HELP! No time to clean with two under 4!!

[frutilla]

I don't have enough time to clean the house. DS1 is 8 months DS 2 is 3. No childcare, and I won't be sending DS2 to nursery for at least another year. We live abroad so no family to help. DH works from home but it's renovating an old and very large house so he can't watch them for long periods, usually just tea break and shower.
I can hoover while they're in the room, but that's about it. I try and tidy the kitchen while doing breakfast, but then I only get a cup of coffee. Yesterday DH watched them while I spent an hour on the windows. I sometimes scrub floors when they're asleep, v.late!
Any advice appreciated!!!

I have 1.5 and 2.5 yr olds and I am always behind on the housework too. I try to do little and often like:

Clean a section of the kitchen whilst they have their lunch, do a different section each day

I don't wash windows, I will start doing that when they start school...

Clean a section of the bathroom everytime I have a shower, so eg I clean the sink whilst waiting for my shower water to warm up, next day give the toilet a quick going over.

Clean floors in the evenings when they are asleep, its not noisy so doesn't wake them.

Always wash up after every meal, never let it build up, its too hard to catch up.

Hoover whilst they watch TV

Iron in the evenings whilst I watch TV

Hi frutilla, I've got a 1 and 2 year old, neither at nursery etc and keeping on top of housework is definitely a challenge I agree. I try to involve them where practical, especially cooking as they really enjoy that. As your DS2 gets a bit older they'll be playing together more which may free up a little time for you to get on with things.

Most days I try to get up an hour before anyone else and get the basics done - I guess this is not for everyone but getting it out the way early works for me. And gives me more time for the fun stuff later . It also gives me some uninterrupted time to plan the day and focus on what I want to get done (not just housework related stuff!) which I need otherwise I'd never get anything done.

Have you looked at the flylady stuff? I keep meaning to get stuck into that, especially for the non-basic stuff which I am rubbish at!

Thanks Blue, I'm going to try out this new tactic tonight!! DH won't notice if he babysits a bit longer than usual.
Huge, I did join FlyLady but wasn't ready at the time and clicked "spam". Guess I'd better redirect the daily emails back to my inbox!