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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Groundhog Day

19 replies

Times10 · 05/10/2019 21:22

I’ve been trying to keep on top of housework, especially downstairs (bedrooms could do with more work) but I’m so so so fed up with the endlessness of it, and the lack of appreciation from everyone else who lives here.

Every time I ask/tell the DCs to tidy up or put their clothes away they always strop and whinge, which drives me crazy.
I’m a SAHM so obviously most of it is my job, and since the DCs are at school I’ve been spending a lot of time and energy decluttering so the house looks better than it has in a long time but I can’t keep the daily mess the DCs create at bay, and I just want to give up.
DH helps a bit when he can, but it’s not enough to stop me from feeling overwhelmed and disheartened. I don’t think being a SAHM is my forte to be honest, but I’m 6 months pregnant so a bit late to find a job now!

Have you got any tips to help me “enjoy” the work a bit more? I do like the outcome of the tidy/clean house, but it never lasts so the satisfaction of the job done is not enough some (most) days.

OP posts:
Swatsup · 05/10/2019 21:25

Spending less time in the house helps me 😂. If you don’t enjoy it just keep it to a hygienic standard and enjoy the time off. Took me a while to realise this and really regret not doing it earlier.

Original poster
Times10 · 05/10/2019 21:31

It’s true, I don’t know why I keep staying at home and fretting about things, when I could go out and about! Seems logical now you’ve mentioned it, but I have obviously been stuck in my ways for a while! I’ll plan things to do next week and see if it improves my outlook.

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Elieza · 05/10/2019 22:12

Have one room that no toys are allowed in? Award prizes (stickers, toy cars or whatever) for tidy rooms?

daisydalrymple · 05/10/2019 22:14

How old are your DCs? That makes a difference to expectations and your approach in encouraging them to tidy up their own mess.

Original poster
Times10 · 05/10/2019 22:29

We’ve put all their toys upstairs, but the crafts are downstairs, and they are very creative (which is nice to see) but never tidy up everything when they finish. I don’t know how to have a balance between letting them do what they want, and stopping them from leaving a mess everywhere.
They’re 7 and 4, so old enough to do most of the tidying, and I’ve been better at reminding them/calling them back to tidy up, but they still leave a huge amount of bits laying around. I’ve become a lot more ruthless at throwing away whatever they leave behind, but it still adds a considerable amount of work at the end of the day.

OP posts:
daisydalrymple · 05/10/2019 23:49

Ahh, that’s a good age to get good habits going, especially as they’re encouraged to tidy up at school too!
Mine are 12, 10 & 4. I’m still having to drum it into them Grin Hmm Grin

I do have a rule nothing new out until you put away the last thing you were doing
A box / storage place for everything, so similar items are stored together, which makes putting away easier for younger ones
If it’s on the floor and isn’t tidied up in ten mins, it’s going in the bin Grin
Declutter regularly and remove items no longer played with

Original poster
Times10 · 06/10/2019 07:47

I’ve been working on creating a place for everything, which is making it a lot easier (in theory) to tidy up.

I really need to focus on the “nothing out until the first activity is put away” rule, as I know that’s where the chaos starts. It’s a work in progress for all of us Blush

The annoying thing is they keep asking for more stuff/toys etc when they don’t even look after the things they already have.

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DustyDoorframes · 06/10/2019 09:15

The annoying thing is they keep asking for more stuff/toys etc when they don’t even look after the things they already have.

Asking doesn't mean they need to get whatever it is though! Stemming the flow of what comes in is half the battle (party bags, kindly relatives, Xmas and birthdays will always trip you up, but there's no need for anything else).
In our house if I/DP have to tidy something up we get to decide what to do with it, and that might be BIN (or charity shop). Which focuses the mind...
You are going to need some very easy systems to get you through the newborn phase (and the third trimester knackeredness). I'd go for culling culling culling.

Original poster
Times10 · 06/10/2019 09:21

Oh yes, I’m constantly saying no to their requests, but it doesn’t stop them from asking all the time!

I’m very worried about the newborn phase, as I can’t even remember it as my youngest is almost 5 now! I’ve been using a lot of my time decluttering in readiness of the mayhem, but we’re not at the stage where everything gets done quickly yet, so still a lot of work ahead.

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DustyDoorframes · 06/10/2019 10:47

Do they get pocket money? My 6 year old gets a pound per week which means I can just say "oh, you can save up for it. Better stop getting match attax then!" Makes me feel better anyway...
to some extent you do just have to accept lower standards. You are getting to the "can't reach the floor" stage of pregnancy, so the floor is just going to have stuff on it. I'm in the newborn phase with DC3 so I commiserate!!!

Original poster
Times10 · 06/10/2019 14:31

We did mention pocket money a while ago, but I worry they’ll be buying even more tat than we already have, so we haven’t given them pocket money in ages! (And yes, when I was a child, I definitely spent mine of absolute crap, so I’m very aware that that will probably happen!)

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Original poster
Times10 · 06/10/2019 21:45

House was getting out of control again, but everyone including DH went to bed by 8, so I spent some time sorting out the living/dining room and cleaning the kitchen, so hopefully we can start the week a bit easier. It didn’t take too long, but I get so annoyed by having to do it that it always seems like a huge job!

I really need to organise the craft cupboard, as I did end up just stuffing all the supplies the DCs left lying around in it.

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BrutusMcDogface · 07/10/2019 10:26

I’m a bit worried (as a sahm myself these days) that they will start seeing it as mums job to pick up after them, which it bloody well isn’t! So we now have a chuck it bucket. Stuff goes in there through the day that belongs in rooms or elsewhere. If it’s still in there at bedtime, it goes in the bin! You could do that with your craft stuff. Whatever is left out and not put in the correct place, gets binned. Have you got labelled boxes/drawers for your craft things? That would help them.

Original poster
Times10 · 07/10/2019 11:15

Sounds like a good idea. I went mad the other day as they had taken all the clean clothes off the drying racks and left them on the floor Angry and told them I spend most of my time tidying up after everyone else and that that was not how I wanted to spend my days. Doubt they’ll have taken it on board, but I live in hope!

Off to tackle the craft cupboard (and I actually have new refills for the label maker, so I might get to use it today!)

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BrutusMcDogface · 07/10/2019 13:13

Yay! I also have a label maker and have dreams of absolutely everything (that’s not living, maybe!🤣) being in a neatly labelled box!!

Original poster
Times10 · 07/10/2019 13:16

I can now close the craft cupboard! I didn’t end up using the label maker, but hopefully each section is self explanatory! There’s just one pile that I need the DCs input, on whether they want to keep or throw away some colouring books, as that drawer is full but I don’t see them using them, and there’s a few things that could live in the drawer if it was empty.

OP posts:
DustyDoorframes · 07/10/2019 14:25

Wow great works!!!

Original poster
Times10 · 07/10/2019 18:05

They put the craft stuff away today, after using them! I had to remind them and they complained a bit, but the living room is clear!

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BrutusMcDogface · 07/10/2019 20:23

Times- sounds like great progress! 👍

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