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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Ok all you Anthea types. I need a schedule!

39 replies

Skribble · 12/09/2006 00:39

So you can help,

I want a schedule/ timetable/ checklist to help me keep on top of the house. I am a long way from having a nice tidy orgainised house but I need to know what to aim for to keep it ticking over. Figure if I start a schedule and do extra bits as I go I will get it all sorted out eventually.

Trouble is I work part-time iregular hours, sometimes days at a time then other times I don't work for days. Routine needs to be flexible so I can catch up after I have been away.

So who can tell we what they do, how long they spend doing things and how often they do certain tasks. TIA .

OP posts:
Original poster
Skribble · 12/09/2006 00:39

I meant to start with...
So who can help?

OP posts:
sorkycake · 12/09/2006 08:28

Have you considered 'the insane flylady' thread, or do you want to know the schedules for everyone else?

For me personally even though I have a schedule, I'm giving flylady a go and have bypassed the babysteps, as my house wasn't cluttered.
If you have lots to sort and chuck you maybe better on the flylady track. If you're pretty organised already, then I can post my routine and let you know what I work to.
I don't do anymore than I have to believe me!

sorkycake · 12/09/2006 09:00

Ok,every morning when I get up but before I go downstairs I:

  • Open curtains/blinds and throw open all windows. Pull back duvets to air all the beds. Pick up any clothes on floor and put in wash basket (I'm working on my brood to do this themselves)
  • After breakfast, load dishes to dishwasher and wipe down the table. Get kids dressed and washed. Switch washer on, as I loaded it ready the night before.
  • Off we go to school. Morning stuff takes about 20 minutes in total but I do it as I'm getting ready so it feels like part of my morning iyswim. Back from school:
  • wipe all kitchen surfaces and sweep up. *Hang washing out. *Go to bathrooms and straighten and wipe clean. *Make beds.

Done! No more than 30 minutes.

Other jobs:
I iron after kids have gone to bed, every other day (no more than 2-3 loads so doesn't take long) and put straightaway if they're asleep or when I make the beds.
On a weekend I give the house a good clean out, changing beds etc and this takes me about 2 hours in total from 8-10am (Sunday often) then the day is mine.

I make the kids pick up their toys before they go to bed. I lay all clothes and bags out the night before to speed up mornings. Load dishwasher night before and set off in morning too. Clean as I go is useful (wish dh would learn this). Check out the "tips for getting organised" thread loads of people have posted some good tips on there. hth

Berrie · 12/09/2006 09:06

good one me too!

sorkycake · 12/09/2006 20:21

bump 4 skribble.

EmsTomot · 12/09/2006 20:39

How sad that I think your daily routine sorkycake is amazing. My baby is eleven weeks old, my only child and my house is a tip. I manage the basics - keeping the toilet and bathroom clean, the kitchen clean and the occassional heap of washing - should I feel guilty? Where do you get the motivation from to do this day in day out? I swear, tomorrow morning, when I come down to make up his first feed, I am throwing the windows open downstairs and loading the washing machine...got to be a start!

tribpot · 12/09/2006 20:41

Oh EmsTomtot, please don't compare yourself to mums with older kids (mine is 15 months and I can't match sorkycake at all). At 11 weeks, just being conscious enough to get out of the house once a day is the only achievement you need to be aiming at.

FlipFloppinRubyRioja · 12/09/2006 20:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EmsTomot · 12/09/2006 20:49

No idea what Fly lady thread is so explain away! Thank you Tribpot, feel better already, won't beat myself up. Does anyone have a partner who converted from house proud, look after pregnant lady before she breaks mode to bread winner who deserves to be waited upon once baby arrived mode?

tribpot · 12/09/2006 20:55

I'm seeing a red mist before my eyes at the words 'bread winner who deserves to be waited on', EmsTomot.

Perhaps this is just sour grapes as I am that bread winner but there is no waiting on me when I get home But if you can, i.e. not bf, definitely leave your dh/p with the little one for the day and perhaps sorkycake's schedule as well?!

melrose · 12/09/2006 21:04

Def do fly lasy, although a biot mad you can dip in and out, has some basic routines and then focuses on one zone a week. That is the bit that has got me sorted, rather than flitting here

nd there you can spend 15 mons in one room, eachh day or eve and see a real difference! for example, this week is the bathroom and tonight whilst Ds was in the bath playing I sorted the toliaetries out, cleaned shelves they sit on and really cleaned the sink (inc all round the taps) took 10 mins and made me feel great. Tomorrow going to do the shower!

Other tip I have taken from there is leaving the kitchen clean and tidy each night and if poss the halla nd living room (so nice to come down to each day!)

Good Luck!f I can do it6 anyone can!!

melrose · 12/09/2006 21:04

Oh meant yop add also go for the "if you don't use it or love it chuck it away" approach less stuff=less tidying up!

EmsTomot · 12/09/2006 21:14

{smile} Fifteen minutes a night, per room. Will start tonight as (Tribpot this ones for you) have convinced hubby to feed the little man - it's not so much his attitude that is breadwinner, more the fact that it is now like having two children in the house. I never used to pick up after hubby and he never used to leave the kitchen a mess after dinner - but must think as I am at home now... It is relevant to cleaning the house, because obviously if he did his bit, I would have less bits to do!!!!

EmsTomot · 12/09/2006 21:16

Oh and Melrose - have a cardboard box in the living room known as the "carboot" which unwanted things go in regularly - I find that soaring hormones help clear out the junk!

tribpot · 12/09/2006 21:23

EmsTomot, we do not 'convince', we instruct Happy to help

Yes at home more during the day, yes more knackered and with other things to be doing.

EmsTomot · 12/09/2006 21:32

I'm not a push over Tribpot! - only sometimes I find disguising my assertiveness gets better results! I know for sure that our baby has a lazy streak in him, and it is not from me!!! I am sure hubby will adapt, especially when I go back to work as he will have to!!!!

Original poster
Skribble · 12/09/2006 21:52

Hi just sat down to PC with a drink, Tuesday nights are a mad rush to dancing then back late.

I had a look at Fly lady but couldn't stand all the emails. Is there a way to get the info but without the millions of e.mails. House is totaly clutteres so babysteps.

Trouble is everything that needs clearing as something in the way holding it up. Like.. can't put ebay stock in cupboard as it is full of perspex pick and mix boxes, can't move boxes as trailer is full of stuff including silvercross pram, can't sell pram as house is to messy to take pictures of it never mind have people in to look at it. Dh doesn't understand that people will be put off buying baby stuff from a messy house.

Sorky I probably do most of the stuff in your first post, barely keeps us functioning, its all the other jobs that never get fitted in, like windows, changing beds, hoovering all the rooms dusting, clearing worktops, put stuff in loft, sort out loft, redecorate, get kids to tidy up rooms chuck out old clothes, iron, clearing up the clutter etc etc.

OP posts:
EmsTomot · 12/09/2006 21:56

Skribble, this makes me sound REALLY lazy, but we iron as and when we need the clothes, I just fold clean washing away. As for hoovering - I gave our dog to the mother in law (long story but lets say my baby was more important) and now manage to do the hoovering two/three times a week. We want to have a second nipper one day in the not so distant future - but I can't imagine being able to cope...washing is a nightmare - feel like I should be wearing a bib twenty four seven too just to protect my tops!

tortoisesdonotwearshoes · 12/09/2006 21:58

Another FLYing MNer here! You don't have to get the emails.they are on the FLY lady website every day.We like Kelly's mission each day.Seems we like being told to do things as it gets us doing it! Baby steps is great.Zone a week so room by room we are slowly working our way through the clutter.Just remember it took more than a day to get clutter so can't be cleared in a day.

Original poster
Skribble · 12/09/2006 22:00

I hate ironing and tend to fold straight from the drier. Dh does his sown stuff as he wears huge shirts and i can't stand doing them.

My porblem is that the clean washing tends to gather, them when MIL comes around I grab it all and pile it up in our room, so all the folding when warm is wasted. I am geting better at putting it away once its washed so not too much piled up.

OP posts:
Original poster
Skribble · 12/09/2006 22:02

Trouble is I don't know if I can keep up with even the fly babysteps as when I work it is 12+ shifts, so no chance I am coming home to shine sinks , plus I work away from home for a couple of days at a time.

OP posts:
sorkycake · 12/09/2006 22:14

Hey what's with the sorky-bashing?
Girls I have been exactly where you are in terms of the state of the house when I had my first baby and was extremely proud that we were both clean and dressed before midday most days.
When baby no.2 came along shortly after though I had to get organised because there was twice the mess and I was sinking under it. That's when I got a routine, a mixture of relatives routines to be exact and honestly life is far easier now.
The big stuff like windows gets left to a weekend once every other month, and I'm doing the flylady zones for all the rooms, just the detailed cleaning lists. I am not slumming it over there, though granted I haven't done that much today.
It's much easier to do a routine once the clutter is gone tbh.
If you don't want the emails then every morning the first FL thread poster will detail from the site what's needed for that day.
Come join us, we're a happy little bunch, even though we're cleaning!
Btw I'm pg with no.3 and feel much happier with the thought of coping since doing this.

Original poster
Skribble · 12/09/2006 23:15

fly lady still scares me but I know a lot of the principles are a good base, simple things like putting on your shoes, even getting dressed in my case would be a start. Plus my sink is crappy white plastic so can't shine it. Weekends are for either working or enjoying days out with kids so no window cleaning then .

Will I venture back??
Can I handle it?
Will it get my house under control?
Can I print off the days info so I don't have to keep looking at website?
Is it easyenough to miss days or will it all fall apart if I do that?

OP posts:
FlipFloppinRubyRioja · 12/09/2006 23:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

misdee · 12/09/2006 23:21

i havent started this weeks room yet skibble (also a fly baby) but my kitchen is so much easier to manage now, as did it all last week. bathroom is being started tomorrow (i have been doing laundry and trying to rest as been feeling poo). it is really good. i am just off to shine my sink (had pans soaking), then off to bed. clothes out and waiting for us all in the morning.