Struggle to keep house tidy?!

[Lindtcat]

I'm currently 32 weeks pregnant and have a 6 year old child. I also live with my partner. He works full time and I stopped working at the start of my pregnancy (extreme morning sickness).
So im currently 90% in charge of housework which makes sense as my partner works long hours and I'm at home all day. However I really struggle to keep the house tidy. I've always been a very messy person, since I was a child. When I lived at home with my parents, the house was never particularly tidy ( it wasn't extremely messy or dirty) just not that tidy and the importance of having a clean tidy space was never really installed in me. I really want to have a spotless house but for some reason I can't and it's really making me stressed out. I hoover the house everyday, I wipe sides down constantly, change the cats litter everyday, I mop about twice a week. I make sure to do all dishes after I've done eating or I know it will pile up. I really do try but somehow the house just always looks messy to me. My child is 6 and very messy so I feel like I'm constantly cleaning up after her. My partner is very tidy, he doesn't really do any house work but if I asked him to, he would help.

It's really starting to bother me, I have some mental health issues that I deal which makes this all a bit worse. I'm a bit worried for how bad it will get when the baby is born.
Can anyone give me some advice or tips on how they keep their house tidy??

I have a lot of drawers filled with papers and old junk that I don't need that I need to tackle. So I know I have a starting point there.

The only thing that worked for me was significantly reducing the amount I own.

Then set yourself a daily goal - one drawer, if you do two it’s a bonus.

You have a choice either so one big clean once a week or do daily chores like Monday - bathroom - and do it well - Tuesday mop - Wednesday main bedroom.

Get some storage for toys - so at least they are away at bedtime - toys should be played with and accessible.

Thank you both for replying. I do own way too many things to be honest. I have lot of junk that needs to be thrown out. And my daughter has a toy room with all her toys in it which is not too bad atm as I had to do a clear out for Christmas. I think setting myself daily goals would help as I normally try do do everything in one day then I end up doing not even half of what I set out to do in the first place. Starting small seems more achievable for me

form. (Set up folders in your email inbox instead). Put flyers, empty envelopes etc straight in the recycling . I've got a set of office in trays and everything that needs dealing with goes in the top tray to deal with at the weekend when I have more time and in the bottom one for filing/shredding.
•don't put anything down. Put it AWAY!.
•Sell stuff once you've got to the stage where you won't use the item again.

Be ruthless with what you own and do not buy anything unless it’s a necessity. Do it now if possible before baby 2 arrives.

I see items as things to have to clean and or move about.

My house gets hoovered once a week and the kitchen floor swept about three times a week.

This!!

Items in your home all require your attention. Keep only what’s essential and discard the rest. Sounds brutal but it’s the only way I’ve managed to have a tidy home.

I spent years working out new storage solutions and cleaning routines but was always struggling to keep on top of things and was often embarrassed when people called round unexpectedly.

Since having a major sort out and declutter, my home is so much easier to tidy and actually stays that way for the most part, even with 4 kids.

Also, you’re 32 weeks pregnant, so don’t be too hard on yourself. Maybe your partner could help out around the house a bit more until after the baby’s born and you’ve recovered from pregnancy / birth / sleepless nights.

A friend was like this. One day she ordered a skip. She took out laundry baskets of clutter, and lobbed them in. Her husband helping. All the tat, tired, damaged stuff went in the skip. She felt much better afterwards

Thanks again for replies. I am determined to get the house sorted before baby comes. And by sorted I mean, everything in order not flung in cupboards to hide all the junk going to start small and steady. There's so many odd things that I need to do. I'll give myself 2 weeks.

Again the only way I can keep things tidy is with less stuff and storage that actually works for what we have.

Eg shoe cupboard by the front door with a drawer so keys etc go inside. Basket on top for headphones/hats/gloves. These then don't get chucked on the table or sofa.

And lists, on my day off in the week I make a list of everything I need to do. If I do them all I will treat myself (a chocolate bar and cup of tea. Or a 99p kindle book I want to read). You could give yourself a goal of say 5 things, then anything on top is a bonus.

List things up on olio if you don't have time to get to a charity shop. Selling vinted is very easy and ive sold quite a bit on there.

There's a declutter 1 things a day in january thread on here which might help with motivation and some encouragement!

Everything you own is inventory! So you have to look after it - clean it, store it, tidy it, keep track of it, whatever. Declutter is the best way, own less means less inventory to look after.

Never leave a room, go upstairs or downstairs or get out of the car, without taking something with you, to put in the bin, sink, dishwasher or it’s rightful place.

As PP mentioned, declutter and get as much as you can thrown out/sorted before baby 2 arrives. Our DC2 arrived almost a year ago and looking back, we could have done so much more before...it is much much harder once you have 2 (as you have much less time/energy!) and I swear the amount of stuff in the house has more than doubled (despite us going from 3 to 4). Get rid of clothes you don't wear, anything you don't use anymore etc. I know it all sounds obvious but im learning now the only way to keep things tidy(ish) is to keep on top of the amount of stuff you own - and good storage. Plus always putting things away properly and 'training' your kids to do that too.

I did a massive declutter between Christmas and New Year.
before that we had piles of stuff that didn’t have a home just building up.

I got rid of probably 70% of the toys, any clothes that aren’t worn, any ‘things’ kept just in case.

its way better now, DD didn’t notice what has gone but can see all her toys now and is playing with a bigger range. We are all wearing nicer clothes, the kitchen is easier to use.

I feel way better, it’s much faster to clean and I do a half hour run around after tea sweeping and putting stuff away and putting the bin/recycling out.

do it! Get rid of stuff! It’s great!

I have a baby and a 4 year old so I know finding time to declutter is hard but it does save loads of time once done x

Very much agree with pp's saying to have less stuff. Harder with kids but life is so much easier with less stuff. I have to manage the guilt of feeling that I might possibly be getting rid of something that might have a use later. My DH is now with the programme, new clothes mean old tired clothes are gotten rid of or ill fitting clothes given to charity. At least twice a year I sit down with kids and we go through what they have grown out of or are never going to wear and dispose or charity. Toys the same they have to go through them all and say whether they want to keep or not.

Also is your house really messy? Would someone else say that about your house? I often feel as you do but wonder if we are too hard on ourselves. When you look at photos taken in your house how does it look. Also messy or lived in?

I think mentally being in the house a lot is different to being out of it a lot in more than one way. I feel I was more on top of things when working full time and commuting even though tired etc because it was a case of I have x minutes before y so I'm going to do this thing and whatever I can do will have to be enough. Now I have all day but feel more overwhelmed and less like I'm doing a good job when I do something.

Very much agree with pp's saying to have less stuff. Harder with kids but life is so much easier with less stuff. I have to manage the guilt of feeling that I might possibly be getting rid of something that might have a use later. My DH is now with the programme, new clothes mean old tired clothes are gotten rid of or ill fitting clothes given to charity. At least twice a year I sit down with kids and we go through what they have grown out of or are never going to wear and dispose or charity. Toys the same they have to go through them all and say whether they want to keep or not.

Also is your house really messy? Would someone else say that about your house? I often feel as you do but wonder if we are too hard on ourselves. When you look at photos taken in your house how does it look. Also messy or lived in?

I think mentally being in the house a lot is different to being out of it a lot in more than one way. I feel I was more on top of things when working full time and commuting even though tired etc because it was a case of I have x minutes before y so I'm going to do this thing and whatever I can do will have to be enough. Now I have all day but feel more overwhelmed and less like I'm doing a good job when I do something.

Very much agree with pp's saying to have less stuff. Harder with kids but life is so much easier with less stuff. I have to manage the guilt of feeling that I might possibly be getting rid of something that might have a use later. My DH is now with the programme, new clothes mean old tired clothes are gotten rid of or ill fitting clothes given to charity. At least twice a year I sit down with kids and we go through what they have grown out of or are never going to wear and dispose or charity. Toys the same they have to go through them all and say whether they want to keep or not.

Also is your house really messy? Would someone else say that about your house? I often feel as you do but wonder if we are too hard on ourselves. When you look at photos taken in your house how does it look. Also messy or lived in?

I think mentally being in the house a lot is different to being out of it a lot in more than one way. I feel I was more on top of things when working full time and commuting even though tired etc because it was a case of I have x minutes before y so I'm going to do this thing and whatever I can do will have to be enough. Now I have all day but feel more overwhelmed and less like I'm doing a good job when I do something.

Oh god sorry about the multiple posts. It said it wasn't posting and to retry.

Such helpful replies. I've been bedbound with a uti today but im going to start on two kitchen drawers tomorrow. I know 2/3 is junk! So will need to be thrown.