To ask how the hell you keep your house clean?

[NeilArmstrongWalkinOnMeFace]

Really struggling here. Two DS-2.5years and 3 months. DH and I have never been tidy people and it's just got worse and worse. It's starting to affect my MH as I just never feel on top of the house and it's always a mess. Pre kids I was super organised ( not tidy though!) but now I can barely think straight. DH less so.

Have tried TOMM and thought it was great but don't seem to have any time now with a clingy baby and demanding toddler.

Please tell me how you keep on top of the jobs and how you keep organised.

Any hacks? How do I change the way my brain works?

I have a 3 year old and he just has to play when I'm cleaning, or a bit of TV.

I grew up in an untidy and quite dirty house and won't make my son live in the same!

I do totally understand that mess and clutter isn't great for MH.

But I think with children that small you have to make some peace with this: even if you had a cleaner coming in daily you would be fighting a losing battle. You have to accept that mess is intrinsic to your life.

A cleaner will help, even if just once a week/fortnight.

if you can't afford a cleaner, as others say I would prioritise the kitchen over everything else as a clean cooking space is super important, both from a physical and mental health POV.

• don't put things DOWN. Put things AWAY.
• lower your standards
• start training your small people to put their toys away.

Do bits as you go along & it gets automatic so doesn't feel like a chore. So, wipe surfaces when kettles boiling. Dust or hoover in the ad breaks of your fave soap. Only have one box of toys out downstairs & put all toys back in it at the end of the day. Rotate with toys in bedroom ( or attic if you have storage there). Anything not played with in 6months charity shop it or bin. Do a 2min whip round for coffee cups ,papers,magazines etc when you leave a room. Squirt of bleach down the loo each night then leave to do its work. Kitchen & bathroom floor when kids are in bed ,once a week. Be ruthless with clothes. If you haven't worn it in a year you're never going to: Clothing bank bin.

What works for me:

• declutter, less stuff around make it easier to tidy and clean
• make sure everything has a place and never move without an item in your hands (to be put in its place)
• routine. There are several quick and easy things I always to and make everything better even on days I don't have time to do more. For instance, I open the windows and make the beds first thing in the morning, even before going down for breakfast, and I pick up all toys from the floor every evening, I put dirty dishes in the dishwasher every time I see them around, I tidy as I go (like if I chop veg, I bin the ends before putting the chopped ones in the pan) etc

It's little things but they make a difference and then when I eventually have time to clean it's less of a chore.