I was working 3 days (it was 4 but that was insane so I cut back to 3) before DS2 arrived. It was really hard, TBH my sleep and my relationship with DH suffered. But.... I would vacuum everyday, usually after dinner when the kids were in the bath, I would madly run around, pick everything up and vac. I would also do washing every night and hang it on a clothes horse. If it was going to be sunny the next day I’d put it outside or leave it in if it was rainy and finish it off in the dryer if it needed it at the end of the day. I would clean the kitchen and makes lunches when the kids were in bed. I would never go to bed until all the jobs were done (here’s where the sleep and relationship gets shafted) including packing all the bags and setting out all our clothes for the next day. I am not a mornings person, there is no way jobs could get done then and I just couldn’t stand waking-up to a messy, dirty house. I also had terrible insomnia (adrenal exhaustion - where when I eventually did go to bed I couldn’t get to sleep). I guess what I’m saying is IMHO you can have a tidy house but it will come at some sort of cost to you and /or your family. xxoo

We're lucky DS2 came along actually.