Need help getting house in shape?

Question

have two kids 6,9 year old . can evenone help me out ? i have been trying flylady.org i cant get it in shape i dont know what i'm not doing right?

Answer 1

Have to agree with Belinda on this one.

Set a schedule and stick to it. Hubby and the kids have to learn to pick up after themselves as well as help with some of the cleaning.

The suggestion to take the kids to the daycare for an hour is out of the question. I've worked at several daycares and none would take a child for an hour.

Answer 2

Do you know I used to go to flylady about 4 years ago but seriously the site seems really disorganised and hard to navigate to me, and for someone who is supposed to give me organisation tips that just seems wrong!  

Anyway, I have a 7 and 9 yo so can relate, but I have discovered that it is rare that my home stays in top condition for over 36 hours, even after a total spring clean and de clutter.  The trick is definately to keep up with it every day, but that can be mission impossible for about 5 out of every 7 days with kids!

So, my solutions are this

1. Don't be too hard on yourself, decide what level of clean or perfection YOU are happy/comfortable with and stick to it - anyone that expects a perfect house from you is an idiot

2. Train your kids (and husband if applicable) explain to them that while it may be that you are responsible for 90% of the housework, they MUST do their 10% or you can not (or will not is the way I put it) do the 90% - you set the 10% here, but for me, they make their own beds, wipe the sink if they get toothpaste everywhere, clean up their own spills (with guidance until they learn how to properly), they have to get their clothes to hampers, they pack their own bags, they do chores (taking out garbage, wiping the dishes while I wash them, cleaning own rooms, sweeping and mopping etc - there are heaps of great free to download chore charts online if you need them) (praise them for doing well at this so they get an emotional  'reward' for doing the right thing, makes it much easier to get them to do things than scolding them.

3. Labels, labels, labels, for your own peace of mind! Since getting a dymo I have labelled lots of things, even the shelves in the linen cupboard, makes it simple for you to find things, and means you can put 100 boxes filled with odds and ends, craft things, batteries, pens, screws etc in a cupboard and don't have to dig to find them.. added bonus when you want one of the kids to find you something you just ask them to get the box labelled "batteries" from the hall cupboard, simplicity itself, and everyone knows where things belong. (before they could read I printed out simple pics onto sticker paper and put them onto boxes but now they can read its dymo all the way)

4. Some things are easier when the kids are absent (well most things really) so if you need to blitz the kitchen and don't need interruptions every 2minutes, send them out back to play or tell them to make their own picnic to go out the back and enjoy if you need time to spring clean the cd/bookshelf or deal with the paperwork.

5.  Consider asking a friend to swap houses with you to clean, seriously you know it isn't a chore to do dishes at friends house because a change is as good as a holiday right?  Well dealing with your own stuff day in day out can be a huge drag and eventually we become numb to it, maybe you could either do a big de-clutter or spring clean WITH a friend (you both do each others houses - with the music blaring and hopefully she has kids too  so the kids can be off playing together) or do each others, even if it is just rearranging the kitchen cupboards.

Just some thoughts, but here's some links to sites that may help with organisation...

http://www.neattv.com/aboutShow.html

http://www.containerstore.com/experthelp...

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/get...

Answer 3

hmmmmm can you clean better without ur 6&9 year olds? If they are in the way, consider taking them to day care for like an hour or get someone to watch your kids while you clean up your house. Umm get a play box and put all the toys in there. Get a cardboard bow and go hunting for useless stuff. Magazines, etc.

Answer 4

is your house dirty??

If so start with good brand cleaning supplies

Flylady is not good

Windex

Clorox bathroom cleaner

409

Pinesol

pledge

toilet bowl cleaner

powdered comet

vinegar

febreze

scrub brushes

latex gloves

sponges

clean rags

bucket

broom/dustpan

mop

clorox bleach

feather duster

everyday shower cleaner

Set one day a week to deep clean the house

I choose saturday mornings

Deep clean the kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms,living and dining room

sweep and mop, dust, vacuum

Bathrooms: scrub in and around toilets, clean mirrors, sweep and mop, clean the tub and shower

kitchen: disenfect countertops, clean sinks, clean dining table, sweep and mop

household and bedrooms: dust furniture, vacuum, clean mirrors and tvs, febreze, make beds, pick up clutter, sweep and mop

Everyday pick up things, make the beds, wipe down counters and sinks before and after dinner, Sray the shower with everyday shower cleaner after you use the tub/shower, take out trash when needed, febreze the house once a day, put dishes in dishwasher/wash dishes

do laundry throughout the week since you have kids