Best Housework Tips & Self-Care Secrets!

[kasie]

Self care - I don’t normally get home from work til around 1030/11pm then I’d have a bath with a little glass of something or a hot chocolate, and watch a programme or read a few chapters of my book. I have 2 kids, a teen and a 4 year old, both of whom demand my attention as does my work. So self care is something I try really hard to prioritise. Listen it’s hard to yourself 1st but a happy healthy parent is important, as you can’t pour from an empty cup.
Housework is a pain in the ass, you clean then you’ve to clean again cos the kids have spilled something or the younger one has drawn on walls ffs lol or the dogs have defecated on the floor cos they couldn’t wait 5 mins. Do what you can, when you can.
If you have a dishwasher, load it, switch her on and forget about it. Laundry, don’t be afraid to wash the same load twice. I’ve done it. Washed it the 1st time, got distracted with the kids etc then 3 hours and it’s smelly cos I’ve not taken it out. I’m

 

[abdurrashid]

Plenty of busy mums hire me my best customers! I end up cleaning, tidying AND playing games with their children and the mummas get a break xxx

 

[xmorgx]

I’ll ask my husband…

 

[fransiskus]

I've started putting my 2yo in a 10L tub, half filled with water, in the kitchen, with her bath toys in it.. just so I can have 20 mins to wash up, hoover and mop, not sure if that counts

 

[cecilddunn2572]

@thomaswhitetw I'd love to have you share yours as your incredible!

 

[thomaswhitetw]

Stella Williams my house is a mess

 

[him]

Honestly some day I give up have dishes left for few day then I do them cause it’s jist a constly every single day I do the same am a single man with 3 kids 10 13 15 two boys and girl one my boys just loves to leave his rubbish all over the house I survive but shatterd after the day high five to you cause it’s not easy at all xx

 

[shakeymclovin]

Make your husband pull his weight. He should be cleaning, looking after kids etc too. x

 

[srlewis]

I'm most productive in the morning. So I do the dishwasher, put a wash on, tidy the kitchen then. Once school run is done I then start work. Time I've finished and done dinner I'm done. So nothing gets done then it has to wait till the weekend

 

[tedbaker88]

If you can get a cleaner.
Delegate small tasks to the little ones, like pick up toys before bath/bed time. After dinner ask hubby for help if he is home, a 15.minute flash clean/tidy up does miracles...
And most importantly, don't beat yourself up, the house isn't going anywhere, the kids will grow... Mine are now only weeks and a couple of months of being 13 and 10, they help a lot, and always have sinse they were toddlers. They used to pick up their toys, dust around, and my youngest has always been obsessed with cleaning glass, she still does that. My eldest loves cleaning the cooker, so she does that for me. They clean their room. When folding the laundry I make 4 piles, and then each of us puts their own clothes away. Younger kids can still do this if they can at least reach the lower drawers.
And prioritise self care when your husband is home. Ask for time out. More often than not men don't realize we actually didn't have a minute to breathe all day. They're just wired differently

 

[msmeganjan]

Keeping on top of it and occasionally loosing my shit as I like a clean house

 

[keobong79]

For me what works is minimising things like toys, think do they really need it, is it something they regularly play with...I've found mine play with toys more if they have less and can easily see or find what they do have.
We don't have many toys in the lounge, a few bit that's all the rest stays in bedrooms so at least the lounge can be a tidy place and if anyone comes around I only need to worry about that room and the toilet

 

[hazel92]

The Organised Mum Method

 

[scpro]

You know what. This is exactly me! And I’ve come to realise that aslong as my kids are happy and healthy what is the issue with a little mess? I said our house is a home and looking at it you can see happy children with their stuff everywhere!!
It drives me insane but it also drives me insane trying to work against tornados so I don’t bother. I clean but I try not to stress anymore.
You will look back at these days when your kids have grown up and will miss it. I think it’s what I’m told anyway! you are doing great. Take those spare minutes and have some time to yourself a clean home isn’t everything x

 

[anonymouswife]

My tip is ask Dad to do it

 

[ibcbet]

@anonymouswife absolutely! I've done this more recently and he doesn't actually mind and I get a little more time to myself

 

[theleftonemiccy]

We have 4 children, at the youngest they were newborn, 14mths, 2 & 4mths & 5yrs.
1 - it’s a home. Not a show house. There is a difference to between a dirty home & a lived in home! Kids play, you have to cook, it will neverrrrr look immaculate so just make your peace with that.
2 - Follow @moraiah she is amazing! Normal mum who just helps you break down the cleaning it’s a game changer
3 - Don’t stress about having a tidy house, kids won’t remember it & neither will you in 20 years. Don’t fool yourself into thinking everyone has perfect ‘insta’ homes us normal people do not!
4 - Never go bed with a untidy/unclean kitchen. Nothing worse than getting up after a broken nights sleep & you have to start cleaning before you can even have a brew!
5 - I am sure you are doing so much better than you give yourself credit for

 

[spivak]

@theleftonemiccy I was going to suggest @moraiah too. She does guided cleans which are motivating and helps with focus.

 

[theleftonemiccy]

@spivak she is wonderful, I love that she’s so normal! Far too much expectation on us to have the perfect home these days

 

[cathy4jesus1]

You’re in the mist of littles, let them play and when there is a spare 5minutes take that coffee and sit quiet- there will always be something to clean. I used to dash round doing everything and honestly you and your house do not need to be spotless - tidy as you go, get the older ones to put their toys away and once your partner is home say at a wkend blitz the house for a couple hours.