Tidying regime for a busy mum

[Kittykate15]

Help! House has got to chaos state! I work from home 30hrs per week, hubby full time, two boys 9and 6yrs (1dog, 2cats, 9chickens!). We moved in lock down to a complete renovation project that we hope will be forever home but budget means we're doing lots ourselves. I just feel in a complete malaise since working from home, I should be more efficient/effective as I'm not commuting but I just feel like everything's blurred together and I'm overwhelmed. I've spent all week tiling the kitchen (around work, school runs, kids groups,life admin etc) and meanwhile it's like every other room in the house has slipped to disaster zone. Hubby is great at pitching in (does washing, dishwasher, childcare etc without being asked or anything) but hates systems and plans so I feel a bit alone trying to instill some order. In honesty I hate housework, I'd far rather be gardening, or bricklaying or decorating! I don't mind the actual cleaning bit it's the stuff that's everywhere that needs tidying before I can clean. I know I have to set an example for the boys (of all ages) to follow but I don't know how to start. Is there a formula you organised people have? I'm just so mentally drained at the moment I'd like someone just to say tonight 15mins hoover the lounge, tomorrow 30mins clean bathroom. Does such a thing/plan exist?

Yep, TOMM is what you are looking for. Google for the print outs basically
Every day level 1 (every day) emptied and on again, load of washing washed and put away, a quick tidy
Level 2 (mon to thur) one room cleaned for max of 30 mins, bedrooms classed as one room
Level 3 - every friday 30 mins max in one room in turn doing deeper cleaning.

Obviously you can change it around a bit. I would tidy and dust on bedroom a night and whack on robot hoover in the morning. And do one downstairs room a day putting the recharged hoover on in the afternoon.

Ignore the bootcamp but at some point you need to declutter as you go.

Sorry level one - dishwasher on and emptied.

Hi,

I'm not sure on TOMM as some of these can seem a bit much if you're busy.
I have 2 children under 3 and work similiar hours and wfh like you. I try and keep on top of the house as best as I can and when the kids go to bed I usually have stopped cleaning.
Things that I think are helpful even though some can be work upfront.

1. Declutter, only have what you actually need so things don't pile up. I regularly check through clothes, toys to make sure they're played with or the right size
2. A home for everything! If something has a home, once it's used it goes back. Really helpful and keeps the house tidy
3. Every night the dishwasher goes on, in the morning whilst the kids are having breakfast I unload so it's ready to go again for the day .
4. Every morning I will check the washing and make sure I put a load in so this doesn't pile up
5. On an evening after dinner whilst the kids are eating dinner I'm cleaning up the kitchen and give a quick vac around the downstairs whilst they relax after dinner.
6. Sunday I make sure all bags are packed ready for the week, clothes sorted for the week so we're ready to go with that too

I hope this helps maybe a little x

I find this relatively easy to keep on top of and the house is never too untidy
But it does require a little everyday but no set time