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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

If your house is immaculate, how do you do it? <wails> I want one!!!

163 replies

sorky · 30/04/2011 09:31

granted I have 4 kids, but still, I want a house that I can open the door to and say 'yeah, come on in' and be confident it's tidy enough for that.

I have been ill recently so there are cobwebs and a general scruffiness, but where to start? What level of cleanliness are we talking about?

I think I'm officially a slattern Blush

OP posts:
Original poster
sorky · 30/04/2011 09:33

Open the door to people of course

OP posts:
suzikettles · 30/04/2011 09:39

Speaking as a fellow slattern, my observations have led me to the conclusion that people with immaculate houses just do way more housework than me.

Sorry, but it's that simple Sad

Of course, some of them contract some of it out, and some of them have tidier partners than I do, but generally I think if you put the hours in you get the tidy house.

Oh, and picking up after yourself as you go along (whole family). I fail at that as well.

NotaMopsa · 30/04/2011 09:57

I AM constantly cleaning which is dull - don't do it!

Original poster
sorky · 30/04/2011 10:00

Is it really constant?

OP posts:
Original poster
sorky · 30/04/2011 10:02

But when do you do fun stuff?

Does cleaning become a form of fun/entertainment?!?

OP posts:
boosmummie · 30/04/2011 10:03

I am slattern one month, domestic goddess the next Grin. I am just coming out of my slattern phase and yesterday went through each room of the house tidying/fixing/throwing stuff etc. Very cathartic. Today I will be cleaning room by room and if I'm really good I'll do the windows too! Once it's done I am perfect housewife for about 4 weeks - tidying up as I go along, everything in correct home at the end of the day etc etc. The only rooms that are always clean and tidy are the bathrooms and kitchen.

Funnily enough, ten years ago, as a single parent with 3 primary age children and working full time, my house was show home like, but I think that was more a case of HAVING to be superbly organised in order for us to achieve/function. I now have just me and my 2 year old at home all the time and a somewhat laissez faire attitude (the older three are boarders) to everything. Come holidays/half terms and full house weekend,s military precision and order is reinstated.

I must say that the 3 older children have to sort their own shitpits out as I am frankly scared of what I may step in/catch on entering Grin

Tortoise · 30/04/2011 10:03

I wish I knew how. I have 4 dc too!

Collision · 30/04/2011 10:05

I think tidying and sorting the junk is the key thing!

Once the room is tidy then a quick hoover and dust should sort it.

The kids can do that when they are of age. My 6y old loves hoovering.

Get a bin bag and start sorting stuff out.

We did the boys' room when they were out last week. 2 bin liners to the tip and they have not even noticed! Grin

Original poster
sorky · 30/04/2011 11:36

I think my problem is the kids tbh.

It would be spotless if they would stop trashing the place!

No sooner have I cleaned the bathroom and someone comes in with filthy hands and the sink, tiles, soap, toilet seat & towels are covered in mud
Angry

Same with bedrooms....make the beds, return with clothes to find dens have been constructed with pillows and quilts

The fruit bowl looks like a good idea until you find half eaten remnants in unlikely places.

Maybe I need Nanny McPhee Grin

I'm tackling the house today I am, I am, I am

OP posts:
Bonkerz · 30/04/2011 12:10

I have recently found that good storage is key.
I spent £400 at IKEA and spent 3 weeks sorting all the rooms. We now have random drawer storage in each room which allows me to squirrel crap away and sort it easier one draw at a time! My house is not perfect! Right now it could do with a hoover and wiping of floor but everything looks tidy and its not dirty.

There are 5 of us in house, DH does his part and DCs (10,9,5) know if they cannot fit their toys in their toy boxes then they need to go in the bin! Harsh but effective! LOL

NotaMopsa · 30/04/2011 20:38

You need to train the kids to be a bit cleaner and tidy up after themselves....mine make the dens etc but they tidy them up

One room at once for trashing - not allowed to move on without tidying

Bathroom - my teens have their own towels kept in their room

I do not enjoy the clening but enjoy it all being lovely and cannot chill if tis a dump

Maryz · 30/04/2011 20:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsOliverQueen · 01/05/2011 11:31

Depends what age your DC's are I think. I have two under 4 atm and am pg (madness). Have been severely warned that keeping the house spotless will be bad for my health and am currently in ironing rehab.

Have come to the conclusion that spotless is the impossible dream, particularly after half term....thought I had the place in order then popped into the DC's room and the floor, yet again is covered in toys.

Most visitors don't expect spotless and I reckon as long as you can give them a cuppa in a clean cup with fresh milk they don't mind too much (same for the loo, it has to be clean with a fresh hand towel).

I have had about 1 week in this house when it was spotless (it was a dull week for me though).

desperatelyseekingsnoozes · 01/05/2011 11:35

I have people to visit often - it ensures my house is always tidy. I will admit to a cleaner.

I have a utility room which can look like a tip, luckily that door closes.

BendyBob · 01/05/2011 11:45

I can see what you're saying sorky. I feel equally Blush sometimes and have 3 dc, but I do think the mess you see isn't probably what others see.

My neighbour commented that our house was lovely and tidy and calmShock. Lol It absolutely IS NOT I am 100% sure of itGrin. The washing alone makes me feel faint - but visitors see another perspective.

I grew up in an immaculate house. My mother is ridiculously houseproud and was also a huge martyr about it to boot. The arguments between my parents re cleaning, the endless bloody housework and the fact that it totally dominated my childhood makes me very sad. We didn't do much as a family in terms of going anywhereSad. It was always housework first. I try to take a different (ok polar opposite) approach. It's hard becaue I'm torn having grown up in perfection, but I try to remember it came at a very high price.

desperatelyseekingsnoozes · 01/05/2011 11:51

But having a clean and tidy home need not come at a high price, admittedly I now have a cleaner but before we could afford it we all just pitched in and had to be organised.

Tortington · 01/05/2011 11:55

seriously - get a cleaner just once a week to allow you to catch your breath.

its the best tenner i spend in a week

desperatelyseekingsnoozes · 01/05/2011 11:56

Having a cleaner means that we are tidier. We have someone wandering through our entire house twice a week, it evens makes teenage boys pick up their pants!

BendyBob · 01/05/2011 12:31

Oh yes I'm all for a cleaner. I had one a few years ago. I don't now but I do have an ironing lady who helps me beat the pile into submission. I found it was the laundry rather than the housework I couldn't manage.

Get any help you can. Do not feel guilty! And decluttering radically helps too. I have been trying to do this and it seems to help.

BeehiveBaby · 01/05/2011 19:15

My DD's childminder has 4 DCs and is a childminder and has a showhome, but freely admits to cleaning until eleven every night.

thesurgeonsmate · 01/05/2011 19:23

Had a tidy house once. Found that I could keep it up for a short while by using a "zero tolerance" policy. So, once tidy (eg for party or visiting inlaws) then do not let anything at all sit in the wrong place for any length of time. Once a couple of slips per room are tolerated, the whole thing goes to hell in a handcart. IME.

ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 01/05/2011 19:29

I have a cleaner, it is paid for with DS1's child benefit. I figure the child benefits from a hygenic environment. (I am grateful that I don't have to pay for food and clothing from this money before anyone mentions it!)

however, I don't worry about the duvets being straight or the kids havin toys out in their rooms, I don't like having a messy hallway. I love being able to open the front door to the post man withut having to kick a pile of shoes away first.

Original poster
sorky · 02/05/2011 13:54

I've been ruthless with the clutter and toys. Will have a major ebaying sesh I think. Kids are 9, 7, 4 & 2. The 9 & 4 yo are the worst culprits.

The cleaner is a tricky issue. I advertised for one last year & 3 never turned up!!

Dh is reluctant to have one (he doesn't even like the fact that the window cleaner visits fortnightly....thinks it's an invasion of privacy Hmm)

'course he's not the one with all the bloody work!

If I threaten a cleaner he will help out and isn't completely useless, he's just a bloke & they never do housework properly ime

How often do you have a cleaner then? Actually, I think I'll start a new thread 'bout that.....

Thanks for all the advice.

OP posts:
boosmummie · 02/05/2011 14:39

Sorky well done!!! I think with the older three and to a smaller degree the 2 year old, you should have some kind of reward system. Be bitch mother from hell and stick to it and I think you may find an improvement!! If mine went into 'negative' points (and they did), I would remove a favourite item or toy. Oddly enough they only did this once each, the devastation of no DS/PS/iPod for a week was enough to make them see I meant business.

Not sure how it could work with your DH, but I'm sure you could think of something...... Wink

Bonsoir · 02/05/2011 14:45

I don't like having a regular cleaner because of the invasion of privacy thing. But I do get a cleaning service in for a spring clean from time to time: that requires me to have a massive tidy up first, so that the cleaners can dust/hoover/wash/scrub/polish everything. And I never clean windows, inside or out - always get a window cleaner to do it.

I also send my ironing out and get most of my shopping delivered. And I eat lots of meals out.