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Original poster

how do you keep on top of your housework?

75 replies

Emma1404 · 15/03/2006 10:16

i have an 11 month old dd, who is quite demanding and clingy at the moment. i live in a 4 bed house with 3 toilets and im finding it totally impossible to keep on top of the housework. HELP!!

OP posts:
Sponge · 15/03/2006 16:14

I don't. House is filthy. Must get new cleaner - can't cope.

Mercy · 15/03/2006 16:26

Agree with Bozza re your dh helping, plus if it's only you and an 11 month old during the day I would have thought your house would be pretty clean and tidy already.

Perhaps you could share some of the housework at weekends. And you must have a rest when dd has a nap.

Boopert · 15/03/2006 16:32

I'm getting my old cleaner back! Can't bear the mess but can't clean it either....

desperateSCOUSEwife · 15/03/2006 16:36

I tidy round and do the downstairs before kids go to school that includes polish, washing and
when kids go to school i hoover and mop all downstairs
and then go and do all upstairs
we have 4 bedrooms and bathroom and downstairs wc.
house stays spotless all day until kids come home
then I just tidy after them or get the kids to help me.
it is a piece of piss

Boopert · 15/03/2006 16:38

Wanna come and clean MY house? Grin
I have no chance. When ds at nursery, i'm at work when we at home he hoovers but thats it.

desperateSCOUSEwife · 15/03/2006 16:39

Boopert can do plenty of towels if you so wishGrin

Boopert · 15/03/2006 16:40

Oh that would be great!

KVG · 16/03/2006 10:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

jacobsmummy · 16/03/2006 15:25

My house is a total and permanent mess and there is not a darn thing I can do about it.

It used to really bother me to the point where i would make myself ill, but now I've given in and just accept it's how things are. I have four children and i work very hard running my own business, so there just isn't time to even start housework much less finish it.

I do dream though about one day in the future when the children are grown up and we have a tidy house again, but until then, i really don't let it worry me!

thelennox · 16/03/2006 16:48

only reason it all gets done is im on maternity leave. dh has forgotten what a duster looks like!

smart · 16/03/2006 18:00

as long as the loo's and clean and the kitchen surfaces are clean, does it all really matter?

smart · 16/03/2006 18:00

as long as the loo's and clean and the kitchen surfaces are clean, does it all really matter?

smart · 16/03/2006 18:00

as long as the loo's and clean and the kitchen surfaces are clean, does it all really matter?

Tortington · 16/03/2006 19:29

i would close off two of the toilets - get a locksmith and lock them.

fuck everything else lifes too short. and someone will always be more perfect - so may as well not compete in teh anthea turner oscars and be happy with your children. and your mess

harpsichordcarrier · 16/03/2006 19:30

it's not your housework
it does not belong to you
delegate it
ignore it
but don't own it....

alliebaba · 16/03/2006 19:33

em, your house is always spotless (better than mine) Leave DH a list. He'll get it then.. Where do you stash it all when I come round then?

DumbledoresGirl · 16/03/2006 19:34

I don't. I am piled under.......help.......rescue meeeeeeeeee...................................

harpsichordcarrier · 16/03/2006 19:37
DumbledoresGirl · 16/03/2006 19:40

Rubble is a bit strong Harpsi! The house hasn't yet fallen down around my ears!

Original poster
Emma1404 · 16/03/2006 19:44

its all under the stairs ali.....nah only joking. my house isnt that bad, but i know myself when the last time was i had chance to dust or bleach everything......

OP posts:
alliebaba · 16/03/2006 19:45

we all do! the little fiddley things that we had the time to do before babies come along have to take a back seat. As long as the main bits are clean, a bit of mess doesn't matter..

Surfermum · 16/03/2006 19:50

I do it as and when the mood takes me. Some days I do loads and other days I think "sod it", but it also depends on whether dd is happily playing on her own or not.

Last week I invited a friend over with her toddler with an hour's notice. I went through the house cleaning and tidying like a tornado and I was amazed how much I got done. Might have to do a few more spur of the moment invites.

My philosophy is that I don't want to look back on these early years with dd and regret time spent doing housework when I could have been playing with her. As long as the bathroom and kitchen are hygenic that's all I try to worry about.

tassis · 16/03/2006 20:02

I have an "evening routine" which is cleaning the downstairs of the house and a "morning routine" which involves tidying the upstairs of the house before going down in the morning. Usually works though have gotten a bit lazy lately...

4friends · 16/03/2006 20:12

On that note:

I hope when my children look back on today
They'll remember a mum who had time to play
There will be years for cleaning and cooking
Children grow up when you're not looking
So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep
I'm rocking down my Baby
And babies don't keep

And that's my excuse for having a scummy house Grin - or at least that what I tell my dh and point to the notice board where it is prominantly pinned!

alliebaba · 16/03/2006 20:14

love it... take heed em