Ok, since having kids my house just never seems to be tidy. I mean I do my everyday stuff like dishes, laundry, etc. But our bedroom and Abby's bedroom just look like bomb sites. DH goes through this "lets clean everything" mode which is great but his idea of cleaning is to throw everything in a pile. So I've got about 4 mountainous piles to deal with and I have absolutely no motivation and even less time to deal with them. The piles mainly consist of Abby's clothes that are too small for her amongst random papers and stuff. Seriously, if you ladies could see my house you would disown me *smiles*. I'm about to disown myself. So much for being a proverbs 31 woman, take one look at my house and it's like "Proverbs who?". So my question being how on earth do you ladies manage to take care of kidlets plus keep your house looking decent? And can I bribe any of you to come over and conquer these mountains *winks*? I'll throw in a free tour of Scotland and some haggis! I need motivation!!!

Eva, I don't think haggis is a big drawing card! (cracking up) Anyway, you DID just have a baby, didn't you? I would cut myself a little slack, dear. (Big Hug) You ask how I managed to take care of little kids and keep a tidy house? I kind of drove myself crazy in whirling dervish fashion. I finally had to learn to lighten up on the cleaning and the idea of keeping a perfecto house.

P.S. Just a little head's up before anyone buys their plane ticket to Bonnie Scotland:


hag·gis [hag-is]

–noun Chiefly Scot. a traditional pudding made of the heart, liver, etc., of a sheep or calf, minced with suet and oatmeal, seasoned, and boiled in the stomach of the animal

Eva, dear, if it weren't for 5 kids and a dreadully icky pregnancy...I'd be right over!! *grins*

I have a fabo suggestion though....move. LOL
This ia a good idea because a) you purge b)you get a big enough place that the mess is spread out and doesn't look nearly so bad and c) you purge

LOL

Ok, ok, sorry, not helpful.

First off, remember, Micah is still new, it's still going to take some time to adjust to everything...his needs, your dd's needs as well as the neverending household chores. Don't sweat it! Just keep everything 'up to code' and it'll get better after a bit.

As with any other big project, focus on a small area/portion at a time. It didn't get in that condition in a day (really, it didn't, though it may appear that way at times LOL ) it won't get fixed in one either.

But most of all...it's ok. It'll get there. *grins*

maybe I should bring the whole family to help clean your house...my dh would love the haggis! *rolling eyes* He keeps telling me it is not as bad as it sounds! lol. (What is your opinion on that stuff anyway?? Do you like it??)

Seriously, though, I will just echo what the others have said. When you have little kids, you have to let go of the idea of having a completely tidy house. It really will get better. (hugs) I just try to focus on one room at a time. More than that and you will drive yourself crazy. ;)

My upstairs is clean. There's now only 2/3rds left. lol Seriously, with 2 kiddos, being pregnant (although the countdown is ON!!!), sewing like a mad woman all the time (will post current project & boys' room soon), and DH's music collection...the lower 2/3rds of the house looks...WELL lived in! ;) But God knew the man I married would not care in the least. YEA!!

Honestly though, I gotta say I LOVE when I finally get the house in order (albeit for 2 hrs before they all walk in the door after cleaning), candles are going (gotta do THAT when they are out of the house 'cause fire + kids = burnin down the house) it is SUCH an AWESOME feeling. Too bad it happens about once every 2 months (um...er...or more <<sad face>>).

But relax Hon! Enjoy that new Babe! And once they get old enough to hold a rag or broom? Clean! HUGS!!! ~Kerri

I totally agree with the ladies who are telling you to cut yourself some slack! I heard a great quote once, and it's what we strive for here- "Your house should be clean enough to be healthy and dirty enough to be happy." Those precious moments with your kids are more important than having everything perfect.

On the outgrown clothes front- the only way I've been able to keep up with this is to put a cardboard box in their closet. As soon as anything is outgrown, it's folded up and put in there. Then all you have to do is seal up the box and write "Jane, Summer Clothes, 4T" and either give away/store/consign. And then start a new box. Otherwise, I'm with you- those outgrown clothes will take over your life!

I diddo what everyone else said. I went through stages where my house was a dissaster right after having both Lawson and Gabriella. It is better now though. The virtuous woman website has a lot of stuff that helped me get organized. I think they're a sister site to C'moms (don't quote me on that). Anyway the addy is www.avirtuouswoman.org

Ok, so my solution is that you need to put your house on the market. Now, I didn't say move, maybe just pretend?!?!! We had a house showing today, and while we did hide a few piles, 98% of our house is clean now...unlike yesterday where 98% was dirty...literally.

Honestly, I dont' care about untidy-ness. As long as you are wearing clean clothes and using clean dishes, you're GOOD TO GO!! I don't stress about cleaning at all! I hate cleaning!! Even now, I'm sitting with a clean house and while it feels good, it doesn't feel lived in, if you KWIM! I feel like I'm in someone elses house...I guess I have to get out my few piles that I hid in my closets!

((hugs))

Okay, I know I'm probably not the norm, but I love cleaning, organizing, and decorating. Actually, I love all the household stuff, so I don't fight the desire to skip the housework for the day. Here's how I've always done it. Dive in and get your place the way you want it. Throw out or donate anything you don't need so you can rid yourself of clutter. Then, when you get up in the morning, just start at one end of the house and work to the other, straightening, vacuuming, dusting, making sure stuff is put away... Then, maintain for the rest of the day. If you take it out, put it away. Don't wait until later to clean up after yourself. Ask your hubby to climb aboard the tidy ship and ask him to put anything he uses away when he's finished, so he can lighten your load and give you the chance to sit down with him and the kids sooner. I find it super easy, but, honestly, the biggest reason for that is because I like it, so I don't have my own thoughts and feelings working against me and bogging me down before I even get started. BTW, it's never taken me more than an hour and a half to clean an entire, large, two story house (including bathrooms) each day. I 'do not' believe in knocking yourself out all day. Life is short and should be lived to the fullest, which is my famous motto around our house.

Also, one thing that's never come close to working for me, which makes me, once again, believe I'm a bit abnormal in this arena, is doing a little at a time. What's absolutely crucial for me is to be able to say I'm DONE, so I can then maintain that doneness. When I've tried to just do a little here and a little there, I find it enormously defeating because I never get to fully experience the joy of a job complete. I think the 'done factor' is what motivates me and is my payoff, and keeps me motivated to do it all again tomorrow.

Good luck, my friend! (hugs)

Joy

hee hee I actually agree with Joy on this one *wink* I'm so the same way.

My friends have worked very hard in the past to "relax" me but I've spent just as much time trying to get them to keep their houses de-cluttered after call me in the help them de-clutter *wink*

Now, every now and again, I have to purge the clutter which is once a week. I have to say once you get it all done (which won't happen in a day or probably a week) maintance is a lot easier.

I do like LL's saying about your house being clean enough to be healthy but dirty enough to be happy....although for each of us that "dirty enough" is just a bit different

I don't know if this will help or not but this is a list that I made myself.. I printed it out and keep it on the fridge.

"She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness."
Proverbs 31:27

Cleaning the Kitchen
Cleaning the Kitchen: Monthly - Week 1
1. Scrub top of stove vent.
2. Wipe down outside of cabinets, around light switches.
3. Dust baseboards and wash with warm, soapy water.
4. Clean top of refrigerator.
Cleaning the Kitchen: Weekly - Monday
1. Throw out any old food.
2. Wipe down inside of refrigerator.
3. Clean out freezer.
4. Scrub Stove Top.
5. Wash wall around kids table.
6. Wash small appliances coffee maker, toaster, and can opener.
7. Wipe outside of garbage can.
8. Mop the floor.
Cleaning the Kitchen: Daily Order After Each Meal
1. Tidy up by returning any items out of order back to their place.
2. Place dishes in dishwasher.
3. Hand wash dishes, pots and pans as required.
4. Wipe down countertops, backsplashes, table, and stove.
5. Shine sink and return dried, hand washed dishes where they belong.
6. Sweep the floor.
7. At end of day, replace used rags and towels with clean ones for the next day.
Cleaning the Bathroom
Care for the Bathroom: Monthly - Week 2
1. Clean under the sink.
2. Clean out cabinets.
3. Clean garbage can.
4. Take inventory of toilet paper, paper towels, soaps, shampoos, etc. Add those items that need replenishing to shopping list.
Care for the Bathroom: Weekly - Tuesday
1. Sweep the floor, dusting the baseboards as you go.
2. Fill a bucket with hot water and add a disinfectant to the water.
3. Add a disinfectant to the toilet bowl. Swish it around with the toilet bowl brush and allow to soak while cleaning the rest of the bathroom.
4. Begin by cleaning the sink and cabinets. Use a mild detergent or abrasive for cleaning inside the sink, around the fixtures, the cabinets, and the walls around the sink.
5. Rinse and clean soap dish. Wipe off the light switch.
6. Dust vanity light bulbs.
7. Clean mirrors.
8. Scrub the bath/shower with mild abrasive . Rinse well.
9.Saturate a sponge in the bucket of water. Squeeze excess moisture out and begin scrubbing the baseboards. Move around the room, rinsing your sponge as needed. Dust cobwebs, vents, top of door molding, and top of shower.
10. Saturate a sponge in the bucket of water. Squeeze excess moisture out and clean around top of toilet, working way down the sides of the toilet. Rinse sponge as needed.
11. Scrub floor until it sparkles. Begin mopping in
the corner of bathroom and work way out of the room.
12. Empty garbage can and wipe outside of can.
13. Pour dirty water in wash tub. Disinfect sponges or cloths in a bucket of fresh water and bleach. 1 cup of bleach per gallon of water. Soak them for at least five minutes. Rinse well.
Care for the Bathroom: Daily
1. Rinse tub after bathing.
2. Shine sink, faucets, and counters.
3. Wipe down toilet seat.
4. Clean mirror after everyone has brushed their teeth.
5. Hang fresh hand towels.
Caring for the Bedrooms
Care for the Bedrooms: Monthly - Week 3
1. Rotate mattress.
2. Wash comforters, bedspreads, and pillows.
3. Air pillows in the sun.
4. Vacuum underneath the beds.
5. Dust blinds.
6. Dust tops of wood moldings around windows and doors.
7. Air bedroom by opening windows.
Care for the Bedroom: Weekly - Wednesday
1. Dust furniture.
2. Vacuum.
Care for the Bedroom: Daily
1. Make the beds.
2. Empty dirty clothes basket.
3. Straighten personal belongings.
4. Put away toys.
Caring for the Livingroom/Diningroom Area
Care for the Livingroom/Diningroom Area: Monthly - Week 4
1. Rotate couch cusions.
2. Vacuum underneath furniture.
3. Clean windows and dust blinds.
4. Dust tops of wood moldings around windows and doors.
Care for the Livingroom/Diningroom Area: Weekly - Thursday
1. Dust furniture.
2. Vacuum.
3. Wash entryroom floor.
4. Clean front door windows and glass door.
Care for the Livingroom/Diningroom Area: Daily
1. Put away clutter, toys, ect.
2. Wipe t.v., bookcase and table clean.
3. Sweep entryroom floor.
Cleaning the Utility Room
Care for the Utility Room: Monthly - Week 4
1. Wipe down washer, dryer, hot water tank and CA unit.
2. Clean light switches, and door knobs.
3. Clean baseboards.
4. Take inventory of laundry detergent, paper towels, cleaning products, etc. Add those items that need replenishing to your shopping list.
Care for the Utility Room: Weekly - Thursday
1. Mop the floor.
2. Clean the wash tub.
3. Wipe laundry baskets.
4. Clean glass on doors.
Care for the Utility Room: Daily
1. Sweep the floor.

Breaking up the bigger chores into weekly chores alternating each day of the week has helped a lot. There are others thing I do each day that aren't on the list but I do that just out of habit. I also keep a daily routine chart that I try to keep to.

All that being said.. this was not possible when I had a newborn in the house. I wasn't able to keep to this list until Gabriella was about 4 months old, I'm guessing. So, do not stress yourself out or feel bad at all for having a messy house. I think anyone who has kids understands!

Ok, since having kids my house just never seems to be tidy. I mean I do my everyday stuff like dishes, laundry, etc. But our bedroom and Abby's bedroom just look like bomb sites. DH goes through this "lets clean everything" mode which is great but his idea of cleaning is to throw everything in a pile. So I've got about 4 mountainous piles to deal with and I have absolutely no motivation and even less time to deal with them. The piles mainly consist of Abby's clothes that are too small for her amongst random papers and stuff. Seriously, if you ladies could see my house you would disown me *smiles*. I'm about to disown myself. So much for being a proverbs 31 woman, take one look at my house and it's like "Proverbs who?". So my question being how on earth do you ladies manage to take care of kidlets plus keep your house looking decent? And can I bribe any of you to come over and conquer these mountains *winks*? I'll throw in a free tour of Scotland and some haggis! I need motivation!!!

This sounds like my house, so I have no advice for you but I sure will be reading all the other comments for ideas!

Oh my goodness, Ashlee, I don't know the last time I did half of that stuff!
but thanks for the disclaimer at the end...I have a ten week old baby and I'm going to cling to that excuse! :cool:
I think I let my house get as dirty as I can live with, then suddenly it gets to a certian point and I'm inspired! watch out if you're between me and the vacuum!
But, Eva, I try to remember this....one day I"ll have all the time in the world to clean...and I'll sit back and look at my sparkling house and think "I'd definitely trade this for a chance to hold my babies again!" I hope that helps you "deal" with the dirt and clutter right now! Best to you!

maybe I should bring the whole family to help clean your house...my dh would love the haggis! *rolling eyes* He keeps telling me it is not as bad as it sounds! lol. (What is your opinion on that stuff anyway?? Do you like it??)


Well, I wouldn't say I love it, but it's not bad. My DH for the first time in his life is going through an "I love haggis" stage and he's Scottish. Haggis really isn't that bad, it's got it's own distinct flavor...heehee.

Thanks ladies for all your comments. I'm not one to obsess about a clean house, I would rather spend time with my kids. But our bedroom in particular is getting to be a "follow this path and you'll be safe" kindof thing...LOL. So it needs dealt with before Dh or I get lost in the mountains. I think I'm gonna try to do little bits at a time. I think once we get on top of this clutter then it will be easier to keep clutter free, well until the next pile turns up....LOL. Anyway, thanks for the advice, it's much appreciated.

Well, now that my mom came over to babysit while I was gone and my kids decided to sleep rather than play with Mimi, yeah, it's pretty neat. :-)

I am just now STARTING to get into a cleaning routine and my son is almost 3! LOL! So, you having a brand new baby, don't be so hard on yourself. You'll get into a routine, just take it a little at a time. I kind of agree with Tara ( though I know she was kidding), but we just moved and before we moved purged alot of junk we didn't need, so the moving thing did work for us * wink*.

hehehe
I've been known to 'pretend' we're moving..just to better minimize/purge : P

Oh my Ashlee, Reading that list nearly killed me. I couldnt finish it!

Eva, I tend to keep things in piles or in clothes baskets until I can get to them. That way atleast I can say it looks a bit tidy. Im not bothered about a little bit of dust or clean clothes waiting to be folded. What I hate is dirty floors, dirty dishes, dirty toilets, dirty clothes laying around. If Ive got all that cleaned up Im not too bothered if Ive got some clean dishes in the dish drainer. So for me its about priorities. Im tending to get the main nasties done during the week when Im running around anyway. Then at the weekends I get the clothes folded/put away etc. Of course anything can make this 'routine' go off kilter. so Im rather relaxed about it all.
gen

There are two things raising multiple toddlers has taught me, and any mom on here with mutlies will agree, you can count on a dirty bottom and a dirty house. It's just not possible to keep a kid clean and keep the house clean. You have to chose. Neat and tidy is one thing, but these immaculate "showroom" homes, save it. They'll be big enough to help you reach that goal too soon. I'm with others, it's got to be clean enuogh to be healthy, but dirty enough to be happy.

Oh my Ashlee, Reading that list nearly killed me. I couldnt finish it!


It looks like a lot but its not. IF, big if, I stick to the list, it only takes about 2 hours out of my day each day to complete my chores. When I wake up early before the kids and spend some time reading the bible and/or praying my day goes really well and my chores are done by 10 or so in the morning. By keeping to this cleaning routine my house stays pretty spotless, there will be toys here and there or whatever but its clean. Now if I sleep in until one of the kids wake me up like I did today then everything gets thrown off and chores get left un-done. Its not that big of a deal though, the house is still easy enough to pick up if company is coming or whatever, the things I dont get done wont be noticeable to anyone but me. Anyway, I don't have other comitments outside the home like some of you ladies. I don't drive so if we go anywhere its with dh or we just walk to the park or play in the yard. I guess I just have more time on my hands then most of you. But yeah.. this list doesnt take up my whole day, I wouldn't be able to do it if it did.. I have 3 kids to tend to on top of the housework, lol. They take up the other 22 hours of the day! : )

Ashlee,
I love the way you separated things. I think the most overwhemling thing about cleaning is what to do and where to start. Thanks for sharing!

Cleaner than the houses on the Tv program that shares this thread's title.

I moved into an older mans house, which was his moms house, which was his grandfathers before that. Lots of passed down clutter! I "clean" better as a minimalist (love wiping down a cleared surface.. hate knick knacks and will let them get dusty). We're making progress each year toward getting that clean, everything (mostly) put away, look.

My worst area day-to-day is the kitchen... letting it slide for even a day makes a mess, and a one day mess will bring on "an episode"-- clustered days where it stays a mess. Sometimes the laundry takes a lot longer than it should. Sometimes I don't vacuum for a few weeks.. It all gets done eventually. I don't sweat it though. Sometimes dh does.

I read through this thread the other day quickly, but it gave me the inspiration to go through my oldest ds's dresser drawers and take out the clothes that don't fit and the Summer clothing! So thank- you!!! Also it makes it easier for dh if he is dressing the kids as he doesn't know what fits and what doesn't??!! I have come home to my oldest boy wearing pants that look like capri's either b/c they are too small or he is actually wearing his little brother's pants.....lol!!!

Our house gets very cluttered with papers, so I try to make sure that the breakfast bar gets cleaned off everyday!! I get very overwhelmed when things are cluttered and out of place!! So I try to keep things tidy that way!!

One area of my home that seems to always be cluttered and messy is the office/computer room. I need to sort through the paper weekly to keep it under control. It doesn't help that there are dirty antiques filling every shelf and cabinet. I have learned to deal with it.. its dh's work area so I can't expect it to look neat all the time.

Both my dh and I grew up in homes what my Dad affectionately calls 'mom's piles' in the kitchen where she has papers and my dh grew up with the same kind of thing, he did a lot of the housework growing up when his mom was unable to. So I guess we have just been used to putting things away. I like to keep the house tidy - like putting things away before bed, but I am not always strict if everything isn't clean. I vacuum and clean the bathroom every week, mop every other week and otherwise do windows and dusting (ugh!) every other week too (or when it builds up!). I don't get stressed out too much if everything isn't totally perfect when people come over, sometimes our house looks like a bomb hit it if we don't keep track of things!

Well Saturday I started in one end of the house and worked my way through! I keep certain things done all the time, but I really needed to do some deep cleaning *to borrow Tara's term, purging the junk!*. So, with my husband out building a deck and Cash asleep for a solid 3 hour nap, I took advantage. I started in the master bath and went through all those drawers full of "stuff". (you know the ones with half empty nail polish, lotion and makeup??? Yep, threw it ALL away!) You can actually see the first aid box now and be able to get to it amongst everything else!!! LOL!

Actually, I literally got the entire house dusted, vaccuumed and picked up in a little over 3 hours, but when I was done, I was WORN OUT!

kewl. Those counters I was telling you about the other day, Katie, well, while Brian and Gabe were gone yesterday, I managed to get them cleaned off. and managed to get the living room picked up.

Brian and I (and my mom?!?) have decided that it would be best if each boy had a crate (not the fancy ones, just some old plastic milk crates that I was given when I worked in a conveinence store, LOL) and that would be ALL that they could have out. So I will be pairing their things down today.

and I thin flylady is in the kitchen, so that's where the bulk of my cleaning will be.

Hey I have not read all reply as I am quickly trying to catch up on what I have missed. My home is always chaos but now I do things bit by bit and if it is a tad untidy then it is not the end of the world.

When I was having hte ktichen done I went insane LOL