To wonder how on earth people's houses are so pristine

[Cluelessat33]

So I'm a single Mum, two dogs, two cats, a 5 year old. After looking at my hallways today, which looked like it had never been hoovered, despite me hoovering it last night (and every night before). I cannot comprehend how peoples houses are so pristine. I mean honestly. I feel like I'm constantly washing up, clearing away, tidying away, hoovering, wiping, tidying. And the house still feels like a pit.

And then I stray by mistake across these Instagram video of people 'styling' their bookcase, or who have the time for a porch Halloween display and I wonder if I'm just sloppy and lazy. I take pride in my home looking tidy... it just never feels like it does. I hate unexpected visitors who need to use the loo, just in case the 5 year old has left a friendly floater in the loo since I last checked it.

Am I unreasonable for wonder where the heck these people find the time and energy. Am I a bit of a scummy mummy!?

Ours isn't too bad, my DH is clean and tidy, more than me. The DDs have always had to pick up after themselves so it's now automatic. We have 1 small short haired dog that makes the most mess scattering her toys everywhere.

I'm not a daily cleaner but I like clear surfaces so things are not left on the table or kitchen worktop or stairs.

I clean and tidy mine when people come over, it's rarely seen as it is 99% of the time!

It's the pets. They definitely do increase mess and if you aren't constantly cleaning you've got a tip in no time at all.
I've got cats. They shed hair. They bang on the windows and leave paw marks. They get their toys out in the night and leave them lying around. They use their scratching poles (well two of them do at least, one won't stop scratching the furniture). The material from the scratching poles ends up everywhere - sisal and cardboard.
I can dust and hoover my place and two hours later it looks a mess again.

The people I know with showhome/instagram type houses don't have pets, don't have young children or don't allow the children in a couple of reception rooms in the house so they are always neat for visitors and social media.

Well you have 2 dogs and 2 cats.........and a child......ummmmmm.........

Agree with all PP, it’s the pets. You’re fighting a losing battle.

I’m in a new build and I think they’re miles easier to keep clean too, like the PP. It’s a completely clean canvas, mine has tonnes of storage, and I think they just suit a less cluttered look vs an older house (like I used to live in).

On Instagram my flat looks really modern and tidy. It’s all smokes and mirrors. I only take pictures in my flat right after cleaning and from certain angles so you can’t see undone work. I’m childless with no pets. It’s still a shit tip every other day. Don’t be hard on yourself you’re doing amazing x

I just think what are all these pristine folk NOT doing while they're busy dusting and plumping up cushions or whatever. What games are they not playing? What walks are they not taking? What books are they not reading? I would hate to have cleaning be my hobby. People with immaculate homes aren't better than you, OP, they're just making different choices with the hours and minutes in their day.

We have 3 animals and 3 toddlers and a 13 and don't have a scruffy house if that's any help lol

I clean and tidy up frantically if people are coming round.

Otherwise I don't Hoover nearly often enough (I do spot clean specific messes). But the house mostly doesn't look too bad.

I think you are right it's partly about house design. Our garage is in the cellar. Guests don't go down there and it's a mess! Stuff gets left down there to be dealt with later.

Clutter will do it. A lot of my DDs friends houses have nothing in them. A couch, a table, maybe a rug. Minimalists, all of them. Ours is very lived in, stuff everywhere. Drives me crackers but I’ve given up

I think it’s innate. My friend’s home is spotless, and beautifully appointed. As is she. And her daughter. She’s a single mum with a high pressure career. She’s very impressive. And she’s never been married to any crappy man.

There’s 3 of us in my, much smaller, house. Let’s just say it’s far more bohemian… My kid trashes the place. DH is dirty & untidy, and can’t put anything back where it came from. I seem to spend most of my time fighting fire with the house, to no avail.

I don’t care if a house is messy, people have kids, pets, work and busy lives so it happens. Social media homes aren’t always what they seem or they probably have a cleaner!

Our house is tidy and organised most of the time. We tidy as we go. But because it is it doesn’t take long to sort it and cleaning is quicker as it’s already tidy. We do bits of cleaning regularly and in short bursts. So it really doesn’t take away from the fun and living our lives. I would never prioritise cleaning over living and enjoying life.

It isn’t even a big deal in having to keep it clean and tidy but we just are naturally like that esp my partner

Don’t worry OP, i have 3 year old, no pets and my house a shithole.

I even had a cleaner at one time (i sacked her as she was rubbish), but my toddler would come home from nursery and just drop crumbs everywhere so i’d be hoovering again.

I’ve found decluttering and having some decent storage does help a bit.

My house is pristine only because I constantly clean it. I couldn't sit down and relax in a dirty home and would never have dogs in the house.

Take your Instagram picture just after you've finished cleaning and tidying then you can pretend too

Honestly...

1/ It's a lie, its for the instagram pics only and never really looks like that.
2/ They do nothing in their homes but clean it/arrange it - they don't cook, have pets, have kids, do any hobbies... nothing.
3/ They do stuff, but cleaning/tidying/arranging it is their full time occupation. They are the type to whip out the mini vac the second a crumb hits the floor.

I like a clean tidy home as much as the next person, but not to that extent, my home is where I live, my animals live, I work and do my hobbies. Theres stuff here, and theres mess. So be it.

It’s the pets, and stuff. You have to be super super vigilant on what you bring into your home and declutter. Read the first Marie Kondo book. You really need to read the book though. Not just look up her methods.

Have you seen the reality of these instas? Where they pan over and show the mess the other side of the room is in. You are not looking at reality. You are looking at a version. If you vacuum every day, I doubt your home is that messy. My child makes more mess than my dog lol

Don’t listen to those animal hating mners🤔🤣

I have hard floors and one cat and I reckon he triples the amount of housework I have to do.

Just turn a blind eye, life is too short. Plus I am teaching my sons housework is as enjoyable for me as it is for them.

Single mum to a 7yr old hoarder and 3 cats and I hear ya! I work 4 days a week but currently my day off is non stop appts to be able to get anything productive done so it all happens at the weekend. But I just think in a few years little one will have grown up and got rid of all her toys etc and will be old enough to help more. She does do little things to help. I just treated myself to a robot hoover and mop so hoping that will help me.

I have 1 husband, 2 teens, 2 medium sized dogs, 2 cats, 2 small furries and a tank full of fish...
It's a battle that you can never win!
I hoover downstairs every day without fail followed by top up hoovers throughout the day if needed.
Surfaces are cleared and wiped after every meal and the bathroom/toilets are cleaned daily. The beds are changed once a week (ideally would be twice a week as the dogs/cats sleep on them but I haven't got the time or energy!). I try to keep an eye on skirting boards/door casings and wipe them over regularly as they are a dead give away that wet muddy dogs live in the house😆
Despite my rigorous cleaning schedule I would say my house is passable rather than pristine. There is always something I can see that could do with a quick clean and it drives me crackers! Oh, I almost forgot, after all of the above you can guarantee a teenager will come down from their room with 15 cups and five plates and leave them on the kitchen surface next to the dishwasher........

You've got a lot of animals so I'd not be surprised.

@Calmdown14 i why people feel the need to make it out that children who live in clean
tidy houses have awful lives.
My children do crafts, play games, play with their toys etc and at the end the stuff gets tidied up. Why would I leave a bunch of play dough lying around?
Living in a clean and tidy house is actually a lot if fun for them, it means they don’t have stressed parents, we don’t limit last minute visitors and friends due to the house not being ready and there is always room and a big clean space for their activities.

I get stressed if the house is dirty or untidy (dog+3 kids) so we have a cleaner, robovacuum, and both work from home so jobs get done in between tasks. One thing that helps me hugely is to do a massive de clutter once a month, so grab a bin bag and do a room by room tour of the house and ditch anything broken, that you no longer use, rubbish etc. this really helps!

Also: good storage