How Do You People Keep Your Houses Spotless?

My house is far from spotless but it is 10 times better than it was a year ago due to the book Sink Reflections by the fly lady (flylady.net). Although I didn't incorporate all her ideas yet, I definitely got a lot out of the book and no longer live in what she calls "CHAOS" (can't have anyone over syndrome.) Highly recommend it.

What I use are little baskets. I have a small basket next to the front door for my keys, outgoing mail, shopping lists and other things I want to take with me. I have a bigger basket for all my mail, next to my computer and another for my magazines, next to my couch. For toys I bought stackable drawers and put stickers on them. I found these to be much better than a toy box, since the kids can find their little cars, coloring books, puzzles, duplos, etc. much easier if they are in their own drawer. Its also easier to pick up since the kids know which drawer the thing go and enjoy sorting. Hope this helps

you may think i'm nuts but I LABEL everything!!(even the shelves in my fridge and pantry...I'm a little over the top) but it started out innocent enough...with 5 boys all close in age it started with labeling their water sippy cups and where they each hang their coat and put their shoes...and then I realized they were all reconizing their own names and their brothers(they were 4 and under) and so I started to label where the toys go and the food in the fridge..so when they helped me they were really helping...I love my label maker :) from lunchboxes to shelves in the closet...it has helped me keep my crew organized!

I also keep things together...all their art supplies and paper is where they can reach it...they create, show me and then it's off to the recycle bin (I do save some...but very limited and I have folders for each boy)...and they are okay with this...they like to climb trees and draw and when I explained why we don't keep it...they had no problem with that...also they even my 2yr old do chores...setting/clearing the table, dusting/sweeping, they all make their own beds and put their clothes in their drawers(I wash/fold..they put away)...bathroom and dog duty...we're a team and it's a team effort...and hey, we still on't get it all done...and once it's spotless...well it's only till we wake up the next day :) a house should be lived in, not sterile...I'd just rather play sometime!!
Goodluck, C.

I built a bulletin board out of hard foam insulation board and quilted fabric. I hang art projects on it and after a month or so, they either get filed or they get trashed. If they can be scanned, I scan them into digital files, otherwise I take a photo of them before disposal.

I also have a three hole punch and a wide binder, and school work that comes home gets hole punched and filed in a binder for each kid according to year. Once the work is forgotten about, I can pick my favorites and dispose of the rest, reusing the binder for the next year.

We have switched as many bills as possible to paperless billing and pay bills online whenever we can. It cuts back on the paper in the house. For the rest, I have a canvas bin that fits under my coffee table and the mail gets dumped there in one central location that is out of sight, but it's all together. Bills that need to be paid go into a plastic zippered folder on my desk in the office. I have hampers in nearly every room for dirty clothes.

I have a lot of plastic bins with drawers. My son brings down his toys from his room in a plastic bin and when he's done playing, the bin goes back upstairs with him at night.

I keep library books in a canvas tote bag on the bannister by the front door and we go every Monday to return books/videos.

Shelving really helps. I have bookcases for books, bins for toys, hampers for clothes, and shelves for other random effluvia that needs to get off of my dining room table/coffee table/desk. I also work from home, so the only way anything stays clean (and "stays" is a relative term) is by having a home. The stuff that has no home is the stuff that plagues me so I try to make sure that everything has a home. Like in my office, I now have a plastic set of drawers to keep my kids' arts and crafts supplies. Above it is the bulletin board to display their art. On top of it are the binders to keep their hole punched work. Next to that is the paper shredder, a garbage can, the computer, the scanner, and the camera. I keep it all together so it's easy to store, scan, or toss. It helps with bills and paper clutter as well.

If I could find a way for my dishes to wash themselves, I'd be all set!

I watch Clean House to get ideas how to cut down the clutter and get organized.

I am also a member of Freecycle groups on Yahoo. You can find one in your county/town and join. You post what you don't want and someone replies and picks it up. You can also post for what you are looking for like organizational bins/totes. Everything is free.

Nanc

I will tell you my big hush hush secret!
I only clean when I know company is coming! Then it always looks effortless, and is practically effortless because your house is a wreck most of the time!
The other secret of some of my girlfriends--they hire a cleaning woman.
Please don't beat yourself up. I don't know any super-moms who aren't on some kind of anti-anxiety medication! If you are looking for organization options, Ikea has some good low cost options, and The Container Store has some great stuff too.
Don't stress. The work is never done!

i think clean houses are not the reality. most people clean their house before company comes over (even use it as an excuse to clean). i'm looking at a dirty house right now and it's driving me nuts, but i have to feed my kid!

"Spotless" is a fantasy, let it go. But organized, particularly what I called prganized mess... is possible. What helps me is to have baskets, containers, etc. As much as I'd like to say I'm on top of all the mail sorting and filing, etc. I just can't seem to. The papers pile up, the receipts, etc, and drive me crazy. So I've learned A)at least trash the immediately trashable mail and at least open the rest and trash the envelopes. B) pile it in X (inside china cabinet door) place where I can see it but it's not in the way exactly. As far as toys and such, again contained mess. Baskets, some open some that close so that everything can quickly just be tossed in there. The books that were always all over the place, created a level of bookcase in that my daughter (19 months old) can reach. Of course that's a pro and con, but she was constantly messing with the big books (cook books) that were there anyway. SO now it's "her" corner for books and we're already teaching her, she's already "getting it" about cleaning up her mess and re-piling them. Of course, not neatly packed, but containable mess is about all I can realistically expect right now. And then I also have a see through plastic bin with a bunch of little things to play with that's in the sunroom (basically, every room in the house has toys, etc. in some toddler friendly reachable form both for getting it and putting it back) and that helps. It may be an uphill battle to get our husbands to help instead of hinder, but at the very least stay on it with your kids. You can and should train them to clean up after themselves in whatever is realistic for their age group. Also, as far as cabinet drawers and such I have found plastic zip-locs very helpful. So all the mixed batteries are in one vs. loos around the whole drawer, all the toothpicks, birthday candles in another and so on. These are the little things that drive me crazy to not find when I need them & I don't have unlimited space either so these are some of the little ways I've learned to work with what I have. Hope some of this helps...?? Best wishes, N.

Hi T.,

You will drive yourself crazy trying to keep the house spotless. Clean but lived in is more realistic. I have an 11 year old boy and 7 year old girl. My daughter loves to do crafts and is extremely messy with art supplies all over the house. I purchased some small pop up hampers at Walmart and now she can throw her supplies and small toys into the hamper. The hamper is small enough that she can carry her toys or art supplies from room to room and the mess is contained a bit.
Good Luck
Sarah

I am going to "third" the recommendation for Flylady. www.flylady.net If you stick with it, her system really works. However, I also want you to know that my house is never spotless! I clean everyday and it's never perfect - I have a two year old! That's just life with kids. Don't be so hard on yourself. Most people clean for company, so if people's house seem spotless when you are there it doesn't mean they are always that way. My house is always clean when I have people overbut it's not anywhere near perfect and it doesn't always look that way. It's kind of a mess right now actually, after nearly a week of rain, being stuck indoors with my daughter has done nothing to help with the messiness!

Hi T.
I don't!!!
I used to worry about this a lot.
One day I went shopping with a friend. I met her at her house and her house was spotless. As we left, she mopped her kitchen floor in her white pants she went out in. OK so I realized that my white pants would be in no condition to go out if I mopped my floor in them.
We shopped all day.
When we arrived home, I helped her carry her bags in and the first thing she did was pull frozen dinners out of the freezer for supper for the family. Then she said she was so tired she was going to read a book.
I went home. After bringing my bag in I: picked veggies for our supper, and put tomatoes on to can, washed the floor that was by then covered with tomato juice, peals, etc, went out side to play ball with the then 5yo, cooked supper from scratch including dessert, and of course set the table, and all of the normal jobs of having a 1 & 5 yo. There was material over the living room for the quilt I was making, yarn in another corner for the sweater I was knitting, the Sunday School material was there for planning, and the crafts to do with the 5 yo. I looked around my house and decided I didn't want a spotless house because I wanted to do all of the above things. At the time we had a full herd of milking Holsteins, and all the farm work that a family farm required was at least in part my responsibility as well. There was not much time for reading unless of course it was reading to the boys, and later the girls.
So my house isn't spotless everyone chooses what they want from their home. I guess I want to cook meals, make gifts and crafts, and take time with my children while they were young.
Everyone knows that "cleaning the house while the children are growing is as useless as shoveling snow while it is still snowing"
Also I "Thank God for dirty dishes
They have a tale to tell;
While other folks are poorly fed,
We're eating very well.
With Home and Health and Happiness
We shouldn't fret or fuss,
for by this stack of evidence
God is very good to us." anonymous
God bless you
Do your best, and leave the rest.
I'm too blessed to be stressed
K. --- SAHM married 38 years --- adult children -- 37, coach; 33, lawyer, married with 9 mo; and twins 18, in college after homeschooling-- journalism major commuting, & fine arts major on campus. GPA's 3.8 & 3.7 respectively.

Peter Walsh has some great organizing and de-cluttering books. They've helped me make great changes in our house, from the playroom to the closets. My kids are the same age and I'm a SAHM, so I imagine it must be harder for you to keep cleaning when you're working too, but take time to work on zones for a few mins each day/nite and you may see some changes. Again, I totally recommend the books- he's on Oprah and TLC too. Great info and funny guy. Good luck!

You're on the right track...and no, I have NO idea how people have such spotless houses. (I've got ONE friend with a spotless house...and it's because her husband goes over EVERY THING SHE CLEANS...and cleans it again. He has a CONNIPTION if there are crumbs in the car...I'd rather have a happy husband than a house that clean! LOL)

Some ideas:
Artwork can be scanned and stored digitally if you just can't bear to part with it. Alternately, designate a spot for the child's artwork...and LIMIT how many pieces they can display. Everything else gets recycled.

Another cute idea for artwork - cut it up into card-sized pieces and use it as one-of-a kind stationary!

Mail:
Find one of those folders with multiple tabs inside. You can then file away bills, etc. by date...or type...or when they're due...or whatever. Get ruthless with the mail. (This is my HARDEST area) Contact your credit card companies, banks, etc and get e-bills...that will save you a TON of clutter right there!

Toys - designate ONE room where the toys can be....and just relax. That room will probably never be tidy (my husband does NOT agree with me on this one. ;-)) All toys found outside of the room...get chucked back in! Get some bins for easy sorting so your three year old can help with the "toy clean up".

I hope some of those ideas help!! Good luck.

Oh, and come up with a schedule for general cleaning - it really does help. You know that if a window is dirty....it's ok. It will be clean the following Tuesday. etc, etc. etc.

Spotless! I don't know whose houses you are going to, but maybe those people are cleaning up for you to visit. I know my house is small, and clutter happens easily for lack of places to put things. I've started organizing baby toys and books in baskets, and that is helping. I do a thorough cleaning once a week and try to keep up on the bathroom & kitchen daily, but days slip by & before I know it there are dishes everywhere (and my husband is a big culprit of that) & cat hair all over, and it feels like I'm always vacuuming! I know that some of my friends have bigger houses and help with the cleaning, so they seem to be in better shape most times, but I've certainly seen their houses messy, too.
For me, baskets, bins, and filing cabinets help most with toys, bills, and such things. I have a small desk organizer where I keep the bills I have to mail, all the others are online. Mail that I need to keep goes in a filing cabinet. The thing is getting it all in there to begin with takes time, but once it's in there it's simple to put things away when you get them.
Good luck with it! And try not to stress! I work part time and only have one child and I know it's tough!

Hi T.,

First, I do NOT have a spotless house! :) I feel your pain. We are crammed into a 2 bedroom duplex with a baby, a toddler, a cat, and a goldfish. I have a couple of ideas on ways we've tried to minimize what is all over our house, so here they are:

Our downstairs closet is now our computer office. We can shut the door on any paperwork messes, my file cabinet is in there, and when we have mail or receipts, at least they are in one place. We keep a folding chair flat up against the door when it is closed.

I have a canvas basket under a bookshelf with diapers and wipes so they are handy but not all over the place (in theory--the kids tend to toss them around the house by the end of the day).

When I know we're going to be really really busy, we use disposable cups, bowls, plates, and picnicware. We don't have a dishwasher and I hate spending more time washing dishes than playing with my kids. You can find some that are pretty "earth friendly" too.

We used to hang up all of my older boy's crafts, but now I am taking digital pictures of them and just filing away the really special ones. You could also try a large frame to have a feature picture and just rotate out with new artwork. Each of my kids has a file for stuff--pictures from Sunday school, printouts from the doctor's office, etc. My files are not professional but everything has a file. You might have to learn to toss some crafts, but if you keep pictures you can remember them better.

I have a basket in our closet/office for mail that I intend to do something with (statements not filed, subscription offers I want to use, etc.). Even though it is not tidy, everything is in one place. I also bought a mini paper shredder from Wal Mart. It is smaller than a shoebox and perfect for shredding home mail that is personal and it keeps me from forgetting what I've already sorted. I have a pretty box from a craft store that I keep all financial stuff in that is in use (a notebook where I write in monthly bills and when I pay them, statements, articles on budgeting, etc.).

I also picked up a book a while ago called "Kick the Clutter." It has some great ideas but I am sorry to say I have not acted on all of them. I photodocumented my house room by room to help me see what I want it to look like vs. what it really looks like.

I try making a game out of cleaning--what can I get done as quickly as possible (during a commercial break, while the kids nap, while the coffee is brewing, etc.). That sometimes helps get something done.

I don't know that busy moms can ever really accept that they can't keep their homes clean. I feel like my mom raised three kids and worked full time and somehow kept her house clean, but maybe I was too busy enjoying her to notice that it wasn't. You're not alone. I hope you get some great tips that I can also use!

The Addition:

You've gotten some great advice on here and I am glad you asked your question. I wanted to add that something a friend and I did before she moved out of state was trade kids on a Saturday. I took her little boy for a play day so she could tackle sorting her living room and cleaning her apartment. We also had a baby clothes sorting date. We had our kids play together while we sorted a roomful fo baby clothes. If you have a non-judgemental friend, you might be able to have a cleaning date and get some extra help. I focus better cleaning somewhere else than I do at home. The alternative might be to trade kids so you know they are having fun and getting attention while you can focus on keeping your home safe and healthy. With two little boys my biggest priorites are our health and safety (so vacuuming because of the asthma and to avoid ants, tripping hazards, etc.). Other than that, I would love it to be cleaner and more organized but not at the expense of time with my kids.

I'm not too sure, But I try to keep my house clean too. And my family makes fun of me because usually I'm not such a clean person. So I wanted to see what other moms said. Good luck!!!

My house is far from spotless! i doubt there are many mothers out there who have a spotless house...unless their children aren't living in it with them. lOL

Your priority is the kids and your husband...along with yourself. If the house is clean, even if it's cluttered, don't worry about it. You live in your house...so do your kids.... it's going to look like someone lives there.

There are only 2 homes I have ever been to, in which everything had a place and everything was in it's place. It looked like no one lived there, and like they were show houses like would be used for selling a home.
Seriously, on even had 4 cats....but I didn't see a cat while I was there.
The thing is, these people didn't have children, or their children were grown and not living there, and no grandchildren in the area to visit.

It was actually kind of creepy. LOL

Just keep doing what you are doing.... declutter and pass on what you can't use anymore. Make sure the dishes are done up, the rest of the house is vacuumed and the bathroom is clean.
It's more important to have family time than it is to worry about having everything in a place.

As for the kids' artwork, I would highly suggest taking photos of it and making a scrapbook of it. Use some of the smaller pieces in the scrapbook for embellishments.

First of all people with spotless houses:
1. Are probably not mothers
2. Have hired cleaners to do the job
3. Are housewives and can manage the home most of the day

I have a 10 & 16 year old, do all the cleaning and still the house is not spotless, even when they help. Goodness we're living and life makes messes. (Not a bad thing!)

The trick is teaching YOUR young ones to put their own toys away (You'll have to do it a bit with them till they get older) to create routines. Get your husband involved, it teaches the kids that daddy can clean too!

Set a time when you can clean and the entire family is not around. The house will be clean a bit longer. Do you have a storage area? Attic, Basement? Store the things not always used in labeled boxes and pack neatly. If you don't have the spaces indicated use cupboard space. Or call a space organizer to assist. J. S

Oh my no help at all I am going through the same exact thing my kids are the same age at yours and my house is trashed. My Husband actually does alot so I can't complain. We just have to much stuff and no where to put it. I think someone should come up with an organizational class you can take to teach you how to get organized. I can't do it myself. L.

flylady.net, saved my house

I read all your responses , I have to admit I keep my house spotless. I have a 2 girls , 51/2 yr old, 11/2 yr old.
I have a 4 bedroom house ,I vacuum the house once in 2 days Mop once a week,bathroom gets cleaned once a week. I cook twice a day hot breakfast and dinnner from scratch.
Absolutely no frozen food in my house.

My husband doesn't contribute in cooking/cleaning/child care/ but wants everything clean .He does shop with me once a month. He leaves home at 8.30 am and back by 7.30-8pm.
It's all me.

My daughter is a sweet heart she helps me a lot.

Here is how I do it .
I let my kids play with whatever they want during the day but it has to go back in its place by evening.
She helps me loading & unload clothes from washing machine.
Passes me plates ,cups , little things from dining table to & fro.

I let her play with computer/watch her fav channel.
Sometimes give pennies for her piggy bank as a reward.

I've set alarm on my phone for monthly bills payment.
Every three months I go thru one area of the house to see what's not needed and take action.

I do admit there are bad days .

But once everything in place and you get the hang of it ,it doesn't take much.

I know you've got tons of great advice here and I would like to say something too. Even working cleaning other people's houses (full time), my own house is not spotless at all (only after I have done the cleaning). My trick is organization. It took time, but I found (or created) a right place for everything: bills, toys, photos, etc. Whenever I find something out of place that's not being used anymore, I put it away. It's not easy, as my husband is the most messy person I've ever met. So, his favorite place in the house (The tv room) is always messy. I organize it once a day. Having everything in the right place, saves you some time to refresh the bathroom and dust the living room when you're going to have someone over. The sink in the kitchen and the counters should be always clean and free from clutter. Hope I have helped! :)

We clean our home everyday and it remains spotless, clean and immaculate plus super organized. We have a 24 year old disabled son who also loves his room to be spotless, clean , immaculate and organized and we have a huge 6 bedroom house with 2 bathrooms and it takes us no longer than 45 minutes to clean and that includes, sweeping, mopping, organizing and dusting. Our home has to be spotless, clean, immaculate and organized for when company comes over and they love it and we get compliments on how we are able to keep it that way even though we have a 24 year old disabled son. Our home should be the reflection of us. To each its own but we rather live in a super clean, spotless home and organized instead of just being lived in that is just a poor excuse.

Yours was one of the best questions asked on Mamasource! I'm so glad you asked because I've enjoyed reading all the answers and hope to get myself more organized as well. A friend once told me that we should not look at the clock and say; "Oh, no, I've only got five minutes!" but rather; "I've got five minutes.... I can get a lot done in five minutes." So that's what I try to do. We actually can get a lot done in a short amount of time, so just keep thinking positive. My mother always says that people come to see you, not your house. Also, isn't there a poem out there about letting the cobwebs stay where they are so you can hold your baby longer, or something like that? Most people remember how much love they received as a child more than what the condition of the house was. Thanks for asking the question and good luck! You got some great answers!
D. N.

I have a cleaning lady come. Once a week. 5 hours=$60.

Really keeps me sane!

T.,

www.flylady.com

You don't have to keep everything spotless all at the same time. She divides your house in to zones and you work on a zone per week. There's a lot more, but this is one of the basic tenets.

Good luck!
M.

I agree with Christina R. If everything has a place it does keep things looking cleaned and organized. I love the container store I put alot of things into tubs and label them and that really keeps things neat. I also use them at my preschool. The shoe box size is perfect for extra clothing for the kids and they stack neatly. They have a size for everything you need. It can be costly but they are sturdy and last long so the investment is worth it to me anyway. I just find when I have messy closets then everything else seems to feel unorganized. When you have kids it is difficult because they have to play. So I would just try to keep one area of the house for their toys any yes what ever fits into tubs and stacks neatly makes it all look so much nicer. I also taught my kids early to help mommy clean up after themselves and that helps and also get hubby to step up to the plate. I know weekends when my husband home he does seem to add to the mess, newspapers laying around, coffee cups, their shoes etc. so I know what you are talking about. Also, when they are home it probably throws you off your routine it did me (sometimes its like having another kid lol!!!). I have a cleaning lady now but I could not afford it when my kids were little if you can then it is wonderful to have everything done in one day and then the rest of the week you just have to maintain it. Good luck!!!

Your request gave me a much needed laugh this morning!! Spotless is a word I think I need to look up in the dictionary! Here's what I have been doing for the past 14 years...
1.-Give your kids jobs. They can do a whole lot more than most of us give them credit for. They are capable of putting things away, helping you dust, put things in the garbage, etc.
2.-Find storage items that will work for you. Each of my boys has a storage tote in their rooms for toys. If it doesn't fit in the tote, it's gone. Papers are organized in shirt totes that slide under their beds. Crafts are in one of those 5 drawer plastic tote things on wheels.
3.-Each day I go through the house and pick up the obvious. Bathroom does get cleaned everyday because I can't stand a dirty bathroom. Once a week I scrub, every other day I use the Green Works wipes and wipe everything down. I really can't stand vaccuming, but once a week I run the machine through the whole house. In the interim, if something needs to be picked up, I have one of those small cordless ones.
4.-Don't stress. This is really the most important. I've been told I have a "spotless" house-when I have guests over. That's because I spent the two days prior to their arrival freaking out and scrubbing the house!! I do pick one day a month when I will do everything-wipe down the kitchen cabinets, pull down the knick knacks, etc., but really, I have three boys. If someone walks into my house and expects a showplace, they're out of their minds!
The most important thing to think about is what will work for you and your family. You will come up with something that you are all comfortable with and can easily accomplish.

There are some excellent resources on this topic at your local bookstore or library, I suggest you seek these out quick. Videos and Books on organization and how to keep it all togehter etc. Once you become organized with the stuff in your household it will be easier to keep your home clean and uncluttered. You will function much better and have more time for your family!
It is so important to get a hold of this now so that as your family grows you do not become even more overwhelmed. It sounds as if you are used to being on top of things and that you value that characteristic in others I am the same way! Honestly by referring to a professional (people who have made a living helping others do this) is the best way to attack the problem. You sound like a great mom! I think you will get things under control very soon! And you will feel so much better by doing it people will begin asking you how you do it. Good luck!!!

I am a small business owner (working from home) rasing 2 kids! People always ask me how I keep it all together. (Hint you should see the size of my calendar) it is the most GIANT one you can find at Staples! LOL.

Oh T., come over to my house. It's usually wall to wall toys, Cherrios, etc. I think the only time my house is semi-clean is when they're in bed or at their father's house. Don't feel like a failure because your house isn't spotless. I have been told by my friends that have older kids that you do get your house back gradually. When people expect visitors, of course they'll tidy up more, which is probably what you're witnessing. Do a surprise & the houses would probably be a mess. Hang in there with the rest of us. You will have your home back in order eventually....just wait til your kids are a little older. =)

Take care,
A.