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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Is it in any way possible to work FT, have no cleaner etc AND have a house that does not resemble a landfill site?

55 replies

Tigana · 23/07/2007 15:14

Or am I over-ambitious?
[harrassed]

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Tigana · 23/07/2007 15:40

We have dogs who live basically in the kitchen (and garden)...hence my concern about the floor in there...apparently the tiles are a greeny grey!!

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Notyummy · 23/07/2007 15:41

I think it is possible, but it depends what your standards are and how many kids you have! I work full time and have one toddler and no cleaner. I would describe our house as superficially clean and tidy. Even this level can only be reached with a DP fully pulling his weight. I clean bathrooms once a week, he hoovers once or twice a week, one of us mops floors once a week and post is dealt with every day. He does washing up and putting away, I do cooking. Things are not left lying around unless it is for a reason e.g you are doing something with them the next day. Washing put on early evening once dd is in bed, then taken out to hang up before going to sleep.

cece · 23/07/2007 15:42

Now I know my friend has tiles in her kitchen and had problem with dog and idrty floor . Think she used some sort of sealant on it to make it easier to clean

Tigana · 23/07/2007 15:44

Any tips for "persuading" dh that he is not quite, really, exactly pulling his weight?

Simple nagging will not work. He is stubborn
I need the equivalent of a sticker chart or jar of pasta!

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Notyummy · 23/07/2007 15:46

how about some bottles of stella with labels attached (hoovering/washing up) etc..??

ScottishMummy · 23/07/2007 15:47

LOL im guessing u have had a wee peep through my windows..no i dont think its possible to maintain queen-andrea-domestic-gleaming-palace and work...but i wouldnt want Princess-twinkly-plump-yer-cushions-all-the-time-happy-in-my-own-place-as-it-is^

snowleopard · 23/07/2007 15:48

Yes, I had this problem and told him we needed to have time after DS goes to bed to do essential chores. One of us cooks so if there is something that has to be done (eg taking bins out, recycling, making up a bed for a visitor) then we discuss it and trade off the chores until we agree it's fair, then do them before settling down to the rest of the evening. I also made him agree on a job that was his job to do every day - he does the dishwashing, and I do the clothes washing. It isd his job, if he doesn't do it it piles up forever. He's got into a routine now and I think he finds it easier not having to think about it or remember, IYSWIM.

MeAndMyMonkey · 23/07/2007 15:48

Not wishing to be sexist, but some dh/dps do not even notice dirt ! Quick test: ask him what colour the vacuum cleaner is. Bet he won't know - most men fail this test .
I am of the cat hair is good for the immune system brigade too, but am now quite jealous of Bossykate's military precision in running ship-shape household. Mary Poppins needed, pronto!
Tigana - bribe him with food/drink/treats?

blueshoes · 23/07/2007 15:49

Great list, bossykate.

To add, always try to cook for more than one meal and freeze extras.

For tidying, leave things at the bottom of stairs that need to go upstairs and vice versa. That way, they accumulate into a pile until you find the time to bring them up/down to be put away, all at once.

Direct debits, as much as possible.

Cleaning materials permanently stored in kitchen and bathroom. You can do bits as you use the rooms eg for bathroom, wipe down mirrors and taps damp with condensation. Wipe floor when dcs are having their bath. Throw bleach in toilet before you go for work.

Hoovering is ambitious, if you can. Otherwise, a dustpan and brush is great for spotcleaning and cosmetic jobs.

This will give you a half-bearable house, not immaculate.

elesbells · 23/07/2007 15:50

my house hasnt been tidy since 1988BC (before children)

Notyummy · 23/07/2007 15:50

I think some of it is just personality driven (attitude to housework that is) and that goes both for men and women. I am lucky...dh firmly believes that we are an equal partnership. We do split jobs arround the house, but tend to the ones that we 'enjoy (!!)' more e.g i don't mow grass...fecking hate it, but don't mind cleaning the loo. Also, he is military and hence has spent months of his life being inspected on his cleaningh skills, which means that a. he is pretty good at it and b.has fairly high standards, so picks up after himself as doesn't like mess.

ScottishMummy · 23/07/2007 15:52

LOL boyfriend asked me do we have a mop he has never used it...but then again i dont go up ladders, paint or do building maintenence he does so fair enough

Tigana · 23/07/2007 15:57

half-bearable house would suit me fine!
I am not up tight about cleanliness (otherwise I suspect I would be living in a nice padded room by now!) but it would be nice to feel able to relax in my own home and to move from one room to another without being followed by drifts of dog/cat hair !

I agree about using dustpan and brush in absence of hoover-time!

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Lilymaid · 23/07/2007 15:59

Definitely over ambitious if you are as interested in house work as I am (no interest whatsoever). However, I have been tidy in the past - when by myself. Get rid of DH and DCs and you may be able to have a tidy house.

Mum2BenjyElizaNel · 23/07/2007 16:00

we both work full time, have a cleaner, and still have a pretty messy house! Though at least it is not filthy dirty, which it was before cleaner. I think cleaners are a brilliant addition to any family, and not as expensive as you'd think. We pay ours £10 an hour for 3 hours a week and our lives are transformed! Well well worth it.

ScottishMummy · 23/07/2007 16:00

i think the laundry mountain monster will engulf me - bubba has more clothes changes in a day than JLo

Kewcumber · 23/07/2007 16:01

my cleaner doesn;t keep the house clean and tidy, just enables me to open the door.

MrsMarvel · 23/07/2007 16:11

I've heard that if you hire a cleaner once a week you have to clean up the house before they come so you get double for your money?

could have expressed it better but ykwim.

Tigana · 23/07/2007 16:11
Grin
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Kewcumber · 23/07/2007 16:21

my cleaner day-dreams about the day I tidy up ready for her to come and clean...

GroaningGameGirly · 23/07/2007 16:22

Mrs Marvel, you are exactly right! I work FT and have never had a cleaner until 5 months ago and it has changed my life. But, as you say, the house has to be tidy before the cleaner can clean, so I spend the night before having a good tidy. Having said that, I had no cleaner for 12 years and I did manage - the house was USUALLY quite clean and tidy - but I now have more time with the children at the weekend, which is definitely a good thing.

Lolly68 · 23/07/2007 16:24

No IMO! Also I had a cleaner once and the place was still untidy

StarlightMcKenzie · 23/07/2007 16:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

NineUnlikelyTales · 23/07/2007 21:47

I find I don't need to vaccum any more as my 10m DS picks up any bits of fluff/greb (and eats them).

LaDiDudleyDursley · 23/07/2007 21:52

We have a cleaner once/week for 2-3 hours.
In between times I do as little as possible. Cleaner comes on Moday morning, house is a tip by Tuesday afternoon. Don't really care. We are clean, our clothes are clean and given half an hour's warning of a visitor the house can pass as clean.

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