How to clean my house and keep it clean?

Question

I have a 3300 square foot house. It has two masters, one which is our guest room. We have a kitchen, breakfast nook, large living room, formal dining room, study, half bath, two full baths, fitness room, and laundry that we use on a continual basis. I work full time and am taking an online course. My husband also works full time and refuses to help me clean up, yet he does not pick up after himself. We have no children yet. How do I keep this house clean and get some sleep at night as well?

Let me add that my husband doesn't want us to hire any help...

Answer 1

First, your house is too big for you to keep clean yourself. Anything over about 2200 sq. ft, you need help to keep all of it really clean, like dusted and vaccuumed regularly. That said, here are some tips I learned when I was ill for a long time, and couldn't work very long at anything.

You know where the spots are in your house that tend to build up clutter. spend a couple minutes at least once a day putting that stuff away. It could be next to your phone, a kitchen counter, coffee table- you know where those spots are.

Spend 5 minutes a day cleaning your messiest room.

In the morning when you are in the bathroom anyway, swish out your toilet, use disinfectant wipes you keep under the sink for toilet seat. Takes less than 2 minutes, and you're there anyway.

Once a week-pick a day and stick to it-dust and vacuum everything. Wash thow rugs. change sheets. Mop floors. Straighten out one drawer.

Everyday, or whenever you have a load do laundry-all the way wash, dry, fold, iron, put away. If you have a pile , then every time you do laundry, add a couple extras from the pile, until it is gone. Don't try to do it all at once.

Clean your sink every night before bed. (you have to have the dishes out of it to make it shiny) 10 minutes.

Make a list of everything that needs to get done, and then break it down into 5-10 minute mini jobs, and don't expect to catch up in one day. Give your self some time. You can nearly always squeeze in 5 minutes worth of, say, cleaning the bathroom mirror with a wipe, then using the wipe to shine up your faucets.Have a basket in each room for things that don't belong. when you go to the bedroom, take all the bedroom things from the basket with you. One trip that you are taking anyway. Always think about the most efficient way to do anything. Good luck!

Answer 2

Can you schedule 30 minutes a day somehow to clean up the house? That's the average amount of time that women clean each day. Since you don't have any kids, if you could do 15 minutes each day, then you'll be a long way towards getting your house cleaner.

I'd suggest you divide up your work. Write down a list of five or so chores around the house that need to get done. Then assign yourself one or two chores to do each day of the week. That way you will feel good about the work you do.

If you can get yourself motivated enough to keep cleaning for 15-20 minutes each day, it is then that you can think about trying to get your husband motivated to do it. Usually men clean for only 50% of the time that women do--I know it's unfair, but it's the truth. Don't forget to make it easy for him to get started. For example, instead of complaining about clothing being thrown on the floor, get a hamper and complain about the clothing not being in the hamper. Make sure there are places for eveything to go and that he knows those places for the things are.

I also agree with a previous answerer that you should get a part time housekeeper to help you out. If you can schedule 15 minutes of cleaning each day, and hire a person to clean once every week or so, I can't believe that it will be much trouble to keep your house clean.

Answer 3

My trick is to take 15-30 minutes of each day to take care of one area of the house and then do a different area the next day. That way I am rotating through the whole house and getting it cleaned up. It's a habit I am developing because I've had a lifelong habit of being a slob and I no longer want to live like a slob.
This is something that works for me. I don't know if it will work for you but you are free to give it a try. I've read some of the other responses and think they are good too. However, I think you ought to find a way of making it work for yourself.
I hope you find the way you like.

Answer 4

You need to meet the flylady. Check out her website below. I have found her to be a big help because she tells you that you're not behind. You start in where you are and you only do it in small steps so it isn't overwhelming.

And about your husband not picking up after himself. I'd talk to him about it. If you are both working full time, you both need to take care of the house. If one is home more, it makes sense for them to take on the bulk of the housework, but no way should one be doing it alone. At the very least, he should be picking up after himself.

Answer 5

Make yourself a list of Jobs you have to do and set out a time schedule for each task and day you will do the task. Clean up behind you, eg kitchen, laundry, bathroom.
Do your laundry on certain days, vaccuming, dusting.
Other than that, I just wonder why you actually married someone who wont help you?
Marriage should be a partnership on every angle, he makes some of the mess, he should help clean it up.

Answer 6

http://www.nobletec.com/~newby/gfonline/ministries/children/21rules.html

Worth getting these in place before you have kids.
Set up a list of all the chores that need to be done and how often, then sit down with your hubby and decide the best way to get them done. assigned responsibilities or just general co-operation. It only gets worse after kids. Remember you teach people how to treat you. so he only doesn't pick up after himself because you allow it.
Does he expect his clothes to magically get washed for instance? A wise woman once told me if it's not in the hamper it doesn't get washed. well imagine the shock of my husband when his work clothes weren't ready when he needed to go to work, and I said in disbelief "really I washed everything in the hamper."
If he just leaves everything laying around, how would he feel if you invited guests over to see his mess without covering for him. Let him make the excuses for why his underwear is right where he left it. :)

Answer 7

my suggestion is not to have children w/ someone who isn't going to take part in normal dialy acitivities. I suspect very strongly he won't help take care of the children either. When he doesn't clean up afterhimself get a big garbage bag and throw his things into it. If he wanted it he would have put it away.

Answer 8

hire a part time house keeper...They are usually inexpensive. I use one a couple of times a month if I need a little extra help when I'm to busy.

Answer 9

There is a great online site that helps you get your housework under control, it really works if you follow it.
www.flylady.com.
I know lots of people who follow this and they have really nice houses.

Answer 10

If the husband doesn't help nor permit outside help then let the house be.