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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Filthy house… I need advice/help

69 replies

Zombieof3 · 08/09/2024 10:10

Hi everyone!

I am a mum of three kids aged 7, 8 and 12, I have a SO who works long hours and is very rarely home and when he is home, he’s too exhausted to do much.

I’ve not long woken up and I already feel overwhelmed. My house looks and feels absolutely filthy. The carpet needs a good clean, all I can smell is the cat litter box which is cleaned regularly but still absolutely stinks. The kitchen is a bomb site. There is bags of dirty clothes everywhere waiting to go in the wash, there are flies and dishes everywhere. The floors need a good scrub.

thankfully it is mainly downstairs, I just don’t know where to start. It’s honestly a health hazard and I’m just going to have to get on with doing it but it’s burning me out all the time as I work forty hours a week, and every single weekend the house is in a tip from things building up in the week, I only have so much time and I feel like every waking minute is spent on cleaning this shithold. Sorry for the language.

OP posts:
caringcarer · 08/09/2024 12:10

Maybe change your cat litter to Catsan after cat wees it doesn't smell. Poo taken out immediately in a nappy sac and put in outdoor bin.

rainbow1902 · 08/09/2024 12:35

Bin bags or any bags and bin everything.
Declutter but get brutal get the kids involved.
Give them a bag each and tell them to day is Sunday and we are having a good early spring clean anything you dont want goes in the bag.
Sort washing all what will be kept will be washed bin bags he rest.
Kitchen stuff if you have plenty in the cupboards bin all the dirty ones.
All windows open get the air in little tray sit it out side.
Today is the day everyone gets tucked In.
It can be fun for the kids having a good sort out.

commonsense61 · 08/09/2024 12:52

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Just4thisthreadtoday · 08/09/2024 12:59

@Zombieof3

Do Dishes Daily*

*Dana K White

Listen to her pod casts/you tube as you're getting stuck in.

Do the dishes first, first time it might take a long time, but once you've done that, doing them daily doesn't take long

have a trash bag & Donate able Donate box (ie one you can give to the charity with the contents, can be an item (box/bag you want to donate) can be cardboard box. Just one you don't need back!

firstly throw away actual rubbish. Then put an 'easy' item into the charity bag (if suitable). Otherwise it's in the bin (recycling)

next put away anything that has a home somewhere else in the house (take an armful of stuff if you can, but DONT make a pile to deal with later)

if there's not a space. Take actual rubbish or a donatable item so there is space, take that back to your original space & put it in the trash/donate box

if you follow her method you'll only ever make a space better & even 10 minutes will make a big difference.

Have 5 minute pick up daily (at least once), set a timer - everyone joins in, but when the timer goes off they can stop if they want to. Dont badger about 'finishing' or 'doing another 5 minutes'. If you want them to join in without a fuss you need to stick to your side of the 'deal' 5 minutes

I could rattle on for pages about her method, but it's all there. Online, free!!

if you can afford it/have a car. I'd take all the laundry to the laundrette & do several loads at once, just get it done and start fresh.

look up her container concept to get your clothes culled. You have too many.

i can't see how your litter trays are so stinky if you're doing what you say ? Taking 💩 & wet litter out pretty much as they do it. Fully emptying the litter & washing the litter tray every couple of days. Maybe you need different litter??

you can do it.

PaillettenBedeckt · 08/09/2024 13:04

My house can get overwhelming because I'm on my own and I have really poorly hands. So I have to wait until I'm well enough to do a blitz. It's stressful when it piles up, so I get you.

I recommend sticking some headphones on with some really banging tunes and just have at it. Start with doing whatever your favourite (or least hated) part of cleaning is. Once you've got a bit cleared and you're into the music, the rest tends to follow. Don't look at everything all at once - concentrate on manageable bits.

Just4thisthreadtoday · 08/09/2024 13:07

Zombieof3 · 08/09/2024 10:20

Their waste is cleaned every time they use it, I then empty a litter tray every other day. I have four litter trays on the go at the moment xx

@Zombieof3

ah I've just re read this. If you're only emptying ONE every other day. That means it's taking too many days to re empty & clean each one. You need to increase the emptying so each one is emptied and cleaned about every 3 days.

Zombieof3 · 08/09/2024 13:55

Thank you everyone for the support, I’ve spent about an hour and a half tidying the kitchen and it’s no where near done, this is painful.

I have four cats, they’re honestly the easiest things to care for in this house, it’s just their wee stinks. I’ve tried a ton of different cat litter. The best I have found is the world’s best cat litter but it is costly. Kids have just had lunch and they can help me clean the lounge whilst I focus on the rest of the kitchen. It’s absolutely mad how quick a house can go from ok to a bombsitr. If I had more time it wouldn’t be too bad but I’m also limited with mobility due to a slipped disc, I’m currently sipping away at some dissolve-able paracetamol… yum 🤤 😂

OP posts:
PaillettenBedeckt · 08/09/2024 14:06

Zombieof3 · 08/09/2024 13:55

Thank you everyone for the support, I’ve spent about an hour and a half tidying the kitchen and it’s no where near done, this is painful.

I have four cats, they’re honestly the easiest things to care for in this house, it’s just their wee stinks. I’ve tried a ton of different cat litter. The best I have found is the world’s best cat litter but it is costly. Kids have just had lunch and they can help me clean the lounge whilst I focus on the rest of the kitchen. It’s absolutely mad how quick a house can go from ok to a bombsitr. If I had more time it wouldn’t be too bad but I’m also limited with mobility due to a slipped disc, I’m currently sipping away at some dissolve-able paracetamol… yum 🤤 😂

Little bits add up so don't lose heart!

I can relate to your last bit. Sometimes I get into it and then I get in pain and have to stop. Very frustrating!

Zombieof3 · 08/09/2024 14:15

PaillettenBedeckt · 08/09/2024 14:06

Little bits add up so don't lose heart!

I can relate to your last bit. Sometimes I get into it and then I get in pain and have to stop. Very frustrating!

Chronic pain is awful, and I’m sorry you have to deal with that as well. It’s exhausting as I have the motivation to do it but if I overdo it, I won’t be able to walk tomorrow so I’m very wary about pushing myself. I think I’ll leave the floors to my DH for tomorrow as I’m fed up of doing everything. I’m going to focus on putting clothes away, I have about 12 bags of clean clothes to be put away… the joys 😭

OP posts:
PaillettenBedeckt · 08/09/2024 14:25

Zombieof3 · 08/09/2024 14:15

Chronic pain is awful, and I’m sorry you have to deal with that as well. It’s exhausting as I have the motivation to do it but if I overdo it, I won’t be able to walk tomorrow so I’m very wary about pushing myself. I think I’ll leave the floors to my DH for tomorrow as I’m fed up of doing everything. I’m going to focus on putting clothes away, I have about 12 bags of clean clothes to be put away… the joys 😭

Yes, I feel exactly the same. I want to get things done but I can't. I have to tune it out sometimes or it'll drive me mad! I need a blitz as well but I've been so ill the last month and even worse in the last week.

Have you tried rolling clothes to put them away? It's quicker than folding and makes things easier to see.

Ciri · 08/09/2024 14:25

Are your cats indoor only? If they go outside then keep the litter tray outside your back door under shelter

IncessantNameChanger · 08/09/2024 14:26

Having tonnes of clothes isn't helping. If you have less clothes, your forced to wash it more often. Each of my school age kids have a weeks,worth of uniform so there is enough slack to wash it once a week I was incapacitated, but not any longer. As it is I was it at least twice a week do I'm always ahead. My kids have far too many clothes and my goal this year is to majorly cull it. Have spare room in the wardrobes and half empty draws is so much easier than trying to cram it all in, watching my dd dig it all back out trying to find what she is after. It's been a big improvement for us

teatoast8 · 08/09/2024 14:28

usernother · 08/09/2024 10:16

Cat litter trays need cleaning every day. I used to have a few on rotation. After cleaning I put them outside.

They don't. I clean mine every 3 days.

YellowRoom · 08/09/2024 14:31

If your DP is working such long hours that he's too exhausted to help with the house, I assume he's earning enough to pay for a cleaner?

ThePotholeHelpline · 08/09/2024 14:33

You're an hour and a half closer to a clean kitchen though!

Every 10 minute job helps - don't forget that. Just keep chipping away.

Zombieof3 · 08/09/2024 15:54

Hey all, thank you everyone for giving me the motivation to getting this done. It’s far from perfect but I have clean work tops and plates to eat off. Laundry is an ongoing problem but I’m getting there.

i wish my partner could afford to pay for a cleaner, he’s only just earning over minimum wage, he’s looking for a better job but we’re just scraping by at the moment, especially since the cost of living x

OP posts:
Mymanyellow · 08/09/2024 16:46

How have you got 12 bags of clean clothes to put away? When’s the last time you did this. Hour and half to clean the kitchen I don’t understand what you’ve been doing up to this point.

PaillettenBedeckt · 08/09/2024 16:48

Mymanyellow · 08/09/2024 16:46

How have you got 12 bags of clean clothes to put away? When’s the last time you did this. Hour and half to clean the kitchen I don’t understand what you’ve been doing up to this point.

If you don't have anything other than criticism to contribute, then I don't see how you are in any position to concern yourself about how other people are spending their time.

LynetteScavo · 08/09/2024 16:57

So you don't work? Can you aim to get on top of the house work while the DC are at school?

Fluffyhoglets · 08/09/2024 17:05

LynetteScavo · 08/09/2024 16:57

So you don't work? Can you aim to get on top of the house work while the DC are at school?

First post says she work 40 hours a week

Finnyfinfin · 08/09/2024 17:06

Can't the children help distribute laundry to the right room?

Can't any family help or husband take a friday or monday off and help with cleaning?

LynetteScavo · 08/09/2024 17:09

Ah, sorry I see you work 40 hours a week (I know know how that is with 3 DC!) I was thrown by this: i wish my partner could afford to pay for a cleaner, he’s only just earning over minimum wage, he’s looking for a better job but we’re just scraping by at the moment, especially since the cost of living** x

spikeandbuffy24 · 08/09/2024 17:11

The Amazon own brand clumping cat litter is good

I use a thick layer (good few inches) and you can scoop without it ever touching the bottom. I think I last totally cleaned mine 4 months ago the ago but there's genuinely just dust at the bottom and no smell. I scoop every time he uses it and top up as needed

Shithole101 · 08/09/2024 17:20

Mymanyellow · 08/09/2024 16:46

How have you got 12 bags of clean clothes to put away? When’s the last time you did this. Hour and half to clean the kitchen I don’t understand what you’ve been doing up to this point.

So you picked up on that op has 12 bags of ( clean ) clothes to put away . But completely missed that she gets alot of pain. Does not matter how long ot took op to do the kitchen . She's done it that's what matters . Not everything is simple

narns · 08/09/2024 17:21

When my laundry builds up I take it all to a local laundrette! I live up north but I can take a couple of laundry bags up and it costs about £15/20 for them to wash, dry and fold it.

In terms of the house, I recently decided to deep clean one room at a time (including decluttering it). It took me 4 hours to totally deep clean the bathroom including removing/sorting everything. But now, I spend 30 mins a week in there cleaning and it's so much easier to take care of.

Alternatively could you afford a one off deep clean so it's easier to keep on top of?

Well done for getting started!