"Finish" might work for SAHP's, or working parents on the weekends, but it doesn't work well during the week for people who work FT. I can't do 1-2 loads of laundry and "finish" within the cycle times on a weekday. I have to start a load in the morning, switch it to the dryer when I get home (and start another load), and fold it and put it away after the kids are in bed (and put wet load in the dryer). The next morning, put wet load in the dyer, start a new wash. After work, put wet load in dryer and dry load in hamper. After kids in bed, fold both dry loads. I might be able to finish all of the family's laundry for the week if I stayed home all day Saturday to do it, but that's unreasonable.

Dishwasher runs for at least 45 minutes. I can start it in the morning, but have to unload when I get home. I can start it at night, but have to unload the next morning.

I walk in the house with the mail at 6:00, try to have dinner on the table by 6:30. Sorting the mail and "finishing" it (paying bills, responding to RSVP's, filing coupons, etc.) in that time doesn't work. I do immediately throw away all junk, though.

I try the one-touch rule and to "finish" as much as possible, and it does help to some degree, but for the big things that take time, it's really hard for working parents. Just a vent. It would be nice, and helpful, I'm sure. It's just so hard when you don't have long stretches of time to get things down without sacrificing something else (like dinner, or playtime with kids).

Housework is so much harder when you're home all day. I stayed home for 3 years when my first was born, and I felt like I was constantly cleaning up. Turns out it was because someone was walking around behind me undoing all of it.

Now that I work full time, I find that the house looks exactly how I left it. I wake up earlier than everyone else, so that's the time I spend doing the last-minute tidying. (Clean out papers from backpacks, load the last few things in the dishwasher, put away the shoes that have started to accumulate near the front door).

Also, a one year old can help clean up toys- my 18 month old sings CLEAN UP TOYS at the top of her voice and dumps everything into the toy box. Make sure your child has an easily accessible place to put stuff, and start making him clean up.

Argh "peace" of mind...

Anonymous wrote:Whoa what service scans and emails your mail and how much does it cost????

The service I use is called Travelling Mailbox. I think it's like $15/mo. They have a few different plans. Let me tell you this thing is a game changer for me. We are military and we move a lot, and this service has brought me so much piece of mind because I never have to change my address again. It's a minor hassle to set up (you have to fill out a form authorizing them to accept your mail), and then you have to update your new mailing address with your banks, credit cards etc, but after the initial set up, it's phenomenal. I login to my personal inbox and all my mail is scanned and waiting for me. It can be saved as a PDF directly to your computer, mailed to you if you need a hard copy of something, shredded-whatever. They even deposit checks to your bank for you for a fee (which I happily pay bc I'm a landlord). I absolutely love it.

Whoa what service scans and emails your mail and how much does it cost????

Anonymous wrote:Wow, yah - that 1-touch rule makes a lot of sense. I went to the link thinking, "This is probably so stupid" ...but no. Totally makes sense. Thanks so whoever posted it (Sitting here at our dining table, staring at my son's Legos, son's artwork from yesterday, my purse, and my husband's jacket on chairs...)

Person who posted those links here - you're welcome! May we all have clean and tidy houses soon!

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Wahoo! Boxes broken down and sent away with the trash. Donations dropped off. Didn't get to do returns bc baby was a fusspot, but I lined up a sitter for him for a few hours Monday. Whoever posted those two links...thanks! I'd heard of one-touch rule before (on DCUM) but I hadn't heard of the second thing... "Finish". (I won't explain it, but it was an interesting little read.).

That's awesome, OP! Glad this thread has helped you.

Wow, yah - that 1-touch rule makes a lot of sense. I went to the link thinking, "This is probably so stupid" ...but no. Totally makes sense. Thanks so whoever posted it (Sitting here at our dining table, staring at my son's Legos, son's artwork from yesterday, my purse, and my husband's jacket on chairs...)

Op here. Wahoo! Boxes broken down and sent away with the trash. Donations dropped off. Didn't get to do returns bc baby was a fusspot, but I lined up a sitter for him for a few hours Monday. Whoever posted those two links...thanks! I'd heard of one-touch rule before (on DCUM) but I hadn't heard of the second thing... "Finish". (I won't explain it, but it was an interesting little read.).

Get organized. Put things away when you are finished using the,m e.g., Christmas tree should hace been put away the same day you took it down. Clean up kitchen as you go along after every meal not one a day. Make bed as soon as you get up early in AM.

I have two teen boys. They create a ton of mess. I wish I had a mud room and a second office.

I recently read two blog posts that seem so simple yet have been SO effective.

First advice: One-touch rule. http://mothersniche.com/keeping-a-clean-house-the-1-touch-rule/

Second piece of advice: Finish. http://www.doublethebatch.com/1-rule-for-keeping-your-house-clean-and-orderly/

I laughed a little when I read the posts, but they really have helped keep my house a little cleaner!

I

From your OP, it sounds like buying less stuff would really help. What about trying a "buy nothing" month.

Why do you need to vacuum all day? Do you have multiple pets?

Anonymous wrote:My motto from day 1 was everything has a place and every place has a thing.

The way you all keep house is shocking. Sounds like hoarder houses. And like some hoarders, laziness wins.

Don't be lazy.

7 minutes per room per day will get your house in order. You just have to want to do it. The problem is, you don't want.

It's not that hard. Oh and unplug your devices. You will get more done. Chores before play.

Ha. Married, stay at home with help?