AIBU to f***ing hate cleaning? Help!

[Ibloodyhatethomasthetankengine]

First-timer here, but hoping for some MN advice. Like most people, I absolutely love having a clean and tidy house - but, I just hate the act of cleaning it. I'm useless at it - It takes me about three times as long as anyone else seems to and it lasts all of about ten seconds before the kids manage to make everything in it sticky. It's become a bit of a running joke for DH and DP/DPILs that it takes me so long. I can't tell if I hate cleaning because I'm not very efficient at it, or if I'm not very good at it because I hate it. Goes without saying; no chance of us getting a cleaner in.....

I need some MN wisdom in terms of how I can make it either a) more fun or b) quicker. Any tips?

[EveOnline2016]

Also tell MIL and M that it's your home and stop making remarks about the housework.

[EveOnline2016]

Dh and I do it together. Dh will put things away while I go behind polishing and hoovering stripping beds ect.

I used to do it all but I thought fuck it it's not only me who lives here.

[gertyglossop]

I hate it too! It takes me about 2 hours to do entire house (clean, Polish, Hoover, mop) and I agree that music definitely helps - I've got a good playlist on spotify that's quite up-beat and "dancey"

Good products - I like cillit bang, the Aldi disinfectant that smells like febreze, floral harpic and Shake & vac. House smells lush when I've finished. It's all about the fragrance for me!

I've started using daily shower spray with a squeegy after showering (takes less than a minute) and that has massively cut down how long the shower takes to clean (ours is all glass and used to take me ages!). Similarly, I spray & rinse out the bath after my DD has used it every night - takes a minute and saves me loads of time on cleaning day.

I keep cleaning wipes in every bathroom and under the kitchen sink so that we can do a really quick wipe over of sinks/loos if they need it between cleans - again means less to do when I actually clean.

I treat myself with a coffee & cake/chocolate once I've finished.

Although it's a rubbish job, it's so nice sitting down and appreciating a lovely, fresh & clean home (even if it only lasts until tea time!).

[StealthPolarBear]

'Well, Mums just find the time'.
Is this the 1950s?
Do you work outside the home? Given your entire family seems to have the spotlight on your housekeeping skills and judging you as a wife and a mother, if you don't I'd suggest you do. And don't get 'little job', please.

[StealthPolarBear]

Does your dh do any cleaning? Seems to be a general assumption that it's your job ha ha.

[roseteapot101]

dito the house a trash heap and i am here drinking tea all is fine lol

i usually listen to music

[Haudyerwheesht]

I feel exactly the same. I admit when dc1 was a baby I used to Milton wipe all his toys every day but tbh I think I was a bit unhinged!

I try and do things a bit at a time rather than all in one big go. Eg take all the cups etc out living room when I go to the loo, wipe down the kitchen surfaces when I'm waiting on the kettle boiling.

Also if all else fails I invite a judgy friend round for coffee, that motivates me!

[HerFaceIsaMapOfTheWorld]

I clean my house with wilkos anti bacterial wipes and baby wipes when I cannot be bothered

[LikelyLama]

Me and the oh had a talk the other night whilst drinking wine and smoking fags and decided we preferred that to cleaning.



OP, if you want a clean house then you just have to get in and do the work. YouTube tutorials and the like are all very well and good but you still have to crack on and do the work.
I love having a spotless house. It makes me happy and relaxed. I have a cleaner.... however, in the past when I've not had one then I've just adopted the approach that cleaning is a job and that I won't sit down until I've finished. If you work hard at it and don't faff around you can do a lot in a couple of hours.

[gunsandbanjos]

One other helpful idea is to never walk around empty handed, that way things get returned to the correct room more frequently so less tidying overall.

[gunsandbanjos]

You're not the only one!

I too find a timer super helpful, it is astounding how much you can actually get done in 1/2 an hour if you just bash on. Even 15 minutes is great.

I try and do 15 minutes or 1/2 an hour in one room everyday. So bedroom on Monday, living room on Tuesday etc. Really helps keep on top of it, the thought of cleaning the house in one go makes me want to cry!

And what the heck to bleaching toys every night? My mum said she had a friend that did that when we were growing up. Kids were only allowed to play on this sterile mat on the floor too. Result? Kids that caught every bug going and had allergies as they never got a chance to build up an immune system. Me? I ate dirt and apparently a slug once and was a very healthy child.

[wanderings]

I make a point of not doing a particular task too often: the downside of cleaning is that the effect doesn't last. It's more satisfying in a way to do a task when it really needs doing.

[Crystal15]

I hate it so much. Only thing I can advise which helps me so much is snatch moments to clean rather then setting yourself chores. So I wipe down bathroom sometimes whiles cleaning my teeth. If I go upstairs I take items I see cluttering downstairs as I go. Same for going downstairs, take glasses from bedrooms or a load of washing. If I'm waiting for kettle to boil I will put some pots away or wipe over kitchen. Whiles I'm hovering over the cooking I will do jobs in the kitchen. I set the washing machine on a timer most nights so a load is done and ready to dry after the school run. For me doing it this way means I don't spend maybe 4 hours a day tidying and cleaning as things just stay so much nicer. Toilet gets scrubbed few times a week which takes maybe a minute before bed. DH does most the hoovering now as I detest it. The rest is as and when

[TroysMammy]

I've just done my first 25 mins with a timer and now having 5 mins sit down. Then another 25 mins in the same room should do it. (I hope).

[wonderingsoul]

i hate cleaning

I also work as a cleaner (as this apperently all im good for)

My tips are

Write a list that you can tick off.... itll give you visual to see how your coming on
20-30 minite alarm have a coffe/fag
Music that you can sing to.
Also decluter much as you can
Storage is good i you can afford it/have room for it.

[SpringerS]

I absolutely hate, hate, hate cleaning. Sometimes I'm just washing up and about halfway through it I absolutely lose the will to live. I listen to music and find 80s playlists the best because they tend to have a fast beat, are up beat and easy to sing along to and DS loves them, so he will often come join me in singing and 'help' with the cleaning, so he's less likely to keep dragging me off to do something else.

Though the thing I find most helpful when cleaning is to listen to an audio book. If I get hooked on the story I can push on with cleaning because I want to hear what happens next. It's useful for doing a big clean but I need DS to be elsewhere because it just doesn't work when I have a 3yo wanting me every few minutes. I have to get stuck into the 'room of shame' that is soon to his bedroom next week, so I'll have to pick a really good book to listen to.

Funnily enough last week, DS made a big mess before bed and I was explaining to him that it made me angry and sad because now I'd have to clean it up. He looked at me really perplexed and said, 'but you love cleaning mummy!'

[Pagwatch]

I hate cleaning.
I use Netflix on my iPad, audiobooks and music.
I use a timer too. It makes me concentrate for some reason.

I also do a list of four jobs to do first so I don't end up getting distracted by cleaning out the coats cupboard or something equally pointless.

[yummycake123]

I don't like cleaning either but it has to be done...
What we do is we have a mid week vacuum clean/mopping and clean the bathroom and kitchen. Usually on a Wednesday. We wipe kitchen tops and tidy toys/mess daily, in the evenings.
Then on Saturday morning we go on a cleaning frenzy: thorough bathroom cleaning, vacuum clean everything, mop all floors, tidy up all rooms, dust. Takes about 2 hours but after that it's all done.

[Graceflorrick]

You need a place for everything, then it's just a car of putting everything away.

I also hate clutter, so once everything is away my house in completely minimalist.

Mine gets messy at times too, but it only takes 30 minutes to reorganise - I clean immediately as required so it never builds up.

[Sackmagique]

Do people bleach toys? Is that a thing?!!!!

Agree with others, Unfuck your Habitat is perfect for people like us!

[DoYouRememberJustinBobby]

This will sound weird but the only thing that gets me up and focused for cleaning is watching cleaning routine videos on YouTube. I find a playlist, watch two or 3 then let the rest play whilst I get on with it.

[justdontevenfuckingstart]

Me and the oh had a talk the other night whilst drinking wine and smoking fags and decided we preferred that to cleaning. We'd love a tidy clean house but settled on fags and wine and us instead. We do what we have to do. don't get me wrong we don't live in a hovel but it's really not the end of the world is it?

Oh AIBU?

No.

I fucking hate cleaning.

[ItsJustNotRight]

I hate cleaning but not as much as DH hates sticky, tacky surfaces. I found the only way to prevent it was to keep DC sat down when eating/drinking and never let them wander around with drinks, biscuits etc and wipe them down (DC) when finished. Also agree with the timer thing, pick a job that needs doing and set a time to have it done, e.g kitchen 15 mins. It's also useful to break that down to specific tasks, wash up, clear draining board, empty dishwasher, sweep floor etc so you know exactly what you need to do rather than a vague tidy up. If DC leave stuff everywhere use the bin bag approach just gather everything up and stick it in a bin bag. After about six weeks the house will be more or less tidy all the time as they won't have any stuff left. About this point though they may actually begin to miss things! Filter the stuff out of the bags a few at a time keeping most of it out of the way and swap it over occasionally. Stay out of the house as much as possible if you can.

[ijustdontknowanymore]

Totally with Oyster. Unfuckyourhabitat is fab!

[Pineapplemilkshake]

I hate it too. I've found that decluttering and having the house tidy helps to create the illusion of cleanliness!

I tend to focus on the most important rooms i.e. Kitchen and bathrooms by giving them a quick 5 min blitz after e.g. making a meal or having a shower. I can't remember the last time I dusted around the living room or bedrooms though, maybe DP is doing it, who knows, but it looks ok