Mums who work full time long hours. When do you clean?

[Gymmum82]

I’m about to start a full time role I’ll be leaving the house around 5.30-6am returning home around 5.30pm.
I’ll then need to transport the kids to clubs 4 nights a week. Make dinner, make lunches for the next day, eat dinner, do kids homework/reading etc.
So when do I clean?
What tasks should I be doing every day? Do I just leave the mess to build up and do a big clean at weekends? Then where does that leave family time?
Help. What do you do?

Well this is me - I can't afford a cleaner and have a full time job. I am a single parent, but my DCs are now older so can take on more. But my children are used to being a part of all of the cleaning routines from a very young age.

I do a big clean every Saturday morning. Everyone needs to do their part - including your DH - allocate roles/spaces in the house. My DCs are really used to doing this.

I also give the bathroom an additional clean on a Weds when I was having my shower. It doesn't take long while you're cleaning your teeth.

Tidied the kitchen each evening after dinner (again everyone else took a role in this - they all allocate different tasks - one sweeps the floor, one cleans sides, one loads dishwasher (they bicker about this, but I ignore it).

I meal plan and do an online shop so I know what we're eating every day.

I very rarely hoover during the week but if I need to will add this to the post dinner routine.

In a moment of madness I got a dog - don't do this!

I’ve had a chat with DH and he’s on board with picking up half the housework. Hopefully he sticks to this.
Ive downloaded TOMM printables so he can see what needs doing and we’ve agreed half each.
So let’s see how it goes.

Just don't fall in to the trap of managing him and being the boss of housework. You will be carrying the mental load.

Give him the list and let it be clear it's his and not for you to manage and remind him. Whenever my DH got lazy by saying "I'm not the CEO of this house" that would really get his back up, so he would just get on with stuff without any question or reminding.

I work FT with 3 kids. Husband is lazy and wont help with housework,

Why does he get that choice?

I work full time and have a global role. I’ve had jobs where I go into City a few days a week but now I work from home full time. Hubby works full time and does bare minimum on cleaning but does help with some shopping and clubs. Two DD 11 and 13 do very little but help the odd times. I have a routine and do sheets one day, wash twice a week and quick tidy every evening. I do bathrooms at the weekend and ironing in the evenings after the kids have gone to bed. I meal plan at weekends and shop and do any cooking I can on Sat or Sun. I literary never stop. It’s not a good habit and can totally afford a cleaner but I don’t want anyone in my house. I don’t think it’s the right way to do this so if you can I would really recommend getting a cleaner. I’ve clearly got my own issues and I’ve made myself ill with never stopping.

That’s quite mad. Why don’t you ‘want anyone in my house’? What is it you think they are going to do? Do you not think it’s depressing that you’re running around like a headless chicken because your DH thinks your ‘global role’ includes washing his socks?

I totally recognise its madness. Part of it I am a perfectionist and I would be embarrassed. I’m the kind of person who would clean before the cleaner came. I’ve also heard so many horror stories of cleaners nicking stuff and being nosy. I know I totally sound mad. 🙃.

Why are you doing everything when there is another adult who should be doing 50% and two children old enough to tidy up, load the dishwasher and washing machine and cook basic meals.

God, just get a bloody cleaner. I tidy before the cleaner comes so she can clean properly, and I make sure the loo is reasonable because that would be rude to leave it dirty. But otherwise... she's there to clean. Hooray.

Have had lots of cleaners, none have stolen anything. They are nosy sometimes, but so am I 😂 (Usually they ask why we only have one child... one of my cleaners had seven!)

I try to do a room/area a day. Not a deep clean but a half hour blitz. I live in a three bed house so the bedrooms, lounge, kitchen /diner, bathroom, hall/landing & stairs. It all gets cleaned once a week - I can’t face it all in one go 😂

I’m out of the house 0730-1800 and then cook every dinner. I don’t do any cleaning apart from a washing or two at the weekend.
DH does all cleaning. He is welcome to it

I’m glad this works for you & tip my hat but this lifestyle is my idea of hell. I wouldn’t be able to function well if I was living this ‘busy’ for a long stretch of time.

Good luck OP, how are you getting on now?