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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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

95 replies

Littleonesgettingbigger · 09/04/2015 18:19

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?

OP posts:

Weebirdie · 10/04/2015 11:33

Littleone, I think thats a great way of doing it. You have standards, and for what its worth I quite often think people saying oh I dont clean often because I want to spend time with the children is a convenient excuse for just not wanting to clean.

Theycallmemellowjello · 10/04/2015 11:42

Personally (in a good week) we clean kitchen mess as we go, and do the bathroom and a once over with the Hoover in the living areas once a week. Would never even consider giving up a day for cleaning on a regular basis.

Original poster

Littleonesgettingbigger · 10/04/2015 13:28

I'm surprised how many people are shocked that the dcs can amuse themselves? Obviously they are on what ever floor I am cleaning but they play with their toys and each other and occasionally ask me to put a doll dress on and if they start to get bored I give them a duster each! They are awake for about 3 hours of the clean, then we all have lunch and they have a nap while I finish off, then when awake from nap they watch TV while I do the ironing and it's about 4pm so off to the park. Do children really not amuse themselves for longer than 15 minutes?? I'm shocked! I give the dcs a coin each on cleaning day for their "help". It makes me feel I can spend the next 6 days relaxing with the dc afterwards. I'm shocked that some people don't bother cleaning their houses, surely it's an important life skill to teach dc to tidy up and clean after themselves? I was just worried if I was being unreasonable doing it all on one day instead of spreading it out through the week.

OP posts:

YouMakeMyHeartSmile · 10/04/2015 13:35

Mine is 17 months and no, can't amuse herself for too long. Maybe if she had a sibling she could.
FWIW I don't think many people are saying they don't clean at all! I do it as I go along, a bit in naptime, a bit after she's gone to bed and DH and I both do some at weekends when the other can play with the baby.

Original poster

Littleonesgettingbigger · 10/04/2015 14:04

That's a point I don't think my first dc when an only child could of amused herself for more than 30 mins. And in those days our house didn't seem to get as dirty as they do now there are two dc. They just run around all day causing chaos!

OP posts:

lertgush · 10/04/2015 14:10

If it works for you OP then go for it. I am also someone who blitzes occasionally rather than little and often.

KeturahLee · 10/04/2015 20:22

My 4 year old could amuse herself for 30 minutes, but my 1 year old would be climbing up bookcases and eating inappropriate things if left unsupervised for more than about 5 minutes.

SandysMam · 10/04/2015 20:28

"I hope my children look back one day, and see a mummy who had time to play. Children grow up when you're not looking, there'll be years ahead for cleaning and cooking. So be quiet now cobwebs and dust go to sleep, I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep".

Quitelikely · 10/04/2015 20:29

I don't think you should lower your standards.

If you aren't struggling just do what you do.

I can't understand why you have posted in the first place tbh.

Does someone have an issue with you cleaning?

Philoslothy · 10/04/2015 20:33

I rock my baby and clean my house, they are not mutually exclusive.

SandysMam · 10/04/2015 20:34

I just thought it was a nice poem...bit defensive are we????

Philoslothy · 10/04/2015 20:37

It makes me want to vomit, luckily I am able to put my baby down and clean up.

ThisFenceIsComfy · 10/04/2015 20:37

I clean a little every day by cleaning whilst doing other things

So:

I clean the loo (with anti-bac wipes) each day, takes a minute.

I wipe the skirting and kitchen cupboard doors another day when I'm in those rooms either cooking or sitting with my DS.

I mop once a week, toddler "helps".

Hoover once a day downstairs while toddler plays and sometimes again "helps"

Dust every other day downstairs, I too have a dust magnet for a house but I can do that while chatting to DS as he plays.

Basically I have a job a day on a weekly then monthly rota and I just stick to that. Each day's worth of jobs take no more than half hour a day and the house looks clean each day.

If you just stick to that and don't let yourself try and constantly tidy then you can still spend time with your DC and have a tidy house (well as tidy as a house with young DCs ever is)

Also baby wipes clean everything.

SandysMam · 10/04/2015 20:39

Good job you've got 8 bathrooms to chose which pan to puke in then...

Philoslothy · 10/04/2015 20:40

I am not defensive, I have also not criticised anybody else's cleaning routine, apart from my parents.
However it is a constant MN theme that if you have a clean house your children must be neglected.

I have a clean house filled with happy children, I am by no means a super mother but I they are not neglected.

confused79 · 10/04/2015 20:47

I usually spend an hour or two each morning doing a bit of housework here and there whilst kids eat brekkie and play with their toys (18 months and 4.5 years). It usually takes an hour to do the basics like washing up, sorting out washing from washing machine, wiping sides and cleaning bathroom and living room etc.... And then if I have time I usually I'll do a big job like clean oven, or whip hoover. That way I have rest of day with kids ? I also do about half an hour in evening when kids are eating dinner.
Place is far from a show home but is organised and clean, which is ok by my standards.

KwaziisEyepatch · 10/04/2015 23:06

I think I'm just amazed that anyone spends that long cleaning tbh! I'm clearly a slob but I think my house is clean but lived in.

Someone up thread said they thought it was good for their kids to realise houses don't clean themselves - that's true, but I also struggle slightly with the idea that they only ever see me cleaning while DH is the one who works full time. I have two sons and I want them to know that women don't just do housework all the time.

Philoslothy · 10/04/2015 23:17

My children have grown up seeing everybody do housework and having to do housework themselves. Now I am a SAHM I do the bulk of it, but that is a recent thing.

Scaled up I don't spend much more time on my housework than the average family.

Weebirdie · 10/04/2015 23:18

I agree with you

However it is a constant MN theme that if you have a clean house your children must be neglected.

NickyEds · 11/04/2015 08:23

I agree with you Philoslothy dust just doesn't go to sleep because you've got a baby-it just sits there being muck. Give it a wipe and then play with your baby!! You can do both. I do understand the sentiment but, bloody hell it's not either or, either mucky house or neglected kids.

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