Busy Mom Needs Help and Ideas with Cleaning

I only have two childern 12 and 6 but they are very busy. Sometimes you run out of time with all their activities and the house work comes last. What I try to do is to do a little at a time. I do have the kids help out even if its putting tht dishes in the dish washer or to clean their rooms when one of them doesn't have a place to go. I try to have the kids always put things in their place which doesn't always work. But truly with all the running around and homework the house will look neat but will never be as clean as it use to be.

Have you thought about decreasing the number of activities they are involved it or how many activities you do per week?

When I was in school, my dad had me pick one after school activity per semester because we didn't have a lot of extra money and didn't want to be picking me up from school/activities all the time. I know they are important, but just having time at home and resting w/the family (not going out) is also important.

Also, I'd have your older ones help with the laundry. The 11 year old could start learning how to do their own and the 8 and 6 year olds could help sort and put away. Anything you can delegate is a good thing!

I'd also look at different organizational sites on the web (like flylady.com) to get some ideas about how to orgranize your stuff and your time.

Check out www.flylady.com - maybe .net She offers a great, flexible way to get the chaos under control - one babystep at a time. I am not 100% there, but it has really helped me and my family!

I had 3 teenagers lazy ones and then I had the baby by the time I felt like cleaning the house it was a pit. The one thing that makes cleaning that much clutter in little time was grab a basket start in one room pickup everything that doesn't belong go to next room pick up what doesn't belong leave what does and same in the next room. I soak my dishes always have a sink full of dishes. lysol cleaning pads in every room. while watching tv wipe end tables coffee tables. clean bathroom while doing bathroom duties at least what you can reach.

while in the kitchen cooking daily task clean one shelf of fridge wipe cabinets load dishwasher, wipe outside of fridge spray micro let it soak wash it out. pick one task a day or as much as reasonably accomplishable while fixing dinner without neglecting dinner. I use toilet wands to clean my bath tub 20 min on your knees job becomes 3 minute job rinse and done.

Another tip I read was since you have so many kids they get one day a week to do their laundry not you do it they do it. they wash it dry it and put away. Only if they are old enough mine started doing laundry at 7 by necessity. hide the bleach from the younger kids. IF they don't do their laundry on thier designated day they don't get to do it again till next week. Wearing dirty clothes to school will make them do laundry. It cuts your job down alot. buy all the same socks you won't have to sort just grab and go. I am slowly weaning my socks down to one kind. with so many diffrent kids i would buy each of them thier own brand and that is the only brand they can have the same thing every time. Get plastic cups write their name on it. it is the only cup they are allowed. If its dirty they can wash it.

When I was growing up, every morning before we left for school, my M. (of 3 - 1, 2 and 3 years apart) let us make our beds, wash face, brush teeth, and get dressed, eat breakfast before heading to school. When we got home during the week, we did homework, prepared our OWN clothes for school next day, and then get a power nap. On Saturdays, everyone of us had an assigned chore to be done - laundry, dishes, grocery, etc. So my suggestion would be to enpower your kids to help and do maintenance during the week and heavy cleaning on weekends. I started doing chores at 8yrs old and it taught me responsibility. Your kids are old enough, so let them help so you can focus on the little one. Even the little one actually can pick up his toys at that age. I personally do heavy cleaning on Friday nights when they are sleeping so I have weekends for grocery shopping etc. If you can have a basket for each child, so they can dump their worn clothes in it, so that the day you do laundry, it will be easier. They can help you fold them. My 4yr old does that now and does a good job just hunting for his own clothes, and he knows how to put them away. Let your kids help and if you can find a day to do certain things, then do that...vacuum on Mondays, clean bathrooms on Tuesdays, Laundry on Thursday, etc...

As far as cleaning, you could try to clean 1 room per day....(not sure how many rooms you have in the house) but something like Mon - Kitchen, Tues - Bathrooms, Wed - Lliving Room, Thurs - Den/Dining room. Clean each room entirely on that day including dusting and vacuuming. Then each day you would feel like 1 complete thing is done. That way you can be done by the weekend.

As far as the kids rooms go - I would leave that for the weekends - maybe Saturday or Sunday before they can play with friends or something. I am pretty anal about things like cleaning but my husband is the opposite. With my family, each Saturday morning we got up and cleaned together. I think in my family - I will be a little more lenient. Each kid gets a chore(s) and it will have to be done by Sunday dinner time. That means he can do it anytime during the week but I would like it to be done about every week (or every few days - not on Sunday then again on Monday).

You could also give the kids (minus the youngest) chores thoroughout the week such as all dirty clothes are to be in the laundry room by bedtime Friday night. Each kid could have a night where they set/clean off the table and put dishes in the dishwasher. That way you and your other kids and hubby have a night off of dishes.

Have them clean pick up their toys / clothes /etc each night before dinner. I'm not saying the room has to be perfect, but it should be a mess for no reason.

I have two small kids so they don't have 'chores' but I plan on starting them out with having them throw their dirty laundry in the chute 1x a week along with their bed linens. Then once they are older, I will have them help out with setting / cleaning off the table and emptying the dishwasher a few times a week. I don't expect it every day but three days a week would be nice.

Talk with your kids and see if there is something they would like help with. Maybe your 8 year old really wants to vacuum but doesn't really like cleaning her room. Maybe you could help her with that.

Another idea would be 1-2x a week set a timer for 30 minutes and tell the kids they have to clean their room. Then when that is done, set it for another 20 minutes and tell them to pick one thing to clean/do (go around the house and get all their shoes/toys/etc, wipe down baseboards, dust, etc) Play music and try to make it a game. Celebrate with ice cream when done.

If you make it seem like a chore, they will be more resistant. Let them put on wet socks and help you 'clean' the floors. Let your six year old put shaving cream onto the island and play then wipe it down - voila - it's clean!

I used to have a good schedule where I'd make sure every 1-2 weeks each room was fully cleaned (windows washed from the inside) but that has gone by the wayside. Now I clean on the weekends while hubby watches the kids!

I do not worry about beds being made unless we are having company. They are just going to get slept in that night anyways!!!

Can you get your husband to help with running the kids around so you can focus 1-2 days a week on cleaning? What about carpooling with other parents?

My suggestion is to do your cleaning early in the morning. Wake them up 1/2 an hour early for school to get them in the habit of getting up and making the bed before they get dressed. And at night when it's time for bed after bath time, do 20 minute clean your room(pick up toys, etcl) then go to bed. As far as laundry, I always do mine at night when they are sleep. I had three children back to back and it was hard. They are 18,19,20 now. I did have help from my husband on weekends. It's timemanagement. You have to sacrifice and get up and get yourself going so you can handle the long day with your children. Lastly, if you have the money in this tight economic time, go for the house cleaning help.

Saturday mornings before the older kids are off to play or watch tv or whatever they should clean their rooms.

I started my daughter at the youngest age possible to pick up her toys once she's done playing with them. She's 4 and picks up her playroom and room before she leaves those rooms.

As for me cleaning...I break it up...I have a dry erase board and write out the weekly cleaning chores and knock out what I can when I can. typically I will do one room a day. Since you have older children who can help with things like vacuuming or windows or whatever...you should enlist their help---rewards with allowance or extra privledges (extra tv time, staying up 15 min later or something like that).

Good luck!!! It's all about organization and getting the kids to help. I grew up the youngest of 4 and we all had to chip in with the cleaning. School and house came first...then play!

We used to all clean together for 30 minutes to 1 hour on the weekend. A set time that worked for us. Hint: whatever they do be happy with. Don't expect them to clean like you do!