Why is there SO much housework wtf?

[Anonymous]

We are a mess too. A total mess. I think we have everything on your lists on our lists. A toddler, infant and no help. It is tough.

I realized if we don't break down boxes as they come in they turn into a massive pile. I started keeping them next to the door and the goal is to break them down as I open them or later that day.

[Anonymous]

Yes, the one touch policy is genius. My mother was committed as hell to that and raised me that way.... and yet... I have laundry in a basket to be put away (WHY do I hate to put clothing in a bureau so much? Seriously, I'll sort, wash, dry, fold, put in basket, even TAKE IT UPSTAIRS and then.... it sits. But not this week, this week I put it away before going to bed. Just did it. Hated doing it, but did it anyway. (of course, the empty basket is still in the 2nd floor hallway waiting to go downstairs, but hey, you didn't just read that!)

But I'm going to renew my vigor (and my mother's good training) to do the one touch. Because I hear you, getting a project done but not taking it to the basement with "I don't even know what" kills ya!

[Anonymous]

Also, by the way, where is that Brownie elf we heard so much about as Girl Scouts/Brownies?

I so want a putting away and cleaning elf.

Good to hear that we're not the only home that has stuff on our dining room table!

[Anonymous]

I hear you OP, and I don't have a magic solution, but we did buy a robot vacuum (the Neato) and it's a timesaver for sure. I can only run it during nap time bc DS tends to harass it, but it's great. I'm always a little horrified when I dump out the dust bin but it's clearly doing the job!

[Anonymous]

Sorry what is one touch? Example?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I try to combat this with less stuff and breaking down boxes as soon as they arrive. Get one touch policy is good too.
Mail gets picked up every day and sorted and tossed. Important stuff gets opened right away. I find that a little at a time saves a big insurmountable pile of cleaning. And yes I do have two baskets of clean fall laundry that should be put away still but trying to keep my head above water with other stuff leaves them there. I feel you OP!

Truth.

I'm bad about letting mail pile up but only b/c I hate lugging the shredder out. But I have a box that is out of sight for it.

I also have a cleaner 2x a month which helps motivate me to pick up before her arrival.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry what is one touch? Example?

If you bring in sports equipment from the car, you don't set it down in the entry way (which would mean you'd have to touch it twice). You take it to the basement or wherever you store sports equipment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry what is one touch? Example?

If you bring in sports equipment from the car, you don't set it down in the entry way (which would mean you'd have to touch it twice). You take it to the basement or wherever you store sports equipment.

Ah - how does it work w laundry? And how do I teach my DH?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry what is one touch? Example?

If you bring in sports equipment from the car, you don't set it down in the entry way (which would mean you'd have to touch it twice). You take it to the basement or wherever you store sports equipment.

Ah - how does it work w laundry? And how do I teach my DH?

Laundry- as soon as the dryer dings, you stop, fold and then bring the clean laundry upstairs and put it away. Don't let the basket sit and wrinkle.

DH is very, very used to my organized ways. We packed up all the Christmas stuff to go in the walk out 2nd floor attic. Every time he goes upstairs he knows to carry a box up (I'm pregnant and can't carry).

Another big thing is once you use a plate or a bowl, it goes directly into the dishwasher. No pit stops in the sink or on the counter. Why make someone else put it in the dishwasher for you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry what is one touch? Example?

If you bring in sports equipment from the car, you don't set it down in the entry way (which would mean you'd have to touch it twice). You take it to the basement or wherever you store sports equipment.

Ah - how does it work w laundry? And how do I teach my DH?

Laundry- as soon as the dryer dings, you stop, fold and then bring the clean laundry upstairs and put it away. Don't let the basket sit and wrinkle.

DH is very, very used to my organized ways. We packed up all the Christmas stuff to go in the walk out 2nd floor attic. Every time he goes upstairs he knows to carry a box up (I'm pregnant and can't carry).

Another big thing is once you use a plate or a bowl, it goes directly into the dishwasher. No pit stops in the sink or on the counter. Why make someone else put it in the dishwasher for you?

Thanks - I will try this explanation with DH. does it lead to never doing laundry?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry what is one touch? Example?

If you bring in sports equipment from the car, you don't set it down in the entry way (which would mean you'd have to touch it twice). You take it to the basement or wherever you store sports equipment.

Ah - how does it work w laundry? And how do I teach my DH?

Laundry- as soon as the dryer dings, you stop, fold and then bring the clean laundry upstairs and put it away. Don't let the basket sit and wrinkle.

DH is very, very used to my organized ways. We packed up all the Christmas stuff to go in the walk out 2nd floor attic. Every time he goes upstairs he knows to carry a box up (I'm pregnant and can't carry).

Another big thing is once you use a plate or a bowl, it goes directly into the dishwasher. No pit stops in the sink or on the counter. Why make someone else put it in the dishwasher for you?

Thanks - I will try this explanation with DH. does it lead to never doing laundry?

Another PP here. This leads to doing laundry more often but in smaller batches. My husband is great at this. He does launder all his stuff together on cold and folds and puts away as soon as it's done. So he will do it on a day when he knows he will have 10 min free after the dryer is finished. He does leave the ironing for another day but that's done at least weekly so he has enough shirts.
I'm bad at this because I have more clothes so I'm not compelled to do mine as often. We do practice this for sheets and towels. I don't put a different set of sheets on while one set it washing, that way I have to put the clean set on as soon as it's done.
It takes training but even if you implement it on some specific items/processes it really help!

[Anonymous]

Are you a SAHM? If not, staff up! We hired a housekeeper who comes once a week and it changed our lives. She won't sort through your mail, but she will handle the bathrooms.

[Anonymous]

I am totally obsessive about getting rid of stuff I don't need as soon as possible- boxes immediately go out the door to recycling, donations out the door asap, we have recycling basket near the door and as soon as I see mail I start dropping it in recycling if it is not a bill. But still it is a lot of work! The robot vacuum also helps. I don't bother with making beds and don't usually clean up toys in the play room and I don't wipe down the master bath as much as it seems you do

[Anonymous]

Get rid of things/do a massive purge of stuff. The less stuff you have, the less cleaning there is to do. The rule I have heard is: get rid of anything that 1) you don't use regularly and/or 2) is not of sentimental value/importance to you. So, for instance, if you have a vase that someone gave you as a gift but you have never displayed/used it because it is not your taste, get rid of it; if you have a drawer full of kitchen implements that you never ever use, get rid of them. And so on...the purging process does take time in itself but it is so worth it in the end. After you have purged, set up systems for not letting yourself accumulate unnecessary stuff again.

Some good systems for not accumulating stuff:
1) have a place to put the mail...a dedicated tray or file folder or whatever that you put the mail in every single day and you have to sort through this tray/file folder at least once a week and get rid of all mail you don't absolutely need to keep
2) have a 1 in, 1 out rule for kids' stuff. If your kid gets a new toy, book, article of clothing, you must find an old toy, book, article of clothing to get rid of (add to your giveaway box, throw out if not in good enough condition to give away, or keep in your stuff to keep box)
3) related to #2, have a dedicated giveaway box or bag that you keep in a closet or somewhere out of sight but that is always there to add things that need to be donated to a charity or given to a friend.
4) also related to #2, have a dedicated box or bin in a closet or attic or storage area for items you want to keep, which could include sentimental items you are not ready to part with yet/want to save for the next kid/will use again one day but don't need right now (such as maternity clothing)
5) same idea as the mail system above but for any packages or gifts you receive: decide right away when you receive it if you are going to keep it, return it or give it away. If you are going to keep it/use it, then take it out of its packaging, set it up/put batteries in it, etc. immediately and start using it and get rid of the packaging. If you are going to return it, put the receipt with the package and put it in the trunk of your car right away so you can stop by UPS or FedEx or whatever when you are out. If you are going to give it away, put it in the giveaway box. Don't hang on to packages! I order so much stuff online that I'd go absolutely crazy if I didn't deal with it right away. If you put it aside when you first receive it, you will likely not deal with it for a long time and it will start to drive you mad.

[Anonymous]

In the time it took you to post/read/reply here, you could have made a huge dent in that list!