To ask how you keep on top of the house work?

[ThisLittleKitty]

I have 4 kids and wow I am really struggling to keep on top of it! It's not dirty just messy. There are forever clothes hanging up everywhere to dry as I have constant piles of washing. The dishes hardly ever done, don't think the sinks ever been empty since I've had the youngest. How do you manage to keep on top of the house work if you have young kids?

I've only got 2dc I work part time and it's really bloody difficult.

I find it hard to get much done because my toddler is into everything and whines a lot.

Even when I do clean up give it one day and it's a tip again. The kids make a huge mess eating dinner.

A few tips I've picked up are.

Never go up/downstairs without taking things to put away.

Clean the bathroom (in a fashion) while you have a shower or while kids are in the bath.

Don't have too much stuff.

Get off mumsnet (I should do this!)

I don't think there's a magic solution really, you've just got to do it as and when you can and lower your standards.

How old are your DC? Are they old enough to help wash up/dry/put things away? Could you get a tumble dryer or washer dryer?

Try to set tasks for different days of the week... My house is never completely tidy, but things like doing the dishes whilst cooking dinner, 're running a hot sink for the after dinner mess, clean toilets on a Wednesday and a Sunday, wash baskets on the landing and in the living room - trained kids to put their clothes in there instead of finding random dirty socks and pants in the most random places. Made sure the wash baskets are colourful and with different patterns so my 7 year old can fetch it for me when I have noticed it's full. I also just stay awake once my 10 week old has gone back to sleep (5am) and get myself dressed and ready for the day, it makes a huge difference!

Kids are messy and dirty, anyone who's house is perfect when they have more than 2 children are living the dream. Try to get into a routine and get the Kids doing stuff early, including scraping their plates etc.

Everyone pitches in - kids responsible for their rooms and putting their washing away, also do a bit of dusting and emptying dishwasher now they're getting older, partner does ironing, hoovering upstairs, bins and kitchen /dishwasher after dinner, he also puts on a wash every now and then. Maybe cooks once a week. He works full time. I'm on mat leave do majority of cooking cleaning kitchen and bathroom properly, hoovering, general decluttering and tidying, dusting, mop floors, laundry but I don't always have time between all the baby stuff, school runs and actually having some sort of life for myself! So it's not immaculate but I've made my peace with it! Would love a cleaner.

Most importantly - I put on music, an audiobook, radio4 play/book, or podcast so I’m doing something that I enjoy and the cleaning is a bit on autopilot.

Lower your standards.

Makes life a bit easier if you aren't stressed out by ridiculous MN standards of changing your bed linens thrice daily and bleaching your tiles every 24hrs.

It's fine.

'30 days to a clean and tidy home' best book ever written

I would just like the type of home where someone could knock on the door as just come in without me being embarrassed. Currently the floor is like an obstacle course of toys. Clothes piled on the dining table.. And currently feeding the baby.

Thanks for the tips though will definitely take them on board. I could get a tumble drier as although kitchen is tiny I have a dining room.

Our tumble dryer's in the garage. Could you fit a slimline dishwasher in? Couldn't live without mine.

Our tumble dryer is in a built in wardrobe in my dds bedroom. It’s the only place it would fit but is invaluable. Washing is never ending in this house.
We are planning a bit declutter before dc2 comes along - we’ve got new furniture and sorting every drawer/cupboard as we switch things over so that we get rid of stuff that has been lying around for years. It does make a mess in the mean time though.

Popping a clingy baby in a sling and cracking on with jobs for an hour was a revelation for me. Especially when they can go on your back. Makes washing up without them getting a soggy bottom much easier 😂

I would just like the type of home where someone could knock on the door as just come in without me being embarrassed.

I have a house like this, mostly.

I also have a tumble dryer, a dishwasher, lots of storage space, helpful teens, no small children, and I work from home so this morning in a spare half hour I vacuumed, washed up, folded laundry and generally sorted.

Currently the floor is like an obstacle course of toys. Clothes piled on the dining table.. And currently feeding the baby.

When my kids were the age yours are my house was exactly how you describe yours other than the clothes drying everywhere - I actually had a tumble dryer in the brick outhouse :-)

You're doing fine.

I've never understood how people have homes that are messy but clean. Don't you have to tidy to get at the dirt?

My house varies between immaculate and a tip, depending on how busy we've been and how much effort we've been prepared to make. We both work, long commutes (both out of the house 7.30-7.30ish every day), no kids. My partner cooks, I clean/laundry/general tidying/cats, and we share the rest. I do a lot of overtime which means I rarely have free evenings. I work at home one day a week but often have errands to run, though it does mean I can keep on top of the laundry and have a quick tidy.

Given that we're rarely in the house, it's amazing how messy it can get! I really do try to keep on top of it, but while it is generally tidy it's not as clean as I would like. For instance, I know that underneath the all the bottles in the bathroom is grot, and while the kitchen is tidy (dishwasher!) the cupboard doors and tiles all need a good wipe down and under the microwave is revolting. The floors are hoovered quickly a couple of times a week but I know the skirting is dirty.

I would absolutely love a cleaner, just to come to properly clean the kitchen and bathroom every other week. I'd rather use my precious weekends to sleep, relax, see friends and go out and do stuff, rather than clean.

Dishwasher/tumble dryer for winter months
DH does certain jobs/I do certain jobs (schedule) hoover once a week (if i can - this is the one thing that tends to get left and why i always wear socks!)
i try not to go to bed not having done certain things or they get backed up or get up early (6), make bottle, hand baby to DH and do the clearing up then go to work (7). If I get the HW done the night before I get a lie in and extra cuddles

It also helps to glare at DH when hes cooking and to remind him to clear up immediately and not leave it

It's the washing/ drying/putting away that is never ending and makes the place look untidy I found.

We got rid of the kids for a weekend and had a massive declutter of old or too small clothes and took them to the charity shop and clothes bank. We then put everything tidy in the drawers and wardrobes and took all the washing in the basket to the launderette to wash and dry. Then we put it away and started with a clean slate.

Now I do a wash every evening, put to dry overnight and put away in the morning. Really does help and I find myself doing other little things as it's not so overwhelming to get the place looking presentable.

It's part and parcel of having young kids. It gets easier. Don't worry ool.

Search the Organise mum method on Facebook and Instagram. It is a game changer and she is hilarious to follow.

Have a regular routine. So, breakfast and wash up. Lunch and wash up, dinner and wash up. Don't leave things. Do you need to do that much washing? Lots of people just wash clothes because they've worn them but they are not dirty. Can they be spot cleaned? Fold clothes to do minimal ironing. Get your DC involved in putting clothes away etc , tidying their rooms before treats etc.

I only have one child, 10 months and I don’t work and I still struggle! My partner works and I do everything at home - I find it difficult so I don’t know how I’d manage with 4 kids so you should be proud that it’s only messy and not dirty ! If i were you I’d just set a task each day just one and make sure you do it or give yourself an hour once the kids have gone to bed ! I’m really ocd aswell so I understand its frustrating but it’s not the end of the world so try not to worry too much !x

Yes do remember that it's secondary to loving and caring for your DC.

Have a cleaner

I only have one DC and I haven't cracked it!
I have just started following the 'Organised Mum' method and that seems to be helping. I find that having a list helps me to focus rather than spending 15 minutes trying to figure out what I need to do.
Oh and one thing that helps massively - I put a load of washing on every morning before I've done anything else. Not even the kettle goes on until the washer is going!
Try to keep some perspective though. You're keeping four children alive. I'd be rocking in a corner by now

I guess to me dirty is maybe food on the floor, crumbs on the side, dirty bed sheets, rubbish on the floor. The washing is the thing that's getting me down the most as it makes the whole place look untidy lots of clothes hanging up to dry and in my house it isnt dry over night, my house is quite cold and clothes can take 2/3 days to dry. I probably don't need to wash clothes as much as I do. Baby does have a sling but seems to be too big for it now she just looks uncomfortable in it (8 months) I will look into another type of carrier.

Don't be hard on yourself. Four kids under seven can't be easy. Make sure your ON is pulling his weight, and just cover the basics - toilets, laundry, washing up etc. Clean skirtings are not essential!

However, you say your house is clean - if it's so messy, how do you manage to keep it clean? Are you cleaning around the messiness?