I absolutely HATE housekeeping!!!

**mommy4ever** · 08-26-2008, 02:13 PM

This is my beggest nemesis and always has been!

I love a clean home, but somehow mine never meets my standards

An oxymoron!

I wish there was a formula that worked so that it took minimal effort. With 4 kids, hubby, dog, home daycare, home business, there just seems never enough hours.

I've limited my commitments, I won't be on any committees. I don't do a whole bunch of favors anymore as they are never reciprocated.

so it's really just my family, things I chose to do.

I feel like a failure when it comes to the house. I suck

**beks37** · 08-26-2008, 02:33 PM

I understand how you feel, only I don't have any excuses for it! It is just me and my dh, with 2 dogs. The house is a wreak, I can't keep a regular cleaning schedule if my life depended on it. I would be totally embarrased if anyone came over and saw it.

Do you have anyone that would clean the house for you in exchange for something? I have started working out a deal with my mom. She is begging for something to keep her busy and I really need a cleaner house! Maybe, you could have the kids help? I don't know how old they are, but do they do chores?

**itsahumanzoo** · 08-26-2008, 02:42 PM

I am the same way. And honestly, cleaning the house is always last on my list of priorities. However, since we moved to a new place, it's been so amazingly easier to clean the house. I am just trying to keep it up. My big mistake is to let the mess get out of control and then I don't clean it up because it takes too long. Every morning before DS wakes up and before the little girl I watch gets here, I take 5 minutes to straighten up the front room. And after dinner I take about 10 minutes to straighten up the kitchen. DH and DS clean DS's room when DH gets home from work. DS actually expects it! And then our bedroom, well I do that when I can.

**The Muse** · 08-26-2008, 03:18 PM

I understand how you feel. It's just DH and me, but I work fulltime and just don't feel like cleaning after work and on the weekends.

DH said I could hire a cleaning person, but I just can't justify spending money on something I can do myself.

**Ceashels** · 08-26-2008, 03:33 PM

The formula:

Clean house= kids @ school, DH @ work and new locks installed before they come home.

**pip** · 08-26-2008, 04:25 PM

Housekeeping is not my favorite thing to do, either. It's helping that the kids are older now. (Not that they help out much, they don't!) I've finally figured out a very minimum routine that helps me, though. I take 10-15 minutes in the evening before bed and just quickly straighten up things in the main living areas. I make sure the kitchen dishes, etc, are done and things wiped down. Scoop out the cat box and do a load of laundry. It feels really good to wake up and see a calm house. Now that it's my routine of chores, it goes quickly. Other things like vacuuming and cleaning of bathrooms take a bit more energy, but I also straighten up the bathrooms and wipe them with babywipes whenever I'm in there, so that helps them from getting too gross.

**pollypurebred39** · 08-26-2008, 05:06 PM

Since I suffer from CFS I really have a hard time keeping up with things. What I think is going to help is our yard sales. We keep going through the house and just start packing up stuff in boxes to sell. Funny how much stuff one collects. We need to do this right now to help keep us afloat but it really seems to have a clean house feel starting. I think the less you have the easier it is to keep clean. My friend cleans houses for a living and she tells her clients straight out from the on set she won't clean any areas with clutter or knick-knacks. Her own home is totally devoid of it. Only a China cabinet with glass doors has knick-knacks and the top of her piano has a couple of things, that's it. She swears that she can clean her entire house in no time because she has no clutter, nothing extra. I'm starting to think she's right. The more stuff I get rid of the easier it seems to control. I'm finding it easier and easier to let go of things, like clothes that I'm hoping to lose enough weight to fit into, shoes that hurt when I wear them, gifts people gave us that no one wanted in the first place but you hold onto as to not hurt their feelings,cookware that I never really did like anyway, ect. For us I think that is the crux of our housekeeping issuses. I never thought of myself as a pack rat until I started this yard sale thing this Summer but I'll tell you the more stuff I get rid of the more I see around me that I really can live without.

Getting my oldest to part with his stuff has been going something like this

Major pack rat.

The only other thing that I try to do is spend 2 minutes cleaning each room everyday. If I can manage more I do. I just try to do as much as I can. Wash and wear clothes has helped a lot, no more ironing. I never leave a room empty handed, I alway have a glass to put in the sink, a book to put away, etc. I make our bed as soon as I get up out of it. I make the kids make their own beds everyday. Our oldest is 19 and does his own laundry and helps with the dishes and with sweeping the floors. Our youngest MUST keep his room picked up so I can clean it easier. Our youngest also helps with the trash, and putting away his washed clothes. I think making each family member be more responsible for themselves and their mess is a great help in keeping order in the house. Having family members that think of you as the household maid is overwhelming for the best of us. I put a stop to that after the first 2 years of marriage.

**elphie** · 08-26-2008, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by Ceashels

The formula:

Clean house= kids @ school, DH @ work and new locks installed before they come home.

Yep, I finally realized life is too short... my house is clean, not necessarily neat because we live here. I definately have time to keep it neater but then I wouldn't have time for the things that recharge my batteries like a good book, meeting a friend for a walk, cuddling w/ my kids at bedtime, or just veggin' on the couch w/ dh. A messy kitchen and some unfolded laundry is a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

**lwlynch** · 08-26-2008, 06:21 PM

I loath house work..ahahahaha.. I just top clean and pick one major thing a week.. and then I always remember this....It will be there tomorrow...lol
I quit feeling guilty..makes me feel bad and eat more.. so less housework all around....yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**HandyMom** · 08-26-2008, 09:32 PM

I hate housework because it's monotonous and I don't get paid for it. I am used to working and getting paid and paid well for my time and effort. Housework is a thankless, no-pay job! It's no wonder not many people want to do it (especially men, who I suspect marry to avoid doing most of it!).

**nvmommyx6** · 08-26-2008, 09:45 PM

I love housework!! I am a clean freak from the word go and always have been, I dont know what it is but I just love it!!
I get behind of course sometimes with everyone running along dirtying everything up after me!! I blogged our system though, here
http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/nvmommyx6/172-children-discipline.html
Maybe it might give you some peace and teach everyone to help out!! I know it's worked wonders for our family!
Happy cleaning!
Mommy

**DJ1972** · 08-26-2008, 10:56 PM

When my kids were babies/toddler age, I was a chronic cleaner. I wanted everything so-so. Then they got older and I got wiser. My house is not spotless and I am ok with that. I would rather my kids have memories of me throwing water baloons at them and going to their softball games than memories of me cleaning the toilet. I still "pick up" the house every day and keep up with the laundry and dishes.....but I don't feel the need to sweep/mop or clean toilets daily. And a little dust will help build immunity to allergies lol! Having a clutter free house helps, there's not alot to look messy.

**elphie** · 08-26-2008, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by nvmommyx6

I love housework!! I am a clean freak from the word go and always have been, I dont know what it is but I just love it!!
I get behind of course sometimes with everyone running along dirtying everything up after me!! I blogged our system though, here
http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blog.php?b=172
Maybe it might give you some peace and teach everyone to help out!! I know it's worked wonders for our family!
Happy cleaning!
Mommy

I think you must have gotten that elusive cleaning gene that some people get... I didn't btw

dd on the other hand... last year for Christmas what she really wanted was a cleaning trolley and this year she wants a dustbuster! She also says she wants to be a professional organizer when she grows up! I swear if she didn't look like me I would think they had sent me home from the hospital with the wrong kid.

**cissylu** · 08-26-2008, 11:44 PM

Oh boy do I hate house work....... there are 5people and 2dogs live here. I do what I can and want to do. we`re cluttery.
since I feel better I`ve done more. Glad to know I`m not the only one.

**MOMMYDEAREST** · 08-27-2008, 07:49 AM

My house for the most part is clean. The thing that erks me the most is when I super clean 1 room, then I go to the next & super clean that room, then its trashed in a matter of hours. I can't stand a cluttered, or dirty home. I have 8 kids & I would never be embarassed for someone to come over. My kids do help pick up, mostly because its all their stuff lol. if you ever come over, you will find toys out, probably some misc items, but not a dirty home.