so how often do you feel on top of housework if ever?

[webchick]

just spent a bulk of the weekend sorting out house:

Gutted dds bedroom & put in storeage units so all organized now
hoovered all upstairs & cleaned bathroom
all laundry & ironing done ( yay !)
living room quite tidy
kitchen needs mopping & fridge stocked up

So for the 1st time in months I feel quite on top of stuff & don't have to play catchup all the time.

I know by next week I'll be back to square 1 so how often to you feel in control of your house & what's your secret to keeping it that way - little & often, or 1 big blast?

Little and often. Tidy up as you go along. A place for everything - and everything in its place.

The only way I've ever stayed on top of it is by having a daily list. If I can get everything done on the list then I'm happy.

The only time I get the 'whole house is perfect' feeling is when we have people to come to stay - and then I've probably dumped loads of rubbish in our bedroom

Come and join us on the flylady thread. It helps hyou develop a system for housework so that it takes less thought/effort to keep on top of things.

Point taken riven. But it did make me realise that lots of 2 minutes bursts of housework can keep the place almost presentable.

I wonder if it's a mistake to think that you will be on top of it. Perhaps it's somehow easier to deal with it, if you accept that it is an ongoing work, that it will never be finished and treat it as such.

Certainly it helps me to think in that way. I do little and often and have let myself work in much smaller chunks (i.e. I think in terms of cleaning the bathroom sink if I have two minutes, rather than cleaning the whole bathroom).

This way it is never all "done" but never gets too far out of control.

(This works except when I'm stressed about other things. Somehow when I have lots of other things to do it becomes critically important to have everything in the house done too. Stupid really - but I recognise that and am working on it )

just when I thought I was on top of stuff, my fridge and microwave both need serious attention, so another few tasks to keep me on my toes!

I read the fly lady threads but find my routine (work 3 days a week) doesn't match with hers as I don't do any housework on my work days.

webchick. You can adapt the flylady routines to fit into 3 days.