We used to make Saturday mornings chore day, but... our kids got older and their sports have gotten in the way of that so now we are floundering in dust bunnies! Everyone still cleans up their own spaces but I have become in charge of the overall household clean up. So, do I pick a day and clean up all at once or do I spread the work over the week? How do you do it???
Growing up, we had to clean
Growing up, we had to clean every Saturday and it seemed to take the entire day, not leaving time for much else. So now I prefer to do chores like laundry during the week - usually Sunday through Tuesday night (yes, it takes three nights, and I know I'm hardly the only one).
We also do a lot of spot cleaning and vacuuming throughout the week. My daughter and I are both messy eaters so we generally vacuum the kitchen and dining area every or every other night. It really needs it! When I get really busy, I hire a professional to come in once a month and get the nooks and crannies.
I tend to pick up at the end
I tend to pick up at the end of the day when my son is sleeping. Yes, it is a bit exhausting, but it feels so great the next morning when I wake to a tidy home. It is not deep cleaning, just putting things in their place. Surprisingly fixing up a little a day helps. I too was doing so much on Saturdays, but then there was no time for ‘family time’. So, now before my son goes to sleep we sing the ‘time to clean’ song. Once he is done with his toys I do the rest & occasionally toss a load or two in the laundry every couple of nights. I must admit however for big occasions (such as large parties I am having) I splurge a little and hire a professional cleaning service to do a deep cleaning of the entire house (i.e. dust the base boards, shutters, oven, etc.) Its funny how it only takes these ladies two hours to clean my entire house while it takes me several evenings to manage even half of what they do. Funny how that works when one doesn’t have any interruptions and is not exhausted.
LisaMommy is a 38 year old discussion leader for arizonamoms.com from the Paradise Valley/Scottsdale area. Her two boys are ages 8 months and 3 years old.
I really like
I really like www.flylady.com. Her site has helped me to be better organized in my cleaning and organizing by establishing routines. This was something I really needed as a new wife and mother. I think daily maintenance is the key. However, on some days I am not able to keep up due to other errands or things going on. So today is my cleaning day I will clean the whole house so we don't spend the weekend cleaning up and instead we can relax or enjoy our time together.
It is funny how little we
It is funny how little we get done with kids around! You girls are convincing me to hire someone once a month to help me get a leg up; maybe bathrooms and dusting. I've always resisted hiring someone because my older kids needs to do chores and help out. However, life being what it is right now, I probably have to change my way of thinking. Thanks for your help!
a little at a time AND deep
a little at a time AND deep cleaning on Saturday! I never leave a room without something in my hand. This morning, I bagged the garbage, unclogged a bathoom sink drain and threw a new load of laundry in, as I got the boys ready for school. On Sat mornings, hubby mows the lawn at 6am and I mop the kitchen floor. Then, he polishes furniture and vacumms, while I clean the bathrooms. The kids pick up all toys on the floor and toss them into a big laundry bucket, until I'm done and can help them sort. I hand a pile of "Star Wars" toys to one kid and he puts them back in the Star Wars tote, while the other kid grabs the Ben 10 toys, etc. Usually, while I clean the bathrooms, my younger son cleans the door panels with baby wipes. He thinks it's fun. The older son goes back to playing. But, the older son puts away folded clothes, while the younger one can't seems to manage that one! Once a month or so, hubby and I try to tackle a closet or drawer or the mounds of paper in the den. And yet...it's never enough!
"Only a life lived for others, is the life worthwhile" - Albert Einstein
I pretty much save it for
I pretty much save it for the weekend - we do have someone come in every other Friday and that helps SO much. But there still is toy pick-up and laundry.
The laundry really kills me, with several loads per weekend. I have a 3 yr. old that changes clothes 2 to 3 times per day so it is a mountain by Friday.
I also do my best to get the kids to clean-up every evening so the toys don't take over our living space.
That's how it works in my house.
Little by little. I also
Little by little. I also enlist the help of others in the household by posting a chores list on the frige. They can manage when they do their share of the chores as long as they are done by 5 on Sunday. This way everything is done once a week. It's a pipe-dream to have it all done at once at my house!
soccermom