them so I can compare tomorrow Grin

What I really need is my life back, then I won’t have the time or give a toss about my skirting boards any more!

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 19/03/2021 13:21

My house is better if I keep the animals well groomed. (Do it outside too!!!)

Original poster
TheTempest · 19/03/2021 13:31

Yeah that’s an idea @Wolfiefan. I brush them all every few days, and two of them go to the groomers. It could be it’s worse at the moment because they are losing their winter coats maybe?

OP posts:
0blio · 19/03/2021 13:33

6 hours cleaning?! I was gong to sympathise as my house is always dusty too but I probably don't even clean for 6 hours each month!

I wondered about the dog who gets to go to bed with you too, do you give them each a turn or is it just one of them? Don't the others get jealous?

callthevet · 19/03/2021 13:33

I think it will be the dogs. My last dog died and while I was terribly sad I couldn't believe how clean the house stayed when he was gone.