How clean is your house....really?

[amberj]

Like many or probably most of us, I am Busy. I run a business, have an 8 month old and manage our house. There is just NOT time for it all.

I really like to have a neat, clean house- I mean, I know most people do, but it really gives me a sense of peace and pleasure to have my house clean and tidy. But it seems like I can never, ever get it to where I want it. There is always some task out there waiting for me to do!

It strikes me that perhaps the problem is my expectations are a little high. That perhaps I have fallen for the myth that my house should look like the places on TV. So I just wondered- how clean are everyone else's house?

I find it a struggle just to keep up with the basics- dishes, dusting, vac-ing, bathrooms. My oven is never cleaned. There are crumbs in my grill and my toaster. Objects such as couches shouldn't be moved because there will definately be dust behind them. The books on the bookshelf are messy and in no real order. My bathroom cupboard really needs to have all its stuff taken out and be wiped cuz its kind of grimy. Etc. These are just examples- it seems like I can only JUST get the basic stuff done, let alone any extra projects.

Does anyone else have time for these? Am I normal or a domestic slattern?!

(PS- can't afford a cleaner!!!)

[Indadhanu]

I could write my name in the dust on our TV cabinet. And I'm with you, dont move the couches....

I dont run a business but I study full time so I try to do one or two big cleaning things a day (as well as washing, dishwasher, benches etc) but I never seem to get a chance to do everything by the time a new week starts and the things i did last week need doing AGAIN and the things i didnt do (see first sentance) just dont get done... again! We moved in a month ago and i still have things that arent unpacked and things are in shambles on my bookshelf too!

I do like things looking nice... like on TV... but I havent even mopped my floors since we moved in so theres no hope for me!!!!!

[Arimeh]

Ummm yeah..... don't EVER come to my house..... LOL

[OceanPrincess]

I choose not to answer this thread

[Jakabella]

The dust on my venetians is so thick I cant tell what color they are...

I know its time to vaccume when the black dog hair is making black tumble weeds that blow across the kitchen floor like in the westerns... lol.

Dont even get me started on the bathroom cupboards... or any c/b for that matter.... if you cant see it im ok with that...

Kate

[The[cookie]Doctor]

It's not.






The End.

[Tanya]

My house is revolting! I have done nothing allll day and neither has anyone else... in fact no-one puts anything away after using it, so the bench has food all over it, the sink is full, there are no cups if you want a drink..... I feel like crap!

[sneakysparkle]

It's not.






The End.

:yeahthat:

[Visitor8]

Ummm yeah..... don't EVER come to my house..... LOL

ditto here...

Duster ?? What's that??

I do the basics. It looks cleanish. But it's not spotless by far. I clean my scooting boards like twice a year lol

[*charmalea*]

Ummm yeah..... don't EVER come to my house..... LOL

:yeahthat: i loathe cleaning !! i always have a messy overcrowded bench we call it our "drop off zone !


ALEXIS :

[Bathsheba]

I used to be more into cleaning when I was studying at uni (up until 5 years ago). It's amazing how much more urgent a cleaning job seems when you have an essay to write

[Visitor8]

I am one who thinks that when my kids are up I should be playing with them not cleaning the house ...

My housework is done at night. Once the kids are in bed I do it all.

Dishes, floors, vacuuming, benches, washing etc

During the day I might tidy the lounge of the toys and hang a load of washing out but that's it. Between half day kinda 4 times a week, day care one day, bingo, playgroups and playing with the kids, there is too much to do with the kids during the day.

[alioops]

Alexis - I am a lazy perfectionist too, but at the moment EVERYTHING takes too much effort

[briggsy's girl]

i go through phases where i have to have EVERYTHING perfect and i really go nuts with it - but it's not often, and when it's done, i look and think "hmmmm, it's no different to what it was before i went to all the effort. i try and keep things dusted when i can (usually as i move everything from one pile to another i dust around it) - i have some antique furniture that i try and clean up properly every couple of months - but to be honest, the past 6 months everything has gone to the crapper and i just can't let myself care

IF it is something that you feel compelled to do, devote one half day a week to doing "unusual" cleaning. that half day might be from the time bubs goes to sleep until bed time if that's the only time you can find. one day do the bathroom cupboard, one day move the couches. when it comes down to it, it's stuff only YOU can see, so it's only really bugging you - and only you can know if it is a NEED to clean, or just a want.

FWIW - i don't move furniture to vac most of the time - but every 6 months or so, we move EVERYTHING over a period of a couple of weekends, vacuum, shampoo the carpet - and before we can do all that - all the other crap that has hidden down there gets cleaned up. it might be a more regular thing in high traffic areas once Gremlin arrives - i know i have 13 weeks to get it all done now, and it's starting to stress me a little bit - but i know i will get it sufficiently done to welcome her home - and everything else will happen when it happens...


ETA - Leash - i moved in here 3.5 years ago - still have stuff in boxes! my DVD's are nicely sorted. but CD's and books - well, lets not go there! i have four boxes of books in the linen press (under bed tubs), half a floor to ceiling bookshelf full in the rumpus room, a bookshelf full of uni stuff and Stephen King in the study as well as five 52L tubs of kids books, and three or four other tubs in the "store room" as we've nicknamed the spare room.... lotsa work sorting them out i think! do not fret - you'll get there!

can i just advise that if ANYONE has a house full of stuff and is moving in with someone that also has a house full of stuff - CULL everything before you move in and maybe even move into another house so you start fresh!

[Floweryfields]

You should've seen what I found under my stove (upright - not built in - never buy these!) and freezer last night when I moved them. EEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!

I agree when you work full time, there is just not enough time to do everything.

[amberj]

Alexis....I LOVE lists too, and I have always prided myself on being really, really organised. But life has seemed to overtake me lately and I just can't get it together. WHEN during your 8 hour day do you find time? I really want to know!! I mean, when DS is awake, he pretty much needs my attention. I can get a few little things done, but really not much. He has three naps of 45-60 minutes each. The first one, I get the dishes done, bed made, general tidying up and a shower. The second nap I eat lunch and get another little chore done, like some laundry and putting away the groceries or doing the dusting. The third nap I get dinner started and usually do some work. After DS goes to sleep, I clean up tea and then do some work and then sit down exhausted and come onto BB! Thats it, day done. Do you have a secret I don't know about?!!

[Bathsheba]

LOL and just wait until they turn about 2yo and stop having ANY naps and are at their height of messiness!!!! Good grief! You simply have no option but to relinquish control!!!! Having had two other children (that help him mess the place up as well) I know that the 2yo phase of filth will pass... but at the time it seems like it's going to be forever!!!

[amberj]

Ugh, it gets worse? I better deal with my high expectations now!!

When they are 2 are they able to entertain themselves at all so you can get anything done??