Need some advice from other working moms

[shirleyb]

I am off on vacation this week, and will spend most of it cleaning the house! I've spent the morning working on the kitchen, what a mess.

I really am just interested in what are the routines that you guys use to stay on top of things. Between a full time job, 3 kids and their activities, it seems laundry is about the only thing I'm ever able to stay on top of.

Thanks.

 

[mickeyboat]

I do laundry every day. The laundry room is right outside my bedroom door, so it is easy.

I try to keep the mess contained and picked up every day. The dishes are done every day, and counters are wiped down after every meal.

I work close to home, and often will skip home and do a few things on my lunch hour.

I do a thorough cleaning every weekend. It takes about 2 hours, even less if DH helps.

What doesn't get done is organization of the kids' toys, closets, cabinets and the pantry. I usually pick one thing and tackle it on Sundays for an hour or so.

My advice would be to keep most stuff picked up during the week. My weekly cleaning takes so much longer when I have to pick up everything first. Second would be to enlist your family's help. Even if it's not perfect, they can help.

Good luck.

Denae

 

[Christine]

I am as bad off as you. I work full-time and have a long commute. I do cook a meal every night. By the time I do that and clean it up, there is not much time for anything else.

Last week, I did try to force myself to do two loads of laundry every night. It was great on Saturday when I didn't have the 10 foot mountain of clothes, but DANG I got tired of doing laundry every night.

 

[Hillbeans]

I agree with Denae - at least we're not home a lot during the week so the house doesn't get completely messed up with toys and things.

I usually do laundry overnight and try to contain my kids to the playroom at night so there aren't toys all over the house.

The kitchen gets messy very fast - my 15 month old loves throwing food on the floor and that combined with drips from the sippy cups makes a mess. I try to use my wetjet once every 3 days.

I do full scrubbings of the bathroom every 3-4 weeks but I do a basic clean every weekend.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I don't. My house is a pigsty.

 

[TerryKitten]

We do laundry and major pickup of the house one morning each weekend. I then focus one area for a little more extra cleaning. Like bathrooms one weekend AM, Kitchen the next weekend, Bedrooms, etc. Dishes are done every other day or so. Our kitchen and the place where we seem to drop things when we come home get messy quicker, but that weekend everything is cleaned up.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm still working on it as a SAH/Homschooling/WAHM.

I find when I set my alarm and get up by a specific time--it allows me to accomplish "chore duties".

And my 6yo and 4yo are having a tough time b/c I have recently installed a new rule in our home--no messy bedrooms at bedtime. I make them stay up and put things away no matter how tired they are. I busted my tush getting the commons areas clean--my room still needs an overhaul--so hard b/c my room isn't the best example.

I have also been making daily lists of what I would like to accomplish that day and find that laundry loads daily versus it all at once is much much easier.

But I am far from the epitome of perfect home--but just by those few measures--I am amazed at how well the commons areas have been kept. And I am a quadruple-flunk-ee from Flylady 101.

 

[WeirdEyes]

If I didn't have my DM, I don't know what I'd do. She vacuums and dust every week for me.

I wash clothes every day. We also clean the kitchen at night after dinner. The floors get a good scrubbing every other week, but swept almost daily. My bathroom gets cleaned once a week, but just a touch up here and there. I thoroughly clean it (takes 2 hours) every 3 weeks. I never use the garden tub so I just spit shine it. LOL

I used to have a maid come every other week, but wasn't that impressed with her abilities. I do miss not having to clean that week though. Sigh.

Compared to some of my friends/family, my house looks spotless. I can't stand clutter.

 

[Hidden_Mickey]

Well where do I start?

It seems like every night we have somewhere to go after work - running errands, Christmas shopping, doctor's appointments or attending kids' activities or office Christmas parties. I'm about ready to call in sick to work to get a break. I can't wait for the 26th, lol.

The goal most nights is to eat a decent meal at a decent hour, do homework, make sure the kids shower every other day (every day during the summer), put them to bed at a reasonable hour so they can get up the next morning, clean up the kitchen, make lunches, fold the laundry I washed 2 days ago, write Christmas cards, etc, then read my O magazine or watch the History Channel for an hour while nearly passed out on the couch. I try to sweep the floor a few times a week. I usually mop the floors, vacuum, clean the bathroom and dust all at once about every other week unless something grosses me out. It takes about 2 hours if I work out first and have some energy to bring to it. I do laundry once a week on the weekend. I sort it all out but often I don't finish on Sunday and end up doing the last load or 2 on Monday. I always have a load or 2 that still needs to be folded in a basket in the living room. I fold after everyone else goes to bed so the living room looks like a clothing store until I can put everything away while they are still awake on Tuesday or Wednesday. Last week I knew this weekend would be killer so I did laundry twice and by the time I finished the first set it was time to do it again on Sunday and I still haven't finished and it seems like the piles never stop growing. I'm cheap but I'm starting to think a cleaning service may be worth my sanity.

 

[U2_rocks!]

Sorry, I can't help - we pay for cleaning, which is the only way it would get done. It's worth it to us for sure! The house isn't perfect, because the cleaning help is only part-time, and the kids have a way of destroying the house the moment they enter it! But it allows us to at least maintain a hygenic house, if not a tidy one!

 

[Mermaid02]

www.flylady.com

 

[Gymbomom]

We are looking at making a change in our lifestyles....We will go from a SAHM and Homeschooled kids, to going to school and a mom that works full time.
One of the conditions I have said, is we HAVE to budget for the housecleaner every other week. I refuse to spend my weekends off to be with the kids.... cleaning instead.

 

[CTPinkPrincess]

I just learned to ignore the dust bunnies....they're fluffy and cute!

Between working, a long commute and my dd's social life (better than mine, sad to say), the house is not a priority. Laundry does get done, we do pick up toys at the end of each day, and we try to stay contained to the spare room or finished basement...

 

[KelNottAt]

Sorry, I can't help - we pay for cleaning, which is the only way it would get done. It's worth it to us for sure!

Same here. $126 every-other Tuesday and it's the best money I've ever spent. I go without Starbucks, manicures, cell phone, all premium cable channels (and some other things some people probably can't live without) just to afford the cleaning ladies.

 

[hpygrll]

I do a little bit everyday - I always pick up things lying around - especially in the "hot spots" (Flylady). I do laundry probably every other day and I put it away immediately. Hard core cleaning on Saturday morning - maybe takes 1 1/2 hours - If I stay on top of it it's fine - if I miss even a day we're screwed.

Jenny

 

[Judy from Boise]

I have a weekly cleaning service. I would have the family identify a way to squeeze it into the budget.

 

[js]

Up until last January, I worked full time with a 90 minute commute EACH WAY.
Now I work 3 days a week, still same commute.
I am married and have 2 children.
The most important thing you must be is ORGANIZED. If you are not, it will eat you alive. My dh is/was very, very, VERY helpful so that is big help.
If you work full time and have kids, you must get a cleaning service/person. It is affordable (I live in NY) and a must. You will still need to pick up EVERY NIGHT, but use that person to clean your bathrooms, change your sheets, vaccuum under the couch cushins, clean fridge, etc. You get the picture.
Every time you use the microwave, make sure you wipe it down.
Every time you use the stove, wipe it down. The counters, wipe them down.
The kids need to pick up after themselves every day. Papers get thrown away every morning from the day before (we throw outside since we have to recycle).
As far as laundry, I have/had set days. With four kids you may have to do it every day, not sure, but if you can try to have set days. One of my days is Friday night (especially when I worked full time) since I didn't want to have to do it on the weekend.
Do you have to do the grocery shopping? My husband use to do it so that was a help, BUT if you have to be the one to go, can you go on Thursday nights instead of Saturday or Sunday since they are your only days off? I rather would have run out during the week to get things done if that meant I didn't have to do it on weekends, especially with soccer, baseball and softball. Don't go Friday since that is one of your laundry nights...get it?
DO NOT leave any dishes in the sink. They will pile up, not good. Put the dishes directly in the dishwasher after your meals or snack and if you don't have one, do them right after you eat. Invest in some paper plates, forks, knives, cups. Use them.
Make lunches the night before for the morning. Do this as soon as you walk in otherwise it gets put on the back burner.
Cooking, I can't help. I don't cook and don't like it. My dh does the cooking.
Organization, a very helpful husband and a cleaning person can make all the difference.
Good luck.

 

[golfgal]

I hear you!! I recently returned to work after 15 years of being a SAHM. The deal is supposed to be that DH is in charge of all kitchen duties-cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping. So far he has shopped once, for a nights meal, didn't even get milk that I specifically told him we needed . I was sick in bed Monday after attending a class all day, sick in class too but I HAD to go, the dishes from Monday's "meal" are still all over the place along with the remnants of the dishes from hosting his family for Christmas this past Saturday-all the stuff that was in the dishwasher--sitting on the kitchen counters that he can't seem to figure out where they go????

Last night I did 3 loads of laundry, printed out our Christmas card envelopes, ran the kids a couple places and a few other things all while trying to study for my TEST on FRIDAY that I HAVE to take, DH spent the night on the couch reading.

After Christmas, I am hiring a cleaning person to come in once/week to do the kitchen floors, all the bathrooms and other general cleaning. I can't STAND the house like this anymore and I am not even a neat freak--DH is though as long as someone else is cleaning.

 

[golfgal]

I should add, I haven't had time to wrap a single Christmas present, I have to shop for food for Christmas and get the house picked up by Saturday for the guests that are coming for Christmas (coming on Saturday). I haven't even finished all my Christmas shopping yet.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am off on vacation this week, and will spend most of it cleaning the house! I've spent the morning working on the kitchen, what a mess.

I really am just interested in what are the routines that you guys use to stay on top of things. Between a full time job, 3 kids and their activities, it seems laundry is about the only thing I'm ever able to stay on top of.

Thanks.

For schedules here is a site that I use. Now, I am no where near these people but it does help to look at their routines. Click on "Clean Sweep"....people list their daily schedule.
http://organizedhome.com/forum-6.html
As far as keeping on a routine, you have to make it match your time and what you can do. First step is to "declutter".
More stuff you have, more time you have to put into taking care of it.
So look around your rooms and see if there are things that really could be let go.