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Original poster

How clean and tidy is your house generally?

185 replies

MsWalterMitty · 15/01/2022 13:14

Such as day to day. On the scale of spotless all the time to absolutely filthy?

I’m guessing mist would be in the middle somewhere? But I know it depends on standards.

I think I’m in the middle but closer to the filthy end Blush

My house is rarely tidy as I feel like I’m constantly running both the dishh washer and the washing machine.

Clean clothes are always on the floor waiting to be put away.

The hoover comes out once a week, s does the mop.

The toilet is cleaned every other day. The bathroom once a week.

I can’t remember the last time I cleaned the windows/window sills/skirting boards.

Kitchen is the tidiest and cleanest room in the house… every day. But it’s used the most.

My downstairs is clutter free, but the decor such as the doors/handles/furniture/sodas dated as we can’t afford to replace at the moment… so it brings down the house imo.

OP posts:
Spidey66 · 15/01/2022 17:14

Somewhere in the middle. Not spotless but not C5 documentary level either.

SequinnedShawl · 15/01/2022 17:15

Always tidy. We live in an area where neighbours and friends just pop over without warning so we've become always guest ready.

BananasApplesKiwi · 15/01/2022 17:16

99.9% clean

50% tidy

NorthernLighting · 15/01/2022 17:17

@JackieDaytonaHumanBarTender

My house is an absolute mess.

I am really struggling at the moment. It's still upside down from Christmas. Well it was a mess before Christmas to be honest. We had 2 family bereavements one December plus my dad was really ill so we just didn't keep on top of things.

DH and I both came down with covid on Boxing Day and were so I'll with it. DH went back to work as soon as he was able to but it wiped him out. I took an extra couple of days off to try and tidy but I just was too exhausted. DH is now working away until March he was called away quite last minute so he didn't have time to sort much out and I am juggling working full time, looking after 6 year old DS and helping out with my dad.

The washing basket is overflowing, clean clothes are in piles (or rather untidy mounds) waiting to be put away. There are dishes everywhere that need to be washed. There are Christmas toys that need to be sorted and put away and old toys that need to be given away. DS's wardrobe is full of clothes that don't fit but I haven't had time to sort them out. My bedroom has a floordrobe. The bathroom needs to be scrubbed. The kitchen has only had a quick brush since Christmas and and no mop. I don't know when the oven was last cleaned. The hall is full of all kinds of crap, shoes and coats. The front room has a Christmas tree up in it still. The other Christmas decorations are in boxes to go in the loft but I can't get in to the loft without DH.

I am so overwhelmed. On a normal day I leave the house at 7:30 and get in just after 6 and then have to sort out dinner and bedtime. DS is usually in bed for 8 and we would clean then but I've been getting so tired after having covid that I just sit for half an hour and then I'm ready for bed.

DH has said he can organise getting a cleaner in maybe to do a deep clean then visit every week for about 4 weeks and then having them come every other week which would be great but I need to get it "cleaner ready" before this.

Does anyone have any tips? I think I'm at breaking point and writing this all down has made me realise that this is the worst the house has ever been!

That sounds exhausting. The trick is not to sit down.. When dc is in bed, take 10 minutes to tidy as much as you can in a room each both of you. Just 10 minutes. Then sit down.
StEval · 15/01/2022 17:18

Very clean and tidy.
Looking at those clutter images we are a 1.
Why on earth do people throw stuff onto the floor ?

NorthernLighting · 15/01/2022 17:20

And don’t cook every night @JackieDaytonaHumanBarTender
try to make enough food to last for at least two days.

InFiveMins · 15/01/2022 17:48

Mine is very clean and tidy however there is just me and DP living here so no kids making any mess, and I get seriously stressed if the house is untidy. I don't have OCD now, but I was diagnosed with OCD over fifteen years ago and it's certainly a knock on effect of that.

JackieDaytonaHumanBarTender · 15/01/2022 17:50

@NorthernLighting I didn't even think about cooking more than enough for one night Blush that is brilliant advice! Going to order shopping for the week to arrive tomorrow morning and will put enough to cook bigger meals in. Honestly can't believe I didn't even think of that! Thank you so much!

Fundays12 · 15/01/2022 17:53

Very tidy and clean generally. Although the dcs do like to leave toys on there bedroom floors but are made to clean it up.

NorthernLighting · 15/01/2022 17:54

@JackieDaytonaHumanBarTender we always do it, saves a lot of time washing up too.. Sometimes we cook loads of bolognese sauce, freeze in 4 portion sizes and then just cook fresh spaghetti. I just could not be bothered too cook every night.

MaybeHeIsMyCat · 15/01/2022 17:58

[quote JackieDaytonaHumanBarTender]@NorthernLighting I didn't even think about cooking more than enough for one night Blush that is brilliant advice! Going to order shopping for the week to arrive tomorrow morning and will put enough to cook bigger meals in. Honestly can't believe I didn't even think of that! Thank you so much!
[/quote]
I do this all the time as only cooking for myself so cottage pie or pasta bake I will make 6 portions and freeze
If you get something like a chicken off the hot counter you can turn it into fajitas or salad or a pasta v quickly too
Have a freezer tea for a standby, frozen mash makes quick meals or the old chicken nuggets and potato waffles and beans!

Marmunia999 · 15/01/2022 18:00

Extremely clean and tidy. Hoovering done very day, kitchen and bathrooms cleaned minimum once a day. One deep clean once per week. I love cleanliness.

Original poster
MsWalterMitty · 15/01/2022 18:04

@Marmunia999

Extremely clean and tidy. Hoovering done very day, kitchen and bathrooms cleaned minimum once a day. One deep clean once per week. I love cleanliness.
I genuinely think my house doesn’t need hovering every day! Or are my standards just soo low?
OP posts:
ComtesseDeSpair · 15/01/2022 18:05

@Marmunia999

Extremely clean and tidy. Hoovering done very day, kitchen and bathrooms cleaned minimum once a day. One deep clean once per week. I love cleanliness.
I can’t work out if this is serious or not. How can a bathroom need fully cleaning everyday, let alone more than once? What on earth are you doing in there that necessitates more than a squirt of cleaner in the loo and maybe a cursory wipe of the flush and seat?
NorthernLighting · 15/01/2022 18:08

@MaybeHeIsMyCat The hot counter chicken is a great idea! We also do this, easy too keep for pasta salads, a chicken a la king or whatever (both dishes ok to eat for a couple of days). Chili con carne is also good to freeze, and if you freeze it flat in freezer bags it doesn’t take much space either..

Branleuse · 15/01/2022 18:08

Its a fucking state. I have a cleaner once a week who is brilliant and non judgemental and gets it sorted but its so disorganised that it doesnt take long before it goes to shit again

Stellaris22 · 15/01/2022 18:09

What on earth is happening in a bathroom to need daily cleaning?

Aswad · 15/01/2022 18:11

Hopefully no one has suggested this but I have JUST enough cutlery, plates etc! Literally one for each person and maybe a tiny bit extra. Sick and tired of picking up after ppl who would take out a new plate/cup instead of washing what was there

MeanderingGently · 15/01/2022 18:11

Exceptionally clean and tidy, always guest-ready. I can't bear any mess, I like everything "just so". My sock drawers are inspection ready; my packets and tins all forwards-facing in the kitchen cupboards and an exact space apart....

The family are used to my ways and will happily create a mess when they visit, knowing I will rearrange everything when everyone has gone. But guests find it uncomfortably clean, and perch on the edge of the sofa assuming they can't crease the cushions!!

Fortunately, there's only me living here, and I just like it as it is. It would be different if my family was still at home or I had pets....

Stellaris22 · 15/01/2022 18:12

Are the extremely house proud people here home owners?

We rent so I honestly can't be bothered keeping the house spotless. It's a mess and rooms are far from tidy, but we have no control over improving storage so very little we can do.

I keep the kitchen clean but that's about it, carpets are in dire need of replacing but it wouldn't be for our benefit.

Paranoidandroidmarvin · 15/01/2022 18:18

@Stellaris22 I am a home owner and I keep my house clean. I am of the opinion that my house cost me a lot of money. It is the most expensive thing I own. So I will take care of it.

The things inside cost me a lot of money. As an example my dishwasher cost me £400. I clean it every week and make sure it is free from food and doesn’t get rusty. Same with my washing machine…. It gets cleaned once a week as well.
I paid good money for all these things and I don’t have tons of spare money just lying around to replace them.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 15/01/2022 18:21

@Stellaris22

Are the extremely house proud people here home owners?

We rent so I honestly can't be bothered keeping the house spotless. It's a mess and rooms are far from tidy, but we have no control over improving storage so very little we can do.

I keep the kitchen clean but that's about it, carpets are in dire need of replacing but it wouldn't be for our benefit.

I am now, but I used to rent and the house was spotless then too, even if the fixtures and fittings were a bit tired in places.

So for example, when we rented, I wouldn't replace carpets or anything but I would clean them (shampoo, steam cleaners) and we bought temporary storage (that we could take with us when we moved) to keep the place tidy and clean.

Stellaris22 · 15/01/2022 18:21

That's my point. Home ownership does make you more proud.

But when you're stuck renting there's very little to motivate you to the level of cleaning others do. Having cleaners weekly and for deep cleans is absolutely a luxury.

Paranoidandroidmarvin · 15/01/2022 18:21

Also comes from seeing a few people around me a few years ago let their houses just fall down around their ears. And then had to listen to them moaning when they came to sell them.
Surprisingly when u have wooden old windows they need up keeping or they do just rot away and no one is paying you top dollar for your house when the windows are falling apart or the carpet is filthy as you never cleaned it.

Pinchofnom · 15/01/2022 18:21

I’d say very clean and quite tidy (have DC so some teddy’s and toys are sometimes astray).

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