Not realising how much cleaning a house takes?

[Hahaha88]

Growing up our house was always clean and tidy. Sunday was cleaning day and we'd all have a job, the whole house got hoovered, dusting was done, bathroom cleaned, beds changed and bins emptied.
It wasn't until I was an adult with my own house that I realised how much extra cleaning my mum (single parent, not sexisim) must have done when we were at school etc. There are so many cleaning things I didn't realise I would need to do! Like cleaning kitchen cupboard doors and drawers, inside the fridge, house doors, light switches, skirting boards and windowsills etc. Aibu in not knowing about all this? I don't even know how people keep on top of it! I feel like it takes so much effort to keep the place nice.

@userxx why are YOU doing all the extra cleaning? You've made a rod for your own back here - get your BF to step up. He lives there, he cleans too.

I find that the amount of cleaning that needs to be done is pretty small.

It does depend on your standards. My Mum has always been incredibly house proud so she probably cleans things like the skirting boards, light switches, windows, doors etc once a week and my Gran (paternal so not her Mother) is exactly the same. My Gran has her whole house repainted once a year (always in white or magnolia) and does crazy things like ironing bed sheets and underwear... She did all of this whilst working FT as a teacher back in the day as well, fuck knows why.

I don’t take after them and pretty much never clean things like skirting boards much to my Mother’s disgust. I just can’t be bothered if I’m being honest, I don’t iron anything either. I’d prefer to spend time with my children or on Mumsnet.

I don’t think I have ever cleaned a door or a windowsill.

When my husband and I were both working full-time and the children were in childcare my house was always pretty clean and tidy because no-one was there.
Now I only work part time and have no need for childcare the house always looks like a disaster area. I hoover and tidy then the kids come in, dump their stuff everywhere and leave a trail of crumbs over the floor. My standards have dropped.

To have a perfect house takes a lot of work! I clean for 6 solid hours one day a week then probably another 3 hours dotted here and there. I also try to keep it clutter free which helps but i just decluttered and cleaned the whole house and it took a week (i was off work). I like my house perfect but the other inhibitants are less fussy so it is a battle . My mental health is best when the house is in a good state so its worth it to me and the other inhabitants try their best (except the dog who tries her best to make my life hell).

I don't know how anyone keeps a clean house. I gut the house on a Friday after work (including cleaning kitchen cupboard doors as they need doing every week if not most days) then those other jobs are done less often but still by Saturday night/sunday its looking dirty again.

Ive been asking my son to hoover the downstairs hall since Sunday morning and I've finally done it myself this morning. Even though I have tried to keep up with bits of it the house feels dirty now.

I wish my kids and DH would help more (DH does 80% the washing and probably 50% of cooking and maybe 25% of dishwasher loading so he feels he does enough). It can take me a good 3 hours to do the derp clean plus i spend probably 20 mins each day topping up, tidying etc.

If you only do you skirting boards once or twice a year they must be properly filthy. Mine are rank after month.

** and yeah,takes a lot of time to keep on top of things. Doesn't take long at all for it all to go to pot.

Yup. Although as an adult, my house is way cleaner than my mums lol

I also think decor makes a big difference. My mum now lives in a flat with all white walls and I've noticed they look grubby quite quickly whereas my walls have always been painted various colours, and they never look dirty. Different types of flooring will show dirt to a greater or lesser degree. White cupboards in a kitchen will look dirtier quicker than darker ones etc.

*and that is why I have lower standards....

lowering your standards can solve so many of life's problems! Not a good idea with men, but with almost everything else it's a lifesaver.

I find that the amount of cleaning that needs to be done is pretty small
This.

I feel the same. I grew up in an immaculate house and had no idea how hard my mum must’ve worked to make it that way!

I was genuinely surprised the first time I saw dust in the grooves of radiator, didn’t know that was a thing. Dust didn’t get a chance to settle anywhere in my mum’s house.

Since moving in with my DP and DSS, I am in awe of how my mum managed almost single handedly (Dad worked long hours with a long commute, so was only really here at weekends - but he'd always do the food shop and DIY/repairs/decorating) with two children.

I actually text her one night as my partner was in hospital and I'd offer to look after his son to save him going to his mum's, as she lives too far away from school, and I was just overwhelmed with how on the ball you have to be as opposed to when you're single with no kinds and can be a lot more laid back about things.

I did not realise until as a newly wed I was really ill and thought who is going to do the cooking cleaning etc. It was then I missed my mum.

White skirting boards are the devils invention. When we lived in a house with oak floors matching skirtings it was bliss.

Like cleaning kitchen cupboard doors and drawers, inside the fridge, house doors, light switches, skirting boards and windowsills etc

I am proud to say I used the hoover nozzle to get all the crumbs out of the cutlery drawer.

Once in 15 years living here, but I don't like to boast!

Sorry to derail but does anyone clean the ceiling of their oven?? I don’t know how to and it’s disgusting. My hand is too big to fit through the heating element

My house takes forever to clean but I enjoy doing it. I'm very particular and - some may say - overboard

I dust all my skirting boards each week - literally takes me 15 mins tops with a dry micro fibre type cloth. I also dust up my stairs and all the doors in the house. I use a glass cleaner on all the windows once a week and I hoover the whole house every day. We have three bathrooms and I do these once a week. I mop the kitchen floor three times a week - I use a flash power mop though so takes approximately 5 mins or so

However I do work for myself and from home though so have more time. And like I said.. I'm particular about how I like things

I am proud to say I used the hoover nozzle to get all the crumbs out of the cutlery drawer.

I purchased a special attachment to hoover behind the radiator!

It looks like an exotic sex toy

We also redecorate every two years so things look fresh.

Honestly, mental health improves when you look round a room that's spotless and clean.

It looks like an exotic sex toy

You know what they say - anything's a sex toy if you're brave enough!

I had a friend who was basically like Monica from friends. Home was beyond immaculate and intimidating. She instilled a life long loathing of coasters in me.

But she got married, had kids and pets. Now her home is messy and homely.

Me, I have never cleaned an oven ever. Paid someone to do it, yes. It is my great pride. My widower father just buys new ovens.