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thread: Motivated Mums - how do you do it?

  1. #19
    Registered User

    Sep 2009
    Melbourne
    1,164

    My house is never completely spotless, even when come visitors over there are clothes thrown into the walk in robe or things hidden in the spare room haha. I try and keep on top of the kitchen and living room each day but apart from that I don't really have a certain routine. Things get cleaned when they start looking a bit messy. There just isn't enough time in the day and I'd much rather spend my spare time with DS and DH than stress over an untidy house!


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  2. #20
    Registered User

    Dec 2008
    Brisbane, QLD
    5,171

    It is achievable, its just a case of getting up off your butt and doing it - sorry but thats the truth. Oh and turning the computer off too!
    I have to agree with this. Well for me anyway, can't comment on how it is for others.

    I do similar things to you Kim, fold the washing straight off the line and put away, clean as I cook so by the end the is just a few dishes, etc. So much easier than looking at it at the end of the day and going "omg it's just too much".

    Have to admit though, if I miss a couple of days it is soo hard to get back into the routine, it just all seems too much!

  3. #21
    Registered User

    Jun 2005
    Perth
    1,454

    I multi - task alot of the jobs, like when DS is having a bath I will clean the bathroom. Make sure when I am going from one room to another I take anything that needs to be moved with me.
    I am exactly the same and I find it so much easier that way!

    I do get more of my housework done when DS is down for his daily nap, but like today I am sitting here instead of doing it. And just for today I NEED that. I need to keep my sanity.
    And thats the way I work too. Naptimes are great -I allocate a certain amount of time for "me" time and once that is up I then continue on with my cleaning etc. And some days, like today, I made my previous post then got up and went and mopped my kitchen and living area and am now back on the computer. I at least feel like I have done something and it only took 10 mins.

  4. #22
    Registered User
    Add fionas on Facebook

    Apr 2007
    Recently treechanged to Woodend, VIC
    3,473

    I'm basically all over the shop!

    If DP is on day shift and he can take both kids out, I can have the entire house done in less than two hours.

    Otherwise, I just find it too frustrating to try to do housework when tasks that should take 10 minutes end up taking hours inbetween looking after the girls. DD1 really doesn't play on her own so that's my biggest downfall. So most of the time, I just aim to cook, keep the kitchen clean, do washing and put clothes away.

    Floors are generally dirty here though I'm hoping a steam mop will revolutionise my life

    I often clean the bathroom while the kids are in the bath but again, the floor is my sticking point (quite literally).

  5. #23
    Registered User

    Mar 2011
    Brisbane's Southside
    988

    Well I just got the washing in and folded it up as I went and put it all away as soon as I walked inside - and now it's all done!!

    Reading about how you all handle it is really great and I can feel it motivating me to start doing more lol - its amazing how little tips can help so much!!

    I have the main areas of the house tidy all (most) the time - I vaccum and mop on the weekends but sweep and use my little carpet sweeper thing during the week. I do a few loads of washing during the week - because I hate having 5 laods to do on the weekend. I put them on at night using a delayed start and hang them up first thing in a morning - I find that better than putting in on when I wake up and rushing to get it up before we get in the car to leave for the day.

    My DP is great at getting me going again when I have lost motivation if I have let the place get too messy - he helps me do a 15/20min blitz and then I feel so much better about it all. And he also does the dishes and tidies the kitchen after dinner while I am getting DD ready for bed - which is such a relieve

  6. #24
    Registered User

    Jan 2011
    Perth, WA
    1,245

    Reading threads like this motivate me!!
    My house is spotless at the moment but I am waiting for a rental inspection to be over.
    I tend to go overbaord for inspections so I am exhausted.
    Normally my house is messy...not dirty but there is stuff around.
    I have to do a little each day or with this many people it quickly gets on top of you.
    The older 4 kids have a after dinner kitchen roster and since having that my kitchen is clean at the end of each day.
    I do a load of washing at least a day...some times two.
    My floors are mopped once a week and sheets also.
    I do have occasional slack days but it makes it as twice as hard the next day.
    I have been known to be still up at 11pm finishing of washing or picking up toys etc.
    Sleep is over rated any way

  7. #25
    Registered User

    Mar 2011
    Brisbane's Southside
    988

    I had never heard of flylady before - just googled her and have started the process to shine my sink
    I will shine it up then start dinner and mess it all up again lol

  8. #26

    May 2008
    Melbourne, Vic
    8,631

    Maybe I need that app. I try but I just end up falling off the wagon and one day I look around and realise that if someone were to walk through my door I would be embarrassed.
    I hate visiting people with spotless homes. It makes me feel so inadequate, especially if their children are better behaved and do more extra curricula activities than mine.
    So refreshing to read this Onyx! I feel the exact same way

    There are some people that I don't mind having over because either they know how blooming exhausted I am and how hard I am finding it right now, or I know their house to be the same, if not worst than mine.

    Then there are those that if they are coming round, I do the furious frantic clean before they come as I don't want to be judged.

    Interestingly, my ILs fall into the first category and my own parents and sister fall into the second one! Weird...

    Off to download Momo!

  9. #27
    2012 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.
    Add AngelPants on Facebook

    Feb 2010
    Under the rock
    1,320

    gawd i wonder if that app comes on android?
    im so desperatly in need of the motivation!!!! our house is the utmost pigsty, to the point of DS wearing sz 1 clothes cos i couldnt find any clean 00 or 0 clothes....
    thankffully my darling sis is coming over to mind DS so i can do a whirlwind clean tomorrow.

    ...googling flylady as we speak....

  10. #28
    Registered User

    Jan 2007
    7,197

    The Organised Housewife on FB is ace too. Daily email checklists and hot spots! I find having a list is great even if I don't do it all it gives me some focus. I agree turning off the computer is key for me and I know that if the house is horrible it is my own fault.

  11. #29
    Registered User

    Aug 2008
    Adelaide
    1,488

    I tend to do a big clean up on Monday and then a tidy each day. Mondays are all the vicious housework tasks because after DH has been home all weekend, the house is usually a bomb! I find that it works for us, but there is always something to do each day.
    Ah that's my problem I have Friday afternoons off while DD is in care so that is my time to do the major jobs. Then DH is home all weekend and is usually in and out while working on his cars, tracking dust and leaving grease prints in the bathroom. I work a full day on Monday so maybe I should have made that my half day.

  12. #30
    Registered User

    Sep 2008
    Adelaide
    3,201

    We are pretty tidy, but at times the loo's might be in need of a clean or the floors need a mop, but generally I reckon the key is to have a spot for everything - If your kitchen benches, dining table and other areas are cleared regularly its easy to maintain.
    When I was a SAHM I was the same as PacRakMG - Mondays was my cleaning and washing day, now that I am back at work, these days I tend to do a couple of tasks once DS has gone to bed each night, and DH and I have a deal that while one of us is bathing DS (usually me) the other one cleans up after dinner, loads the dishwasher and tidies the house and playroom.
    I think doing as much as possible in the morning is a good idea too (cos at the end of the day I cant be bothered), so we make the beds as soon as we are out of them, leave the house neat and tidy before we leave for work and generally put things away as we go - you just have to force yourself into some habits I reckon

    If I leave FB or BellyBelly open on the computer I wont get ANYTHING done

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