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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Please tell me your time-saving strategies around the house!

31 replies

Roseylea · 14/09/2007 12:50

Hello lovelies!

I am a part time working mum, and I do loads of other stuff in my 'spare' time. So I'm looking to set up routines and strategies that will help me run the home reasonably well without dropping dead of exhaustion, or throwing up my hands and living in squalour.

So what strategies / routines / tricks of the trade are your lifesavers? I have started menu planning and doing a weekly internet food shop. I have got a 5 y o dd and a (very messy) 3 y o ds at nursery school, and a rather messy dh. I cook every night and do most of the housework, although dh does lots with the dc and baths them every evening. Dd has severe eczema and food allergies so I have to cook everything from scratch and wash her clothes more frequently than otherwise (because of all the cream!) So that gives you an idea of my life!

OP posts:
Dropdeadfred · 17/09/2007 11:31

Cod - she mean't she bins the cutup j cloths for the loo, not the ikea handtowels!

evilreturns · 17/09/2007 11:34

definitely second the decluttering idea. we did our whole house over the summer and tidying up is now so easy as everything actually has a place it belongs in, IYSWIM.

also second not ironing. the only thing that really needs it in our house is dh's shirts. and he does them!!

curiouscat · 18/09/2007 10:40

I couldn't live without our family calendar. With five of us it's great - one column per person so individual play dates/after school clubs etc are easy to spot and prepare for.

Trinityrhino · 18/09/2007 10:44

chinwag
THANKYOU soooooooo much
that is such an obvious thing to do but I hadn't thought about it
Will sort it now
THANKS

laundrylover · 18/09/2007 10:57

oooh I'm enjoying this thread! Can you ladies come and sort out my office please???

I have a weekly print out that I fill in on Sundays and magnet to the fridge then recycle. Says what we are all doing that week and also has a 'let's try to' box. The plan is to tackle a room a week but it doesn't really work at the mo....mind you we are living in a building site with half a bathroom and the main bedroom just plastered....one day I'll be orgainsed!!!

Top tip: have a party/invite people round and the you're forced to blitz everything.DPs 40th on Friday so at last he's started to look at the mess through other people's eyes!

Top tip 2: take anti depressants and suddenly things seem soooo much better.

chinwag · 18/09/2007 16:03

You're welcome Trinity! It's working great.

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