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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How do you clean your house?

32 replies

BeyonceZ · 03/07/2017 01:19

How do you tackle it?

I have not cleaned in weeks (well months) because of uni/work/life etc. Now I have a break and the place is so messy/dirty.

I feel overwhelmed.

How do you do start and how do you do it?

OP posts:
Pikachuwithyourmouthclosed · 03/07/2017 01:20

Grudgingly.

Orangebird69 · 03/07/2017 01:23

If there's laundry to do, do that first. Then washing up etc. Then tidy or dispose of clutter. Then a general tidy up. Once the house is in order, clean room by room.

avamiah · 03/07/2017 01:26

Hi OP,
Firstly,
Either do each floor or each room .
Which is it??
How much do you have to clean ?

MikeUniformMike · 03/07/2017 01:29

laundry first.
Washing up.
Quick wipe of kitchen worktops.
Bathroom - quick spray of bath n basin.
Bleach inside bog rim.
Other rooms - quick dust of corners etc.
quick vacuum.

Then do each room. Just little chunks at a time.

DJBaggySmalls · 03/07/2017 01:30

Put the radio on.
Put on a load of laundry.
Clean the bathroom.
Go round with a bin liner.
Collect up washing up and do that.
Chuck crap into bags and boxes to clear the floor.
Hoover.
Wash the kitchen floor.

Justanothernameonthepage · 03/07/2017 01:38

Radio on.
Laundry on. Piles sorted.
Bed changed and made.
Washing up done.
Take rubbish bag from room to room, filling as you go. (If really bad, start storing for a tip run).
Same for recycling.
Bathroom.
Bedroom. (If needed, fill charity shop bag).
Living room & dining.
Windows & mirrors.
Paintwork.
Flooring.

If really bad, and it's financially possible, hire a team of cleaners.
This might help too
[[https://www.goodhousekeeping.co.uk/institute/household-advice/cleaning-tips/how-often-you-should-clean-everything?utm_source=crm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GDH_N_20170221&utm_content=na&utm_term=na%20

avamiah · 03/07/2017 01:42
  1. do dishes or put in dishwasher
  2. empty kitchen bin 3)wipe all kitchen surfaces, put all clean plates, cups etc away . 4)wipe over cooker top ( use mr Muscle)
  3. wipe outside and inside of fridge ( use Dettol spray ( for fridges)
  4. empty Hoover if it needs emptying and fill kettle to boil water to mop floors and clean bathroom (s)
  5. start hoovering everywhere . 8)mop all floors ( change water when dirty) 9)change your sheets and duvet cover and put in washing machine, 10)put bleach in toilet and clean bath / shower. 11)wipe Tv and phone and clean toothbrush and remote.
  6. Take a break.
sobeyondthehills · 03/07/2017 01:51

Personally for me, I find cleaning my lounge the best start, its the room the family spend the most time in, once that is done than it gets easier, normally follow it by the kitchen. Then the bedrooms.

I would also make sure the washing machine and dishwasher were going. If no dishwasher do enough of the washing up till its dried then go again

user1490142285 · 03/07/2017 03:19

A long time ago I hired someone to help me clear a load of clutter after a move. She said the first thing to do is clear the floor (if it's currently not clear), then you tackle the mess, sorting clothes, shoes etc into piles for donation, rubbish, washing etc.

I have always found this helpful when I'm overwhelmed. I start with clearing the floor.

If there are things that need to be taken from one room to another (eg towels and mugs need to be taken from the bedroom to the laundry room and kitchen), don't waste your time wandering from room to room, collect the things that don't belong in that room and leave by the door, then when the room is finished you can put those things where they belong.

Cleaning loos can also be quick and satisfying, giving you the motivation to keep going.

When you finish a room (or a discrete task within a room) don't forget to take a break and take some enjoyment from your hard work. Sit in the newly clean and tidy space and enjoy the peace and order.

Wonderment · 03/07/2017 03:37

Monday - vacuum downstairs and mop hard floors

Tuesday - vacuum upstairs and mop hard floors

Wednesday - clean bathroom and downstairs toilet (sink, loo, shower, bath)

Thursday - used to be ironing but I don't iron anymore, so this is a free day for anything slightly spring-cleany or washing windows and mirrors etc.

Friday - change beds

Saturday - dust everywhere and empty small bins in various room (office, bedroom, bathroom)

Then, every day I:
(1) clean kitchen sink and keep the counter worktops cleaned as I go, and (2) stick a load in the washing machine and tumble dryer, as and when required. Most nights before bed, when I lock up the house, I either stick washing in the airing cupboard or take it upstairs to put away

One massive help has been i Roomba robot hoover. It's amazingly good and so much satisfaction to turn it on and go out, and return to everything cleaned and the Roomba cleverly self-returned to the docking station, busy charging for the next time!

taraer · 03/07/2017 03:37

Obsessively,
I can not relax unless I've cleaned Grinnow I'm pregnant and due next month and I'm nesting

Wonderment · 03/07/2017 03:38

I always have a quick floor pickup before I settle down of an evening. It's become a habit, doesn't take long, and well worth it to start the day fresh the next day.

Skittlesandbeer · 03/07/2017 03:50

Well, first of all I'd get everyone else who has responsibility for the household together...

Of course you may be the only adult (with no kids over 5), in which case all the suggestions above are great.

But if you are only part responsible for the mess, don't automatically assume it's your job to tackle alone. So many (women) seem to.

bridgetreilly · 03/07/2017 03:59

Bin liner first, to clear out the rubbish.
Then tidy up so you can see what actually needs cleaning.
Washing up.
Kitchen surfaces and floor.
Bathroom surfaces, loo and floor.
Hoover and dust.
Done.

chitofftheshovel · 03/07/2017 06:28

I regularly feel totally overwhelmed by my house.

I set an alarm for 15 mins and do a room - it is astounding what can be achieved in that time.

Bumdishcloths · 03/07/2017 07:09

Music on.

Tidy away immediate detritus.
Dust all surfaces in lounge and bedrooms.
Wipe down kitchen.
Hoover all floors.
Mop all hard floors.
Bathroom gets done last.
Washing goes on after cleaning as we use microfibres to wipe everything down.

Brittbugs80 · 03/07/2017 07:11

Do each room at a time and set my timer for 30 mins in each room. I do 4 rooms twice a week then general tidying through the week. Today, will be two bedrooms, bathroom and landing. Because I do it every week, what should be 2 hours is more like an hour.

Once you are on top of it, it becomes less work if you establish a routine. Plus the timer gives me a goal and stops me faffing.

When I make a cup of tea in the morning and the kettle is boiling, I can empty the dishwasher, put things in if any are left, wipe down work surfaces and cupboard fronts with Dettol wipes. Fridge gets wiped weekly inside with Dettol wipes before shopping arrives. Inside cupboards get wiped weekly on rota.
Living room. Dusted twice a week but each day, the floor is cleared, table tidied and cushions plumped and throws folded before bed. DS puts his stuff away before he goes to bed.

Bedrooms. Beds made daily. Last one up makes bed, DS makes own bed, blinds open and window open each morning. Dusted both twice a week.

Bathroom and downstairs loo. Toilet cleaned every other day, sinks too using Dettol wipes. Shower and bath cleaned twice a week.

Bins emptied weekly, bedding changed weekly, bathmats washed weekly, dishcloths and kitchen sponge soaked daily washed weekly, towels washed weekly.

Bathroom and loo floor mopped three times a week, kitchen floor every other night, carpet floors vacuumed when needed. Hallway table and picture frames on wall dusted once a week along with Bannister cleaned once a week.

Clothes washing upto 4 times a week and ironing once a week (half hour at most since I switched to only ironing essentials)

Wipes seem to cut down cleaning time too. I use Dettol wipes but also wet and dry cloth for dusting.

DH does the jobs I've not been able to get done plus he maintains the front and back garden and cleans our cars. We share cooking.

ImogenTubbs · 03/07/2017 07:19

When I don't know where to start I start at one end of the house and gradually make my way to the other!

So, might start by the living room window - there's DVDs on the floor to clear up first, ok, then the coffee table - so I'll take dirty mugs and glasses into the kitchen, put old newspapers and magazines into the recycling, books back on shelves, any spare paperwork onto the desk. Then toys from the floor, then any clothes lying around into the laundry or back upstairs.

Suddenly, the first room is clear. I carry on that way through the whole house, so by the time I get to the kitchen I have all the dirty things ready to go in the dishwasher and the floors are all clear ready for me to vacuum. Then I often sit in front of a film with a glass of wine while I sort through paperwork.

Although I confess these days we have a cleaner.

belmontian · 03/07/2017 07:19

I don't have the time or inclination to do enough thorough cleaning and my house is too cluttered to get a cleaner so I have settled for fairly minimal standards Blush Kitchen sink and worktop is always anti-bac'd, try to keep fridge and microwave clean. Bathroom sink and toilet cleaned every day. I have white bathroom floor tiles which I will never do again as the amount of hair and dirt that is visible on a daily basis is depressing and they never look completely clean.

Aside from that I hoover and dust when needed but I certainly don't have a daily routine. In my defence I change bedding strictly every week Grin

AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley · 03/07/2017 08:37

I had a MASSIVE task yesterday- my bedroom. I'm ashamed to say that I could hardly get around it for clothes/clutter. (Being VI, it stopped being funny and started being a health hazzard 😂)

I put the Emmerdale and Corrie omnibusses on. Every break, I shifted a bit more. By the time they'd finished, the room looked so different, I was motivated to shift my ass and do the rest.

A little at a time. It honestly works.

Tidy a kitchen counter while waiting for the kettle to boil.

Every time you leave the lounge, or wherever, to use the loo, take a few items wirh you to put into the rooms they should be in.

I stole a lot of Flylady's ideas, too. Pick a surface- a counter, top of the microwave (crap seems to gather on the top of our microwave for some reason!) and make yourself clear just that surface. Flylady says to set a timer for 15 mins- I just time it by four random songs on my phone.

DH vacuums and mops once a week (I may mop the kitchen a few more times if needed).

The kids don't get out of it either. In, homework, then on goes their cleaning playlist (Pop Junior crap- torture😂) while they spend 10-15 mins tidying up any mess they made that morning. I'm not a slave driver, honest - they pay for their own Netflix by doing these chores!

They then get tablet time/TV, whatever.

DH cooks the evening meal (kids will have already eaten) and will either do the dishes when the DC have gone to bed, or we'll do them together while supervising Mad Hour in the morning.

Fuck a moose, that was an essay- sorry!

PollyPerky · 03/07/2017 09:26

Sorry OP but what is AIBU about this post? There is a housekeeping forum.

ChristmasFluff · 03/07/2017 09:55

flylady.net is great for this sort of stuff

flickerty · 03/07/2017 10:42

Double espresso.
Music on - high tempo not love songs! Grin
Kitchen first - washing up, surfaces
Laundry
Hoover
Bleach in loos
Surface wipes for a quick clean

jumpybluespider · 03/07/2017 10:52

With 6 kids under 10 & 6 pets (including 2 eight week old puppies) - sporadically... it's like shovelling snow in a blizzard! But the main stuff - well, the dishwasher goes on 3 times a day & 1 to 2 loads of washing. Toilets & sinks get a quick clean every day & bathrooms/showers as & when, usually every few days. The main rooms are hoovered every day at some point. Bits pf the house that people can't see are a mess!

ethelfleda · 03/07/2017 10:54

I try and do a quarter of the house each day for 4 days and then have 3 days off. Break it down in to small chunks and it's not so overwhelming!