how do you get anything done when no-one can watch you DC's?

[Chinuplove]

I've been on my own for 3 months with my 3DC's aged 2, 3,5. I can't seem to get anything indoors done without another bomb going off in another room! I'm at my wit's end with the state of my home, I'm cleaning constantly and tidying constantly but it's not making any difference, by the end of the day every room is a complete tip, and I feel like crying! By this time of day I'm exhausted and the last thing I want to do with my only 'free' time is tidying up and cleaning! Any advice on how to keep them contained in one room at least would help!! I've tried encouraging them to help but this only works very occasionally. There is no-one to watch them while I get upstairs done so I come down stairs and it's just awful. My 3 year old is starting nursery next week so I'm hoping this might help, but I could really do with a weekend just spent indoors getting it to a manageable state.

Any advice would be great! Or just knowing I'm not the only one struggling with these kind of issues would make me feel slightly better!

Declutter, toy boxes for specific things and store so they have to ask for some things ( dressing up box for example- I always found that was a messy one), get them helping with toys etc.
Hoovering/dusting - lower your standards. Prioritise kitchen/bathroom from a hygiene POV.
Do stuff when they are in bed.

I don't really. It's very hard to keep on top of things. I cleaned the bathroom the other day (yes, this was a milestone!) and the dc's had trashed the living room during that time.

Mine are a bit older than yours (5 & 3) so I do try and stick them in front of cbeebies while I have a tidy up but it's hit and miss.

I find it easier when I only have one of them to look after. There is one day a week I don't work while DS is at school, on that day I can do a fair bit with just DD under my feet.

I know! I only have one DC but I struggle enough. We have good days and bad days. I am trying to encourage my DS to be responsible for his stuff. There is no computer time/DVDs etc if his room is a mess. Labelling his drawers has made a big difference so far (first week), the toy boxes were also labelled but since the labels came off some and they got messed up it needs redoing.

I do the bathroom in the morning while drying myself, every morning a spray round the shower when I finish and most mornings a quick wipe round the shower, sink, tiles, toilet and floor. I keep a pile of cloths ready and after using, each one goes in the wash.

I have 3 DC's (3,6&15) and childmind for another 4 (3,4,4,5) at various points during the week, there are usually at least 2 and at most 5 here at one time -although the 3 yr olds start nursey tomorrow -yipee!

I never attempt proper tidying/cleaning when they are around, they just trash other stuff while I am attempting it. I get them to help put away whatever we have been doing (but not any background mess). I Do tidying and cleaning in small chunks when they are in bed, concentrating cleaning in bathroom and kitchen, tidying into storage boxes & hoovering, dusting gets low priority, as does cleaning windows... Occasionally I gut a room when they are not here.