to ask if any of you actually ENJOY housework, and why

[YouDoTheMath]

Because I really want to change my attitude towards it.

It has to be done. And then in a few days, it has to be done again. So I might as well enjoy it.

Some of my friends (even those with children) have absolutely spotless homes and they put me to shame.

Getting a cleaner is not an option, because although we get by reasonably comfortably, I just wouldn't feel right spending my DP's wages on something I am there to do myself (that's not criticising those of you SAHMs who do have cleaners, it's just the way I feel about it).

I have 2 DCs.

Yep I think we've agreed on housekeeping threads before Bertie

Lovemyboys makes a good point too -- get some nice cleaning products! Keep a pack of cleaning wipes in the bathroom, it takes two seconds to clean up a bit with those.

Get some big storage boxes so that at least the clutter is contained, looks a bit neater and is easier to move around.

It's not so much about learning to love housework, it's more about finding shortcuts to do the minimum amount and make life easier and nicer.

earlyonemorning, I've just cut and pasted most of your post and emailed it to myself for future reference - that's all great advice, thanks!

I quite like hoovering, it's not so much cleaning I dislike as tidying and dealing with clutter. We're terrible hoarders and it's got out of hand, so we're having a big declutter. It's easy to clean if your house is tidy, virtually impossible if you have piles of crap everywhere, that you have to move before you can start. Have lots of stuff kids have made that I want to keep, but don't know how or where to store it.

I don't think I will ever have a spotless home but I want it to be acceptable enough that I can open the door to anyone without being mortified. I'm determined to keep on top of things on a daily basis, not put it off, so things don't build up and become unmanageable.

YouDoTheMath - try the LitterKwitter?

You can clean a cat litter tray if you're wearing rubber gloves, if you want to. Though I'd probably use the pregnancy as an excuse not to but ask DP if he could do it a bit more often! In this weather, you could keep the cat litter outside if you have an outdoor cat. Also using wooden pellets smell a lot less, and you could try getting one of those litter trays with a lid, which keeps smells contained a bit better.

MakesCakesWhenStressed Oh. My God! I've never seen anything like that... and the cat in the ad is the same as mine, so you never know, it might work! :o

I don't enjoy housework at all....but I figure the quicker I get it done the quicker I get to do something I do like doing without feeling guilty.

I am also a cupboard stuffer..ie the house looks all calm an serene for the bits you can see but....DO NOT OPEN THE CUPBOARDS!!!

I'm pretty much on top of mine. We both work and I do have a very involved dh, who does more than I do.

He does all the laundry from start to finish. I do bathrooms. I hoover, he mops, (and lately ds aged 10 is charge of hoovering).

Dh strips and remakes all the beds, I do all the dusting and wiping down.

I am the declutterer, dh is the window washer.

I also pick a room a day and spend about 20 minutes in there cleaning.

Little and often, that's my motto.

A dirty home makes me feel down, so cleaning equals a happy atmosphere to me. Not in a compulsive way, I just don't like an overflowing bin or dirty floor.

I am however a very messy person, mostly in my bedroom though, the rest of my house is very tidy in comparison. I don't know why that is though