When do your do the housework??

[ozmum]

Just wondering when other mums with 2 or more pre school or young kids get the time to do the housework.

I have a just turned 2 year old and an 8 month old and am finding more and more now i only have time to do housework once i put the kids to bed. I am a SAHM so think i should have time in the day, but find i spend most of the days entertaining my 2 year old and feeding my 8 month old.

I tend to only do 1 good clean a week, but have to do another vacuum and mop once a week as there are dog hairs and toddler crumbs/sticky mess on the floor which i can't stand. Ohter than that is is just basic stuff, but it is having to get done late at night when i am tired and just wanting to go to bed.

I think i'd feel a lot better if i knew other mums did the same or how you get everything done in the day.

[Ffrenchknickers]

I constantly do housework when we are home which is only a couple of hours per day in betweem all the kids activities. There is always something to be done but I can't stand having it not done.

[Jax Tellers Old Lady]

Im pretty much the same. I have a five year old and a ten month old. I make the beds in the morning and will pick up bits and pieces through the day but I seriously barely have time for housework. DD who is ten months is into everything and anything so cleaning up is pointless. The majority of my housework is done at night which I dont find appealing but its the only way I can clean and keep it clean for more than five minutes.

[TripleTime]

When ever I get a chance, I do something. If either DH or see something that needs doing, we do it.

Only thing that doesn't get done that often is vacuuming, very hard to do with a child who has sensory issues.

[ozmum]

I 'spose i am really meaning vacuuming/mopping, bathrooms etc as i too try to get all the other stuff done as i go throughout the day. Sometimes i find myself cooking the next night's dinner after bedtime too though!

[Ffrenchknickers]

I vacuum every morning after the kids have eaten breakfast - the wooden floors look terrible covered in muesli! I sometimes need to vacuum again in the afternoon too. I mop every couple of days....drives me crazy but it doesn't really take long. The bathrooms probably don't get done often enough.

[Guest1234]

Df does it while I entertain the 2 year old and 12 week old. He is a champ :)
Mostly though we clean up after ourselves, that way it doesn't pile up. Vacuuming and mopping gets done once a week by df.

[Tangarine Mummy Machine]

When ever I get a chance, I do something. If either DH or see something that needs doing, we do it.

Only thing that doesn't get done that often is vacuuming, very hard to do with a child who has sensory issues.

I have a carpet sweeper that i use daily. My ds cant stand the vacuum. I still vacuum wekly though.

[TripleTime]

I have a carpet sweeper that i use daily. My ds cant stand the vacuum. I still vacuum wekly though.

We have a carpet sweeper, doesn't pick up everything in out gross carpet. Wish I could vacuum weekly but I can't, DS can't be be home when someone dose.

[Tangarine Mummy Machine]

I do understand. My ds has severe sensery issues (ASD). I etheir put him in the safety room and vacuum or i get ex to take him to the park ect to get it done.

To answer the op, I do littlle things during the day like dishes but the rest i do after kids are in bed.

[sahm]

This is something I am really struggling with. I am a stay at home mum, with a 3 year old and a 16 month old. My house is constantly filthy and my washing piles are out of control. Everytime I try to do anything during the day, my 16 month old screams. He sit at my feet and cries big fat tears until I pick him up. When he does go off on his own it only takes about two minutes until him and his brother are fighting.

Once they're asleep I'm so exhausted, I just go to bed myself.

Anyway, vent over, I think it's time to just ignore it and get the work done, I'm sick of living in an untidy house.

[mum2bubba]

Some days I don't start doing anything til late in the afternoon. Some OTHER days I don't start doing anything til night when the kids are in bed. The rest of the time I just do what needs to be done throughout the day

[3blondies]

Its tough isnt it!!! I try to get up before everyone else, usually about 6.30am, (doesnt happen if i have a rough night with my 7 week old!) throw in a load of washing and shower before the kids and dh get up at about 7am. Then while kiddies are eating breakfast i make the beds and tidy bedrooms. Then once kids are dressed I take them out to the park or run errands or visit friends to wear them out so in the after noon while they have quiet time (my kids dont nap anymore) i can unpack the dishwasher, repack it, do 2 - 3 more loads of washing, iron, put clothes away, feed the baby, etc.... While baby is sleeping the kids like to help me vacuum (they are obsessed with it because ive turned it into a game) we do the whole house once a day but the living area gets done twice as there is always food on the carpet!

I usually put the kids in the bath at 5pm and thats when i cook tea (they love the bath thank goodness and will usually play in there till 6pm) they are usually asleep by 7.30 so thats when i tidy the kitchen from tea and pack up all the toys and books in the lounge. And finally have a rest with my husband!

My older 2 kids are in day care every wednesday so thats my day to clean bathrooms, mop kitchen, etc and have some one on one time with DD2.

Its hard fitting in feeds with DD2 also but we somehow Manage. I try and get the kids involved as much as possible because i feel terrible if im not playing with them but the cleaning just has to be done! I think playing with them is much more important than house work so if at the end of the day my laundry is over flowing with dirty cloths and the dishes are still in the sink im not fussed. this time with them is precious.

[Bambibambino]

I do dishes, laundry & tidying all day (or so it feels lol) and dustbust the hot spots as I go.

But in terms of cooking for the next day, vacuuming, mopping etc that all happens after DS is in bed. I would much rather play with him during the day and he is very cuddly and likes to monopolise me :p

So, you're not alone and gawd is it tiring :hugs:

[PurpleStars]

I know there are a couple of others here that use flylady as a guide for housework & establishing routines for getting it done.

Am I allowed to post the website? I'm unsure of the rules on that.

flylady.net - have a look there it really helped me ALOT. :yelclap:

[Amara]

I do it while my son is napping. He loves cleaning and sweeping, doing dishes etc and makes a total nuisance of himself trying to help. I also do some when he goes to bed. My house usually looks like a bomb has hit as I just don't get it all done.

[Misschief]

Im a single mum with a 10 month old. It is challenging to get stuff done, but somehow I manage.

Every morning I do the dishes from the night before and wash DS's bottles while he's awake in bed. After I finished that, I will get him out of bed and hang up the washing before we have breakfast. (I have a time delay on my washing machine and it is the greatest invention ever!).
Once a week I dust the house and vacuum straight after. I do this while someone looks after DS as he is less than impressed with the vacuumcleaner. Never used to have an issue with it when he was younger. When done with vacuuming, I do the mopping and clean the bathroom while he's napping.

I try to squeeze everything in 1 morning every week. Yet when DS starts to walk, he'll be going in family daycare 1 day a week, so I have that day for cleaning, shopping, appointments, etc.

[Baby Girl]

I tend to wash clothes late at night and hang them out before I go to bed and hope it doesn't rain, in winter I tend to do it Friday night and hang it out Saturday morning, it makes heaps more washing in one day but it gets done. I generally fold clothes and put them away while the kids are asleep and I am watching tv after I have cleaned the kitchen, washed the dishes, picked up toys etc etc

Floors I do Saturday morning and then usually one night through the week if they need it, otherwise I run the broom over the kitchen and bathrooms quickly through the day sometime when I have a minute. Everything else gets done when I have time, no matter what day or what time it is.

[trifecta]

I clean the shower every couple of days - while I'm in there. It takes no time at all, is much easier and while I'm in there anyway, I might as well grab a cloth and spray and wipe it down. That way there is never a need for a 'big' clean up of the bathrooms.
Same with the sinks, every day it gets a wipe after I brush my teeth at night and the loo's get some bleech down it and a wipe every 2 days or so.
I find it much easier to do a small amount each day.
Mopping is def a after bed time job though or during naps.

[ozmum]

Well at least i feel better knowing that i'm not alone and that it is normal for mums to be doing the household chores after bedtime. I do do as much as i can in the day, especially the kitchen side of it and the washing as DD likes to help with that. I sometimes do the vacuuming and mopping when DS is sleeping if DD is at daycare, but normally i want a nap too, so don't. Guess i have to limit my computer time a bit more, then i'll have more time to do it!!! So off i go to start now!

Thanks girls