Is anyone else's house permanently a mess??

[Raskova]

No matter what you do???

Had an impromptu BBQ yesterday, cue lots of rushed hoovering and cleaning. It's already a mess. Probably because of the BBQ but I've just been informed another person is popping round. Off I go again...

Also only buy things that can be used for years to come.

Ie when babie see brought a sheepskin rug instead of baby mat. Used for baby to lay on, toddler to play on, then next baby, and now in on floor next to bed so no need To store I between babies

Never brought baby cups/ beakers etc, just some nice non breakable cups that were used as toddlers, now also used still and can be used as picnic cups when needed. So double amount not needed. Regular Teaspoons used for babies instead of baby spoons

Just enough bedding plus spare, Same with towels, don't have cupboards full.

Kids donate a toy for every new one they get. And everyone knows in family to buy small things that can be used up ie paints/ craft or experiences ie farm pass rather than large plastic crap

Smashley I saw one that said

"Cleaning your house while kids are growing is like shovelling snow while it's still snowing"

That's a good idea art.

I got it done and have dropped them off. Had to Hoover the whole downstairs and stairs and landing without the end on the Hoover. Some knob head hid it when he hoovered yesterday. first time he's done it in a long time

Bet it's a tip again tomorrow

I am glad to read I'm not the only one. I have 4 dc under 10 and a huge house. I only work part- time but I just can't keep it all tidy and clean each week. I kept thinking its because I wasn't trying hard enough. But it's because I have 4 dc and a huge house, it just isn't feasible, particularly when my eldest dc has Aspergers and regularly goes off on a meltdown or is torturing the others. There are six bedrooms alone. I find it hard to accept as I'm a very tidy person, but it is indeed like shovelling snow.

My lovely lovely mum hoovered my house yesterday & did a little tidying for me. You would never know it now. Slightly depressing but I console myself with the thought that it is 20 minute tidy.
I agree with those who say make sure everything has a place - it is impossible to tidy if not.

It used to be, much better now, though still not great by some peoples standards I imagine.
I worked quite hard to get into an efficient routine with cleaning, which I stick to 75% of the time, got rid of some clutter, and most importantly, everything has a place, which makes tidying up a doddle. It doesn't matter what the place is (e.g. baby seat by the back door, toys under the coffee table), it just helps to know where everything goes before you start!
It's nice not to have to panic everytime someone comes round!

accessorize can you not get help? That sounds like too much for anyone to deal with tbh.

Having a cleaner doesn't help - my house is tidy for the half an hour before my cleaner comes then is a total mess again about half an hour after she had left. Any least it is clean underneath I suppose...

Brilliant i am not alone...

I have a lovely island in my lovely kitchen. It's permanently buried under family detritus. Mail, school books, discarded clothing, random hair accessories, keys, sellotape blah blah

Every now and then I blitz it and everyone is in awe of its loveliness. 24hrs later it's a shitpit again.

And repeat for other areas of the house - hallway, sitting room, study. I'm drowning.

Yes - and I feel self conscious about others seeing it so consequently avoid inviting friends over

When you say donate half your stuff, does that include DH and DgrownC? If so I have some for collection.

This is me too OP.

I feel I havn't been on top of mine for quite some time. Lots of false starts and procrastination.

I have decided it is because we have way too much stuff. I know this seem silly but I just dont knwo how to get rid of stuff. - Mainly clothes and toys.

It think one, some or all of the following:

But I paid good money for that, I really cant chuck it away what a waste.
Hasnt been worn or used enough
I might need it
I might lose weight and grow back into it
I have a lack of storage whats the point in folding and god forbid ironing.
Its too nice to get rid of
They were a present off someone

I've never had this problem before. I would periodically enjoy and good tidy out and full on deep clean. Now I CBA (but to be fair I am just getting my health back on track, energy levels are going up and I am in a better mood)

I sit and beat myelf up that I must be lazy. Or I convince myself Im too busy doing nice things with the kids/friends.

And smile, I could have written that myself

If you haven't worn it for a year or if it doesn't fit, just bin it or charity it. Same for toys.

If you lose weight you will enjoy treating yourself to new smaller clothes anyway. It isn't hard, don't give yourself the excuses.

At least someone else will benefit from it if it is still in good condition.

I'm moving in a convoluted manner so 80% of our stuff is in storage. We are still in a permanent state of chaos! I have realised recently though that it's my own fault really. In our house I'm the only person who scrapes plates, loads dishwasher, closes cupboard doors, puts the cereal away, picks up clothes from the bathroom floor. ... and so on ad infinitum!

I get up early and tidy the whole house ready to clean only for it to be trashed once everyone has gone to school. Needless to say this is changing fast (before we get our ton of stuff back!) although I am having to be grumpy, shouty mum which I hate. I would suggest you take a good look at the mess next time and try to identify where it's coming from. There is probably a reason for it, hopefully it'll be something you can change

For cleaning, I always make sure it's tidy before bedtime. I also work 4 days and we're all out of the house during that time which means that there's not a lot of time to

On working days I will always do one of the following;

hoover
dust
clean bathroom
clean windows or paperwork (bills etc)

This leaves weekends free aside from washing bedding and towels and gardening.

I only have one laundry basket that can hold a light and dark wash. When this gets full they both get put on.

It is about staying on top of things. I need to do DS's toys now before his birthday next week to make some room.

DH does the food shopping, cooking and washing up. I take care of the rest.

I don't feel as though I spend my life cleaning. I usually get 90 minutes - 2 hours chilling out after the work-exercise-dinner-bedtime-cleaning routine.

The house isn't immaculate but it'll do.

Sorry meant to add that there's not a lot of time to mess it up again.

rats

Well yes of course jut 'bin it' - thereslotsof. I think I need to rethink my list:

But I paid good money for that, I really cant chuck it away = Charity
Hasnt been worn or used enough = Collecting dust
I might need it = if is that important Id be wearing/using it.
I might lose weight and grow back into it = new clothes
I have a lack of storage whats the point in folding and god forbid ironing = find a better system plus if I get rid of the above items then they will fit dammit!
Its too nice to get rid of = no point being nice if it is not out being used/worn
They were a present off someone = advise them better next time

today - My DH makes mess and my toddler. DS not so bad. I think because I am now the SAHP in a 'traditional role' then I just have to get on and suck it up. But you are right, why should they make/leave mess in the first place (we not doing them any favours). I became a SAHP not a slave.

thereslotsof thats a good routine. I used to have a Mon/Fri routine when I worked and did the garden at weekends..No Im a SAHP I realise we do indeed make more mess - you are right there.

I need to find my happy place re house I think I relaxed my perfectionism way too far

Rats does you mess affect your mood, I find mine does I feel mitered by it and everything is a hassle because you cant find stuff or there is not space.

Aw, thank you Burma! I feel better knowing someone doesn't think I'm crap! Dp keeps saying we can't afford a cleaner, but there are times I feel at the end of my rope with it. Letting myself off the hook a bit does help though

Oh I feel so much better for this thread! I thought it was just me drowning in everyone else's clutter.

It's funny how that I've become more of a clutter-bug like the rest in my house, rather than them becoming more tidy and organised like I used to be!

I think part of the problem is having such an open plan style house downstairs. Oh and two preschoolers

I honestly don't bother to pick up the litter of toys, unless I am about to have the floor cleaned or someone is coming to visit.

Every time I think we should cull the toy selection, they take a huge interest in the items about to get deported. A very cunning confusion strategy of theirs that always works on their poor mother!

The only thing about moving clothes on, is that they're items like absolute favourite fitting jeans that just can't be bought any more, or such old favourites that I hate the idea of never wearing them again (just need baby hips to slim down again - sigh).

I recently stayed in a holiday cottage for a few days and commented on how LOVELY it was to have just enough stuff to function but not enough to feel overwhelmed by clutter. I came home determined to declutter but just haven't found time yet .

Yes got another question! That's exactly what they do!!!!! I give up on toy culls because it's just not worth it.

It's her birthday in September tho...