Is there really anyone who does the house from top to bottom - to perfection - every day and WHY?

Question

I do housework to live not live to do housework and yes, sometimes it does get left for a bit longer than I'd like but I work hard (sixty hours last week) and am on nightshift at the minute. I'm neither going to start hoovering at 8am when I get home nor clean the bathroom when I wake up at 6-7pm. I aim for 'better', I can achieve 'better'; I'd be constantly disappointed if I aimed for perfect. Given all this, would you consider me to be normal ... or a slob.

Answer 1

I also work the night shift, and I can tell you that housework is the LAST thing on my mind after working a late shift, and also when I first rise. I also have a toddler, which doesn't allow me for much sleeping in the AM - I get up when she does.

I'll admit that I've really let things go the past couple months, but I was constantly worried that someone would pop by for a visit and I'd be totally embarrassed at the state of my house.

So, now when I get home, I put the dishes in the dishwasher, or take them out, run the wetjet through the kitchen, and straighten up the living room. It only takes about 15 minutes when I get home, it's not something that will wake the family, and I'm ensured that I won't have to do the flight of the bumblebee when someone wants to come over.

When I awake, I start a load of clothes, and later when I'm good and awake, I take care of some of the rest of the chores that need to be done - 1/2 hour - 45 minutes tops. If I'm just beat, I'll skip a day, here and there, and just make up for it later - no biggie.

On the days I don't work, I do the bigger jobs, and by working a little bit each day to keep things clean and in their place, I don't have to strain so hard to keep it up. I'm not going to kill myself over housework...life is too short!

I'd have to say that not only are you normal...you're the average working American.

Answer 2

First of all, you are not a slob, you are a normal human being trying to survive and do what she can. Believe me I used to work midnights with a new born. Second of all, doing a house from top to bottom is done on a daily basis because I am a house cleaner :o) I have a suggestion though. Why not do just 1 room a day? I have done that and it works. So by the end of the week, the house is clean and all I do on the weekend is laundry. Consistancy is the key. Even if you just dust when you get home, then vacuume when you get up and then something else before you leave. Every little bit adds up during the day.

Answer 3

Good grief woman! You are human so don't be so hard on yourself! There is a massive difference between a dirty house and an untidy house. All houses get untidy from time to time - unless you have a full time house cleaner - and who can afford that!? You have pride in your home so I'm sure it isn't dirty.
I get home late every night, cook and wash up when I get in and then fall into bed. In the morning it's getting the kids off to school and making packed lunches and breakfast. The only time I get to do any serious house cleaning is the weekends and that's not really a great time to spend all of in the house. My house is clean but gets untidy very often. I try my best to keep it presentable but let's be realistic.
There is more to life than housework!

Answer 4

You are sooooo normal. Forget the snobs who are thankful for the hired help. They are more than likely just lazy. You work, you have a life. The only thing I be sure to do is never go to bed with dishes in the sink. Yes, I have to do it the old fashioned way, with dish soap and a sponge. I also do the one room a day, but I will say most of the time, my kids are to clean their own rooms, albeit not a good job. If I dont like it, I can go clean it myself or close the door. There are little things I do as I go to make my life easier. Rinse the toothpaste out of the sink as soon as we are done brushing them. I have a spot where all the dirty laundry goes, junk mail goes right in the garbage, before I leave for work in the morning, I pour some bleach in the toilet and let it sit, I have a shower spray that I buy to spray down the walls as soon as I am done showering. If it is nice out, I will always have a window cracked in the house for some fresh air. I vacuum everyother day. There are a bunch of little tricks I do to make my time more available for my kids. When I am dead, if the family doesnt like the way the house looks as one poster has stated, than by all means clean it to your liking.

Answer 5

I would definitely say you are normal. It is exhausting working 60 hours a week! I don't think I'd do ANY housework if I worked such long hours!!!

It is great when the house looks good, and I have just done a big spring clean, but my priorities in life are to spend time with my family and not to drive myself to an early grave by over-doing unnecessary housework!!

Answer 6

I wish housework never had to be done but every day I do a little and do a big clean once a month which is enough because the place always looks clean enough so you are probably cleaner than me, so id say quite normal

Answer 7

I consider you NORMAL! Although I do not clean my house top to bottom each day, I make an attempt to tidy each room throughout the day. If I am in a room and there are things that do not belong I put them in a laundry basket and then drop them off in whichever room they belong in. Then again, I have kids and they are so much more important than whether the laundry gets folded so there are days where I do nothing but have fun with the kiddos!

Answer 8

I dont do the house myself, i have machines that do alot for me but I do it for health reasons. Air filters, robot vaccum etc. I do it because Im a clean freak. I can take clutter to an extent but I can take dirt.

I have a hard time shaking hands with someone I dont know. I dont know where their hands have been or how often they wash them and after being grossed out by a bacterial test they did at the office complex I work at I wont shake hands with my fellow employees. :( (lets just say someone hasnt been washing hands after potty breaks)

edit: you are normal. 60 hours work week you should be able to put with some dust. perfect is almost impossible to achieve so dont stress over it.

Answer 9

Dirt terns me off whether you a friend,boyfriend or family member.I only clean the house from top to bottom 1s in a week and just dust were there is a need everyday.Think what if you die today and everyone come to your place and find if all messed up with dishes everywhere.Girlfriend just make sore that everything stays were it should every time than you will not have to worry about making a special time for cleaning.

Answer 10

I think it's normal.

I don't have time to keep my house spotless either. It's not dirty by any means, just messy at times. It's really hard working full time and having a baby. I'd rather spend time with my daughter than clean and straighten up. I seriously doubt that when she gets older she will say "Gee Mom, I wish you would have kept the house cleaner instead of spending so much time with me."