To spend a whole day cleaning each week when I am looking after my two young dcs?

[Littleonesgettingbigger]

I have two dcs under 5, one only a year and a half old, I have tried cleaning little and often which hasn't worked as I'm constantly spotting things that need doing so can't relax, and tried cleaning in their one hour nap time each day, but to be honest I need that time to recharge and it's the only break I get so I feel miserable if I loose my one hour to clean. I tried last week blitzing the house on a Monday, it took me 5 hours that included hoovering everywhere including moving furniture and doing skirting boards, mopping, dusting, tidying, three bathrooms etc, four bedrooms, office etc. the dcs seemed ok pottering about for the day, obviously I had a break to give them lunch and get them off for a nap. Would I be unreasonable to to this every week with two children who are so small? Does anyone else have a cleaning day?

No, I am saying how long it takes our cleaner to clean our house to put the amount of time spent on cleaning into context. It isn't anything to do with being able to afford it or urging op to employ a cleaner.

If we couldn't have a cleaner any more I sure as darnit wouldn't be spending more than 2.5 hours a week on cleaning! and in reality it would prob be rather less as I loathe it

I think you need to get your dh to help. In our house dh and each take a floor to clean whilst dd potters between the two of us 'helping'. We can get all of the cleaning done in under 2 hours which is good. Either that, or get your dh to entertain the kids whilst you clean. You might be the sahp, but you are not a miracle worker! Don't try and do everything.

I'm amazed that two young children will amuse themselves, presumably in another room, for 5 hours - and I thought mine were pretty good at entertaining themselves

Sounds like you're doing too much cleaning though. Cut it down to 2.5 hours, get it done in the morning and then do something fun with them in the afternoon.

What do you do for 3 hours per day? Do you live in a 10 bedroomed house?

We do have a lot of bedrooms, I am expecting my sixth child and we have a stepson

Why can't you do an hour a day, possible in two 30 minute bursts?

I used to have a spreadsheet where I rotated tasks each week. Every week I'd do a deep clean on just one section of the house which worked out that each room was "spring cleaned" at least once every 6 weeks.

However, now I have a cleaner. She's shit to be honest but I combat this with low level lighting and scented candles. And much lower standards!

As an aside, I've just had to sort my recently deceased 95 year old Grandma's house out. She was a "proper slattern" - her words - as she chose to spend her time on things she enjoyed as she couldn't be arsed cleaning. Despite her house being particularly filthy and not being cleaned properly since the last time my mum cleaned it for her 1978, it didn't really take THAT long to clean it. Certainly less than 3 hours per week (on average) x 52 weeks in a year x 35 years.

I don't worry too much about dust under the furniture as I find that it mostly sticks to the half eaten melon slices my DD2 likes to stash around the house. After leaving them to dry in for a month or so they can simply be swept into a p

It really does not take long to hoover or mop under furniture if the Hoover is out anyway

I don't worry too much about dust under the furniture as I find that it mostly sticks to the half eaten melon slices my DD2 likes to stash around the house. After leaving them to dry in for a month or so they can simply be swept into a pile along with a kilo or so of dried out wipes, playmobil bits, hairbands, small change and half eaten gummy bears and put straight in the bin.

Oh god, note to self, don't try to use mobile keypad after a class of wine

Your 1 and a half year old can amuse themselves for 5 hours?! What's your secret?! Mine can usually manage about 15 mins (although I have taught her to unload the washing machine and put it all in the tumble dryer ).
I wouldn't do it myself, id rather spend the time playing with the children/going out somewhere/playing in the garden. I don't necessarily think YABU though, each to their own.

Just do a little bit each day. You can't expect toddlers to amuse themselves for 5 hours. I have found the larger the house the less cleaning required as there is more places to out stuff and all the bathrooms are used less frenquently. In a 2 or 3 bed house I had to clean more.

Ps 3 hours a day housework?! How big is your house?? I could do my entire 3 bed from top to bottom in 3 hours, including polishing the silverware!

YANBU

Pre DC I very happily spent every sat afternoon cleaning. Loved it & realiy enjoyed my sat night takeaway & wine.

Now I do 30 mins here or there when DC in bed. Much lower standards.

I'm back to work after maternity leave & if things get too much for me I have told DH either he does half or we get a cleaner. I waited a long time to be a mum & I'm not wasting days cleaning.

So whilst you are not being unreasonable to WANT to , I think your are being unreasonable to do so.

I'd like a class of wine please too much I quite like your cleaning method as well. We have a similar thing with the plum stones and apple cores shoved down the back of the sofa, although the dog's got good at routing out the apples which helps a bit.

OP - the dust just comes back! Just go with whatever makes you happy. If your DCs are OK pottering about whilst you clean and it makes you feel better then go for it. That way the rest of the week you'll be concentrating on them not worrying about the house.

YABU - 5 hours a week - really??? Am amazed that your dc amuse themselves that much - mine are 9 and 6 and wouldn't manage that - nor would I want them to!

Dh and I work full time - quite house proud but find time when kids are in bed or one of us takes them out for a couple of hours at the weekend!

No that's way too much cleaning! I sure your kids are fine, but life is to be enjoyed, not spent clean g! Just do the kitchen surfaces and load dishwasher daily, and the bathroom once a week (will take half an hour). Everything else, once a month or get a cleaner.

Can't comment on the cleaning myself as I'm not in the least house-proud and hate cleaning (have a cleaner now, thankfully!), but if the dc are happy entertaining themselves, then I don't think it's a problem?
Maybe you could involve them a bit in some of the tasks as well - my dd loves "helping" ( and sometimes it is actual help, sometimes not), in the garden, sorting laundry, etc etc. We do things like counting the socks, or whatever, so it makes it a learning opportunity as well. And dh is very good at teaching her about plants etc in the garden when gardening.

I couldn't leave my under 5 unwatched for that length of time - maybe mine are particularly mischievous (3yos).

I have memories of my childhood that involve my lovely dm cleaning lots - for me that's not the memories I want for my dc. Don't get me wrong, I had a lovely childhood bit I feel my dm missed lots through housework. It's not for me but each to their own. My house isn't really bad it's just lived in. On the plus side dc are rarely ill.

Cleaning for 5 hours a day once a week would kill me.

I am now off the train and in the house and have another glass of wine. Took the bin out in the meantime... [stretches theatrically and rubs back]... right, that's the housework done for another week.

White all right for you crow? I've got some nice Alsace Muscat in.

I move furniture and clean skirting boards twice a year. My house isn't a hovel.

I agree with getting a cleaner if you can afford one. Because it really is the answer to a messy house when it gets cleaned on a regular basis. If you can't afford it I also agree with trying Flylady. Or rather than one full day cleaning with two small children why not try one morning and one afternoon and then you would be free the rest of the day to do things with them.

We need to run the dyson round every other day. I must have a messy family because if we don't the crumbs and general grot gets too much. I want laminate floors but DH won't hear of it. I'm working on getting him to agree!

Yes Monday is my cleaning day, though I would only spend 2 hrs max doing it. Now our house is a little bigger so I do two mornings a week (about 1 1/2 hrs each time).

One morning is: dust, hoover downstairs, mop floor, clean downstairs loo, dust and hoover basement family room.
Second morning is: dust, hoover bedrooms, clean 2 upstairs bathrooms.

I think it is much more efficient to do it all on one morning though!

I rarely deep clean, just the basics really and I do the kitchen as I go so it never needs a big clean.