SAHMs: do you feel like you're always cleaning your kitchen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a family of four - one in ES, the other in MS - and we run the dishwasher once a week.

Unless your toddler is the size of Honey Boo Boo's mom, I don't understand your situation.

I am being honest here.

Once a week is not the norm. Your honesty is rude and bitchy. Might want to work on your delivery.

It's the truth. I don't feel the need to work on my delivery.

You posters either 1) eat all the time (And having returned from a cruise, nothing surprises me any longer.) or 2) never wash a dish by hand.

If my kids eat lunch on the weekend at different times, each one will wash his/her plates, utensils, cups, etc.

same for us - Husband and I wash dishes by hand on many nights.

2 times a day running the dishwasher?
wow

[/quote

Um...so you don't use the dishwasher most of the time, so you don't need to run it. If you didn't you'd need to run it once a day like the rest of us...

I can't believe you used that as a basis for accusing people of obesity. Hilarious!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a family of four - one in ES, the other in MS - and we run the dishwasher once a week.

Unless your toddler is the size of Honey Boo Boo's mom, I don't understand your situation.

I am being honest here.

Once a week is not the norm. Your honesty is rude and bitchy. Might want to work on your delivery.

It's the truth. I don't feel the need to work on my delivery.

You posters either 1) eat all the time (And having returned from a cruise, nothing surprises me any longer.) or 2) never wash a dish by hand.

If my kids eat lunch on the weekend at different times, each one will wash his/her plates, utensils, cups, etc.

same for us - Husband and I wash dishes by hand on many nights.

2 times a day running the dishwasher?
wow

Bad for the environment and not sanitary. Dishwasher for lyfe!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a family of four - one in ES, the other in MS - and we run the dishwasher once a week.

Unless your toddler is the size of Honey Boo Boo's mom, I don't understand your situation.

I am being honest here.

With the age of your children, I would expect your kitchen to be clean. They are in school all day and old enough to help clean. That is not at all comparable to having toddlers.

The elementary and middle school kids are likely on different schedule. Mom gets up, packs lunches. The first kid wakes up, mom makes breakfast and gets them out the door to school. An hour or so later the second kid then wakes up, mom makes that kid breakfast and gets them out the door to school. Mid day, mom makes her own lunch and then goes out grocery shopping. She comes home, puts the groceries away. Soon one of the kids returns from school and wants an afternoon snack. An hour or so later, the second kid comes home and wants a snack. A few hours later, it's time to cook dinner.....then everyone wants a bowl of ice cream for dessert. It's a constant steady stream of traffic in and out of the kitchen....even if they are getting food for themselves they often leave little messes behind. Splatter in the microwave, crumbs on the breakfast bar, a jar of peanut butter left out...

[Anonymous]

WOHM whose husband does his fair share of cooking and whose kids are supposed (*key word) to put their own dishes in the dishwasher and still yes-- every time I walk through the kitchen, I have to load a sink full of dishes, wipe down counters and sweep the floor. Ugghh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a family of four - one in ES, the other in MS - and we run the dishwasher once a week.

Unless your toddler is the size of Honey Boo Boo's mom, I don't understand your situation.

I am being honest here.

Once a week is not the norm. Your honesty is rude and bitchy. Might want to work on your delivery.

It's the truth. I don't feel the need to work on my delivery.

You posters either 1) eat all the time (And having returned from a cruise, nothing surprises me any longer.) or 2) never wash a dish by hand.

If my kids eat lunch on the weekend at different times, each one will wash his/her plates, utensils, cups, etc.

same for us - Husband and I wash dishes by hand on many nights.

2 times a day running the dishwasher?
wow

[/quote

Um...so you don't use the dishwasher most of the time, so you don't need to run it. If you didn't you'd need to run it once a day like the rest of us...

I can't believe you used that as a basis for accusing people of obesity. Hilarious!

PP is completely ridiculous. "What is wrong with all you fatsos who use your dishwasher all the time! We rarely use our dishwasher! We just waste more water by washing everything separately by hand! Isn't that what normal people do?!"

I'm a WOHM and I run my dishwasher at least once a day, sometimes twice (that happens maybe once a week). But my dishwasher is TERRIBLE in terms of space. Whoever designed this thing should be shot. It holds two thirds of what a normal dishwasher should.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a SAHM of a toddler. I feel like my kitchen is constantly in use (3 meals a day plus snacks) and that I'm constantly cleaning it. I run the dishwasher twice a day. Normally I tidy up a little after breakfast and then do a better clean after lunch so everything is neat and tidy before dinner. Then I have to clean up after dinner too. Besides all that cleaning up and loading the dishwasher, there is the issue of the floor. Crumbs everywhere and tons of food on the floor (my toddler no longer throws food, but somehow it still seems to get everywhere).

I am spending at least an hour total per day cleaning the kitchen and dishes. I feel like this is a lot of wasted time. It doesn't even take into account the amount of time I have to spend grocery shopping and cooking. I feel like it's so much easier to eat out, but we only eat out about 2-3 times per week.

What is your kitchen cleaning routine if you SAH? I feel like I am constantly being weighed down by the mess.

You only eat out that often. That is a lot. I am not saying it's bad, but I have to wonder if ypu are a bit spoiled if running the dishwasher seems so hard.

And yes, you have to spend time cleaning up after meals. It comes with the territory. If you feel it is too much, do the bare minimum until after dinner. And the do one good clean a day. Reuse cups. Do a quick hand wash of plates.

[Anonymous]

Where did OP say she found running the dish washer hard? If you're going to be nasty, at least pick on something she actually said...

You're doing fine, OP. Lots of us are in the same boat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We don't use paper plates but do use plastic cups. That has helped a lot.

It's also the crumbs/food on the floor that seems to get everywhere--and even gets in other rooms a bit. It's hard to keep up with all the crumbs.

I just find the housekeeping part of being a SAHM very challenging. Also, my toddler no longer naps so I don't have much time during the day to clean. We're out all morning in between breakfast and lunch and then I have one hour during "quiet time" when I usually just rest. I do most of my cleaning after dinner but by then I'm really tired.

Get a dog! Seriously. My dog keeps my floors crumb-free!

This is literally the one appealing thing about dogs. I don't have one because I don't have time for it (I'm a single wohm). But a living vacuum cleaner would be amazing.

Yep. We have a very small dog, but no crumb goes unconsumed. When he hears me rattling pots and pans, he comes running and sits at my feet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. I hate it. It's a never ending struggle. I have no answers.

+1 Although we only run the dishwasher once a day. There is a lot to handwash after dinner though.

[Anonymous]

No, I quit cleaning it. I'm a clean freak, too, but just got sick of it. I leave the dishes in a large sink so you can't see them and get to them once/day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, I quit cleaning it. I'm a clean freak, too, but just got sick of it. I leave the dishes in a large sink so you can't see them and get to them once/day.

I couldn't do that although I see how it would be tempting! But - ants. Ugh. The fear of having ants in my kitchen makes it impossible for me to leave a dirty dish in the sink or even sitting in the dishwasher. Once you have ants in your kitchen you'll never get rid of them and they are so gross...

[Anonymous]

OP, if you're running the dishwasher twice a day with just one toddler you're either using way too many dishes or not filling it properly. With three kids and no attempts at limiting the number of dishes we use, we run it once per day.

[Anonymous]

I was running it twice a day too. Then, I switched to paper plates. I feel you. Some people have a harder time, and I'm in your club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you're running the dishwasher twice a day with just one toddler you're either using way too many dishes or not filling it properly. With three kids and no attempts at limiting the number of dishes we use, we run it once per day.

+1 Also with 3 kids and run dishwasher 1x/day or every other day.

And it doesn't hurt to quick rinse plates with hot water especially if it's just crumbs.

I've also been known to use a paper towel as a make shift plate and then use that paper towel to wipe down the table or clean up a,spill on the floor, counter etc when the meal (breakfast or lunch since theyre the least messy) is over.

[Anonymous]

http://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/i-feel-sorry-for-people-who-dont-have-dogs-i-hear-they-have-to-pick-up-their-own-food-if-they-drop-it-on-the-floor-e5292.png

Just kidding! It's true, but don't get a dog for only that reason.