How do you keep on top of things regarding your house?

Question

How do you keep on top of housecleaning, and laundry with a family. How do you motivate yourself to get it all done. I feel like I am never caught up, and need to get into a good routine that I can stick with. Any suggestions

Answer 1

When I had a family living at home I tried having family meeting to divie up the chores.. I had things the kids had to do or no desert and stuff like that. when they were little a chart on the frig worked so they could put up a sticker when done...when they were older I tried putting the taskes that needed to be done on popcycle sticks and putting them in a can, then people in the family take turns pulling sticks out to get their chores for the week or day or whatever span you are working to organize...
I also tried to have a different area cleaned each day, or pick one think that would make a big difference... Like now my formal dinning table is the catch all spot that mail and stuff that needs to go somewhere else is all piled up...I often pick a project and give myself a 3 day to get it done or time limit I think is doable...
I also reward myself when things are clean...as in we order in food coz the Kitchen is clean and I want it to stay that way.

Answer 2

Hire a cleaning service.

Really. No joke.

Now you are probably saying -- uh, I don't have the money. Well...that might be true, but I can tell you that my house is usually clean when I have someone else coming in to help me at least one time every 3 weeks. I do the straightening up, they do the heavy lifting (washing floors, scrubbing bathrooms, etc.)

There is nothing that motivates me like cleaning before the cleaning ladies show up!

Of course you know what you have to do. You just are tired and not motivated to do it. That's not unusual...we put off tasks that we don't like!

I am the ultimate procrastinator in some areas, but when I get fired up about something, nothing can stop me.

One thing you might try: schedule a weekly game/dinner with family friends ....and switch weekly. Tell the hub and kids that this event will be cancelled if they don't help. We are always having company over...and wind up cleaning regularly because we like to have a semi-presentable house.

It will NEVER be perfect if you actually LIVE in your house. Accept that first and you'll be a lot happier.

:)

Answer 3

Oh, do I know how you feel! Right now I'm 33 weeks pregnant, and just my husband and I and things sometimes seem insurmountable!

My best advice is to schedule. Do not expect to get it all done in one day. I'll plan to do my floors on X day, laundry every 2, etc. Oh, and DELEGATE! If you have someone in the house (husband, boyfriend, older kids, whatever your situation), give them chores.

My husband cleans the bathroom every Saturday, mows the grass, etc, all on a schedule. You cannot and should not have to do it all on your own.

I also try to do little 'in between' things that make the overall clean up easier. Like I always wipe down the counters after cooking or put dishes in the washer right away. That way, when I do devote my time to the kitchen, it really isn't that bad.

This place has a lot of info and tips on "short cuts": http://www.flylady.net/

Kind of vague, but I hope that helps.

Answer 4

It's just me, my fiance, and our 3 cats (and can they ever make messes, esp since one is a 4 month old kitten). It does seem at times like it never gets completed, but then again it isn't supposed to get completed for long. I have learned to do a little every day. I do vacuumiing on one day (we are in a two bedroom duplex, so it isn't too bad), dusting another day, laundry about every other day or as needed, dishes daily, clean the kitchen during the day, bathroom another day (or if it hasn't been done and company is coming, then I do it), mopping another day, etc.

If you have kids, have them help. What they can do depends on their ages. Have them keep their rooms tidy (very difficult with teens, tho) and help with rooms in the house. Each kid gets a certain room, as well as the adults. And make a list of what you expect to be done in 'their room' so they will know exactly what you want when you tell them they need to clean 'their room.'

I don't believe that a house has to be perfect. I believe that it needs to look lived in. If it is perfect looking, like a museum, then someone is working too much/hard on the house and not spending enough time with the family. It isn't a home, it's just a house, when it's looking perfect. I have a puzzle book sitting out at all times, or my crocheting if I am working on a project, cats toys out in one room (tho they do tend to get them elsewhere), etc. It's good to have a place for everything, but just try not to make it look like a magazine ad. It won't happen with a family as they will continue to make messes. Don't fret over the small stuff and focus on the more important things: your family and friends.

Answer 5

First and most important there is no way for everything to be completed. This should be your opening mantra. Once you accept this then your life will less stressful. And, less stress and more happiness makes keeping up appearances much easier.

Make a chore list that includes periodical chores like laundry, fridge cleaning, bathrooms, windows, dusting, the list goes on and on. Everytime you do something you hate doing, reward yourself.

Have a tidy list in your head, get everyone in the family on-board with this. Everyone has to keep three rooms tidy. These rooms should be the main house; family room, kitchen, guest bath. NO LEAVING MESSES in these rooms. After dinner have minimum clean-up rules. After movies, have minimum clean up rules. And, after morning getting ready, have minimum clen up rules.

You decide what these are. Pick up dirty clothes, clear table, rinse dish, toss snacks, wipe down table, etc, etc, etc,

Answer 6

Honestly, I don't worry so much about it. I tend to feel that a house is meant to be lived in, and would much rather devote my time to spending quality time with my family than making sure everything is just so. That said, I dedicate one day a week toward vacuuming, mopping, putting things away, and do laundry every 2-3 days. I only get uptight about it when I know I've got company coming over.

Answer 7

A woman's work is never done. It does seem like housework is an endless cycle. Try diy.net and look for the queen of clean website. She is pretty helpful when it comes to cleaning and laundry.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

well I work on so many rooms a day besides the little things like washing cloths and washing dishes. like mondays kids rooms, tuesday our room and the bathrooms, wenday living room kitchen, and so on. it works for me. I try to do 2 loads of clothes each day and keep up on all the dirty dishes.

Answer 10

Well you already have the answer... get a routine.

Get it done in the morning then you have the rest of the day to do what you want.