How to keep house clean with 2 small children?

[RockingBaker]

I don't. I pick my battles really. Today I'm doing dishes and washing. DH did the floors (just a sweep). I'm working 12 hours tomorrow and DH will be the SAHD and TBH when I walk in that door I expect chaos. It's very hard to care for 4 kids and a house so we do what we can (just the basics) and do anything big like mopping or bathrooms when the kids are asleep or at daycare.

[Jellyfish]

Change your definition of clean

[Heaven]

I have found the secret is you involve them in the cleaning and tidying instead of trying to sneak away and do it while they're playing and ending up with them whinging at your feet. That's what I do and my house is generally tidy. We have some mess of course but nothing I worry about. And there's always some toys out that are currently in use. Nothing is ever going to be spotless with little kids.

But if you let them help it's much easier. My kids LOVE to feel helpful and like they're doing something important. Even DD2 who is 16 months. So for e.g. if I'm doing the washing they can help put the things in the machine, pull them out when they're done, hand me pegs, push the washing basket to their room, 'fold' clothes, and hand me clothes to put away. Or sometimes they start a game and the washing basket becomes a boat and I can continue packing away Sure, it means it takes a bit longer, but they get to learn how to do stuff, feel important, and start good habits with helping with all the chores, and you get a tidy house. It's win win!

Works for us here anyway

[LimeSlice]

Change your definition of clean

Totally!!!

[Miss.September]

I must be a bit of a weirdo but I find that the mess here comes from DH so when he's out at work, we can stay tidy. We live in a small house, so if it's not clean, I feel claustrophobic. I do my housework only one day a week and washing on another. DD plays with her toys during the day and she's encouraged that before she pulls something else out, she has to put something away. TV goes on here for her at 4pm, and she knows that it doesn't go on unless she packs her things back up.

Sure, it gets out of control sometimes, especially over the past couple of months because we've been repainting and getting our house ready for sale, but as a whole, it stays clean and tidy. And while I don't have two kids yet, I am 37 weeks pregnant

[RhiChiChi]

^^ Same as PacRakMG, I only have one child atm, another due later this year.

When DD is home, her toys are everywhere. I tidy at night, don't bother to fight the mess constantly during the day. I do my major clean once a week and washing is usually a couple of times a week - casual clothes & towels on Wednesday, DH work clothes & linen on the weekend. I vac every second day but sweep the kitchen and meals area nightly. I iron or fold clothes at night infront of the t.v. DH helps alot, so I am fortunate. He cooks the nights I work b/c I don't usually get home until 6pm and we eat at that time.

However if it comes down to spending time with my DD & DH or cleaning I'd pick them over cleaning any day.

[Phteven]

Replace your flooring with concrete and put a drain in the corner. Every evening use a high powered hose to hose the place down...

I send my children outside whenever I can. That way the garden looks like slum instead of the house which make burglars think that we are trailer trash with nothing to steal.

[MummyNaomi]

Replace your flooring with concrete and put a drain in the corner. Every evening use a high powered hose to hose the place down...

I send my children outside whenever I can. That way the garden looks like slum instead of the house which make burglars think that we are trailer trash with nothing to steal.

Lordy woman, I just about pee'd my pants laughing! Love it!!

We keep the house pretty tidy - Only have one child so far, the next one is arriving very soon (due this month), I am certain it will be harder with two. We also tidy everything before we head to bed - eg pack the dishwasher, put any stuff away on the kitchen benches and tidy the living areas. It gives us a fresh start the next day. We also have a toy room, it really means everything has a place rather than having stuff all over the house. I also make all the beds and give the bathroom a quick tidy in the morning, it's much easier to keep tidy if you do it as you go I think.

I've found that the longer I leave things, the worse it gets. Now that DS is 3, we don't let him get a new toy out until he puts away one - same as PRMG - this actually works really well. Prior to Maternity Leave I would work from home once a week, the house would get untidy on that day as I needed to concentrate on working more, but we'd have a massive tidy up prior to DH getting home. We do have a cleaner once a fortnight - she does the bathrooms, floors and dusting, that makes a huge difference and frankly its the best $70 I spend each fortnight.