I work fulltime and cannot find time to properly clean and organize my house. Do you have any helpful ideas?

Answer 1

Try www.flylady.net. I started using her program (which is completely free) about two months ago. I have 10 month old twins, very little time, and my house was a mess. In two months you can really see a difference.

-Her philosophy is based on doing things 15 minutes at a time and on the importance of routines.

-What was really helpful to me was that she gives you a step by step program which literally tells you exactly what to do each day. There's also emails which remind you to take care of certain things.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I agree with mom...last one out of the bed makes it...and unless there is a fire - no excuses. It helps the whole room look better, less cluttered. I do that every morning including the weekends. Another small thing...never go to bed, unless about dead on your feet, with ANY dishes in the sink. These 2 things really help. One of the biggest contributors to a messy house is just not putting stuff away after you use it...it takes an amazing about of self control...but it can become a really good habit. What I do is one room a night, nothing major, except for the bathrooms at least once a week scrub for germies...Then I take one weekend and wash all the linens and do 1 or 2 major things like the windows or the trim etc...but it is all piece-mealed out so I don't ever spend more than an hour or two on any given day...it really works! AND I use a lot of those disposable wipes...windows, dusters, floor swipes etc...I do a load of laundry every other day or so too.

Answer 3

I have the same problem, so I will spot clean each room during the week, vacuum everyother day, then on the weekend usually a Saturday, I will get up have some coffee and have at it. Usually it will only take me a couple of hours to get everything done. I do have children and a Husband and I suppose they could help~ but they just don't clean the way I would, so I do it myself!

Good luck

Answer 4

Sometimes the hardest part is just getting started -- time some of the chores you need to do, and find out just how long it takes. For example, it takes two minutes for me to sweep the kitchen floor, and about 8 minutes to unload the dishwasher ((-:small dishwasher). So, I can do those two chores while I'm waiting for water to boil.

Flylady.net really helped me get organized about my house, and to feel better about the things I couldn't get done. I really recommend the site and the system.

If you let things pile up until the weekend, it's tough, but if you can do a little everyday, you should be able to get things done Saturday morning. One system I heard of was "no fun stuff until the chores are done Saturday morning" -- but there was always something fun planned to reward everyone when they were done.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Check out this website on how to keep the house clean in a few minutes a day. And try to keep clutter to a minimum. When items are kept put away it is easier to clean and will take less time. Instead of allowing mail and junk mail to pile up on the counters or wherever you dump your mail go through it before you sit it down and throw away those pesky ad flyers. After cooking, wipe down the counters and stove after you have washed or loaded the dishes in the dishwasher. And the quickly sweep the floor. Keep your clothes off the floor and put away either in a hamper or clean clothes back in their drawers on on hangers. The more you keep things tidy the less time it takes to "clean".

Real Simple magazine is a life saver in my opinion. They offer many tips on how to clean, organize, decorate, and plan dinner.

Answer 6

You don't mention whether or not you have a family. I do, and we used to do a "10 Minute Pickup." Everyone, even the little children, would work hard for 10 minutes to pick up anything they could. You'd be amazed at what four people can accomplish in 10 minutes.

Additionally, it's important, if you can, to design things around your typical living habits. For instance, our family is not good about hanging coat on hangers, so we don't have a coat closet--we have a board with hooks. Oddly enough, we're very good at throwing coats on the hooks. Wherever you can, design solutions around your worst habits.

Answer 7

Try doing small things in the morning and when you get home. Make your bed, throw your dirty laundry into the hamper, sort through your mail when you get home. By focusing on the small stuff little by little, you'll notice that your house is a complete wreck that you have to spend the entire weekend cleaning.

Answer 8

I agree with the other answers, fifteen minutes on each room- the best you can. Watch important things though, like make sure the toilet stays clean, the garbage never overflows, and the sink is empty or close to it. Super dirty things like a nasty toilet make the rest of the bathroom look even more dirty.

Answer 9

For cleaning, check Craig's List or ask friends for housekeeper referrals.

For organizing, that is a task. I took 2 weeks off between jobs to do that.

Answer 10

there are so many ways to help! first laundry can be easier with a three section hamper on wheels i have one and love it as you undress separate then on the way out the door you can drop a load in the washer then when you get home toss it in the dryer. a load everyday like this and you save a whole day of nothing but laundry