I just went back to work full time and I need cleaning tips!!!?

Question

I can't believe I'm blowing points on this - but I just recently went back to work full time and I can't seem to keep up with the house! I've got pets and a husband (he works full time and we have a small farm) I try to clean a bit when I get home from work. I don't want to spend the weekend attached to a sweeper, dustrag and mop! Plus there's laundry and dinner and dishes!! (I know--get off the computer)! Any shortcuts?

Answer 1

Learn to overlook a lot. Do the things that are absolutely necessary like the washing and cooking and let the other stuff slide. Dust never hurt anyone, and you can mop the floors every two weeks and change the sheets after two weeks. Come home, cook and clean up the kitchen and do a load of clothes and stop. Put a load of clothes on to wash when you leave in the morning and dry them when you get home. The husband can fold and put up clean clothes and if he does not want to help with dishes, get a dishwasher. As long as the house is not nasty, don't worry about it. Really, if it won't matter a year from now, let it go.

Answer 2

I work anywhere around 80-30 hours every 2 weeks. I do spot cleaning before work. I clean as I go. Before I work when I have some extra time I walk around and dust, then I pick up everything in the living room. I start a load of laundry. When I get home, I prepare supper and I wash the dishes as I go. I also do laundry while I am woking on supper. After supper clean up, sweep, mop. Develope a routine that works for you, that way you can enjoy your days off!

Answer 3

I'm a professional cleaner, and I also clean my own house, but I keep up with it to avoid having a lot to do on the weekend. Before leaving for work, straighten up, get dishes out of the sink, pick up crap laying around the house. I have two bathrooms, so before going out, I use a wet cloth and a bottle of spray cleaner and wipe the toilet and sink, and simply close the shower curtain. An after-shower spray is great in keeping your tub and shower fresh. Just have the last person to shower spray in in the tub and shower when they are finished. It keeps hold and mildew from growing.

It also helps to ask the others living in the house to pick up after themselves, but in my house this request has turned me into a nag!

Answer 4

you should get organized, if the house is tidy cleaning won't take much time. make it a point to have a place for everything and to return everything you use immediately where it belongs when you finish with it.

wash the dishes as your cooking, then they won't pile up, if you fill the sink with hot soapy water and drop the utensils and bowls as you cook and clean they won't dry up until washing them.

before going to bed, i suggest you tidy up the living area and quick clean the toilet, decide what you will wear next day and iron if you need to, prepare your handbag, files etc. also if you take lunch to work at night, this will make your life easier in the morning.

i actually have a chores chart that is detailed, i even wrote which day laundry is done (Monday i do whites, Wednesday colors...) some days i dust, some days i cook (i usually bulk cook in the weekend)...etc. this actually works for me.

just don't be too tough on yourself and learn to let go :)

Answer 5

before you begin cleaning make a list of things to do.
set your timer for 15 minutes.
you should be able to finish 1 task in 15 minutes.
i thought i can't but i guess it's like racing against time.
i tried it in my bathroom (I only have a shower in my bathroom).
i put a toilet cleaner inside the bowl & let it sit for a while.
while waiting for it i turn on the hot water in the shower so it will moist then spray a multi purpose cleaner.i dusted the windowsills, blinds, countertops everything that i can dust.
mop the floor (sweep if you must, but i use swiffer dry dust cloths it can pick every single hair)
after that i scrub the tiles in th shower then clean the toilet bowl.
last is the sink pour the cleaner and scrub away.
that's it.
it also helps if you make a mini clean up before going to bed.
happy cleaning. i hope i was able to help you.

Answer 6

If you have a dishwasher, go to a DIY store to get water softener salt, much cheaper. To clear that fatty gunge from washing machine detergent, hot wash with ordinary washing soda (55 Pence a bag, throw the lot in) Cleaning oven shelves/grill, get a plastic underbed storage trough (DIY store), 3/4 full of water, tub of caustic soda (read the warnings) mix well, put all your oven shelves & grill pans in. Clean by morning, no hard graft. Do this near a drain, easier to get rid of in morning.

Answer 7

get a domestic helper, an ugly one!!!