Any SAHMs/Neat Freaks Out There?

Honestly some days my house is a disaster. I have an 8 year old, a 2 1/2 year old and a 2 month old and some days things just don't get done. But I try every night to do a quick pickup of toys and stuff laying around, especially in the main rooms we spend time in. I will often have the kids through all random toys laying around into a clothes basket or container and then we will walk around rooms putitng them where they belong. It's easier than making a million trips to put things away. Some days my house looks great and others it looks like the remnants of a tornado. Do what you can but don't let it rule you. But I find I am happier if the main living areas are clean. Bedroom doors can be shut!

I was at home with my baby for 9 months before going back to work. I'm also OCD and a freak about a neat/clean house, even more so now that my baby has his hands and mouth all over the place.

We broke down and hired a maid. Is it frivolous? Absolutely. But, the peace of mind and decreased stress level is worth every penny. It's even more valuable now that I have gone back to work full-time and have no time or energy to think about cleaning a house.

If you can afford it, go for it.

I am the same way -- a messy/cluttered home affects my mindset, too. The best gift I have given myself is a house-cleaner every two weeks. I have to tidy up & put away the night before, and it is wonderful to have someone else do the cleaning! I'm a SAHM, too, and I thought I shouldn't have a housecleaner if I wasn't working. My husband pointed out how grouchy or stressed I am when the house is dirty, especially if company is coming. He said he'd rather pay a housecleaner and have a happy wife! Finally, he convinced me it was nothing to feel guilty about.

With a thorough cleaning every two weeks, the house stays clean enough that I'm not mortified when a neighbor stops in, and I just run the vacuum in between and wipe down the bathrooms. You may feel you can't afford it, but maybe you can cut somewhere else b/c if it gives you peace of mind, it is money well spent!

To deal with the toys, I have gotten different kinds of storage bins, a cloth toy chest, etc., and tried to keep toys which are not being played with in these. I have also tried to get my daughter to put away one kind of toy before getting out another, but I have to admit, I'm usually the one cleaning up. I feel better if I keep the toys in one area, such as the family room, and keep the other rooms neat. Now that my daughter is 5 and doesn't need constant supervision, I put a lot of her toys in the basement and her bedroom so she can play there, and the mess is not staring me in the face all day. Of course, she often wants to be where I am, so I still have clutter, but it's bearable.

Treat yourself to a housecleaner -- you're worth it! www.livingreenathome.com

Hi A.!

I absolutely love Flylady! The website is www.flylady.net and is very detailed on every section of your home and breaks it down to very manageable time limits on cleaning your home. The breakdown is weekly and daily and focuses on one room each week with 15 minute cleaning in "hot spots". There are also monthly "habit" cleaning details like "swish and swipe", "make your bed", shine the sink", etc.

The emails can be a little overwhelming if you sign up to receive them, but after a while, I felt they helped me stay focused. When I didn't "feel" like cleaning the house, I would see the email and be reminded it only takes 15 minutes, then I'd change my mind.

Good luck!!!

I have my son help me clean. Its a game. He has loved the vaccum cleaner and swifer since he could walk. Sometimes my chourse take a little longer than they should...but it's quality time with my son!

As soon as I seen this question, I too was very interested in the response.. I have 2 children and just had new baby 6 weeks ago. and 2 weeks ago I went back to work, I do residential cleaning. After cleaning all day, I come home around 1 to hurry and make lunch for my bf and son, to then have my bf run out the door to work 3 to 11 shift. I was just saying yesterday that I need to find better ways to be organized with the new baby here now. So thank you for asking that question, im not a stay at home mom, but all the tips were greatly appreciated.

A.,

Try www.flylady.net if you are looking for tips and suggestions for a game plan. It will either give you new ideas or turn you right into the perfect Stepford Wife, a robot with an immaculate home, a set of completely automatic routines like any good computer, and hopefully time for fun with your kids while they are still young.

I think the current movement in the nation to "get rid of all clutter" and "organize" and "clean fast" is making everyone lose sight of what is really important in life--your family. Yes, order and cleanliness can be nice, but it is the difference between one stunted, over-controlled bonsai plant than never will get to grow to its full potential or feel the breeze on its leaves, and an entire meadow of multi-colored wildflowers in ecstatic chaotic profusion.

On the TV show, "Monk," the main character has a completely spotless home--ALWAYS. He has reduced clutter to the point all his clothes are identical, every item he owns has a place and nothing is ever out of order, so he goes around "fixing" everyone else's stuff whether he should or not. His neurosis is the logical conclusion to housekeeping perfection.

I have a friend who, as a professional nanny, instituted organization for her employer. Every toy was sorted into a category, neatly organized in clear bags, and had to be picked up and put away before another bag could be opened. Tidying was done every 3 hours. The house was perfect. On the downside, these kids were not permitted to develop their imaginations in such stifling conditions. The dinosaurs never drove the dumptruck, the train never carried the teddies, GI Joe never got to have tea with Barbie because they belonged to separate categories!

Be sure to have fun with your children and let them BE children; do not insist on turning them into miniature adults with too many rules. Go take a walk in that meadow!

Best wishes,
K.

I'm a single mom of two girls (8 and 5), and I work full-time. I had a babysitter over the summer so my girls could enjoy the summer at home with their friends. I, too, struggled with the mess that accumulated while I was at work all day...and cleaning was the last thing I wanted to do in the evenings.

Yes, our children are only young once, and they deserve to play and have fun. BUT -- we parents also deserve to enjoy the homes we work so hard to afford. I (and it sounds like I'm not alone) cannot relax in a messy home. So here are some of my favorite tips:

1. I love Clorox bleach tablets. You put one in the toilet tank every few months, and that's it. Your toilet stays clean and your bathroom smells bleachy-clean all the time. Sure, you have to wipe the seat every few days, but that's easy.

2. I love any wipes (Clorox, Windex, Pledge, etc.) They're probably more expensive, but I guess I value the convenience. I wipe down my bathroom sink and mirrors while I'm brushing my teeth in the morning. I turn my girls loose with the Pledge wipes. They have a blast, and I get my furniture dusted.

3. Focus your cleaning efforts on the common living area. Unexpected guests aren't going to venture into your bedroom.

4. Limit toys to one room...preferably one with a door that can be shut when unexpected guests show up!! If possible, keep toys out of bedrooms, and especially out of YOUR bedroom and the common living area. You deserve to have grown-up space.

5. Teach your little ones to put their toys away. At their ages, they're going to need help with this, but you can make a game out of it and offer a reward for helping.

6. Invest in stackable storage containers. I especially like the ones with drawers. Buy the clear plastic ones so you (and the girls) can see what's in them. It will help you organize all of those little toys, it will save space, and it's more visually appealing than random toys laying all over the floor.

7. Stay on top of it. The more you put off, the more overwhelming the task.

8. Do one load of laundry each day, rather than saving it all for "laundry day". Wash it, dry it, and put it away immediately. Dryer to drawer. Avoid laundry baskets.

9. Use paper plates and cups at lunchtime. One less stack of dishes to do.

I hope this helps!!

I feel your dilema. It has taken me five years to and I still haven't found the right balance.

I pick one day for laundry, and one day for a top to bottom cleaning....the works, toilets, showers, floors etc.

The rest of the week I just clean as I go. Dishes, picking up clothes, making beds the small stuff. Sometimes if I find the extra time I will do a load of laundry on a non-laundry day but then I usually forget about it and it stays in the washer and gets that gross smell and has to be rewashed anyway.

This allows for ample time with the family and keeps the house clutter free until I get to my heavy duty cleaning day.

Also, while I am cleaning the house I will pop a video in for the girls and they tend to let me go about my business. When they were around one I would wait for nap time to bathrooms and floors...to keep them away from the cleaners. Dusting and vaccuming could be done while they were awake.

They are two and four now so they actually help me tidy up during the week...picking up their clothes and toys. Sometimes they help with laundry too. I'll let them put away their clothes and they help load the washer and dryer as well. This lets them feel like they are doing something important. I just hope it lasts!

It also helps to have specific areas for certain items. Throw away your junk mail immediately and put bills to be paid in a mail holder or just pay them as soon as you open them. That way they don't get lost.

Good luck!

I think this is something that we all struggle with! It seems as soon as I clean the kitchen floor one of my kids decides that their lunch/dinner looks much better smashed on the floor! My opinion or rather what I do is, I pick a couple things to do that day (ie, dust, wash floors, laundry, etc) and try to do one or two when they are napping. Now I vacuum everyday just because that helps me feel that the house is somewhat clean! Other than that, I agree with comment before, have your kids help clean by trying to make a game out of it! Other than that, try not to get too frustrated, my bet is that you are the only one that things your house is not clean! Anyone else who walks in probably is in awe at how clean it is!
But if you get any great ideas or comments please pass them along!!! Good luck!!

These are some of the things I do that seem to help in the long run. First of all, I use clorox wipes on everything. Once a month, I scrub down the walls with clorox and dust all of the ceiling fans. I find that this really helps with all of our respitories. I have purifiers in everyroom. (People always compliment how clean my house is and smells) I have a severly handicap child that gets alot of my attention. In the kitchen, when I'm cooking, I clean as I cook. Then there is not that many dishes to do after eating. After my bath or shower I clean the tub. I have tought my son to clean after himself. At bedtime, before he goes to bed we all straighten up what little mess he has in his room before we tuck him in for the night. He knows the routine. He has just now learned after he eats to wash out his plate. This little things one at a time help out so that there is not to much to do at one time. I also do laundry for all of us every other day, so that I do not have to spend one whole day on the weekend to laundry. Then we have more time to do fun family stuff on the weekend and I don't have to worring over cleaning. Find a routine that works good for you and try to install it some in the children.

I'm also a SAHM of a 2.5 yr old and almost 1 yr old. And a fellow "neat freak."
We were able to start with a brand new home, so my advice mght be easier said than done, but what we've found to be the answer to a 'clean' home is this:
The first floor (living room, dining room, kitchen) is a "clutter-free" zone. Meaning, if we find out 5 minutes before someone is stopping over, we can have it picked up and looking clean in a minute (of course kitchen depends on dishes on the counter etc...) The way that we do this is that we only keep a very small basket of toys available on the first floor and the rest of the toys are in designated play areas in the finished basement toy room or upstairs. We keep the living room very simple w/o knick-knacks or news papers etc. Even though our house is very used, you wouldn't know it if you stepped in the front door.
The upstairs, however, isn't as easy b/c of the toys, laundry, office, etc. But I just pic a room and do tasks in it while the kids are happily playing. I usually do my quick cleaning things after they go to bed, so that I'm not busy cleaning all day long!
It's not easy by any means, and you are NOT alone by wanting a clean house while having young kiddos, but we just have to do our best and also realize that they ultimately come first.
Wish you the best!

Hi A.!

You got some great advice! I am a total perfectionist. However, my boyfriend would call it OCD. I sort of divide my cleaning sessions according to days. There are things I do everyday (wiping down counter tops, stove, and high chair with Clorox wipes, vacuum, straighten), things I do every other day (dust, wipe floors), and things I do once a week (sanitize toys, Windex windows). I clean the bathroom during my son's nap once a week.

My son also helps. I have always kept his toys in the same place since his was less than a year old. And he now knows where everything goes. Thus, he LOVES putting his toys away. We also have a song (sung to the tune of the Seven Dwarves work song): "Hi-ho, hi-ho. It's clean up time you know. Put the toys away for another day. Hi-ho hi-ho." He loves it!

I also love quick cleaning products. I use the Swiffer dust cloths for floors and dusting, and I bought the wet pads to wipe down my floors. It's so quick, I can do my floors while my son is eating lunch, or watching Seasame Street. I cannot live with Clorox Wipes. And I recently bought the toliet wand with storage caddy system. It makes my life so much easier!

Good luck!

Why not have them help you clean? I know that a three year old and a one year old can't do much but they can be taught to help. Why not have a chart of chores for them that lead up to a very special treat. They can pick up their toys, had lanudry to you, put things in the garbage for you. And, you are still having time with them and teaching them that this is important to you and your family.

also, since your three year old can do more, you can make her special treat a day out with mommy or something of the like.

Hi A.,
I understand you completely! I am a total neat freak and my husband, my 14 year old son and 2 year old daughter have a different agenda. I normally try to clean at night before going to bed that way when I get up the next morning I have time for my morning devotion/meditation as well as work-out. I know it's easier said than done but it has become routine for me. Now once my daughter gets up she eats breakfast, watches some Seame Street and then we have a little school/play time. By then the house, mainly the family room is messed up again. However, once she takes her nap I tidy up again. It really is just an on-going task! I also have to stress to my husband and my son that they need to pitch in as well. When there is something on the floor or out of place I tell them it is not that hard to just put things back in place, even if they did not take it out. It really is a team effort. I know my stress level increases when my house is not in order so I have to manage things where my stress level stays under control. As I stated before, it is a team effort. I wish you the best.

I am not a neat freak but I have a routine for keeping my house tidy with 4 kids. I am at home during the day so I make sure my infant is fed, burped and changed and once he is happy and content I have a routine starting with loading the dishwasher, doing a load or two of laundry everyday to keep up on the laundry. Make my bed and pick up things around the house. with you having little girls and a dog. if they like to watch t.v let them watch a show while you get some cleaning done. have a scheduled routine and that should get you on the right track. after you have the house straightened up play some games with your kids and keep the toys in big tupperware totes or toy boxes out of their reach if you can. try singing songs while they help you pick up their toys and reward them with things that they like to do while telling them why they are being rewarded. good luck.
K. w

Lots of great advice here, I to am a cleanaholic, i have 4 kids 2 hampsters, 2 turtles, a fish a cat and a dog, and i babysit full time will my SO works, but my house is always clean.
basic tips,
food stays in the kitchen, only in the kitchen, and only at the table, no exceptions, that way if there is something spilled or tossed on the floor it is all in one place and not throughout my house.
meesy toys, like playdoh are only done under supervision, with yours being so young this is a no brainer and again i have a designated area for arts and crafts so if the mess is made it's not all over, and no one can sneak off with a marker for the walls either.
stay organized, get bins for similar items rather than one large toy box so everything can stay organized it makes clean up time much easier
designate a play room to localize the mess, preferably someplace with a door in case of unexpected company, if you don't have the space make sure that the kids put away what they get out as they finish playing with it, WE clean our toy room, before lunch, before dinner and before bed
think ahead, toys that have lots of pieces or that you don't want the kids getting into all the time without you being right there, keep up where they can't reach so they have to ask to play with it, this works well for puzzles and blocks and such
my last tip is kinda odd but at that age i didn't let my kids play in their rooms, ever, the mess was always much worse if i did, it's more work if they have to go get a toy and bring it out then it is if all the toys are right there.
hope this helps some good luck.

first of all don't ever think you have to do it ALL yourself--- delegating is what has helped me A LOT!

Play games with those girls "Putting away Toys" - or just "Cleaning"

I remember when our one daughter was only 15 months old she wanted to help dust! I wasn't smart enough then to allow her to do it - who cares HOW it gets done - just so it does. If she misses some or makes it worse, she is learning to HELP! That is what we want eventually - ALWAYS PRAISE their work - even if it isn't that of a perfectionist. LOL It never will be - is ours????

I used to - when they could understand the concept - maybe (2-3 years old) - Tell them that the toys they don't put away - I will put in a large garbage bag and they won't be getting them back for 2 weeks! That got them wanting to put them all away.

Train up a child in the way they should go and they shall not depart from that.

Have a great day!

Oh,boy, I know how you feel! Add 4 dogs & 6 cats to the mix & that's my home! Does the laundry ever end? I've been experamenting with many tactics, schedules even calander planning. The 1st & best thing I can tell you is, you must must must take time for yourself. 10-15 minute cup of coffee in a dimmly lit room, on the patio, in front of an open window. 2nd recrute help! Even if hubby is just carrying the laundry baskets to the wash room, stopping to the grocery after work. 3rd (and hardest) What doesn't get done today will be there tomorrow. You have to learn to let it go. And it's killing me! So, it's you 1st, kids & hubby, keeping house & all else last. Some other 'neat' tips I have found... Make sure the kitchen table & sink is clear before you go to bed, you'll sleep better. If hubby does something up before you rise in the morning, your outlook on the day improves 10 fold. And please remember, dust is forever coming back but your children are only children once. Good Luck & feel free to freak out with me anytime! Peace ~ M.

well since I've been a mother for so many years I've learned to not be so picky about my home ; ) But my advice to you is let your children be children and make a mess...make picking up toys a game after your done playing and before you go on to the next thing, it's a good habbit for your kids to learn. Then what I do is a clean the house real good after everyone's gone to bed...this way I wake up to a nice clean house in the morning and that starts my day off nice : )

I have three kids. I have one that is 10 and we run to competition cheerleading practice 2x a week...and we have 4 events...3 yr old has speech delays...goes 4 days a week half day....hospital for speech therapy ....2 yr old with speech delays and physical delays...goes to school 2x a week but at a different time of the 3 yr old....speech and physical therapy at the hospital

1. You can't organize clutter
toss it if you haven't used it recently. Cut down on the amount of clothes you are saving for another baby. I know that one is hard.

2. Mail
Toss junk mail...respond to what has to be...toss the rest..put the bills someplace safe

3. Clean your sink
I know that if I have dishes in sink...I swear they take over the kitchen

4. quick swish and wipe in the bathrooms

Pick up after the kids...
I have been picking up match box toys all week. The kids play with them a while. But then they go to an explosion on the floor

I am working on the babies to clean up after themselves

don't let them play in the room.......shudder

wash dry and put away your laundry one basket at a time.

www.flylady.net will give help with routines and such
www.housefairy.org will help get the kids to help with clean up

take time for yourself to recharge those batteries

only work like 15 min at a time

I go through the downstairs and clean it when the family goes to bed. It helps. No one under foot. I had disaster ville I didn't have nothing done after lunch. The last family member went to bed at 2. My downstairs is done in 45 minutes

Make sure you are there for the kids and you have fun. Watch tv with them. play games read stories