Basic housekeeping

[dizzycooks]

I have got to be doing something wrong. I cannot keep up with basic housekeeping tasks lately. I was blaming it on summer and being outside so much, but now it’s fall, one kid is gone most of the day and I still can’t keep up.
I’ve swept, done dishes, pulled plants, and worked 2 hours this morning. I am literally sitting in my couch and cannot get up again. My bathrooms have not been touched in two weeks and my laundry baskets are full of all the clothes dh and I folded last night.
A housekeeper is not in the budget. Tip and tricks please. Or maybe cleaning supplies that truly make the jobs easier.
Also, our dog passed and I really need a good, small, mop because I see now how much food she actually ate off the floor.

[momin2013]

What I do is I keep a set of everything needed for that room in (or at least near) the room. So for example, in each bathroom I keep a bottle of Vim, a scrubber, a toilet brush, a bottle of Windex, and a roll of paper towels. I find I'm more inclined to do a quick clean now and then if it's convenient and easy to do so.

I also love our DustBuster for crumbs on the kitchen floor (I keep it plugged in right behind DS' chair, actually - lol). After every meal I do a quick DustBust under the table, which keeps the floor in relatively good shape.

For floors, I try to vacuum once a week, and I'll do the whole house at once: carpets, tile, and hardwoods. I used to use the Swiffer for hard floors but recently I've found that vacuuming is easier, once I have it out anyway for the carpets.

I'm constantly picking up clutter and putting things in their place, so it never gets to that overwhelming cluttered feeling. I find when spaces are uncluttered it makes it faster/easier to clean, too.

[cjcouple]

I wish I knew, I tend to run the best when I follow a schedule but I fall off schedule very easily.

[nicolewi]

I don't know. I need help, too! We have a lady do basic cleaning every-other-week. I still feel absolutely like I can't keep up. The laundry alone is a huge challenge and the toy/paper clutter that grows daily is remarkable.

The only small tip I have is that I started this year having my kids do more clean up after dinner. Instead of just clearing their own dishes, they help clear the entire table, and then they sweep and wipe the table. I started it just to give them more responsibility, but it's actually been a pretty big help.


I'm really sorry about your dog. I do know people who have Roombas and love them!

[usm]

I follow CleanMama on iG. She has 5 daily tasks (make bed, wipe counters, etc) and 1 task a day. It has really helped me remember and do something each day and it keeps me on task.

I also keep Clorox wipes and toilet bowl cleaner in each bathroom for quick wipe downs during the week.

[jag01]

usm, that sounds like a wonderful plan, does she help build up ambition too? I think mine got chased out of the house by the dust bunnies.
Seriously, I need to figure something out, because what I'm currently doing isn't working. I feel like I just don't have enough time in the day either. After work it's homework, supper, clean up supper, baths, bedtime for the kids, and I don't feel like cleaning after that.

[usm]

Oct 23, 2017 17:10:35 GMT -5 jag01 said:

usm, that sounds like a wonderful plan, does she help build up ambition too? I think mine got chased out of the house by the dust bunnies.
Seriously, I need to figure something out, because what I'm currently doing isn't working. I feel like I just don't have enough time in the day either. After work it's homework, supper, clean up supper, baths, bedtime for the kids, and I don't feel like cleaning after that.

Ha- she posts a "reminder" pic on IG and it usually makes me close IG and go do it. Guilt, ambition, accountability, whatever you want to call it . She also has a blog I haven't delved too far in but it seems more real world, like take 15 minutes and do this! It's kept me from starting to clean my counters off and then start cleaning out my fridge and then alphabizing my spices and never finishing any of it.