I desperately need help, you might think its strange,I`m struggling to keep my home clean and tidy?

Question

I just can`t seem to keep on top of everything, i currently have 8 bags of ironing, 2 wet bags to dry, the house is a tip, all the floor is grubby and the bedrooms are just piled up with toys and clothes. I am on my own with 2 kids and cannot seem to cope, do you know a website that teaches you to be a competent home maker, how did they manage years ago with loads of kids. my mother lived with me and used to help a lot but she died last year, I just need some advice please?

Answer 1

I'm not much of a housekeeper myself, and only had one child, so I can't help you a whole lot.  I do have an observation to make, though.  You ask how people used to manage with loads of kids.  People didn't have so much STUFF back then.  Life was much simpler.  Kids were expected to help in the house and outside.  Mom wasn't expected to keep everything going by herself.  If your kids are more than 4 years old, they can be helpful.  In the beginning it might be more work to teach them than to do it all yourself, but you have to teach them how to pick up their own toys and clothes, clear the dishes from the table, set the table, dust furniture, etc.  Anything that doesn't take a lot of strength and is fairly simple.  

Eight bags of ironing?  I haven't done any ironing in years.  I don't even know where my iron is - maybe I gave it away.  Permanent press clothes are wonderful.  

Ease up on your standards.  As long as the dirt isn't tracking OUT of your house, don't sweat the small stuff.      

Answer 2

I am sorry to say I am the same at times I have 3 children  i wish if i had little elves to help me  

Answer 3

the only way to do it is to make a list, make a list of everything that needs doing and then write when you plan to do each job, Stick to this list 100% even if it means getting up abit earlier or going to bed a bit later, its hard for everyone nowadays to find the time to fit all the jobs in but just think 'if i set my alarm 15 mins early i will have enough time to wash up before i go out' and keep on top of it that way, also how old are your children? surely they are old enough to run a mop around or to hoover or even dry up? You're doing a great job you just need to be a little more organised!  

Answer 4

This is a very simple and effective way to stay on top on the "house dues". Time limit your tasks.

Start by doing dishes for ten Min's. Stop when your ten Min's are completed.

Tens Min's I can manage between other demands, however, one hour may not be available. Daily write down 3 ten min jobs that you want to complete, and, if you complete more than that, you are a hero.

In the ten min plan I often include "tea time:, and again, I stick to my time frame.

In a sixty min hour ( 6 ten min jobs) I can clean the the bathroom, load the washer, do the dishes, vacuum the kitchen and family room,

empty the garbage and have a"tea time"

Your home deserves to treat you kindly-organization and time management is a great tool to support you.

Answer 5

Start one room at a time, get the kids to help, little ones enjoy dusting.

If it's dry get the washing outside first - thats 2 bags out of your way, leave the ironing until the kids are in bed.

I would start with kitchen, lounge, bathroom and close the bedroom doors until you are ready for them.

You won't get it all done in one day, take your time and do each room properly.

You could try writing a list of everything that needs done and then ticking them off, you will feel better as you see the list getting shorter!

Answer 6

Get the kids to help you out sometimes if they are old enough of course. With your wet bag of clothes get a tumble dryer that would help a lot don't really need to iron so much after a good tumble dry.

Lastly de clutter get rid of all the junk you don't need in order to free up some space.

It's hard to really answer your question due to not knowing the circumstances but be rest assured your not the only person in this situation and all you can do is your best.

All the best hun and chin up : )    

Answer 7

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Answer 8

Well, it does seem like you have your hands full... 8 bags of ironing!  WOW!   I hate to iron and I think in a yr. I maybe do 1 basket... I buy things that don't need ironing!   However, if you wash/dry and remove items promptly from the dryer they don' need ironing..

For starters- put the wet loads of clothing to dry in the dryer OR hang them outside or on a rack.. In a pinch you can even hang them on the shower rod..

Another thing that helps is to have a daily routine:  Of things that you do everyday.

I have 2 toddlers a large breed dog and  a messy husband... However, every day I have a cleaning routine.  It truly helps keep the mess down to a minimum..

In the AM I go into he bathroom and wipe down the mirror.  I use antibacterial wipes to wipe the countertops, sink and toilet.. I swish the toilet with (cheap shampoo) and it's DONE..... Once a week- I'll take up the hand towels, reg. towels and rugs to be washed( I have a spare set) and sweep/mop the floors...It takes roughly 5 minutes daily to keep the bathroom clean/tidy and then 1/2 hour for deep cleaning...

Then I make my way into the KITCHEN- I do the wipedown of the appliances, countertops and sink... Unload the dishwasher, prepare breakfast and reload the dishwasher.... *Pull out something for dinner* and sweep the floor.... Once a week right before garbage day I clean out the fridge and throw away anything NOT eaten....

While the kids are eating I move on to the LIVINGROOM/DININGROOM.. .I'll run the vacuum... I vacuum everyday.. It seems to keep dust/dirt down in the house.... I also vacuum the furnituer once a week... I clean the glass on the television/electronics and dust/polish 1x a week...

*We also DON'T wear shoes in the house... We keep them in the breezeway... If you don't wear shoes in the house dust/dirt will be lesser!

Lastly- I make the bed(s)-  vacuum the bedrooms...

*At night before bed/bath my children ages 2 and 4 help me put their toys away and pick up their clothing.. It goes into the hamper.. That way at least in the morning I start out with a clean house... To start all over again...

* I also do a load of laundry at night and put it in the dryer in the AM.  

I don't know if any of this will help you... It works for me...

Answer 9

I'm on my own with 1 child, I work full time and there are days when I feel just like you. If you want to keep your house in order you will have to sacrifice your evenings. Once the children are in bed you can get on and do cleaning and ironing. You don't say if you work or not so let's assume you do. During the day the kids are at school and you are at work so no-one at home to make a mess. So you should come in to a tidy house. Prepare as much of the evening meal as you can the night before, clean and chop veg. If poss make something like a shepherds pie or bolognaise sauce so all you need to do is heat it up. Get dinner over, bath kids and steam in to cleaning. Next day do similar but catch up on the ironing. Once you have caught up with yourself then it's just a matter of keeping on top. Cleaning needs to be done once a week but tidying every day. Iron each wash load as soon as its dry, that way you should never have more than 1/2 hours worth. Cook big batches of stuff that you can freeze in meal size portions. I always cook double what I need that way 1 get 1 evening when all I need is the microwave to reheat and 1 night where I can relax a bit. It never ends but you can reduce the load a little.

Answer 10

My house best reflects my mental state.  Since becoming quite depressed I have lived in what only can be describe as a s*it hole.  If your mum only died last year sounds like you are going to still be caught up in a whole heap of grief...  Not sure how you are managing to juggle that and look after two kids on your own!  I take my hat off to you as grief can be all consuming sometimes...

How old are your kids?  Could you not get them involved.  Make it a game or sit them down and tell them how much you need there help right now.  Get the to help you make a chart of whos doing what when.  Hey and have a look at that pile of ironing and just let yourself off the hook a bit.  I only iron what REALLY needs it, I find any creases soon fall out as you wear them!

Good luck...

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Answer 11

the best thing i can think of is that you , get a friend to look after

the kids , for a while ,

how old are the kids , can they do jobs to help you,

if so , then get them off their  backsides,

  

with the ironing  why , don't you do a little at a time , so it does not

mount up,  when the kids are in  watching tv/ or gone to bed,

also  buy some plastic  boxes and put all there  toys in ,

  and teach them , to put them  away , before they go to bed.



you , have to start some where  why not now.

  you, must have a bit of discipline with them,

  if they do not do the job, then they get grounded or sent to there

rooms , simple as that.

   that is the way , i was bought up,  didn't do me know  harm.

    

  that way , you will earn a bit of respect, and discipline.

   or even better , make a rota, for daily chores, and change it

  week by  week .  with their names on it.

  

  do not know what to suggest otherwise,

  

  

years ago , people had more respect for each other ,

and they just got on with what had to be done.

  they didn't have washing machines years  ago , all done by hand,

and a old mangle to wring the  clothes  out in .

   not the luxurys that we have got today,

if you wanted a bath  it was a tin one in front of the fire.

  

no central heating only coal fires,and no lighting only candles

and lamps run by  paraffin.  no tv's only the radio,

and that was a luxury .

and they were put on rations , food wise, and clothes wise.

we are very lucky at what we have got . nowdays,

no electric, no gas, no tv,  no dvd's and videos / compact disc players

  

no playstations , no laptops, and we  had to make our own

  games up, with  what we had.  and be grateful for anything we got.

  not like today,  kids now days are spoilt, and do not appreciate

  what they are given ,  they have got far to much ,

  which makes them even more  bored,

  all i had was  a bit of rope, i used a skipping rope,  

  and  a ball  to play with .

  

    

  we learnt to  respect our parents, if we were out of order then we

would be sent to our rooms , with no dinner , and stayed there.

until you learnt your lesson.

  and had to appolgise for what you had  done  wrong.

  not like today's lot. who want anything for nothing.

well i am sorry to tell you, it does not work that way , and never

ever will .

  all kids want these days is money for drugs, booze,

  it is a SAD  world that we live in.

  

they do not help, only cause you , more problems as you  get

older,

  anybody who reads this ,  wiil  learn what i am  saying in years

to come, and then you will regret it,  too late , you have done the

damage . it cannot be rectified,  just remember  that one.

  it is not worht it.

  and i have never taken  illegeal drugs in my life, or  drunk booze

think of the damage it is doing to your kidneys /liver.

  hope you see  the light at the end of the tunnel before too long.  

  

    

  



  

    

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Answer 12

Firstly dont stress out, its so very easy to let things like that get you worked up and stressed out and then you just dont feel like doing anything.

I think to get on top of the problem right now you need to allocate yourself some time get things done.

The biggest priorty is drying your wet washing because if you dont get that done soon then it will smell and you'll have to wash it again.

Do you have a friend or relative who could take the kids off your hands for a few hours?? Or even a play group they could go to, then you will not have to worry about them and you can tackle the house. Make a plan of action do things in the order you have planned. Get whole rooms tidy before moving onto the next then you will feel like you are acheiving as you go. I reckon a couple of hours of good solid work and things will seem much brighter.

Then as a more long term plan make sure you set yourself an hour each night or every other day to do some housekeeping, maybe once the kids are in bed before you sit down to relax or before they get up

Dont let things get on top of you, its very hard to be the head of a house and a mother to two little ones.

Get them involved in helping and give them incentives to do it... you know like " If you put all your toys away then you can have a happy meal or whatever"

And just remember, although it is important to keep on top of house work its more important that you spend good quality time with your kids......

Try to combine the two and the results will amaze you, make it fun for them and they'll want to help and they'll want to spend time with you.

Dont worry you will be ok, our mothers managed it and their mothers managed it and so will we........

Answer 13

Okay -  you need to do just a little every day!

Wet stuff is the priority (or it will smell).

Ge the little ones to help  you hang it (don't worry if it falls on the ground it wont kill anyone and it will teach them how to hang and what you're doing etc).

Ironing can wait until after bedtime, them you can do some while  you listen to music.

If  you have toy storage then fine, if not, take a trip to buy some clear plastic stacking boxes (with lids) Clear ones are best so you get an idea of whats inside.

Then get the children to help again, one box for trains, one for dolls or some such. Books get put in a pile. Who can fill their box first?! (makes sure theres something the other one can 'win' at too!).

Then pop the little ones on the sofa with a book or colouring pencils and you clean the floor.

In the long term, perhaps try to turn off the telly in the evening - it eats  your time, and  you really don't get much back from watching, you don't properly relax because at the back of your mind you know there's stuff to be done. I stopped watching much about 3 years ago and I haven't missed it -  but I've read some great books and redecorated (I'm a single mum too).

Then look at what  you're ironing. Does it need to be ironed? I no longer do t--shirts, I just pull them straight when wet and they are fine, the same state as they are after about 10 minutes of being worn.

Perhaps  you have too many clothes? Time to box some up perhaps? I haven't done any ironing for a long time, and I don't miss it! My clothes look fine!

You're possibly depressed about your mum, you must miss her so much - and its hard being with children all day - so make sure  you get out everyday and have a walk in the fresh air - play tag or just look at the gardens where you live and talk to your children, they must miss her too, spend time being their friends and hang the housework once you have got it sorted this time.

Good luck