House cleaning schedule?

[Neesy228]

Okay...I'm going to admit it...I'm a HORRIBLE housekeeper. I guess I just wasn't born with the "clean gene"....I've got three little kids and between them, a husband who travels often, the kids activities and my job, I barely manage to make dinner most nights. My house is a mess and I'm tired of it. Does anyone have a schedule they've developed that works for them? A list of chores to do each day so that you don't spend the weekends cleaning? I need to devise a plan that will allow me to do a small amount of deep cleaning each day so that I can keep up with the house...but it can't take a ton of time.

Help?!

 

[gillenkl]

I have done www.flylady.com before - it's a decluttering/housekeeping website. She explains how to schedule your cleaning days so it's broken down throughout a month (I think it's a month anyway).

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I have done www.flylady.com before - it's a decluttering/housekeeping website. She explains how to schedule your cleaning days so it's broken down throughout a month (I think it's a month anyway).

I second flylady!!!! She changed my life. I cannot say enough good things about her. I used to be a pack rat. I saved everything because I may need it someday. I never used to be able to have anyone over and when we did I would clean for hours and hours and after they were gone my house looked like a tornado hit it by the next day. Thanks to the system (which is not only very easy...it is also fun) my house can have anyone over at no notice. Go to her site above and start reading baby steps. When you sign up for her email she will send you emails so you can start establishing a routine and your house will sparkle...and you will fell better, too. The best part is everything is free. I mean she does sell some products but you are not forced to buy them. The tips, use of website and emails are all free.

 

[Dancemom03]

FLYLADY... Another flylady fan fessing up here - now if my email just weren't so cluttered...

 

[bkaz]

I feel the same way and often get frustrated with the clutter...much less the fact that I've never wiped down my baseboards (are you supposed to do that?)...that our ceiling fans are covered in dust...that the microwave is cruddy...you get the picture!

However...I also have the following phrase hung up in my home "My house is clean enough to be healthy, and messy enough to be happy."...and I have to constantly remind myself that a messy house and happy kids are more important than perfection and kids who are nagged nonstop!

 

[bedillamouse]

My sister recommended flylady... I haven't done it yet. I'm just happy to hear there is another female out there that has a hard time keeping the house sparkling clean. I was not born with the clean gene either....I'm always mystified at my friends who's houses are clean...I just can't seem to keep up with it all.

Good luck and just know you aren't the only one!

 

[joy@disney]

Is there a weekly email that flylady sends out? Where on their site can I sign up for it? Thanks.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

go to flylady . net (all one word). She sends out numerous daily emails. Reminding you of your schedule etc. You go to getting started and send your email address. She will then send out an email and you sign up through big tent. They walk you through it and it's pretty easy.

 

[Kate and Pete]

I'm so disorganized that I can't even follow flylady (wish I could!!). I keep a list of chores on the fridge and every night, after dinner and dishes are done, set the timer for 15 minutes. DH and I zip through as much as we can, stopping when the timer goes off. The next day, we start where we left off - so, everything in the house gets cleaned about twice/week - and then "heavy cleaning" on Sat. morning. Seems to work for us!

 

[bratmomma]

I also missed out on the housekeeping gene! I try but it just doesn't work out for me.

Flylady has helped me A LOT! I am seeing some progress.

Good luck.

 

[Redwitch]

OMG! I thought I was the only one. Problem is, I don't mind my dirt/clutter - it is everyone else's that grosses me out. I'm going to take a look at his site. Thanks.

 

[Jill in Chicago]

There are only so many hours in a day. Period. You are one person and can only do so much. There is a lot to be said for: family time, rest, and time to dream. A messy house is frustrating, and I understand that. But please take into account that you are human.

Next it is time to get the kids involved. Even small children can do so much more than we give them credit for. There is often guilt involved. We feel like the kids have so much to do already: homework, sports... that they should have down time. Well you know what? You should have down time too. The children will function and will be able to also do a few chores each day.

People are going to think I am too strict. Actually our home is fun and full of laughter.

Set expectations. No more backpacks strewn, or soccer pads tossed. Clearly define what they need to do when they walk into the house. Shoes off. They track mud. No food eaten in any room other than the kitchen. No more walking around with drinks. Sit down. Enjoy your snack. (Then when you have family movie night it's a fun treat to eat in front of the t.v.)

All children help clear dinner. They can put dishes in the dishwasher, wash pots.... This gives you the chance to clear up the mail, deal with school needs for the next day....

If your children need to be shuttled around after school for activities you will only be able to do a small amount during the week. (A load or two of laundry, clear off the kitchen counter, wipe down the sink.) After activities there is dinner and homework. By then it's late and everyone is exhausted.

I think your best bet is Saturday morning. If the children have activities then their chores need to be completed after wards. If at all possible car pool so you do not have to sit through Saturday practices, games of course you will be there. It takes my 16 year old about 1 to 1/2 hours to complete his Saturday chores. (He is currently an A student taking college level course, in multiple extra curricular activities with lots of friends.)

Our 16 year old also empties the dishwasher each morning before he heads off to high school. That is such a simple act, but a huge help.

There is no way I could get this place clean without his help. My husband is busy on Saturday with the cars, cleaning gutters, mowing the lawn... Sunday we attend church and everyone gets to do whatever they want: No Chores!

 

[Schmoodle]

I've used flylady too. It's very helpful to break things down into little bits you can do every day. You can tailor it to suit you, but the main thing is to build the habits and to add things in one at a time so you don't get overwhelmed. Even at my craziest, busiest times, there are some flylady habits I hang on to, so it has worked for me.

My week looks like this:
Monday: dust and vacuum downstairs
Tuesday: dust and vacuum upstairs
Wednesday: clean bathrooms
Thursday: clean kitchen
Friday: change sheets

Every morning I throw in a load of laundry and swish out one toilet. Every evening I make sure dinner dishes are cleaned up and counters wiped. I work full time, so I really like not having to spend my weekend cleaning. Also, it's so nice to feel like you won't be totally humiliated if someone turns up unannounced at your door. My house is never spotless, but is also never a disaster anymore. I can live with that.

 

[HeatherC]

Some things that work for me are:

1. Plan your meals out. This way you know exactly what you will be having each night. You can then prep it the night before and be ready to go. Example: use your crockpot...put the ingredients in it the night before in the fridge then plug it in the morning before you leave. You"ll come home and dinner is done leaving you time for other chores.

2. Make lunches the night before if you or the kids take them.
3. Pick everyones clothes out the night before along with backpacks, etc.. Store them in one spot so you know where they are.
4. Put a load of laundry in wash in the morning, then come home and throw in dryer. Fold and put away before you go to bed.
5. Keep disinfecting wipes in every room. That way when the sink gets yucky you can quickly give it a wipe and move on to the next thing. Same thing for counters, toilets, etc..

6. Get the kids to help...no matter what their age. Younger ones can put their shoes and toys away, older ones can help with setting the table, dishes, unloading dishwasher, etc.. Eventually it will become routine for them....well for the most part.

If you can get into a daily routine for an hour, you will then have the rest of the night to relax.


Hope this helps give you some ideas!

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

I work full time, have 2 older kids, so not as much "toy" clutter as in the past, but here's what I do.

Clean (vaccuum, kitchen floor, bathrooms); Saturday morning. Truly it only takes an hour or 2. I use lots of spray cleaners that you don't have to scrub later, just spray on and let them work.

Laundry; daily wash one load when I wake up, move it to dryer and start another one before I go to bed.

Dishes; everything gets done within the meal time. Paper plates might not be a bad investment...

I wouldn't stress about it too much during the week, just buy a few big baskets from Pier 1 for the kids to throw toys in for a quick straighten.


I guess this doesn't help your wanting to do some cleaning each day, but heck, who wants to clean every day?! My house is pretty neat and I only do "real" cleaning once/week. I am big into straightening tho, and everything having a place. My kids weren't allowed to take out the next thing unless they put away the first thing when they were littler.
HTH

 

[runwad]

Well I was pretty much going to say the same thing Jill in Chicago said Everyone at my house chips in and it makes a difference. My two sisters houses are a disaster and they can't keep up with it either and they don't expect their kids to help. It takes a family to keep the house clean. You can't clean a room and have someone come in and mess it up and expect it to stay clean. Get others on board, its their home too!!

 

[Duckyiam71]

another fan of Flylady! If you have a Facebook account and become a fan, you fire drills! So if you are facebooking and you see the little things she post, you can go and do them.. Kind of cute idea! I love her Chaos journal..I made mine and it keeps my superorganized. Like others have stated, my house is constantly presentable. It may not white glove clean but I feel good about it because it stays clutter free.

 

[mommyto2]

I agree with previous posters...everyone should help a little. I have my DD8 make her bed before she can turn on her tv shows in the morning, and after she is done with breakfast, I have her empty the dishwasher. In the evening if she's home, she'll set the table for dinner and help clear the table afterwards. My DS3 puts all his toys in his toy box before we go up to bed. He also likes to help me dust and swiffer when he sees me doing it.

Other housework, well, that is a problem for me too. We're also trying to work on a house cleaning schedule. If I don't get something going soon, my husband keeps telling me we need to get a cleaning lady. I'd rather not spend the money on that.

The above mentioned website sounds great! I'll definitely give that site a visit.

 

[tink_lover]

Wow, I struggle with this also. Only in our family, it's me who is frequently gone on the road for work. Since the kids were about 3 or 4, I have had them helping. There is just no other way. We built a big house a few years ago and it takes all of us to keep it clean. I do have 2 girls that come in every other week - it is worth it in my mind to have that help. DH takes care of the kitchen clean up; kids bus their own dishes and set table; kids collect dirty clothes and sort it for me; I do the clothes/folding (although DD is starting to fold); kids put their own clothes away; kids have started helping with dusting and vacuuming. The thing is, they don't always do a great job. I try to be positive and thank them for the help while resisting the urge to re-do whatever they have already done. With little kids (and two big dogs), I think life is just crazy and try to let go a little bit of the expectation of a perfectly put together house.

 

[StephMK]

I feel the same way and often get frustrated with the clutter...much less the fact that I've never wiped down my baseboards (are you supposed to do that?)...that our ceiling fans are covered in dust...that the microwave is cruddy...you get the picture!

However...I also have the following phrase hung up in my home "My house is clean enough to be healthy, and messy enough to be happy."...and I have to constantly remind myself that a messy house and happy kids are more important than perfection and kids who are nagged nonstop!

I have that same saying in my kitchen -my grandmother did it in needlepoint on a picture & it used to be in her house. Helps me remember that moms throughout time have struggled with this!

I do things in small chunks as I can. Kids' bathroom gets cleaned while they shower & we talk. They de-clutter their rooms when I can't walk to the bed. It's not bad unless they start leaving out lego villages and LPS compounds. We currently have a huge pile of laundry in our bedroom but no one knows but us ...IRL anyway.

Right now there are dustbunnies plotting to create a new pet in my hallway but I just don't have time to address them until tomorrow. I really like to do my house cleaning early on Friday night so I wake up Saturday & everything looks tidy. At the very least, the kitchen is cleaned up & the rest of the main floor is straightened up. Then I can just run the vacuum & other stuff but it looks good right in the am.