How do you keep your house in order?

[dzneprincess]

I would appreciate a little help. My house stays in disarray. To recap, we have 4 children, ages 9,8,5 and 1. We live in a 3 br ranch style home and my husband and I both work full time jobs. He works a lot of overtime, so most evenings I am alone with the kids. I look around now and I just feel so overwhelmed at the mess. I do not even know where to start.............We usually spend our whole weekend cleaning up, only to have it be in ruins again by Tues evening. It has gotten to where I just feel like giving up. Why waste my precious relaxing weekend cleaning when it will not make a difference the next weekend? Ya know? DH is working now, I have 3 kids outside playing and I have to keep an out for them. DS 1 was up but he was just screaming and not letting me accomplish anything, so I have laid him down but now I feel beat too! The last thing I want to do is clean..................

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

The same here, only not busy with little ones. If it's only clutter, I don't worry about it so much. I find that when I'm pressured to clean (company is coming) I can get the whole house clean in less than an hour. If I'm left to clean regularly, forget it.
Can your older two help out with some chores?

 

[gr8tpanther]

Oh I am with you!!!! I am a single mom who works 6 days a week now, the ONE day I have off is doing laundry, yelling at the kids for letting the house get to be shambles and catching up on anything that needs done. I am actually CONSIDERING looking for a live in nanny that I really can't afford, but I have very FEW choices!!! I have nobody else BUT me. I am sure that it NEVER ends!

 

[DawnCt1]

I know how you feel and fortunately I didn't work when my children were that young. I know it must be difficult. I now have 2 and a half home; one is away at college during most of the week but I am that much older and I need to be organized. Here are a couple of suggestions;
1. Do laundry every day. If I know its going to be a nice day, I throw a load of towels in before I get in the shower and hang them out on the deck before I leave for work. When I get home they are ready to be brought in and fluffed in the dryer.
2. Mail creates a lot of clutter. Open your mail beside the waste basket. If you don't need it, toss it at that moment. If you need it, if its a bill or something, put it in your bill drawer for later.
3. If you take a lunch to work, make it the night before, after dinner while you are doing dishes. I usually take leftovers for the next day and I package it up then.
4. Make your bed before you leave the bedroom
5. Set the coffee maker the night before so its ready. Empty the dishwasher while you are waiting for your coffee to be done.

Having said all that, Saturday is still my cleaning day. I still have laundry to do, ironing to do, bathrooms to clean, plants to water, vacuuming, etc. But, if you do a little every morning and every evening, Saturday is a little bit easier.

 

[mudnuri]

well, you need to get your entire family on board.

Theres no reason that kids cant help with the household chores. Even young ones- certainly a toddler cant do much, but by the time they hit 5-6 they should be doing their share of the work.

My DD's fold and put away their own clothes- DD8 can and does sometimes run both the washer and dryer.

They clean their own rooms- they MUST clean them up before bed. They also can not leave for school in the AM without their beds made, and everything they took out tried on and put down put away!

The kids do not leave their stuff laying around the house. We have a command type center in the kitchen. When they get home from school/after school care, they hand me the school stuff at the counter, and I IMMEDIATLY go through it, toss whats not important, sign what needs to be signed, and back packs go back together, at the door.

I try to keep up on the laundry- by doing 1 load a day, and folding it right then, though that doesnt always happen! I have found though that its SO much easier/faster to put away 1 load than it is 3!

The kids not only clean their own rooms- but they are charged with vacuuming the rooms- including the living room. They assist in the dusting, they clean their hamsters cage.

DH also does his share as well, he'll do the dishes if they need to be done, swap the laundry- etc. (anything but the bathroom)

I really think because I started the kids so young doing housework, it's not a battle now.

Get your family on board..sit down have a family meeting- discuss what needs to be done, and how often, and make a chart/plan of attack.

FYI- I also work outside the home, more often than not DH is home with the kids at night, and even then I can walk through the door at 930pm and find it put together..enough that when company comes- I dont change a thing..and DH works about 60 hours a week.

Good luck- and Lynn- theres NO reason your kids cant do everythign that you would do!...they are definetly old enough. You just have to remember "they do it there way"..I had to relax on my expectations, the bed might not be made with hospital corners, but it's their bed- and if they are okay with it, well, I guess I am too!

Brandy

 

[decker96]

If you're talking about just keeping stuff picked up, I feel your pain!!!
I have 3 kids 7, 4 and 1. Our house is always a mess. I have bought every bin, container, organizational device I can find and I still can't keep it picked up. A couple weeks ago I totally lost it. I told DH I couldn't stand to live in a pigsty anymore. So we came up with this plan and we both made a deal with each other that we would really stick to it this time (we usually just give in and do it ourselves) and we have.
The kids have to clean up the family room and playroom every night before dinner. The longer it takes them the less playtime they have with Dad that night. The first couple nights were a nightmare. Both my 7 and 4 year old were whining and crying that it was too hard, they couldn't do it, etc. (they hardly ever had to pick up after themselves because I would get sick of nagging them and just do it myself). They both got sent to bed early the first night because of how they acted (they got plenty of warnings). The 2nd night my oldest complained and was snotty the whole time. She went to bed early again and was grounded from the TV and computer the next day. The third night they both cleaned up without complaining and even picked up the baby's toys without me asking them too.
Things are going smoothly with it now. Occassionally I have to remind them of the punishment they got before and they stop whining and finish picking up. I've also noticed that they get fewer toys out at one time now. They used to drag everything out without picking anything up and then it was overwhelming. Now, they put stuff away sometimes before they get something else out.
As far as actual cleaning, I agree with the previous poster. Your kids are old enough to have cleaning chores around the house (my two oldest do). When I was growing up both my parents worked and Saturday morning we all cleaned the house. Then Sat. afternoon and all day Sunday we could do other stuff.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

#1- You must declutter. I have found that this is key. Get rid of things that are not played with, broken, used, worn in over 1 year+. Once everything has a "place" or a "home" then tidying up in the evening is quick.

#2- Start with baby steps. I started using the one philosophy from FLYLADY...keep your kitchen sink free of dirty dishes. After you eat, do the dishes. And everyone helps! (except for the 1yo, for you)
No one gets to leave the kitchen till it is clean, includes dad if he is home.

#3 Keep decluttering. Always throw things away everyday.

#4 Put your house on "project status" as Dr. Phil puts it. Make it a priority. Everyone has to pitch in.

#5 When things get "overwhelming" as they sometimes do...I grab big black lawn & leaf trash bags and toss it in there. Get it out of site, out of the room & floor, so you can clean.
I haven't had to do that lately.

Good Luck...there is so much more. It never ends!

 

[DisneyGoddess]

Check out Flylady.com - this woman's system is amazing and has really helped me get a handle of my house.

 

[diznygirl]

And I've only got 2 kids!

 

[AWD]

FLYLADY does have some great ideas................I agree
with the idea of decluttering your home. It will help a lot
and you won't feel so overwhelmed. There are a few
things that your older kids can do such as taking the sheets
off of the beds once a week. Also the kids can help with
laundry. Our boys always had a couple of easy chores
when they were little. Good Luck!!

 

[Mermaid02]

Is my house supposed to be in order?? Actually one of my friends says she "hates" me because my house is always "clean" .... so everyone's definition is different that's for sure!

My dh has EVERY issue of This Old House Magazine ever put out... we need to declutter... I never throw the kids school papers away... we need to declutter... I could go on and on!!

 

[raysnkaysmom]

What is order??????
I have 2 DD 8&4 and hubby and I are both gone about 12 hrs a day..so when we do get home...it's homework, dinner, baths and bed. By then, I'm exhausted. Doesn't make sense that the house looks like it does, seeing we are never here. But it's destroyed. Weekends is also our cleaning time...but I feel there is NEVER a time to relax.

 

[shortbun]

I don't lose sleep over mine. I keep clothes clean. I clean the
kitchen once a day. I sweep up big messes on the spot and
otherwise vacumn and broom sweep once a week. Shoes are
thrown in a pile by the door. Book bags and coats in the hall
closet. Mail in the trash as opened. Dusting almost never gets
done. Bathrooms are always in a constant state of flux-clean the
sink but not the tub, clean the tub but not the toilet, cleaned
the toilet and the picked up towels but everything needs wiping.
I just can't be bothered emotionally. When my MIL is coming,
I clean it all at once. Otherwise, I do what I can. DS is responsible
for his own room. DH does what he's asked and sometimes
what he sees needing done. We have lots of family time, play
sports, travel, talk, read and laugh together. Cleanliness isn't
the so important as long as we're free from dangerous bacteria!

 

[Beth76]

I agree to check out www.flylady.com. I'm a SAHM with a 3yo & a baby and my house is in shambles. If someone's coming over I have to rush just to get the public space "looking" clean. I joined flylady about a month ago and I'm very slowly making some progress. But, I really haven't even made a dent yet. I expect to really pick up the pace after our basement gets finished. Hopefully that will be done by Thanksgiving.

My two biggest problems are lack of storage an clutter. My storage will expand greatly when my basement's done. And I'm working on decluttering. I get a lot of great tips also from the TLC show Clean Sweep. They really help you to decide what you need and what you really don't need. Flylady might help with that too, but I haven't delved that far into yet to know for sure.

Definitely check out flylady. It seems very overwhelming at first because there is a lot of info. Seriously, I didn't do anything it suggested for about 2 weeks after I joined. And even then, it was one really small thing. They focus on "babysteps", getting you started very slowly and at your own pace. Good luck!!

 

[dzneprincess]

I know that flylady doesnt work for me. I joined it about 5 years gao, when my 3rd baby was born and I took ayear off of work to be home with him. I do know that my main problem is lack of space...............that and the DIS

 

[tiggerlover]

I too am a busy person these days, I don't have time to read all the replies so forgive me if I repeat what someone else posted. First and foremost I learned that I had to enlist the help of everyone in the house (granted that is only DS(8), DH and myself), but everyone has to pitch in some how. Givent he ages of your children, it seems like at least 3 of them can pitch in in various ways. Sit down and have a family meeting, explain to the older kids that mom and dad have to work and that this is a family home so therefor the family needs to take care of it. Assign age appropriate chores for all. Since I went back to work full time DS is now responsible for vacuuming the carpets and emptying the dishwasher, in addition to keeping his room cleaned up and emptying the trash cans every night. Keep up with the laundry daily as it is easier than letting it pile up. Have the kids help match socks and give each kid their own pile of laundry to put away when it is clean. Then we take 2-3 hours on Saturday morning to do a good clean of the house, each of us concentrating on a different area. Everyone knows once we are done they are free to do what they want.

I know it is tough balancing it all, hang in there.

 

[LuvN~Travel]

Order? What's that? Even with just two it's difficult to keep things put up. Not to mention the table full of stuff in the living room that is still left from the move in March....
Kim

 

[believe]

In my house when I clean...everyone cleans. DDs (6, 4) have learned that it is easier to pick up as they go than to have Mom involved, since I tend to pitch. DH and I work opposite shifts..during the day he does one load of laundry, makes our bed and takes care of the lawn. He will also do any other chores I ask, he does not pick up toys...our DDs do, have since they could walk or crawl to the toy box. In the summer they assist DH with laundry, DD#2 does all year since she only goes to preschool part-time. Dirty clothes are taken down each morning, usually by me, and sorted on the spot...on weekends DDs assist.

I also have a spot in our bedroom where the girls can put any items they are ready to get rid of. The general rule in our house is that if the allocated space does not allow for all the toys, etc then it is time to get rid of some. I am amazed at how willing DDs are with this. I don't even have to ask, they just do it as they see things they no longer need or want.

Lunches are prepared the minute I walk in the door.

No one leaves the house in a mess. DH makes sure DD#1 has her toys up before he leaves for work. I make sure it is straightened up before I go to bed, by both DDs.

You have to find what works for your family. Take baby steps.

My house isn't always dusted, vacuumed or mopped...but it is straightened up.

 

[Serena]

For the last month, I've had trouble walking for one reason or another, so my house isn't as clean as I like it. I do what I can, ask Kelsea to help with what she can and try not to look at the rest.

Having the dishes done, and the front room picked up and vacuumed seem to the best things to do to make it look cleaned up.

 

[JetMom]

I agree that you have to get your whole family involved. last month we sat down and made a list of all the chores that need to be done, how often they need to be done and who will do them. It has made a big difference. All 3 DS's (12, 10 & 6 yrs. old) no what is expected of them and are getting better about doing chores without being reminded. Even DH is helping out more.

I am so much calmer now that I don't feel like every thing is on my shoulders.