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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Cleaning at Night

28 replies

cafebistro · 04/08/2008 21:13

I was thinking this evening that if i did more of my housework when the kids were in bed i would have a much tidier and cleaner house. BUT....i resent spending MY time doing household chores! So I was wondering what everyone else did and whether im just a lazy cow.

OP posts:
giraffescantdancethetango · 04/08/2008 21:15

What do you do in an evening? (that sounds really sarcy...dont mean it like that!) everytime TV adverts get on I get up and clean till the show comes back on. If I am on the net I get up about every 20 mins and do some jobs then come back and sit down again.

Obviously it depends how much you have to do, but its amazinghow much you cen get done int he 4min advert breaks

SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore · 04/08/2008 21:16

i rarely clean at night but i might wash up and have a quick hoover!

ComeOVeneer · 04/08/2008 21:18

I never do any housework in the evening, other than clear up the kitchen after dinner (and get packed lunches, bags and clothes ready if it is school the next day). I keep on top of everything else during the day.

onepieceoflollipop · 04/08/2008 21:21

My evenings are reserved solely for either working (2 evenings per week) or chilling out. The only exception is if we are about to go on holiday or some other special reason.

Cleaning is done (by me and dh) on days/mornings off. I get loads done first thing in the morning if I get organised.

Original poster
cafebistro · 04/08/2008 21:24

Seashells- how do you manage to hoover at night?? Dont you wake up the kids?
Giraffe- What do i do at night? Well either on here or watching tele...yours does sound like a good idea, stopping every so often to do something. Im sure id get more done without a baby and toddler to entertain!
Oh by the way im being very producive and pickling beetroot tonight...whilst on MN of course!!

OP posts:
bozza · 04/08/2008 21:26

Well tonight I have tidied up the garden, watered the plants, fed the neighbour's cats, done 1 hour of ironing, made DS and me a packed lunch each. Will have some time on here before I go and put some ironing away and get my work things organised. But we have just got back from two weeks hols without washing (clothes that is, we did have a bathroom!) facilities and I had to look after my friend's DC until 1, then DD's swimming lesson, the supermarket and library. So couldn't squeeze everything into the daytime.

MrsTicklemouse · 04/08/2008 21:27

I do most of it during the day but as soon as boys go to bed i have a quick tidy up downstairs, load dishwasher then crash in front of tele or on the computer then just before i go to bed i sweep and mop downstairs (laminate, it seems permanently dirty!!)

i also tend to do my ironing in the evening whilst watching tv

bozza · 04/08/2008 21:28

Until recently we used to always hoover downstairs (living room and dining room) while the chidren were asleep. And DH hoovers up if he clippers his hair in our bedroom while they are asleep.

Original poster
cafebistro · 04/08/2008 21:35

bozza how are you so organised??

OP posts:
MrsTicklemouse · 04/08/2008 21:35

i used to hoover when DSs were in bed when we had carpet downstairs

Original poster
cafebistro · 04/08/2008 21:38

I wouldnt dare hoover....we dont even flush the toilet . the bathroom is right across from ds bedroom...

OP posts:
Sidge · 04/08/2008 21:47

I do downstairs once the children are in bed. The minute I have put them to bed I hoover all through, dust, mop if needed, clean the downstairs sink and loo and only once it's done do I sit down! If I sat down first I'd never get up again.

As I do it each day it only takes me about half an hour and then the evening is my own.

chapstickchick · 04/08/2008 21:52

i do the majority of my cleaning at night -dh works nights and with 3 ds dytimes are busy

Original poster
cafebistro · 04/08/2008 21:58

Well thanks ladies...im officially a lazy cow.

OP posts:
MrsTicklemouse · 04/08/2008 22:11

don't worry i have a RL friend that has been told by her DH that he will by her a dyson if she will use it once a week..they have two children and two dogs! i hoover at least once a day!

Original poster
cafebistro · 05/08/2008 13:02

Ticklemouse...i do hoover because i quite enjoy it, it is one of the things that gets done everyday.And i am tidying all day but never seem to actually achieve anything...

OP posts:
blossomsmine · 05/08/2008 15:29

I do as much as i can in the evenings, i work part time so don't have alot of time during the day what with schools runs etc., aswell. So....in the evenings, usually clear up the kitchen after dinner and try and get it looking like it did in the morning! Don't usually hoover but will clear away the bits and bobs that are in the wrong rooms etc., Also i always iron at night and put that away, then i try and do jobs like cleaning out the odd cupboard or sorting a wardrobe or something like that! Filing away paperwork etc., My house is still a mess though

JuniorH · 05/08/2008 20:20

I think if you prefer cleaning at night you should go with it.

Sometimes I'm exhausted by the time I get home from work, the school run, hobbies etc so chill in the early afternoon before doing dinner and then get a second wind in the evening and start cleaning then. I always think as long as I am doing it lol

OurHamsterisevil · 05/08/2008 20:44

I do my ironing in the evening while I watch tv. The rest of the housework gets done in the daytime

NotDoingTheHousework · 05/08/2008 20:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

elmoandella · 05/08/2008 20:59

i throw the toys in a pile and do dishes after kids in bed.

do my other housework when dc taking nap. i gotta go to bed shortly after them. ds can rise as early as 5.30am!

littleducks · 05/08/2008 21:09

I think it depends on the age of your kids, i have a two year old and a 4 month old and I feel the dey is very full on, with lots of questions, having to constantly watch one/them so in the evening i tend to collapse as finally i can relax without fearing dd will try and flood the place and the 'but Mama why?' quizzing is finally over, I am (desperately) hoping when they are older i wont spend from 4 o'clock onwards wishing it was bedtime. Then i wouldnt crave me time so much and would clean more.

i think.

Fizzylemonade · 06/08/2008 12:25

We come down for breakfast, then back upstairs to get dressed, teeth brushed. As we come back downstairs I hoover then!!! It is before school when the lounge is tidy.

All toys are tidied away and I cannot be arsed to do housework at night except clear all pots from tea and clean down kitchen. That's me done.

It depends on the age of your children how much you can get done in the day, I tidy as I go, a la Fly lady. When the lounge is to difficult to walk through without injury in the day, we tidy some toys away then. But always everything away at the end of the day.

I am sahm with 5yr old and 2yr old so my house is never tidy in the day due to 2 yr old "destroyer"

ColumboJumbo · 06/08/2008 14:00

I had new regime last week of cleaning the kitchen/diner every night last thing - it was taking me 1.5 hours every night - and I am a quick worker. Just to clean the kitchen/diner. FFS. I gave it up, sleep much more important.

Katiekins83 · 06/08/2008 14:10

i do cleaning of a night...when Ds (21 months) has gone to bed...if he doesnt go to bed on time i feel i get behind. plus he enjoys cleaning so he will get the hoover out...sometimes when im not looking! im a full time lone parent student, so try and make the most of the time i have with my son when hes awake and were both home. i think you should clean when you want to. i have two extremes of friends one who never cleans, and neither she or her partner care that the house is a tip even when she had rats, even with a small child. and the other a cleanaholic...never seen without a cloth in her hand whos DS is petrified of the hoover! yet they both comment that my house is always tidy!
if you dont want to clean at night dont its your down time and you need it, tyr and involve your DCs. makes life much easier!

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