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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Do you have a cleaning schedule?

22 replies

nifaitniafaire · 12/07/2014 10:48

We're about to move from a small 3 bed house to a big 5 bed house and I'm worried I won't be able to keep up with the cleaning.

We can't afford a cleaner unfortunately. I have 2 children, work part time and because my DH is away a lot I'm solely in charge of running the house.

I like things to be clean and tidy, mess really stresses me out. At the moment, I tidy a bit and clean the kitchen everyday, the rest gets done as and when when it looks like it needs to and once a month I have a oh-my-god-this-house-is-filthy-I-can't-live-like-this moment and I clean the house from top to bottom for hours. It kind of works, although I always feel it's not quite as clean as I'd like and that being more methodical might help.

I'm worried that a big house is going to push me over the edge and I'm wondering how other people do it. Do you do a room a day? A job (say dusting) a day? If so in what order do you do things and what products do you use?

OP posts:
AnyoneForTennis · 12/07/2014 11:15

I did that! Moved from medium 3 bed to large 5 bed over 3 storeys

Can't keep it clean! I work too so that might have some bearing, but even with teens helping it's tough

It's a new build

ILikeToClean · 12/07/2014 11:28

My situation is similar to yours but my house is 4 bedrooms. I find if you don't have a lot of stuff (regular decluttering) and do housework regularly it doesn't take too long. I work 2 long days at the end of the week so nothing really gets done then, but for example:

Monday - clean whole house so go through each room dusting, polishing, wiping and hoover, upstairs takes about half an hour (including bathroom and ensuite), downstairs maybe an hour (lounge, kitchen, utility room, study, dining room, playroom). I literally flick round, nothing major.

Tuesday I'll Hoover and tidy up. Just go in each room and make sure everything is in it's rightful place. Takes 10 mins.

Wednesday the same as Monday.

Saturday just a general tidy up and Hoover. Again 10 mins.

The thing I do now to prevent the massive spring clean that I too used to get completely stressed about is - each time I do the housework I do one room more thoroughly - so e.g. in DD1's room will take everything off shelves or clean out cupboards, decluttering, clean thoroughly. Next time I might do a downstairs room e.g. the lounge - so will clean behind tv, dust wall pictures, clear out cupboards etc.

Each week on a Tuesday I'll do a rota job like clean the oven, wash outside, clean washing machine, all those sorts of jobs that need doing every so often. I have a list and just pick one! Sad!

Sounds really anal and boring but I find then that each room gets a really good clean every few weeks, nothing builds up to a real state and it doesn't take very long at all as it's never that bad to begin with. To me it's less stressful to just do it than leave it as that would make me more stressed iyswim!

To me, hoovering regularly makes a big difference, have a dog so no choice! And storage - everything put away!

Good luck in your new home!

AnyoneForTennis · 12/07/2014 11:49

Like the idea of a rota for the bigger jobs!

Got new sofas yesterday so pulled out all furniture to clean.... Was Shock

CiderwithBuda · 12/07/2014 12:47

Perfect timing!

Also in a 5 bed although smallest bedroom is DH's office and a permanent mess tbh.

Currently have a cleaner with an agency but for the last year we don't have the same cleaner for more than about 5 or 6 weeks as they leave the agency. It's all getting a bit slap dash and I don't feel we are getting value for money. So thinking of doing it myself. But I'm a lazy disorganised cow and spend far too long on here!

Trying to set up a routine so that it all gets done. And then I might book cleaners for a spring clean once or twice a year if I feel we need it.

I follow an American blog - Iheartorganizing - and she has a cleaning checklist that I think I will try and adapt. It has daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual tasks.

Mutley77 · 12/07/2014 12:53

I live in quite a big house and am currently a SAHM, although I don't think I have loads more time at home than when I was working part time as I have a toddler, which creates more work and leaves less spare time for cleaning!

However for the first time in my life I have a cleaning routine and it is so much more relaxing than cleaning as you go (which it sounds like your system is, and mine used to be). I find that by doing half hour max per day plus 2 hours per week routinely I can stop feeling like the place gets filthy. It's pretty amazing really!

So, two afternoons per week when toddler is asleep and older DCs at school, I spend an hour cleaning. Each week I do one day where I dust whole house, hoover and mop (where relevant) downstairs. Another day I do a rotation of jobs so it might be a few windows/bathroom mirros and hoover upstairs or it might be cleaning a bathroom. Then every day I probably spend up to 30 mins cleaning so I do a quick sweep (sometimes and mop) of kitchen at the end of the day, wipe round the kitchen in the mornings - including a deep clean of the sink every now and then. I also give the toilets a quick freshen up every other day approx (toilet cleaner down and brush round), and wipe round the bathrooms probably every third or fourth day.

Sounds really sad but I actually feel a sense of achievement of being on top of it all.

nifaitniafaire · 12/07/2014 12:54

Thanks ladies!

Iliketockean (great name), what's your list of rota jobs? I'm interested, it sounds like your schedule could be manageable.

The kids are 5 and 2 do they can't help much, the little one is in the phase of causing clutter wherever he goes... And we've got a cat!

The house is 3 storey, Victorian, Tennis, so quite similar.

Do people do skirting boards per room or in one big job? Dirty skirting boards are my pet hate. What do you use to clean them? I use warm water and a cloth or if I'm lazy I Hoover with the brush thingy.

Feel really old suddenly debating cleaning styles...

OP posts:
nifaitniafaire · 12/07/2014 12:58

Thanks other ladies too, cross posting! Will have a look at your schedules when I get back, got to take DS1 to a play date.

Very excited to feel there might be a system for me! X

OP posts:
eltsihT · 12/07/2014 13:06

When we moved 2 years ago (small 2 bed) to our 4 bed I made a schedule, which I stick to. If I don't get the job for that day done, dh help out at night if he is home or I do it when boys are in bed.

Monday: downstairs floors and change a bed - I do ours one week and dc the next week

Tuesday: dust

Wednesday: bathrooms, bins, cat box and upstairs floors ( bin day is Thursday and I always need to vacuum after doing the cats box) I also cut the grass every Wednesday night if it is nice.

Thursday: mirrors and windows (insides)

Friday: once a month either, skirting boards, door handles, cobweb hunting, deep clean kitchen, tidy cupboards that have got in a mess

Sat and Sunday off. Try to cut the grass if it didn't get done Wednesday.

Kitchen gets cleaned as I go along and always before use as I have cats that walk on the work tops. General tidying up gets done every night before dc go to bed.

AnnieOnAMapleLeaf · 12/07/2014 13:16

Download an app call "Home Routines". I have been using it for years and it is awesome. You divide your house into zones and clean a zone a day. You can also do a 15 minute cleaning dash which works really well.

I love it!

DuchessFanny · 12/07/2014 14:44

We have a 3 storey house, I alternate ground and first floor, so every Monday upstairs, Tuesday downstairs and so on. The second floor gets done once every week with the DC ( this is their bedrooms and playroom and they're old enough to have 'jobs'
I do laundry every day.
Alternating works because I get very anxious about the place not being in order or clean and knowing even if it's a 'downstairs day' and upstairs is a bit of a mess, it will only be a mess for one more night.
DH and DC all do their bit, which helps a lot ... And we have Sundays off !!

petitdonkey · 12/07/2014 14:48

skirting boards - small child + baby wipes = 20p per room!!!

nifaitniafaire · 12/07/2014 21:00

Thanks, there's some great advice here!

What I think I'm going to is draw a list of all the jobs that need doing daily, weekly and monthly and allocate some time every day to do a bit. Realistically it has to be no more than 1h a day and I may need to put the little one I front of cebeebies during that time - not great and I know it's more important to spend time with kids than cleaning but the reality is that I'm not a laid back person that can bear mess, I'm uptight and love order, there. Not sure why I'm justifying myself...

Another question: what do you use for dusting? I have a feather duster but it feels like it's just redistributing dust to places I'm not looking at rather than dealing with the dust. I read good things about those micro fibre cloths, do you use them for dusting? Which brands? Thanks

OP posts:
ILikeToClean · 12/07/2014 21:04

I got the list of rota jobs from a thread on here - just spent ages trying to find it to no avail - sorry. I'll keep trying or type my list out. You can adapt it as necessary.

Skirting boards I do with each room with a wet cloth - literally run it over them, again - if you do it each time the dust doesn't build.

Lots of people swear by flylady - never used it myself but it's worth looking at some threads about it as it may work for you.

I'll keep searching for the thread now...

eltsihT · 12/07/2014 21:20

My boys 1 and 3 yo help with all the jobs, ok it takes a little longer but they are great at dusting, pairing socks (well finding pairs, I chase them with the vacuum cleaner etc. Ok Sometimes they wander off and play bit always in the same room.

I damp dust with a sponge and a bowl of plain water

DuchessFanny · 13/07/2014 09:02

I often damp dust too, as with a feather duster I just feel like I'm moving the dust about to resettle elsewhere.

DuchessFanny · 13/07/2014 09:03

When I don't damp dust ( if I want to polish for example ) I'll use a normal duster.

foreverforaging · 13/07/2014 09:52

I use an e-cloth for damp dusting. Real thing is best (not a knock off version).

Run the cloth under warm water, wring it out, wipe surface and, depending on the surface, finish it off with a glass cleaning e-cloth. That and regular hoovering really keeps the dust down. I really noticed when I was working full time (and not doing as much housework!).

HDEE · 13/07/2014 10:08

Life's too short for a cleaning rota. I just tidy any mess as it occurs. No fuss, no drama, no routines.

ThrowAChickenInTheAir · 13/07/2014 10:26

We also did the same - went from 3 to 5 bed. I must admit it does seem never ending.

I do have a bit of a rota but it often gets knocked out of sync. I really just try to thoroughly clean and focus on one bit at a time so at least I know it's all getting done regularly, but I never reach the holy grail of housework where it's all done at once.

It's not just the cleaning either. There are 5 of us and the shopping, cooking and washing is a major factor too. Oh we'll...Hmm

ILikeToClean · 13/07/2014 15:52

Ok here's my list of "other" jobs:

Wash down front door, window sills etc
Clean washing machine filter and do empty boil wash
Clean oven
Descale kettle
Shampoo carpets
Wash pet bedding
Wash mats
Clean Hoover filter
Wash/clean handbags, rucksacks etc
Wash winter coats, gloves, hats etc at end of season
Get car cleaned
Clean blankets, throws etc
Clean out make up bag, throw out old make up, clean brushes
Clean out guttering
Turn over and Hoover mattresses
Wash curtains
Descale iron
Clean out drains
Dust lampshades
Clean bikes
Wash patio furniture
Defrost freezer
Clean blinds
Unravel plugs and wires etc

The first 6 or 7 I do more regularly, probably once a month, other stuff once a year and some in the list I will probably never get round to! I have defrosted my freezer today so can check that off Grin

nifaitniafaire · 13/07/2014 18:51

Wow! You're not called iliketoclean for nothing!!

Thanks for taking the time to type this out, I feel inspired. I couldn't sleep last night because DS2 was poorly so I ended up on amazon at 2am buying microfibre cloths. I've also started decluttering, moving house is a great opportunity to get rid of lots of unwanted stuff.

OP posts:
TheSilveryPussycat · 13/07/2014 19:21

I'm hoping to downsize in the nearish future from my 5 bed (was)/new build, which I never got the hang of cleaning! Blush (my family followed my Ex's example and contributed very little, which didn't help).

This thread gives me hope that I can at least get it ready to put on the market!

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