Tell me your top house cleaning tips

[ElizaDoolots]

Firstly, I know this is a complete first world problem, and there are bigger things going on today. I need a break from the news.

I’ve had to cancel our cleaning service (that we’ve had pretty much since we bought our first house!) The price went up 30% overnight and I’m due to go on maternity leave next month so can’t really justify the expense any more.

I’ll have a two year old at home most days as well as the baby so need to find efficient ways to keep the house clean and tidy.

Please share with me your top tips. Best products to go for? Eco friendly swaps? Ways to keep on top of everything?

I realise I might just need to drop my standards a bit, but I find it hard to relax when the house is a mess so do want to keep on top of it as much as I can. DH will do some things but works very long hours so realistically won’t be doing loads, I’d prefer his ‘free time’ to be spent pitching in with the childcare.

Thanks!

@PriamFarrl dont you clean your frames then?

what is the point of half measure. Do the job right. Same as with an oven. Clean the inside not just polish the glass on the front,

£60 for that! Come on mumsnetters, we've got to start sending in our own tips!

Sleep when they sleep, clean when they clean

I think sweeping and polishing will be great exercise that's very warming. So I'm saving it until the gas goes up.

If you’ve got carpets, an old fashioned carpet sweeper is great for quickly getting bits up without all the faff of a vacuum cleaner.
Plus it uses no electricity.

White vinegar is my main cleaning product. Not a fan of chemicals as thy make me wheeze. I hate cleaning so do it in 10-20 minute spurts rather than spend all day cleaning. Bribe the kids to do it too.

How many men are there out there who are about to become fathers for the second time whose minds have turned to cleaning and household chores?

@GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER oh the Ewbank! I loved using my granny’s. Remember seeing the tangled hair and strands of cotton thread stuck in it!

My top tip is to use the “dirty” pillowcases (inside out) taken off the bed to dust the bedside table and drawers - then they go in the wash! Takes moments and becomes routine!

If like me you have 3 pillows you can do the windows too - or do them alternate weeks!

Find a different way to save money. Cleaning when you have a baby and a toddler and a husband with an all-so-important job? NOPE.

Start by deep cleaning and decluttering every room in the house. Be ruthless about binning and bagging for charity. Only keep stuff to sell if you genuinely will have the time and energy to do so. You don't need 20 pairs shoes/scarves/hats/bags 0r 50 plastic pots. If it hasn't been used/played with/worn for three months then you don't need it. Get rid of all the crap like birthday cards. No-one else cares about then they just collect dust and take up space. By all means keep the odd very special ones made by the kids etc. maximise your storage space and find storage solutions. Once you have deep cleaned and cleared you should have a place for everything and everything in its place. After that keeping the place nice and tidy and clean is so much easier. Also get your kids to tidy up after themselves and get then involved with dusting, picking up and tidying every single time. It will soon become habit.

So true.