Help with Keeping up with Housework Now That I'm Working Full Time!

We sat down as a family and made a chore chart. Now everyone pitches in and it doesn't take long at all. We also split the tasks down to one or two per day, i.e. dusting one day, laundry one day, floors one day. That way no one day is too bad and the whole house is clean pretty much all the time. I found that this really helped me keep from feeling overwhelmed by all of it and got everyone involved.

I pay for a housekeeper every other week. It's worth it. We do all the laundry on Sunday and finish what we didn't get to on Monday.

The kids are capable of helping but they are so busy with school they have little time.

Don't clean your kids rooms. Your kids are old enough to put their laundry in a hamper, take their trash down and pikc up their toys - but forget the toys. Close the doors so you don't have to see their mess.

Keep your own room clean. Keep your front room clean and forget the rest. Oh... we use alot of paper plates so there are fewer dishes. And I often cook 1 time a week on Sunday, for the whole week, which reduces kitchen cleaning.

All of these are AWESOME ideas. If tehy do not work and you decide you want a housekeeper then just let me know. I clean houses and I would be more than happy to quote you. Please do not worry about the clutter when considering a housekeeper. I know (atleast for me) I am used to it! There are millions of people that have clutter. Do not be embarassed just work at a little at a time. Or have your housekeeper help you! Anyway just email or call me if you would like a quote.

____@____.com
Thank you
M.

I just went back to work in January after staying at home with my 4 and 10 year old for 4 years. I find it helps me to be organized. I have a list of things I need to do everyday once a week and so on. Since my daughter is 10 so I can give her some of the things on the list. I like to have my family time at night so I get up earlier than I need to so that I can do a lot of it then. If you get a system down like that it doesn't take that much to keep it nice all the time and you don't have to pay anyone to do it. Good luck!

I feel your pain! My house got so out of control that I hired someone to come every other week for about 3 months to help me get it back under control.

I, too, LOVE Flylady.net and am really starting to commit to it. It is honestly the best of the online programs I've seen. Some of my favorite tips are:

Set your timer for 10 mintues and vac, sweep, mop, dust, or whatever -- do it for 10 mins and call it good enough

Spend 5 mins a day in the worst room and in just a few days you will see a HUGE improvement

Start a load of laundry every day before you go to work, dry it while cooking dinner, and fold & put it away during bath time

Invest in a Swiffer WetJet. It cuts mopping time in 1/2

I clean the tub/shower while I'm in there. I do it first so I can make sure I get all of the cleaner off of me. It is SO much easier to do it in there than try to get all the angles from the outside.

If you have specific areas you are looking for help in -- send me a message. I've been there and done that and may have something I can pass along to you.

Good Luck!

I love flylady.net - it's not all about cleaning your sink, in fact - I only clean mine 2 times a week.

My biggest tip is to declutter declutter declutter. If in doubt, throw it out!

You need a routine - kids put their clothes in the laundry (three baskets to sort whites, lights, and darks) then all you have to do is dump them in the washer. (My 4 year old can use a stain stick as well as I can). I keep the dishwasher empty or washing - so that any dishes get scraped and go straight in. I'm not really sure what you're asking about, other than that.

S.

C.,

Hi. I'm in a similar situation. I finally got someone to help me clean my house. She comes in every couple of weeks to do what I can't seem to get done--bathrooms and floors. I recommend her to you and she's a Christian woman so I feel safe with her in my home.

Her name and number is: Jan ###-###-####

Hope this helps.
A.

To save a little bathroom cleaning time, I highly recommend the Mr. Bubbles automatic shower cleaner; it works! I got one for Christmas, scrubbed my shower out really good and then started using it. I have not had to scrub that thing since.

I agree with the lady who suggested you hire a professional organizer... because I'm a professional organizer! :)

Seriously... no matter how hard you work at it, if you have too much stuff for your space, you're going to always be spinning those wheels. An organizer can help you sort through your things (working within your schedule, of course), get rid of the things you don't really need or want and have just been stepping over, and organize what you DO need and want so that there's a place for everything, and everyone knows about it.

Organization is probably THE biggest timesaver move you can make. Also, your children are at a great age to start learning clutter-free habits.

Please take a look at my little website, and feel free to contact me if you think an organizer is the way to go. My page is www.ClutterFlies.net but you can shop around for organizers at www.NAPO.net or, as someone else mentioned, at www.ServiceMagic.com.

The first thing that jumps out at me is the part about moving to a house that's 1/2 the size of your old one. If you're going to pay someone to help, a professional organizer may get you more for your money than a part-time maid.

And secondly, your 5 and 8 year olds are old enough to do their fair share to help with the chores. At the very least, they should be picking up after themselves enough that they aren't adding so much to the clutter.

And you don't need to "scrub" your sink every morning to make a difference. A quick wipe on a daily basis in between deeper cleanings can make a huge difference. Take advantage of all those convenience cleaning products on the market. You can buy multiples of things like the Clorox wipes and the Swiffer dusting cloths or Pledge wipes and keep them all over your house. Keep a container of Clorox wipes in your bathroom so when you only have a minute you can do a quick clean and not have to run all the way to the kitchen to find the cleaner. I've even read a tip somewhere that you can buy the travel size packs of the dusting cloths or Pledge wipes and store them in your coffee table drawer for easy reach. These are perfect for quick cleans when someone calls and says they're going to drop by in a few minutes.

And my last piece of advice... RELAX! It's very likely that you are just used to your house looking a certain way and are spending too much time "sweating the small stuff". A certain degree of clutter is understandable in today's hectic life!

Please let me know if you still need someone to come clean your house every week or two or whenever .... I clean houses for a living, am single mother and full-time student, and my schedule is flexible as are my rates! I have pages of references, and can provide letters of recommendation as well. I can do whatever it is that you like, at the price you can afford.

Thank you!

Check out FlyLady.net. Wonderful website!

One: declutter--to much to take care of
two: establish a routine--flylady really does help
three: kids can help with established chores. even little ones. they can help.
four: hubby doesn't get a free ride just because he works full-time. obviously you work full time also
five: let some of it go.
six: hire someone to help once a week.

At my house we are constantly decluttering. Clothes that are to small. Toys no longer used. Since about 3yrs old all my children have a chore chart with pictures cut from magazines and laminated that lists their chores. Make your bed, brush teeth, bathe, pick up room, pick up dirty clothes, get dressed, feed or water their animal, clear your place at the table when done eating. We have one laundry basket for each person. I don't seperate clothes by color, I just use cold water. Then when a load is done and folded I know exactly who it belongs to. And I don't have to sort it. When I put it in the washer I make sure it is all that persons. Makes the whole process go along just fine. I wash one person on monday, next on tuesday, etc. and start again on monday. which amounts to one load a day. Sheets are done every other week. Kids one week, Parents the next, and repeat this pattern. I also buy different brand of socks for each of my boys. At a glance I know whose dirty socks are on the floor. We have clean the house day once a week. That is for mopping and deeper cleaning like toilets etc. The rest of the week it is upkeep. Light sweeping, wiping down the counters, and shining the sink daily, loading/ unloading the dishwasher, picking up their room, taking the trash out. etc. If your husband isn't helping I would encourage him to do so if he doesn't want a crazy wife. My hubby works 12 hour night shift- 6days on, 2 days off. And he still does a little even if it is just unload the dishwasher or start a load of his work clothes to wash, putting the trash at the curb, or emptying the kitchen trash.
After all it is his house also. I am not his maid or personal servent, and it sets a bad example for the children if they don't see him help. And find some high-school girl or college-girl to come in and do a little every week or every other week just to help out.
I have also learned that I just have to let some of it go.
And realize that happy children and hubby count for something. And then I am not so crazy.
Hope it all helps.
L.

Hi, I am not a working mom, but I feel swamped with staying up with my kids everyday. I have a very good friend who has a calendar she keeps up in a convenient place and puts one or two chores a day on the calendar. So Monday is dusting, Tuesday is laundry, Wednesday is bathrooms, Thursday is mopping, Friday is vaccuming, etc....then you don't feel so swamped. Also, I have two kids, ages 3 and 2 and we clean up their toys and rooms every night before bed, TOGETHER. Your kids are old enough to do it alone though, so that might help too. As far as daily chores like sweeping, dishes, making beds and feeding pets, give those to your kids. Kids need chores to understand responsibility. Have them make their beds every morning, no matter how bad it looks, have your 8 year old unload the dishwasher after dinner every night and have your 5 year old pick up toys through the house and put them in their spot. Just a few ideas. Good luck...I know it isn't easy! L.