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

[sorky]

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

[BoffinMum]

Go on, you know you want them ...

[Asinine]

Moondog is your real name marla aka flylady?

[PfftTheMagicDragon]

I agree with Moondog.

The biggest thing that you can do is get good storage and clear away the clutter.

You absolutely must make sure that before you go to bed at night, and before you leave the house in the day, that the house is tidy. Do the washing up, put clothes away, fluff sofa cushions, vacuum. It is nicer to come back/get up to a clean house and makes you start the day more motivated to keep it clean.

The only thing that I do allow in my house that Moondog mentioned is snacking in the sitting room but tbh I wish that I didn't as I end up having to clean the sofas more than I would like.

While H is putting the children to bed in the evening, I run a vacuum round, tidy up, get things ready for the morning so I have a clean house to relax in for the evening.

In the mornings we get up at 6 and before taking H to work and going to school I will do the washing up, get a load of washing on, mop the kitchen floor, straighten the house, make beds etc. Don't sit there thinking "my house is a mess"....just get up and do it.

The only way to do it is to keep on top of it and do it a little at a time.

[PfftTheMagicDragon]

Every three or four months I go through all of the children's toys and clothes and get rid of anything old/damaged/unwanted and pass it on, or get rid of it.

[Asinine]

I have a morning and evening routine like flylady. If anyone's not tried it yet, it really works if you stick with it.

[BoffinMum]

You might like this post on morning organisation with a fmily in tow

[AngelDog]

I agree with moondog too. My house is generally a tip, but when I do make the effort to keep things tidy, I have more energy and things stay tidy.

[PfftTheMagicDragon]

oooh Boffin, that's pretty similar to how I run my mornings.

It sounds silly, but it's just much easier to keep a tidy house tidy. When the house starts to get messy I can feel the slump setting in.

[jellyvodkas]

My answer is : Have no one in it.
Its the only way !!!

[moondog]

Yes, I liek that post Boffin.
That is exactly what I do, bar the tray. but I think I shall buy one now.
I like that idea.
My dh is abroad and has a housekeeper (I know, lucky swine. When I go and see him I feel like I have died and gone to heaven. He even brings me a cup of tea after I leave the table and collapse on the sofa. It's bloody fantastic.)

Anyway, I digress. Said housekeeper always uses a tray.
So obvious. Why did I not think of it before?

[BoffinMum]

Glad you like it.

[lovetoclean]

I totally agree with Pennybubbly we love to keep our house also clean, immaculate, spotless and super organized. We have a huge 6 bedroom house with 2 bathrooms and 2 living rooms and that includes, dusting, sweeping, moping and organizing and it takes the both of us no more than 45 minutes to do it every day and we have a 24 year old disabled son that lives with us due to his disability and his room has to remain clean, immaculate, spotless and organized and if it ain't he will let my husband or myself know and we have to keep it clean for him. No it is not boring or dull to keep your house or apartment clean, spotless and immaculate and organized whether you have kids or not. Our home should be the reflection of us.

[bossboggle]

With small children you have no chance!! Enjoy them and teach them slowly how to tidy and things will fall into place. 5 of us in our house and three dogs! I'm lucky - a stay at home mum but very very busy!! Mine all older now but one of the things I DEMAND is laundry is sorted no exceptions!! I have four (rectangular) shaped laundry baskets, one for dirty towels,another for whites, coloreds and darks. There is NO exception to this rule, it took me a while to 'train' my lot but it works and it saves you loads of time because you can just pick out a load and put it straight into the machine, not too much time spent sorting laundry. And yes you can teach little ones put pictures above the baskets and make a game out of it - they soon catch on!!