Any working mom NOT have a housecleaner?

[Anonymous]

I might spring for one if I thought it would help. The main problems we have are laundry and clutter, and a cleaning lady wouldn't solve that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I might spring for one if I thought it would help. The main problems we have are laundry and clutter, and a cleaning lady wouldn't solve that.

This is us, too.

Before DC, we used to clean on Thursday evenings so that we had all weekend to enjoy a neat home. We need to get back to that schedule. DC is five and things are getting easier. We even started recycling again. I know, that's bad but it was sink or swim for a while and we cut corners on everything so that we could survive with both of us working full time.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Laundry is the ONE thing I have somewhat under control. I put a load into the washer at night and the dryer in the morning. When I get home, I either fold quickly or dump it on the guestbed and get to it within a day or two. If someone needs an item, I direct them there. Kids put away their own clothes--no exceptions.

It's not perfect, but it pretty much works.

[Anonymous]

I don't have one. I just try to do something every day - I identify an area that gives the most heart palpitations and attack it. My rule is - if it takes less than 5 minutes, just do it. I often will set a timer and I'll be surprised what I can get accomplished in only 5 minutes. My main concern are kitchen and bathrooms. But overall, I've lowered my standards to keep my sanity intact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Laundry is the ONE thing I have somewhat under control. I put a load into the washer at night and the dryer in the morning. When I get home, I either fold quickly or dump it on the guestbed and get to it within a day or two. If someone needs an item, I direct them there. Kids put away their own clothes--no exceptions.

It's not perfect, but it pretty much works.

Oh yeah, laundry can be a killer.

Make sure everyone knows that dirty clothes go directly to a hamper... even my 3YO has this down pat, b/c we have dogs that will eat dirty clothes otherwise!
DH does 90% of the laundry... god bless him.
Everyone (except for 3YO) is 100% responsible for putting away their own laundry. DH and I have minimized the number of items which need folding... mostly we have a bunch of bins (one of those closetmaid systems) and stuff gets thrown in the bin. Nobody cares if DH's undershirt is wrinkly. DH and I each have ONE KIND of white athletic-type sock... so they just get thrown in a basket. You can always pull out two (dress socks are a different story, but again we tend to buy in multiples).
DH and I often go to the level of "I will sort through this hamper and pull out my stuff AND LEAVE YOURS IN THE BASKET SUCKER We split the towels/rags/DD stuff duty fairly evenly.

I love my washer that has a timer function - I think I can preset it up to 18 hours ahead and tell it how many hours to wait before starting. So I can throw a load in, in the evening right before DD's bath, and let it run the next day while we're all at work. Put it in the dryer when we get home. This means no stinky loads that have been sitting for 24 hours (FL) and I don't procrastinate starting it due to hot water issues.

[Anonymous]

Honey, up until a few years ago, I didn't even have a dishwasher.

When ds was little, we would spend part of a day cleaning a few times a week to the length of a CD. That's it. No more, no less.

Now that he's older, there's a chore chart for both of us (it's just us) with tasks broken down by day. We did this after we both got sick of the fighting and exhasting drama and no-fun of saving everything for Saturday.

And then honestly, I just let go of caring about the house being spotless and perfect. I'll take uncluttered and relatively hygienic.

[Anonymous]

I'm a single mom with one child and we do not have a house-cleaner. I am super efficient at using tiny pockets of time for doing little things. Like I'll unload the dishwasher while dinner is on the stove or in the microwave. I do laundry whenever I have enough for a load or two, but save the clean laundry in a basket. I fold laundry right outside the open bathroom door while my 5-year-old is in the bathtub and put the clothes away while she's getting into her pajamas and brushing her teeth. With everything else, I clean when it looks like it needs cleaning. If I see debris on the floor, I vacuum. If the bathroom doesn't look clean, I clean. (I'll do the sink and the toilet while daughter is in bathtub, or sweep the floor.) I'll clean kitchen counters while making dinner. I dust if I notice dust. I don't make beds daily, but I do change sheets weekly. I deep clean when I can, on weekends, and do yardwork then too.

[Anonymous]

No, can't afford one, but I am so envious of those who can!

Even if we could afford one, DH wouldn't allow it. He refuses to pay for things he can do himself, and while he does clean (vacuums twice a week, does the dishes every night, starts the kids laundry - through I fold and put away) we can't get to the dusting, bathrooms and floors as much as we would like.