How does a full time mommy, student and wife keep the house clean?

Question

Well I am taking 15 credits and have a 3 month old and a husband and also work a 12 hour shift every other week. My house is a mess, I always do the dishes and clean the counters and do laundry but before you know it my house looks awfull. when my son is a sleep I am doing homework . if you have a clean house what is your secret? or is it really worth it to stress about it too much???

Answer 1

You've already gotten some great ideas on breaking down the cleaning into small steps, delegating to your husband, etc.  

Let me just add my 2 cents--what you are doing with your time is so much more important than keeping your house nice.  Try to feel proud of what you're accomplishing, and have faith that it will get easier.

Answer 2

i am in the same boat as you. I actually started cleaning at 9 am and finished at 3:30 this afternoon before work at 4. while cooking lunch and dinner for brother in-law, 18 month old son and fiancee. I work about 25-30 hrs per week and am in nursing school. I find that I clean EVERY day! If i let  a day or two go by without cleaning then my house is a disaster area!. doing one room at a time really helps. turn onthe music and let your son help, mine loves it!

Answer 3

I'm a single parent...I work a full time job and raise my daughter.  She goes to her daddy's house on Wednesday nights.  So I clean then.  

Seems to be a wreck by bedtime the next night.  I try hard.  But you know what...it isn't 'dirty' or 'germy' or 'unsafe'...it just gets cluttered.  And you know what...that's okay.  My place looks lived in.  Would I like it if our home was a bit tidier?  Well, sure...and if someone would like to send a maid by once a week, I'll open the door and invite them in.  But in the meantime, I'll keep things as picked up as I can and you can reach me in my daughter's room playing with my sweetie who will only be this age once ;) I'm not going to miss it just to pick up socks!!

Good luck to you...full plate.  Remember to take care of yourself too, please!!  If you don't take care of yourself then you'll suffer in your ability to care for those you love.

Answer 4

You may have to rethink your idea of a clean house.  No woman's tombstone said "She kept a clean house".

What is most important is spending time with your husband and child.  It sounds to me like you are doing great by keeping the dishes and laundry caught up.  So what if you don't vacuum everyday or dust.  I am of the attitude, if people don't like what they see when they come in my house, they can leave.  When you get through school and get your degree and your wonderful, high paying job, you will be able to afford a cleaning lady and then it won't be a problem!  =)

Answer 5

My wife did this for the first 8 months of your child life then she graduated.  I was working two jobs about 50-60 hours a week and i just had to step up and help out a lot more.  Plain and simple.  The nights she did not go to school as she went to bed at 10:00 we would team up and do two rooms cleaning vacuum etc.  The next time to different rooms. Rooms A & B were a mess but we cleaned rooms C & D   that way no one room got all messy or one stayed to clean.

  I did and do make three or four meals on Sunday.  Pasta, Shepperd's pie, meatloaf you get the picture so we could just heat and heat during the week.

The hole house was never clean at the same time and you have to learn that is ok especially in a few months when he is moving around then it will really be messy  

Answer 6

get a cleaning lady!

Answer 7

Don't stress about it too much.  

Try to create new habits in the adults, though.  Everyone picks up after themselves.  Everything gets put away when it's finished being used.  No matter how tired you are.  Only exception is if the baby needs you right away, but, even then, try to get back to it when you can.

And, don't worry about things being a little messy.  You can always buckle down & do a big clean every once in a while (especially if you're expecting company).    

Answer 8

I'm right with you.  I found a site yesterday from a blogger and I'm trying it.  I started today.  It's a system that takes small steps.  The house didn't get dirty in a day, and won't get clean in a day, but it's a start.  I work 18 hour days, 2 jobs, so I can relate to your plight.  The website is www.flylady.net.  It's entertaining to read, too, and she doesn't make you feel bad about your mess.  I think we feel bad enough.  :(

Answer 9

honestly my cares go my daughter, husband, school, then clean house..so i think it is not that serious to keep the house clean..i mean it is nice to have a clean house but i think you should focus on your family and getting good grades..maybe on the days you do not have classes or my husband helps me out a lot if that is an option..so does my mom..she comes over and either helps with my daughter while i clean or cleans for me..but in my opinion if you can not figure something out..just be a mommy and a good school ...person lol hope this helps

Answer 10

You should not stress over the house work.  What is important is that you accomplish the things that matter to you.  I assume you are in school to provide a better life for you and your family.  Good for you!  Your family takes top priority.  When your little one is up from nap, maybe you both can "clean" house.  It may not be spottless but at least you can pick the toys up.  Just make it fun for both of you.  Turn on the music and dance while picking things up and turn it into a race.  That's the only way my floor ever gets cleared of the kiddie stuff.  But most important Mom, don't forget to take some time for you!  Forget school work, hubby and child for just 30 minutes or so from time to time.  I know it hard.  We all struggle, but you will be such a better mom and wife for it.

Answer 11

A few suggestions:

-Be sure to split household work fairly between yourself and your husband.

-Spread your chores out over 7 days.  Example: Scrub the bathroom clean on Monday, Mop the floors on Tuesday, Laundry on Wednesday, etc. Obviously there are things that will need to be done every day, such as dishes, but only do one big job per day.

-Don't be afraid to ask for help from family/friends. Either help with the chores, or perhaps someone could babysit your son for an hour or two while you clean.

-Don't stress.  My kids are now 5 & 7 and the only thing I remember from when they were babies and toddlers are THEM. Not how dirty my house was, or how far behind I sometimes fell on laundry duty...just them and their cute ways. Concentrate on your baby, husband and school...everything else will fall into place. I promise.

Answer 12

If your husband only works 12 hours every other week, tell him to pitch in. Its his house and baby too and he needs to help you, especially since it sounds like you are taking on a lot more than he is.

Answer 13

Split up the chores between you and your husband.  What my husband and I do is we have one specific day ours is Thursday night and we clean the house really good so on the weekend we don't have to do anything.  I also only do laundry on thursdays and mondays.  

Answer 14

Learn to let go of the small things and don't stress over it too much. Some things can slide for a few days. Does the TV screen really need to be cleaned right now, can dusting wait another day or two? Find solutions to cut back on the housework such as a drop-in for the toilet bowl, a scrubbing bubbles shower cleaner, and maybe even paper plates to cut back on dishes. Set aside 15-20 minutes a day to pick up just one room. This way it isn't a big overwhelming job that is going to take a lot of time away from your family and school work.

Also, have an honest discussion with your husband about needing help with the house. You have a lot on your plate right now, and you can't do it all yourself. Good luck!

Answer 15

The trick is upkeep rather than waiting to do it all in one day.  The big thing is usually the dishes, but as long as you make sure to rinse everything really well before dropping them in the sink, even that task seems like a breeze when you get to it.  Getting in the habit of putting things exactly where they go when you're done with them is the key.  I know it seems easy, but with a young one in the house, it's also easy randomly lose a bottle, or even find a stray diaper lying around.  Also, designating a particular day for each household chore helps throughout the week if you really don't have the time to do everything with a white glove everyday, e.g. Monday - Vacuum, Tuesday - Dishes, Wednesday - Laundry, etc., then use the weekends to help catch up.  At that rate, even just an hour on Saturday and Sunday should keep everything pretty presentable!

I work 30 hours a week, 14 credits this quarter, 8 month old daughter romaround the house now, a husband who's a gamer, so he spends all his time at work or on the PC, so pretty much everything is my responsibility in the house.  But I kind of like it that way anyway, I've got my groove, and I can keep things up efficiently as long as he stays out of my way ;)  I'll just give him a ring when the trash needs taken out ;)

Answer 16

she makes her husband clean and guilts him when he doesn't wanna do it.

Answer 17

Magic. No I'm just kidding, I am going to be a student and have two kids with another on the way. I think it's easiest to straighten up whenever you can, but before you go to bed when your baby is sleeping make sure te house is clean. If your husband is at home at night see if he can help you out. I hate waking up to a dirty house, so I make sure that I clean it before I go to bed.  

Answer 18

Do only what you can.  try to keep the toilet area clean.  That is semi public room.  

Keep the baby area clean.  That is important.  If you only get your sheets changed every two weeks so be it. A baby about doubles your laundry.  Never knew they could use that many spit rags did you?  

At your sons age people are coming to see him not your house.  keep the living vacuumed in the areas he is at. throw a sheet or dust cover on the couch and make sure your cups are clean.  

Do what you can, when you can.  Do the big things that will stay done for it first  and work away at the small stuff.  It will always be there. Your son will grow up.  Do you want him to remember a mom who was a housework whiz but never had time for him or one who could drop what she was doing to go play for a while.

She works the 12 hours not her husband. He probably works full time.

Answer 19

Dont worry so much you will get in the grove of things. Learn there is a difference in dirty and cluttered. Its gonna happen. Get the more important things done first, like spending time with your new baby and husband and your home work. Then worry about the socks on the floor. As long as things are gross and dirty then its ok. You dont have to be perfect you have alot on your plate already. Good luck hon

Answer 20

Ask your husband to help out a bit. Let him know  you are a little stressed out and feel that you need a little more support from hin

Answer 21

I'm a full time student at the master degree and I am on maternity leave, pregnant with first. I usually worked up to 38h per week and even without a child I used to find cleaning and organizing the home quite difficult. My boyfriend helped a lot -you should leave some chores up to your husband too.

I also try to do a little every day, so it doesn't get a big mess. But I wonder how having a baby is going to affect this aspect of my life, and this is why I'm gonna star this question.

Good luck and congrats for both the baby and the studies;)

Answer 22

Something that I am trying right now (Because I am 33 weeks and a student and a wife of a busy husband) is one room a day. I get up in the morning and clean one room a day and then it does make a difference.