Would anybody help me do a rota or cleaning and housework please?

[namechangedforareason]

Hi ya. As you will see in my other thread, I am really struggling keeping on top of the housework and other stuff like paperwork etc too. I think I need to do a checklist for me and hubby to use (mostly me but he does do the odd thing). But I am rubbish at remembering all the jobs to put in a list!

Also, I don't have office - any ideas how to format one without it?

Was thinking of having a list of daily jobs and then a room or "zone" to properly clean and declutter on a set day per week?

If anybody can add to my list then I would be greatful!

Daily jobs:

Morning

• Everybody dressed
• Everybody breakfast
• Washing up from breakfast and night bottles
• Put sterilizer on
• Go to a toddler group/class
• Hang up nappies
• Put clothes washing on
• Clean cat litter
• feed/water cat

Afternoon:

• Lunch
• Prepare dinner
• Wash up from Lunch
• Do the cleaning in todays room (see below)
• Wipe down dining table and kitchen sides.
• Put clean washing away
• Do any urgent paperwork/bills to pay etc and open post

Evening, when kids go to bed:

• Put all toys away
• Put rubbish out
• Put nappies on to wash
• Hoover if needed
• List one thing to sell
• Cook dinner
• Package up any parcels to be posted (ebay)
• Relax or go to the gym etc!

Monday - Living room and hallway:

• Thoughly hoover
• Thoughly tidy
• De-clutter one box/shelf or cupboard
• Wash doormat
• dust TV
• Clean windows
• Wipe down all sides and fireplace/windowsil
• Wipe sofas
• Clear computor desk
• Tidy shoes, coats etc in hall and take anything not needed there to spare room.

Tuesday - Back room and garden (when nice enough weather)

• Give dining table a good clean
• Wash highchairs
• wipe down all sides
• Clean fridge or microwave (alternate weeks)
• Dust TV
• Clean windows
• Though hoover
• De-clutter at least one shelf/box/cupboard etc
• Mow lawn
• Tidy garden
• Clean garden table/chairs

Wednesday - Kicthen and bathroom:

• Clean bath, sink and toilet
• Sweep and mop floors
• Wipe all sides
• Clean kitchen sink and draining board
• Clean cooker and oven
• Tidy work surfaces
• Make sure all washing is up to date
• Clean cupboard doors
• Wash cat bowls

Thursday - Kids bedroom and spare room:

• Make sure all washing is away tidily.
• Hoover
• Wipes sides
• Clean windows if needed
• Make sure all toys are away
• Change bedsheets
• Take washing downstairs
• Declutter one area

Friday - Our bedroom and upstairs hallway:

• Make sure all washing is away tidily.
• Hoover
• Wipes sides
• Clean windows if needed
• Change bedsheets
• Take washing downstairs
• Declutter one area
• Take rubbish downstairs

Saturday - Kicthen and bathroom:

• Clean bath, sink and toilet
• Sweep and mop floors
• Wipe all sides
• Clean kitchen sink and draining board
• Clean cooker and oven
• Tidy work surfaces
• Make sure all washing is up to date
• Clean cupboard doors
• Wash cat bowls

Sunday - Other jobs:

• Quick general tidy up
• Paperwork
• Do online food shop if needed.
• Any extra washing/ironing

Can anybody think of what I have missed? I want to get this printed by tonight really to show DH and get started with it. It will probably take a while to get the hang of it and catch up with all the stuff to start with, but I think this might work for me longer term. Want to have a checklist on the wall somewhere that I can see it. (Or maybe inside a cupboard door so that visitors don't see it!)

Would be REALLY grateful if anybody would help with this.

I think that list is pretty thorough actually, but, can I point out that if you tidy as you go you shouldn't need to do that much.

i.e. wipe the table after every use and it won't need a good clean once a week. Tidy away all the toys and thinsg that are where they shouldn't be in the living room every night after the kids go to bed and you won't need to thoroughly tidy the living room once a week.

Paperwork should only need doing once every few months if you throw out all junk mail as soon as it comes through the letter box.

Clean/rinse the kitchen sink after everytime you wash up and all you will need to do is bleach the drain once a week.

Another tip is everytime you leave a room to go to another have a quick scan about and see if there is anything that should be in the room you are going to. Keep a box or basket on the bottom of the stairs and put things in it that should be upstairs. Empty the box when you take the dc to bed.

Good luck. I find 'ad break' cleaning really helpfull too.

check out www.flylady.com and you'll be amazed at what you can achieve.
She has a room of the week and you follow her lead and do it as she tells you.
Basically, she says an extra 15 mins at night before you go to bed (use a timer) should mean an easier start to the morning.
For exampe, in 15 mins you can clean shoes, clean the sink and organise school bags for the next day and go to bed with a clear mind.
I haven't started following her yet but I had a qucik scan and it looks quite a good idea if you're not a naturally organised person.

I have tried flylady before but couldn't keep up with it . I didn't really like it TBH, I found it didn't really fit in with us.

shiny and new - well when I say give things a though clean etc. If they don't need to be cleaned really well, then I will just do what needs doing and then consider it done. So the wording could be better I guess. Its more of a "make sure table is clean" rather than clean it iyswim?

I also have a very naughty cat which will occasionally go on the table etc so I like to make sure it has been cleaned anyway.

And when I say paperwork, I mean, chuck out the junk, file the stuff that needs to be kept (Or even just put it somewhere neatly), shred what needs to be done etc.

and if it says tidy up, and its already tidy, I think it would make me feel very positive to be able to tick it off, without doing anything, and therefore help me keep up iyswim? And it also gives me an alocated day to do it if I have let it slip during the week..

Thanks for reading it for me, thats really appricated! Now got to find a way of making like a chart to tick off everyday! Will do that this evening when kids are in bed - off to pick them up now!

Hi there. I found your lists absolutely terfifying. I have tried rotas and lists and to be honest, they never worked for me, or my family. It just annoyed the hell out of my husband. Now I just tidy up when I see mess, clean the kitchen every evening, and do the paperwork once a month - but I MAKE my husband do that with me. It's not just my responsibilty.
Your husband shouldn't just " do the odd thing". He lives there too doesn't he? Also, I work more than my husband and he does more housework than me. But he won't if I haven't tidied up after myself. Teamwork, teamwork.
And give your children chores.
If you work, and your husband works, and he won't do any work in the house, you have a very strong arguement to get a cleaner.
But don't do lists...they'll drive you nuts.

My DH flew right off the handle this w/e when I commented that the house was a tip. He ranted on about how I'm the laziest person he knows, bla bla bla, I'm always on MN/Facebook. He only sees me at the w/e when I'm having a rest from the nightmare week with the children (he weekly commutes). He gets in from the office each night and watched tv, end of. I don't normally sit down until 9pm. He just doesn't get it. He keeps saying that if I want to do the DIY, he'll happily do all the housework............yeah right! He thinks he can have the w/e off and yet lets me crack on for the whole weekend. I remind him that his uniform/school uniforms still need washing, we still need to eat etc. He never offers to make a meal, never tidies the kids toys away with them and never puts clean clothes away. If I'm here in the week, that's my job apparently.

junglehusky - I am a SAHM though other than the odd shift to help a friend. So bit different, I do feel it's my job to do the majority of it as he works 12 hours at a time and I am just with the kids.

My kids cant really help. They are 7 months and 22months. The 22 month old will try and help if I ask, but TBH it just makes more mess!

You are not just at home with the kids! You're a very busy mummy with the emotional ties of demanding littlies 24/7.
I'm a SAHM too at the moment but I truly believe that once he's at home, it's 50/50.
If my DH cooked, that would be enough for me; I hate thinking of monotonous meals to cook and then mostly throw in the bin when the kids refuse to eat them.
It must be hard with your DH doing 12 hr shifts?

namechangedforareason - I didn't mean to sound so bossy! Many apologies.

I can see that you're coping with alot of stress. I work full-time and my husband part time. But I have stayed at home with the kids so I know how punishing that grind can be.

I think I just meant to say that looking at tthat list of chores is enough to bring on a ppanic attack. It does show how much you have to do, but try to be kind to yourself..you don't have to have a perfect house.

luciemule - that's the difference between men and women I think. I arrive home from work at about 730pm and can't wait to put the kids to bed, and I often cook as well. I try to clean the kitchen before bed ( don't always manage) and tidy up my mess. it's only fair!

I long to get a cleaner for 2 hours a week to iron the clothes and sheets. I hate how crumpled we all look. But it's such a bone of contention and sparks such terrible rows about how lazy I am, that I've decided to iron when I can, and put up with the crumple.

I love your day to day list!
I have 5 dc's eldest 9, youngest 4 weeks, and Dh works away from home so i have been struggling with the 'where do I start' and how to keep on top of it all. Thanks for the inspiration that was really needed!!

Thanks - you are welcome to copy it if you like

Junglemusky - its OK, I wasn't offended or anything! I am not after a perfect house, but I just need to get into better habits. If you saw the state of it, you will see why I need a new system . The thing is, I felt so much better writing the list and TBH it actually doesn't look that bad to me.