How do you find time to clean

[Emeraldrings]

How do you find time to clean? My house rarely gets a good clean. I work full time and so does DH. We have two teenagers and a toddler and I have elderly parents I try to visit every week. Teenagers are lazy about housework and DH is too although he will do DIY, gardening and sometimes wash up
I just can't seem to organise myself to have a cleaning rota. Our house isn't even that big. Much easier when I was part time plus toddler is quite demanding. I rarely get home before 6:30 and by the time toddler is in bed, we've eaten and had showers it's practically bedtime. Can't afford a cleaner plus the house is quite messy even though I try to keep it tidy.
How do the rest of you manage it?

Brilliant, love this!

@Jk987 it's true I probably do more cleaning than h. He does his share though. He does more tidying than I do. Today he was working from home so did school runs x2, a load of washing, put a load away, made bread, walked the dog, did the ironing, he's just made the packed lunches... I'm sat with a can of cider!

Yesterday I thought it was time to call a meeting and say everyone helps or nothing gets done. On my way home and DHs boss phones to say DH has cracked 3 ribs at work.
So, because obviously he's out of action for a while I decided against the meeting. Now I'm doing even more because he can't work or do anything with the toddler (already tired and it's only been one night. I have so much respect for single parents).
Looks like family meeting will be on hold for a few weeks!!

Little and often! Clutter and mess make it more difficult to clean so I would recommend a family clear out weekend! Family meeting is needed, everyone needs to be be pulling their weight. I even used to give my dc a duster/feather duster for them to "help" when they were toddlers and they liked that. Like others have said organised mum method is good, look at the bootcamp to get you started. She also has free printables with list of daily/weekly jobs. Laminate them and get family to tick off when done. Good luck!

That sounds really tough @Emeraldrings . I can’t even imagine trying to do housework after getting home after 6.30 but I do remember a friend used to have a routine of cleaning upstairs on a Thursday evening and then downstairs on Friday evening, Saturday morning she did food shop but that was before food delivery so maybe that could be an option.

I second getting the teenagers involved, it will help you and them in the long term.

I had DS doing chores from a young age, that was how I was raised . The longest running study in the world at Harvard has a lot to say about kids doing chores being linked with their own success as an adult.

They should be doing all their own laundry at the very least. My friend let her kids do nothing. They still live at home and are early twenties and still don’t help.

Get rid of anything and everything that isn’t needed. Be brutal and stop being a doormat. Your DH being unwell is the perfect time to make the kids help.

As little as possible every day to keep things running so things like;
Wash on / fold wash/ dry washing
Always clean down kitchen before bed
Always wipe over sink/ bath/ toilet after using them
Hoover downstairs every morning whilst coffee brewing
Clear dining room table after every use

Every other Friday I do a top to bottom clean to a podcast/ audiobook and don't spend longer than 2 hours- mainly clearing rubbish and wiping down

Teens expected to do their own rooms (with before and after pics as evidence!) and do other things to help the family- cook a meal, do some gardening, go to shops , fold washing etc

You do have a toddler though OP, they are often a trail of mess and chaos!

You need to sit down with DH and teenagers and make a plan to divide daily tasks equally. Surely DH and teenagers can do tasks whilst you cook, or vice Versa. Everyone needs to pull their weight

@Emeraldrings why not view your DH's injury as the ideal time to rope in your teenagers to help?

We use the sweepy app. It means everyone can see what needs doing.

Kids have things only they do - eg make own bed, or things they pitch in with - eg dishwasher, laundry