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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

I am 34, I am single for the first time in my adult life, I have no idea how to keep a house clean - HELP

59 replies

shakinstevenslovechild · 15/03/2014 12:22

Dh and I have recently made the decision to split.

I have been with him since I was 19/20.

He is moving out soon, and I am really worried.

In our relationship I have worked, dealt with the cooking, washing and our dc, he has worked and dealt with the majority of the housework.

I am ashamed to say that I don't even know where to start with keeping on top of the housework because he has always done most of it.

Please, please share your hints and tips with me.

I have a 3 bedroomed house, 4 dc, and work from home mostly.

I am Blush that I have got this far in life and relied on him so much, so please be gentle Sad

OP posts:
WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 18/03/2014 12:18

Well done, really positive steps there. Glad you've ordered the DW too. Change is definitely good!

BeaWheesht · 18/03/2014 13:41

Well done but please don't put the washing machine on when you're asleep - it's a big fire risk

sanschocolat · 18/03/2014 15:18

[Waves to ¨whoknows]

Well done shakin you've got loads done considering everything else on your plate! Couldn't live without my dw either so great you've ordered one!

With regard to appliances and fire risk: helpful to buy dws and wms with timers. Then you can set them to come on early but while you are up and about ifyswim.

sanschocolat · 18/03/2014 15:19

Oh and have smoke detector nearby of course.

trilbydoll · 18/03/2014 15:38

I must admit, our washing is only ever under control when I religiously put a wash on timer to come on at 6am every day. Hopefully if the machine combusts it will do so after we get up at 7am!

I am useless domestically, but I know why - I am really lazy and have no discipline, so I don't force myself to sort out the kitchen before watching tv. The minute it starts building up you're doomed, as long as you stay on top if it you will be fine.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 18/03/2014 21:59

I find if I load the WM the night before and just hit the "on" button as soon as I walk into the kitchen in the morning it is much more likely to get done than if I have to remember to bring the washing down and load it up in the morning.

poocatcherchampion · 25/03/2014 21:12

I agree with the washing machine. its bad news if it needs to be hung out after lunch!
op - I had lots of good tips for you but having read further I dont think our standards are the same. bedding gets washed no more than fortnightly here, mopping about once a week, hoovering twice because I have a new hoover that I like. and we are in full scale diy and renovation with 2 babies.

what I will offer is- 1) never leave a room empty handed and 2) dont aim for perfection - aim for better than it was. its much more relaxingWink

Original poster
shakinstevenslovechild · 25/03/2014 21:34

Thank you all for the tips.

I have no standards at all really, I think it's a good day if I can see the floor generally Grin

I am getting a bit more settle into a routine now, although I have decorated another room, and put new carpet down in a couple of places, hung a new door in the bathroom and am attempting to rebuild the cupboard under the stairs (the guy who lived here before knocked it out for some unknown reason) as well as a few other general DIY bits and pieces. When it is all done I should be in the swing of things a bit more though.

I made a cleaning chart for myself and have bribed the kids with a rethink of their pocket money if we bump their chores up a bit more.

Dh still hasn't moved out, but he does nothing in the house now at all, so I think I will be able to cope, but we shall see, it's a bit of a novelty just now, it may well wear off Grin

OP posts:
EmpressOfJurisfiction · 25/03/2014 21:49

You hang doors, lay carpets and rebuild cupboards?

I'm in awe.

Original poster
shakinstevenslovechild · 25/03/2014 22:01

Yep Grin

It's only cleaning I struggle with. I'm a bit stuck with the cupboard just now, I've built the framework for it, but I don't really know what to do next, I'll have a wee look on you tube tonight and be an expert in the morning though an expert in my own mind anyway dh is rubbish at DIY so it was always up to me to so, I quite enjoy getting stuck in to it all.

(Oh and dds school called today, they have booked the guy from Inclusion For All to come and speak at the school about homophobic bullying, and use of language and invited me to come and listen if I want, I bloody love her school)

OP posts:
EmpressOfJurisfiction · 25/03/2014 22:17

That's one bloody AMAZING school. Did you see the Will Young webchat?

Original poster
shakinstevenslovechild · 25/03/2014 22:21

Oh no I didn't realise he was coming on for a chat, I'll just go and have a look for it. I've heard him in a couple of interviews and he is just brilliant, I wonder if the school could book him too Grin

OP posts:
EmpressOfJurisfiction · 26/03/2014 13:38

I bet they could. He's talking about homophobic language in schools so don't see why not!

OnTheBottomWithAWomansWeekly · 26/03/2014 13:46

I think someone else mentioned minimising ironing - I iron once every 6 mths when I want to wear my linen shirt or dress! (plus I work FT in an office environment so need clothes to look good - I own a lot of thick jersey dresses)

Tips - launder clothes as soon after wearing as possible. Don't leave sitting in washing machine - hang up to dry immediately wash is finished, and shake out all creases.

Then hang up (or fold carefully) when fully dry - and make sure there is room in wardrobe/drawer so that you're not shoving the item in making new creases.

This method is actually no extra work - just a bit of managing timings (i.e. don't put a wash on when you're going to bed and won't be there to take it out) and hanging the items to dry carefully.

JoanneWatson · 09/04/2014 17:55

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Maisie0 · 10/04/2014 16:01

My ammunitions are:

  • domestos domestos domestos (lots of it, remember to rinse!)
  • micro fibre clothes from pound shops (they work SO well)
  • dettol for bathing (to reduce bacteria growth)
  • anti-bacteria tooth pastes (yes, it does work so much better)

Just do it slowly. Break it down by a little bit each day I think. That is how I do it. If I do too much each day I get too stressed.

colditz · 10/04/2014 17:38

Maisie, seriously don't bathe in dettol. Also, go to the doctor. It's not normal to bathe in antiseptic and bleach everything.

bunjies · 10/04/2014 18:44

I'm not surprised you end up doing 4 washing loads a day if you're changing bedlinen every day Shock. Do yourself a favour & cut down to once a week. You won't catch anything promise Grin.

gamerchick · 10/04/2014 18:50

maisie seriously man you don't need to do all of that. Use bleach sparingly and you don't need to bath in dettol Hmm

You don't really bath in dettol do you? Confused

Feminine · 10/04/2014 21:07

I'm wondering if she means she cleans the bath with it? :-)

gamerchick · 10/04/2014 21:10

I really hope so.

Maisie0 · 11/04/2014 11:05

Well, I use the light diluted bleach mostly for floors and kitchen wipe down. In case of bacterias there with food. (And yes, I have had tummy bugs before with handling some pork. So I am extra diligent these days. I am also considering to switch to organic now.)

I have started to use dettol to bath this year, and started to soak the skin to get rid of bacteria on the skin. I always used to use shower, but it is not truly that effective I find. It's one of those "saves time, lasts loner" option for me. Blush

Maisie0 · 11/04/2014 11:07

Oops.
=I mean to bathe in.
=It lasts longer.

Feminine · 11/04/2014 11:08

maisie the bleaching is one thing. I think those baths of yours are going to dry your skin. Honestly, you could never be that dirty!

coffeeinbed · 11/04/2014 11:09

Tidy forst.

then work your way left to right, top to bottom, dry to wet.