I like cleaning but hate tidying - can I work with this?

[overweightcat]

So just as title says.
I really don't mind vacuuming, mopping or scrubbing the bathroom/oven/sink. I like dusting and washing windows or even wiping down skirting boards.
What I hate is having to go around picking up crap off the floors for 10mins before I can get the vacuum on, having to move stuff to be able to properly wipe my work tops down and having to constantly be tidying 24/7 unless I'm happy to live in a mess.

I have 2 v young DCs, the older one tries their best to tidy but the toddler is a tornado. DP works long hours and doesn't make much of a mess.
I try to keep on top of it all and wash up as I cook for example but it's all so relentless and unless I'm on it all the time it descends into chaos in no time which then makes me put off actually cleaning at the sight of having to sort the stuff out first.

How do I get a handle on this?

Get rid of as much stuff as possible and have a minimalist house, so there is less that needs tidying?

And even if your partner doesn't make much mess themselves, they are still responsible for some of the mess your children make, so they should deal with at least some of it.

Oh i'm the total opposite! I tidy a lot but what gets me down is how easily and relentless crumbs, stains, finger marks and dust spreads within hours of cleaning.

Less stuff as pp said and clever storage/multitasking furniture

Not good storage! Less stuff less stuff less stuff. I have the same challenges and have found The Organised Mum Method useful, it gives you a section per day which helps.

For the toddler, you don't need to let them be a tornado. We have 4 dcs and can't allow for every toy out - we only have 3 toys out at a time then one needs to go away, and my kids as toddlers help a lot (once they get older it's a lot harder! 🤣)

Can your DH help? Even if it's not his mess, you're a team and maybe it makes sense for him to take on more of the tidying and you take the cleaning?

Spend a day decluttering each room, make a list of things to keep/bin/charity shop and work your way from room to room until it’s organised. Tidy up time will be easier when you have just the essentials to put away. Or Invest in some baskets/storage boxes/ottomans etc for the things without a home you can hide them in

We should join forces, I love tidying but hate cleaning.

I'm the same! The mess in the house really gets me down, but I'm happy to clean a lot

Be as minimalist as possible.
Everything has a place and is stored
Don't buy it if you don't know where to put it.
Regular chuck outs to charity, recycling, rubbish.
Clothes go straight into the washing basket or are put away by everyone.
Kids pack away toys when they have finished playing (unless it's like a huge railway track or lego building which will be continued).
Do tidying in 5-7 minute "chunks" rather than waiting until you need to do it to clean.
I probably sound a bit draconian - but I refuse to spend an hour tidying in order to clean!

I set a timer and an area - time depending on how large the area is! So 10 minutes is enough to clear and wipe down worktops, 1 hour to tidy and clean bathroom (includes sorting laundry) etc. I have great audiobooks on audible that I listen to to distract me. And have a checklist that I can tick with some easy, quick jobs - e.g. clean sink, then some longer jobs - vacuum stairs. I hate leaving bits un-ticked at the end of the day so I manage to get through them usually 😂

Huge sympathies! I agree with some of the advice from others, eg Organised Mum method (book available on kindle), teaching DC early that one thing has to go away before another comes out, but I think the reality is that with kids as young as yours you just need to put up with a certain level of untidiness for a couple of years. I've found that as my kids got bigger, the toys got smaller - lego and matchbox cars instead of blocks, big toy cars, etc. So easier to today away. Also as they get bigger they are more likely to play in their bedrooms than the communal spaces in the house so not as much stuff gets dragged into the living room.

Two practical tips. (1) soon as the DC grow out of a toy or anything else (high chair, stair gates, etc), give it away (or move it to storage if you are planning on having any more DC). (2) giant toy box for the living room, or wherever it is they mainly play, so they/you can quickly sweep everything away.

Hahah I’m the opposite as well, we’re very minimalist so have an extremely tidy flat that tends to look immaculate but if you look carefully I’m a bit of a slob with the cleaning.

I echo having a proper clear out and having a place for absolutely everything. Even if I buy a new pack of pens, DP wants to know where they’re going to live so they’re not out on the side looking untidy. I think this helps a lot

The children's toys (which is our bugbear)is kept in boxes and the kids can on,y play with one box at a time. The kids can't play with new toys in box 2/3/4 etc unless the toys from box 1 are put away.

I am the opposite! Don’t mind tidying as I can see an improvement very quickly once everything is back in its rightful place. But I HATE cleaning. I think I’m a bit OCD and just feel all dirty and covered in germs when cleaning.