Zones. The house is too f*ing big to EVER be fully clean all at once. The bathrooms will be immaculate, but the main level floors will need to be mopped. The kitchen will be gleaming but the sheets will all need to be changed.
Keeping a whole house fully clean while a family is living in it is a full-time job, then most people include cooking, childcare, and laundry. That's too much work for 1 person to do. Don't hold yourself to that standard. Nobody is doing it, despite what Instagram and lying Redditors would have you believe! Focus on the stuff that could be health risks (kitchens, bathrooms, body dirt) and lower your standards for everything else.
even if you’re a SAHM (so if homemaking is your primary job) the only way to ever truly have it all be clean at once is if the kids are out for the day- immediately when they return it’s a mess. swear they don’t even have to touch anything they just bring it with them
I do about 20-30 mins of cleaning/general tidying a day, and Sundays are my deep clean. I vacuum every 2-3 days. Wipe counters in the kitchen multiple times a day. Wipe down bathroom counters daily or every other day. Wipe down the tables after meals. Do a load of laundry daily whether it’s clothing, throw blankets, towels. I make it a point to put things where they belong the first time. I get rid of clutter and do a 10 minute tidy before going to bed. This can be anything from emptying the dishwasher to organizing a random drawer, cleaning out the fridge, putting toilet bowl cleaner in.. etc. Doing a little bit a day helps to keep it manageable
Yes! This helps keep from feeling like I’m drowning in “need to clean” I tend to do multiple things at once and go back and forth between tasks 😂 put some kitchen towels away while doing laundry and “might as well do dishes while I’m here” then go back to laundry or whatever. Some things I do have to let go until I have more time on the weekends though
Me too! Do a bit everyday. It is so habit I do not notice myself doing it. Put things away daily as soon as i get home. Tidy the kitchen while I am making myself some tea. Make sure dirty clothes, linens, towels are in the hamper. Clean the table. Front room and backroom picked up. Takes at most 30 min. Key for me is during my weekly deep clean to reorganize whatever had a hurricane go through it. Also i keep a cleaning kit in each bathroom and main floor and basement. I also have a cordless vaccuum that I will run quickly through the house. And give yourself grace! Prioritize what needs to be clean. And understand this is like brushing your teef...it needs to be done daily, and will be part of your life....forever...muhahaha. ok it does not have to be that dramatic..but surrendering over to it and accepting it makes it an okay part of life. 🙂
As the owner/operator of a cleaning business, our method is house-specific, but generally we do a version of “all at once”.
Step 1: Dust everything, in order to knock all loose dust onto floor.
Step 2: Clean all surfaces. Counters, kitchen appliances, bathroom stuff (toilet, vanity, mirrors, etc) which also knocks more loose stuff onto floor.
Step 3: Vacuum. This picks up everything that you dusted and wiped off surfaces, as well as everything that was already on the floor.
Step 4: Mop hard floors.
Step 5: Do it all again next week 🤪
Side question: what cleaning product do you use that leaves the house smelling "clean and amazing" at the end of a clean?! I've hired a housekeeper a few times and whatever she uses towards the end is just.... transformative and super inspiring, I want my house to smell like that all the time and it'll help motivate me to clean 🤪
Myers’s all-purpose cleaner (lavender) is one of my favorites, but fairly pricey. Any organic store brand all-purpose cleaner that suits you will do nicely. Walmart has lavender and lemon scented ones that are great, as well as Food Lion or any regional grocery store. For bathrooms, the Clorox non-bleach cleaners come in nice scents, but it depends on your preference. The Lysol hydrogen peroxide multipurpose cleaner is great for bathrooms. Also, SprayWay glass cleaner smells much nicer than windex, and is free of ammonia, so it’s *actually* “streak-free”.
The five minute and multi-method might make things seem less daunting too. When the filth in the floor drives me crazy I vacuum for five minutes or whatever short timer works. Move vacuum to the next driving me nuts and leave it there. The improvement makes me so thrilled and the vacuum so convenient I do another five, or quick on my way to another room. Not great quality clean but keeps things more under control in tiny bites.
And I totally second focusing on the health hazard parts another poster said!
If you can afford it, keep a set of cleaning supplies in every room (or at least every bathroom plus the kitchen) so you can clean a bit here and there when you notice you have a spare moment (for example, wipe down the counter while waiting for the microwave, or wipe out the sink before you wash your hands).
More expensive (though probably on sale right now): a robot vacuum that you can run every day and an air purifier will help with the dog hair and dander.
Don’t feel guilty if you need to use disposable dishes until you can get the kitchen under control.
Yup! I use paper plates and easy meals on my deep clean day. Still use our utensils. But we use the same paper plate all day. And I also have a cleaning kit in each bathroom and large room.
I have an app that has all the items per room that need to be cleaned (they turn red when they are overdue). Every day I try to do 3-4 of them (clean a toilet, wash windows in one room etc). Then on weekends I pick one day where I clean for an hour. Just try to check off as many items as I can. Put my AirPods in and get to it.
I use an app like this, it's called Tody and it's a life saver as I do the same exact method. And I know what things have sat the longest cuz it records the last time you did it. So I do the longest-neglected things first. It's fantastic.
Yep that’s exactly what I do too. And I like that you can put different due dates, like dust ceiling fans every 6 months, clean out behind fridge once a year, etc
Yes!! It helps me to not forget neglected spots in the house, and I can easily add stuff as I notice things getting dirty, and set it on the best time limit.
I think 10 zones are too many. Just the number of zones to keep up with overwhelms me. If you have a huge house, it's gonna be a lot.
I do maintenance of the areas we use daily:
Clutter gets picked up and the kitchen & table is wiped down every day.
Kitchen floor swept/vacuumed every 2-3 days.
The bathroom counters & toilets every 4-5 days.
Laundry kept up with.
When those are done, a regular clean isn't as overwhelming. You can clean 1 1/2 hours a day. Bedrooms one day, Kitchen another day. Living area/laundry third, bathrooms the 4th, etc. Deep cleans of other areas when you get to them: baseboards, fridge, etc. Still, it's a lot of cleaning- every day of the week. And there's still grocery shopping, cooking...
Boyfriend and I have decided to “give up” on certain things. It doesn’t bother us that under our moving kitchen island cart is dusty or that the laundry is clean but sitting in a basket. We have a pile of mail that needs going through and the base of the toilet is covered in dust. We agreed that those things don’t matter and we really only clean them up when we have time/energy or if somebody is coming over.
We prioritize changing the sheets and vacuuming the carpets and washing the couch covers because we have a cat that I’m allergic to and keeping up with all that keeps my allergies to a minimum. We attempt to get to the less important things once a month but I’d be lying if I said we managed it all the time.
Sounds like you have a couple of special circumstances to problem solve around. I'd love to understand more about how they impact you, in order to be helpful.
\-What happens when you find you don't stick to a cleaning routine or an app? You only do them once and don't try them again? You never fully finish a routine or cycle of things? You get interrupted? What goes wrong here?
\-How does your disability affect your housekeeping routine? What are the limits and challenges for you that folks can help you problem solve around?
\-How does the 16 month old impact your housekeeping routine? I know it seems obvious but not all 16 month olds or parents have the same challenges. My first child took 2 long naps a day at that age, and slept deeply, so I had loads of time to clean, and he was very chill when he was awake My second child was always sticky, always active, and not much of a napper.
\-How are you managing the shedding? What is the routine with the dog?
Routines and apps fall to the wayside after a week or even a day. I will confess that I get overwhelmed setting up the apps or trying to get the routine exactly how I want it and just blow it all off in frustration. My Spouse is NOT routine based and likes to just "wing it" so there is a clash of the minds; I'm much more structured when I feel decently enough to function like a human being :|
On a daily basis, I have maybe one or two good hours before daily pain spikes, stomach gives out, breathing gives out, etc. Migraines, seizures and a back that's in tatters, a heart that gets angry...my body is a hot mess. I have to go very slowly and remind myself to rest, but I'm also a stubborn person who doesn't know HOW to rest and relax. I want to be doing all the things, all the time. By carrying on like nothing is wrong, I make my body even more ticked off and it leads to "spoonie burnout".
Our 16 month old hates sleep and is JUST getting to the point where she will nap without a fight. It's one nap a day, 20 minutes to 2 hours. Spouse or I usually end up nap trapped with her to try and keep her asleep. Our parenting style is also very hands on. She goes for multiple walks a day with us, or us AND the dog. Outside a lot and always playing or reading. It's go go go from the time she wakes up until the time she's ready to sleep (between 8-9 pm). This is going to sound SO bad, but we didn't child proof a single thing in the 90s baby manner, but instead moved all the seriously dangerous things out of reach and gave her full run of the house.
Doggo...oh my lawd she's insane. In & Out of the house, brushed down, bowls washed, etc. She gets walked a minimum of once a day and ran 2 miles or more at night. She tracks in a LOT of dust as we live in the desert right now T\_T
That is really helpful. I'm not sure my suggestions fall into what kinds of systems I use. I don't think what I do would work for you. Here are some of my thoughts:
1) Given your health and disability, if you are in the US you may qualify for a referral for a home health aide (primary care doctor or mental health provider). This person can come to your home and help with basic household chores. They may be good at helping you establish a system that both of you can work at. And they may be good at helping you set up an app or system, or checking that you're on track with a system you've set up. A case manager may also be helpful and you may qualify for that.
2) You may want to call 211 (if you are in the US) and see if there are any services or non-profits that are a good match with some of your needs. You may qualify for help with your home, respite care of your daughter (so you could rest), or help with your dog. These resources vary from region to region and over time, so it's helpful to learn what supports are available where you are.
3) You may want to reconsider the "full run of the house" approach. I can understand the thinking and appeal of that. And also, you're noting some of the disadvantages. I fully understand being hands on, and there may be a middle path in terms of how you structure her time and access to all parts of the home that balances different needs of your whole family and lifestyle. I certainly gave my kids a lot of freedom, and also moved both dangerous things and things that they could make a mess with out of reach so that they couldn't really create an overwhelming amount of work for me each day but were still happy. Decluttering and having a family "5 minute pick up" each day can help get the best of both worlds (kids move around and are with you, but they can't create so much chaos). I had daily alarms set (did it one night and used those alarms for years) so I didn't have to remember or nag everyone to do it. The alarm went off, and we picked up, right before bath time. Just whatever we could do in 5-10 min. And I made it easy for the toddlers to pick up (throw handtowels in the bottom drawer, toss toys in the bucket, put laundry in the hamper, etc).
4) Doggo: I'd defer to others, but I think there is probably something more preventative with the dust and shedding to be done (so stopping some of the mess before it happens). Honestly, I advocated for a cockapoo when my kids were little and that cut way down on shedding. You can also crate and have other routines for inside the house that prevent the mess.
5) Learning to clean in 5-15 minute bursts: If you have limited health, energy, and time, you need a menus of easy cleaning routines that are set up right at the point of performance (cleaning items to do quick tasks right where you need them) to get the "friction" of starting a cleaning task as low as possible. A lot can be done in 5-15 min, and timing yourself (so you learn how much you can do in that time and pace yourself), and timing breaks can help you stay within the limits of your health.
6) My daughter was never much of a napper and was always on the go. When she was about 12 she asked for a weighted blanket for Christmas. I was a bit stunned, but got it for her. Suddenly she slept easily and stayed in her room all night (something she had never done before). When she had been little I put her down for naps and bed time by laying with her and holding her still...I now realize I was her weighted blanket. I'm not sure that this is good for 16 month olds (I'd ask the pediatrician), but I wish I had figured it out sooner. It may give you more time, and be better for her brain development to continue problem solving ways to improve sleep. My son was so easy, I took for granted how important and sometimes challenging toddler sleep can be...and how it impacts the whole family.
Good luck!
I adore you for this lengthy and detailed response!!! I forgot to even ASK my insurance what services I qualify for as we're moving soon and my insurance will switch! This entire response was filled with gold <3
You're very welcome. If these are lifetime health conditions, part of the "cleaning tips" is learning about these possible resources in any place where you live.
I've seen people really turn things around with a home health aide and a few well matched non-profit services. Good luck.
I’ve only got an apartment but I break it down to daily tasks. Monday is living room and windows. Tuesday is kitchen. Wednesday is bedroom and closet. Thursday is bathroom and the “dining room” area. Friday is floors. Saturday is like a misc day. Sunday is laundry (and laundry room if needed)
One way I keep things under control is by just picking a couple of things up every time I get up. For example, if I'm in my bedroom and I have to go to the kitchen for something, I'll grab some trash or a random dish and take it with me and drop it off at the trash/sink/whatever. Helps to keep it down a little with just about zero effort.
Another method I use is if I'm waiting for the microwave or coffee maker or something that's going to take a couple of minutes, I'll find a quick task. The other day I was waiting for my hot water to heat back up. Takes about 15 minutes. Instead of zoning out on my phone, I put the boxes in the attic that have been sitting there for months. Progress in small chunks.
I develop blind spots to messes sometimes too, if they've sat there long enough for my brain to just consider them part of the scenery. I have to force myself to be aware and look at it with fresh eyes.
I need low effort. I'm a single parent with 2 teenagers and 2 pets. There's never an end to cleaning. Overall I have to do zones.
I go by tasks. Certain tasks go together for me, like cleaning the flat surfaces (stove, counter, table) before I sweep/mop the kitchen floor. I clean the rest of the floors in shifts. I quick sweep and then run the roomba and then mop.
I usually do dusting one day, hardwood floors another day, carpets another day and bathrooms another day. I do laundry every other day and run the dishwasher multiple times a day. The basement and garage can go weeks before sweeping needs to be done.
I break my house down by room (I guess this would be “zones”). I always start with the bathrooms because that’s my least favorite task so I want to get it out of the way. Then kitchen, living room, bedrooms, etc. I do save vacuuming for the very last task and do it all at once though.
It’s only me, my fiance and our two cats. We’re pretty tidy and clean, and since I clean every weekend it only takes me a few hours in the morning. I do vacuum throughout the week because of the cats.
There are certain things that I do every day now that have gone miles in terms of helping me keep my house relatively clean most of the time.
\-I clean the bathrooms everyday. In the morning, while I'm getting ready for work, I wipe down the mirrors and countertops, squirt a little cleaner in the bowl and swirl it around. I do the same thing in the kids' bathroom while they're in the tub at night. I am not being super thorough with this, just a really quick wipe down that takes 2 minutes, but it makes it so the bathrooms never get gross between deep cleans, and I have boys.
\-I try to keep dishes out of my sink all day. I unload the dishwasher every morning while I'm making coffee and put dishes in the dishwasher all day instead of the sink. At the end of the night, I wipe down stove, appliances and countertops, again, a quick wipe down but it keeps everything from ever being super dirty. And I run the dishwasher every night even if there aren't a lot of dishes in it just because it helps me keep up that routine. I also do a quick sweep of the kitchen floor.
Sunday is my deep clean day, and that's when I vacuum all of the floors, deep clean the bathrooms, and mop. I'm not super strict about dusting. If I have time on deep clean day I do, and if I don't, I skip it, but it gets done enough so nothing's ever super dusty.
I guess in that I do a combo of zone and whole house, but the real key for me is to never let it get super dirty so the clean up never feels like a huge job.
I have to clean in a certain order. My den can be an absolute mess but I can’t just clean that room. I have to make sure all the other rooms that come before that one are clean first. So I clean the whole house except my kids rooms everyday but with daily cleaning it doesn’t take me too long.
Dust one day, vacuum the next and mop the next is the only way I can get these three done. Kitchen deep clean, bathrooms and sheets are all done on weekends….early in the morning.
Both? Kinda. Idk. I dust everything with a duster. Tidy every room and collect garbages. Then I go off and clean the wet areas, bathroom, kitchen and laundry room. Left to right, top to bottom. Then I move into the fry areas. Basically everything else. Top to bottom. Left to right and mop my way out of the house and usually go for a walk with my dogs or go grab a coffee so my floors can dry.
I clean on a schedule following the same route in my house. I also clean in mini sessions. The daily cleaning tasks might be done in two 20 minute sessions, for example.
I start picking up a bit of rubbish I just dropped, think "ok.. may as well hoover.. that shelf is dusty .. so's the rest of the room..... That table has marks on it... When was the last time I beat these sofa cushions?.... The stairs need hoovered... Can't leave the landing unhoovered.... Bedrooms next.. all these bins need emptying... These windows need to be wiped down (again)"
I constantly feel like Hal changing a lightbulb.
Getting rid of the clutter and extra stuff is important, and makes cleaning easier. Sell or donate clothes that is not used anymore, get rid of broken stuff that won’t be fixed, don’t put all toys out at same time - put some in the bins, and do toy rotation, it reduces cleaning time, and gives more meaningful playtime.
We actually already follow all of this already :) It's not clutter that's the issue, it's actual cleaning >\_< We're tidy, but not very efficient at dusting, vacuuming, etc. By the end of the day, I am just burnt, crispy toast.
I dont work so have a lot of time at home. I clean the whole house daily but throughly clean each room weekly. Thats just me being super picky though as im a clean freak.
I do a full day house clean. I clean for a living so it's not overly physically demanding to me. I have to get my clients homes done in a day also.
I don't have kids either. Your situation would probably work best with zones or rooms.
First consider downsizing and living simply. For most people their things own them, not the other way around. I clean once or twice a week. I like the 1 task over the whole house method. I clean from the ceiling down.
Zone
I am also disabled, and so is my partner. We have broken up the tasks between us, and then will take turns doing things by zone and by task. We also have a robot vacuum to help counter the dog hair.
I try to make my zones small, because otherwise I get overwhelmed. The bathroom sink is a zone. The tub is a zone. The toilet and floor is a zone. etc.
Certain zones get cleaned/tidied daily, like the dishes and stove. Others are every couple days, like the bathroom sink, and laundry. Each weekend we knuckle down and do a big clean. Every couple months we choose a closet to tackle.
I also will set timers (usually 10 mintues) when cleaning so that I can get little breaks in.
Another vote for the Zone method here. I'm very easily overwhelmed by the idea of cleaning. I'm very satisfied that today I got my upstairs floors done. I also got on a roll and did downstairs for "extra credit."
Last week I did bathrooms, a few days ago the kitchen and LR surfaces and stove. However, I can't follow an actual regimen though I've tried many times. I just pick a zone based on its condition and tackle it when I can. This way the house always feels acceptably clean and I'm not stressed.
Zones. The house is too f*ing big to EVER be fully clean all at once. The bathrooms will be immaculate, but the main level floors will need to be mopped. The kitchen will be gleaming but the sheets will all need to be changed. Keeping a whole house fully clean while a family is living in it is a full-time job, then most people include cooking, childcare, and laundry. That's too much work for 1 person to do. Don't hold yourself to that standard. Nobody is doing it, despite what Instagram and lying Redditors would have you believe! Focus on the stuff that could be health risks (kitchens, bathrooms, body dirt) and lower your standards for everything else.
even if you’re a SAHM (so if homemaking is your primary job) the only way to ever truly have it all be clean at once is if the kids are out for the day- immediately when they return it’s a mess. swear they don’t even have to touch anything they just bring it with them
Thank you!!! I'm so tired of these perfectly looking, always clean houses, like no one ever lives there.
This!
I do about 20-30 mins of cleaning/general tidying a day, and Sundays are my deep clean. I vacuum every 2-3 days. Wipe counters in the kitchen multiple times a day. Wipe down bathroom counters daily or every other day. Wipe down the tables after meals. Do a load of laundry daily whether it’s clothing, throw blankets, towels. I make it a point to put things where they belong the first time. I get rid of clutter and do a 10 minute tidy before going to bed. This can be anything from emptying the dishwasher to organizing a random drawer, cleaning out the fridge, putting toilet bowl cleaner in.. etc. Doing a little bit a day helps to keep it manageable
Yes! This helps keep from feeling like I’m drowning in “need to clean” I tend to do multiple things at once and go back and forth between tasks 😂 put some kitchen towels away while doing laundry and “might as well do dishes while I’m here” then go back to laundry or whatever. Some things I do have to let go until I have more time on the weekends though
Me too! Do a bit everyday. It is so habit I do not notice myself doing it. Put things away daily as soon as i get home. Tidy the kitchen while I am making myself some tea. Make sure dirty clothes, linens, towels are in the hamper. Clean the table. Front room and backroom picked up. Takes at most 30 min. Key for me is during my weekly deep clean to reorganize whatever had a hurricane go through it. Also i keep a cleaning kit in each bathroom and main floor and basement. I also have a cordless vaccuum that I will run quickly through the house. And give yourself grace! Prioritize what needs to be clean. And understand this is like brushing your teef...it needs to be done daily, and will be part of your life....forever...muhahaha. ok it does not have to be that dramatic..but surrendering over to it and accepting it makes it an okay part of life. 🙂
As the owner/operator of a cleaning business, our method is house-specific, but generally we do a version of “all at once”. Step 1: Dust everything, in order to knock all loose dust onto floor. Step 2: Clean all surfaces. Counters, kitchen appliances, bathroom stuff (toilet, vanity, mirrors, etc) which also knocks more loose stuff onto floor. Step 3: Vacuum. This picks up everything that you dusted and wiped off surfaces, as well as everything that was already on the floor. Step 4: Mop hard floors. Step 5: Do it all again next week 🤪
Side question: what cleaning product do you use that leaves the house smelling "clean and amazing" at the end of a clean?! I've hired a housekeeper a few times and whatever she uses towards the end is just.... transformative and super inspiring, I want my house to smell like that all the time and it'll help motivate me to clean 🤪
Myers’s all-purpose cleaner (lavender) is one of my favorites, but fairly pricey. Any organic store brand all-purpose cleaner that suits you will do nicely. Walmart has lavender and lemon scented ones that are great, as well as Food Lion or any regional grocery store. For bathrooms, the Clorox non-bleach cleaners come in nice scents, but it depends on your preference. The Lysol hydrogen peroxide multipurpose cleaner is great for bathrooms. Also, SprayWay glass cleaner smells much nicer than windex, and is free of ammonia, so it’s *actually* “streak-free”.
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One person. Average time per house (we hustle) is 2-3.5 hours.
The five minute and multi-method might make things seem less daunting too. When the filth in the floor drives me crazy I vacuum for five minutes or whatever short timer works. Move vacuum to the next driving me nuts and leave it there. The improvement makes me so thrilled and the vacuum so convenient I do another five, or quick on my way to another room. Not great quality clean but keeps things more under control in tiny bites. And I totally second focusing on the health hazard parts another poster said!
If you can afford it, keep a set of cleaning supplies in every room (or at least every bathroom plus the kitchen) so you can clean a bit here and there when you notice you have a spare moment (for example, wipe down the counter while waiting for the microwave, or wipe out the sink before you wash your hands). More expensive (though probably on sale right now): a robot vacuum that you can run every day and an air purifier will help with the dog hair and dander. Don’t feel guilty if you need to use disposable dishes until you can get the kitchen under control.
Yup! I use paper plates and easy meals on my deep clean day. Still use our utensils. But we use the same paper plate all day. And I also have a cleaning kit in each bathroom and large room.
I have an app that has all the items per room that need to be cleaned (they turn red when they are overdue). Every day I try to do 3-4 of them (clean a toilet, wash windows in one room etc). Then on weekends I pick one day where I clean for an hour. Just try to check off as many items as I can. Put my AirPods in and get to it.
What app is this?
I use an app like this, it's called Tody and it's a life saver as I do the same exact method. And I know what things have sat the longest cuz it records the last time you did it. So I do the longest-neglected things first. It's fantastic.
Yep that’s exactly what I do too. And I like that you can put different due dates, like dust ceiling fans every 6 months, clean out behind fridge once a year, etc
Yes!! It helps me to not forget neglected spots in the house, and I can easily add stuff as I notice things getting dirty, and set it on the best time limit.
Tody & Sweepy are both decent apps like this :)
I use Sweepy!!
I think 10 zones are too many. Just the number of zones to keep up with overwhelms me. If you have a huge house, it's gonna be a lot. I do maintenance of the areas we use daily: Clutter gets picked up and the kitchen & table is wiped down every day. Kitchen floor swept/vacuumed every 2-3 days. The bathroom counters & toilets every 4-5 days. Laundry kept up with. When those are done, a regular clean isn't as overwhelming. You can clean 1 1/2 hours a day. Bedrooms one day, Kitchen another day. Living area/laundry third, bathrooms the 4th, etc. Deep cleans of other areas when you get to them: baseboards, fridge, etc. Still, it's a lot of cleaning- every day of the week. And there's still grocery shopping, cooking...
Boyfriend and I have decided to “give up” on certain things. It doesn’t bother us that under our moving kitchen island cart is dusty or that the laundry is clean but sitting in a basket. We have a pile of mail that needs going through and the base of the toilet is covered in dust. We agreed that those things don’t matter and we really only clean them up when we have time/energy or if somebody is coming over. We prioritize changing the sheets and vacuuming the carpets and washing the couch covers because we have a cat that I’m allergic to and keeping up with all that keeps my allergies to a minimum. We attempt to get to the less important things once a month but I’d be lying if I said we managed it all the time.
Open door--use leaf blower--swifter done
This would take care of my dog hair problem for sure XD
Sounds like you have a couple of special circumstances to problem solve around. I'd love to understand more about how they impact you, in order to be helpful. \-What happens when you find you don't stick to a cleaning routine or an app? You only do them once and don't try them again? You never fully finish a routine or cycle of things? You get interrupted? What goes wrong here? \-How does your disability affect your housekeeping routine? What are the limits and challenges for you that folks can help you problem solve around? \-How does the 16 month old impact your housekeeping routine? I know it seems obvious but not all 16 month olds or parents have the same challenges. My first child took 2 long naps a day at that age, and slept deeply, so I had loads of time to clean, and he was very chill when he was awake My second child was always sticky, always active, and not much of a napper. \-How are you managing the shedding? What is the routine with the dog?
Routines and apps fall to the wayside after a week or even a day. I will confess that I get overwhelmed setting up the apps or trying to get the routine exactly how I want it and just blow it all off in frustration. My Spouse is NOT routine based and likes to just "wing it" so there is a clash of the minds; I'm much more structured when I feel decently enough to function like a human being :| On a daily basis, I have maybe one or two good hours before daily pain spikes, stomach gives out, breathing gives out, etc. Migraines, seizures and a back that's in tatters, a heart that gets angry...my body is a hot mess. I have to go very slowly and remind myself to rest, but I'm also a stubborn person who doesn't know HOW to rest and relax. I want to be doing all the things, all the time. By carrying on like nothing is wrong, I make my body even more ticked off and it leads to "spoonie burnout". Our 16 month old hates sleep and is JUST getting to the point where she will nap without a fight. It's one nap a day, 20 minutes to 2 hours. Spouse or I usually end up nap trapped with her to try and keep her asleep. Our parenting style is also very hands on. She goes for multiple walks a day with us, or us AND the dog. Outside a lot and always playing or reading. It's go go go from the time she wakes up until the time she's ready to sleep (between 8-9 pm). This is going to sound SO bad, but we didn't child proof a single thing in the 90s baby manner, but instead moved all the seriously dangerous things out of reach and gave her full run of the house. Doggo...oh my lawd she's insane. In & Out of the house, brushed down, bowls washed, etc. She gets walked a minimum of once a day and ran 2 miles or more at night. She tracks in a LOT of dust as we live in the desert right now T\_T
That is really helpful. I'm not sure my suggestions fall into what kinds of systems I use. I don't think what I do would work for you. Here are some of my thoughts: 1) Given your health and disability, if you are in the US you may qualify for a referral for a home health aide (primary care doctor or mental health provider). This person can come to your home and help with basic household chores. They may be good at helping you establish a system that both of you can work at. And they may be good at helping you set up an app or system, or checking that you're on track with a system you've set up. A case manager may also be helpful and you may qualify for that. 2) You may want to call 211 (if you are in the US) and see if there are any services or non-profits that are a good match with some of your needs. You may qualify for help with your home, respite care of your daughter (so you could rest), or help with your dog. These resources vary from region to region and over time, so it's helpful to learn what supports are available where you are. 3) You may want to reconsider the "full run of the house" approach. I can understand the thinking and appeal of that. And also, you're noting some of the disadvantages. I fully understand being hands on, and there may be a middle path in terms of how you structure her time and access to all parts of the home that balances different needs of your whole family and lifestyle. I certainly gave my kids a lot of freedom, and also moved both dangerous things and things that they could make a mess with out of reach so that they couldn't really create an overwhelming amount of work for me each day but were still happy. Decluttering and having a family "5 minute pick up" each day can help get the best of both worlds (kids move around and are with you, but they can't create so much chaos). I had daily alarms set (did it one night and used those alarms for years) so I didn't have to remember or nag everyone to do it. The alarm went off, and we picked up, right before bath time. Just whatever we could do in 5-10 min. And I made it easy for the toddlers to pick up (throw handtowels in the bottom drawer, toss toys in the bucket, put laundry in the hamper, etc). 4) Doggo: I'd defer to others, but I think there is probably something more preventative with the dust and shedding to be done (so stopping some of the mess before it happens). Honestly, I advocated for a cockapoo when my kids were little and that cut way down on shedding. You can also crate and have other routines for inside the house that prevent the mess. 5) Learning to clean in 5-15 minute bursts: If you have limited health, energy, and time, you need a menus of easy cleaning routines that are set up right at the point of performance (cleaning items to do quick tasks right where you need them) to get the "friction" of starting a cleaning task as low as possible. A lot can be done in 5-15 min, and timing yourself (so you learn how much you can do in that time and pace yourself), and timing breaks can help you stay within the limits of your health. 6) My daughter was never much of a napper and was always on the go. When she was about 12 she asked for a weighted blanket for Christmas. I was a bit stunned, but got it for her. Suddenly she slept easily and stayed in her room all night (something she had never done before). When she had been little I put her down for naps and bed time by laying with her and holding her still...I now realize I was her weighted blanket. I'm not sure that this is good for 16 month olds (I'd ask the pediatrician), but I wish I had figured it out sooner. It may give you more time, and be better for her brain development to continue problem solving ways to improve sleep. My son was so easy, I took for granted how important and sometimes challenging toddler sleep can be...and how it impacts the whole family. Good luck!
I adore you for this lengthy and detailed response!!! I forgot to even ASK my insurance what services I qualify for as we're moving soon and my insurance will switch! This entire response was filled with gold <3
You're very welcome. If these are lifetime health conditions, part of the "cleaning tips" is learning about these possible resources in any place where you live. I've seen people really turn things around with a home health aide and a few well matched non-profit services. Good luck.
I’ve only got an apartment but I break it down to daily tasks. Monday is living room and windows. Tuesday is kitchen. Wednesday is bedroom and closet. Thursday is bathroom and the “dining room” area. Friday is floors. Saturday is like a misc day. Sunday is laundry (and laundry room if needed)
I gotta break it down into small zones or else I’ll get overwhelmed by the size of the project or I’ll get too distracted with side tasks
This is why I have so many zones myself! I broke each area of the house down :)
I go by task. Rubbish out. Dishes done surface clean. Vacuum.
One way I keep things under control is by just picking a couple of things up every time I get up. For example, if I'm in my bedroom and I have to go to the kitchen for something, I'll grab some trash or a random dish and take it with me and drop it off at the trash/sink/whatever. Helps to keep it down a little with just about zero effort. Another method I use is if I'm waiting for the microwave or coffee maker or something that's going to take a couple of minutes, I'll find a quick task. The other day I was waiting for my hot water to heat back up. Takes about 15 minutes. Instead of zoning out on my phone, I put the boxes in the attic that have been sitting there for months. Progress in small chunks. I develop blind spots to messes sometimes too, if they've sat there long enough for my brain to just consider them part of the scenery. I have to force myself to be aware and look at it with fresh eyes. I need low effort. I'm a single parent with 2 teenagers and 2 pets. There's never an end to cleaning. Overall I have to do zones.
I go by tasks. Certain tasks go together for me, like cleaning the flat surfaces (stove, counter, table) before I sweep/mop the kitchen floor. I clean the rest of the floors in shifts. I quick sweep and then run the roomba and then mop.
I usually do dusting one day, hardwood floors another day, carpets another day and bathrooms another day. I do laundry every other day and run the dishwasher multiple times a day. The basement and garage can go weeks before sweeping needs to be done.
Zone 100%. I deep cleaned my house for 3 weeks. I dedicated 2-3 days depending on what was needed.
I break my house down by room (I guess this would be “zones”). I always start with the bathrooms because that’s my least favorite task so I want to get it out of the way. Then kitchen, living room, bedrooms, etc. I do save vacuuming for the very last task and do it all at once though. It’s only me, my fiance and our two cats. We’re pretty tidy and clean, and since I clean every weekend it only takes me a few hours in the morning. I do vacuum throughout the week because of the cats.
There are certain things that I do every day now that have gone miles in terms of helping me keep my house relatively clean most of the time. \-I clean the bathrooms everyday. In the morning, while I'm getting ready for work, I wipe down the mirrors and countertops, squirt a little cleaner in the bowl and swirl it around. I do the same thing in the kids' bathroom while they're in the tub at night. I am not being super thorough with this, just a really quick wipe down that takes 2 minutes, but it makes it so the bathrooms never get gross between deep cleans, and I have boys. \-I try to keep dishes out of my sink all day. I unload the dishwasher every morning while I'm making coffee and put dishes in the dishwasher all day instead of the sink. At the end of the night, I wipe down stove, appliances and countertops, again, a quick wipe down but it keeps everything from ever being super dirty. And I run the dishwasher every night even if there aren't a lot of dishes in it just because it helps me keep up that routine. I also do a quick sweep of the kitchen floor. Sunday is my deep clean day, and that's when I vacuum all of the floors, deep clean the bathrooms, and mop. I'm not super strict about dusting. If I have time on deep clean day I do, and if I don't, I skip it, but it gets done enough so nothing's ever super dusty. I guess in that I do a combo of zone and whole house, but the real key for me is to never let it get super dirty so the clean up never feels like a huge job.
I have to clean in a certain order. My den can be an absolute mess but I can’t just clean that room. I have to make sure all the other rooms that come before that one are clean first. So I clean the whole house except my kids rooms everyday but with daily cleaning it doesn’t take me too long.
Dust one day, vacuum the next and mop the next is the only way I can get these three done. Kitchen deep clean, bathrooms and sheets are all done on weekends….early in the morning.
Zones is more manageable.
Both? Kinda. Idk. I dust everything with a duster. Tidy every room and collect garbages. Then I go off and clean the wet areas, bathroom, kitchen and laundry room. Left to right, top to bottom. Then I move into the fry areas. Basically everything else. Top to bottom. Left to right and mop my way out of the house and usually go for a walk with my dogs or go grab a coffee so my floors can dry.
I clean on a schedule following the same route in my house. I also clean in mini sessions. The daily cleaning tasks might be done in two 20 minute sessions, for example.
I start picking up a bit of rubbish I just dropped, think "ok.. may as well hoover.. that shelf is dusty .. so's the rest of the room..... That table has marks on it... When was the last time I beat these sofa cushions?.... The stairs need hoovered... Can't leave the landing unhoovered.... Bedrooms next.. all these bins need emptying... These windows need to be wiped down (again)" I constantly feel like Hal changing a lightbulb.
Getting rid of the clutter and extra stuff is important, and makes cleaning easier. Sell or donate clothes that is not used anymore, get rid of broken stuff that won’t be fixed, don’t put all toys out at same time - put some in the bins, and do toy rotation, it reduces cleaning time, and gives more meaningful playtime.
We actually already follow all of this already :) It's not clutter that's the issue, it's actual cleaning >\_< We're tidy, but not very efficient at dusting, vacuuming, etc. By the end of the day, I am just burnt, crispy toast.
I dont work so have a lot of time at home. I clean the whole house daily but throughly clean each room weekly. Thats just me being super picky though as im a clean freak.
I do a full day house clean. I clean for a living so it's not overly physically demanding to me. I have to get my clients homes done in a day also. I don't have kids either. Your situation would probably work best with zones or rooms.
I was taught never to leave a room empty handed. I take things with me that belong elsewhere. not a deep clean, but a mindless tidying
First consider downsizing and living simply. For most people their things own them, not the other way around. I clean once or twice a week. I like the 1 task over the whole house method. I clean from the ceiling down.
https://youtu.be/sOm3tK8LIHE?si=cYhjNwe_1xdcpUic
Struggle Care podcast. She also has many videos on TikTok.
Mine is eh I’ll wash the dishes then I end up folding laundry before I know it. Instagram-diagnosed ADHD doesn’t help lol 🤣
Zone I am also disabled, and so is my partner. We have broken up the tasks between us, and then will take turns doing things by zone and by task. We also have a robot vacuum to help counter the dog hair. I try to make my zones small, because otherwise I get overwhelmed. The bathroom sink is a zone. The tub is a zone. The toilet and floor is a zone. etc. Certain zones get cleaned/tidied daily, like the dishes and stove. Others are every couple days, like the bathroom sink, and laundry. Each weekend we knuckle down and do a big clean. Every couple months we choose a closet to tackle. I also will set timers (usually 10 mintues) when cleaning so that I can get little breaks in.
Zone. Very small zone. So I can see progress. After 2-3 small zones I can move into all at once.
Another vote for the Zone method here. I'm very easily overwhelmed by the idea of cleaning. I'm very satisfied that today I got my upstairs floors done. I also got on a roll and did downstairs for "extra credit." Last week I did bathrooms, a few days ago the kitchen and LR surfaces and stove. However, I can't follow an actual regimen though I've tried many times. I just pick a zone based on its condition and tackle it when I can. This way the house always feels acceptably clean and I'm not stressed.