How often should I clean?...or what is TOO clean???

Lisa - posted on 11/19/2012

I sweep whenever i see stuff that needs to be swept up. I use a steam mop when the floor looks like it needs it. I do a big vacuum once a week. But I also own a small vacuum that just cleans the surface and I use that an additional 2 or 3 times per week on the main floor only depending on if my 2 year old has spilled crumbs or if dirt has been tracked through onto the front door mat. I clean my bathrooms twice a month because they don't look dirty before that. I put clean sheets on the beds every sunday. I don't move furniture to vacuum, not the heavy stuff anyhow. I have a kitchen spray that i use for the stove top and I always like my stove top clean. I clean the burners when they get dirty. I use the same spray for the kitchen counters, maybe once a week, the rest just using a soapy cloth.



In addition... if I see the fridge looks like it needs a clean i do it. Laundry gets done when a basket gets full. I have 3, one for me and my husband, one for my daughter and one for sheets and towels. The dishes get done daily, as well as tidying up the living room.



My mother literally cleans a CLEAN house. I have no interest in doing that! I would rather spend time with my family then doing hours upon hours of cleaning!



Oh also... my husband has an office, that is his deal I don't touch it!



Oh ya... if I see any toys that are looking dirty or sticky I will wash as needed!

Anne - posted on 11/18/2012

beth i relized no mattr how hard or how low we clean , our house work will always be waiting for us. i once was a clean freak, with 3 kids and my husband been my 4th, all this ended up with a fracture in my back bone, and back nerves always aching to my feet. im now 43 my kids are teens and my house is just ok not dirty and not shiny, i havent given up but if i break down then no one is going to clean my house for me . so for all u other clean freaks calm down and divide your house work to days,

Travis - posted on 06/30/2012

I felt exactly the same way, so I researched it and came up with a system. My friends wanted on too, so I started making them for friends and eventually began to sell them. You can check it out at www.springclean.blogspot.com
I am just a mom like you who likes a clean house without being crazy!

Allison - posted on 01/25/2012

I'm kind of crazy about cleaning...that's what I've been told, at least. I scrub the entire bathroom down twice a week (more if someone gets sick, obviously), I scrub the stove/counters/kitchen sink/etc every time anything is cooked, and I never let any dishes sit in the sink unless it's like a couple cups or one plate -- and even then they have to be rinsed when they're set in the sink. And I clean the oven once a week. The kitchen floor is wiped down with Lysol and a rag (we barely have any hard floor, so we don't have a mop) every day.



I vacuum every day (we have cats), and my husband changes the litter box every other day (I'm pregnant so I obviously can't do this right now). I do at least one load of laundry a day, mainly because I can't STAND dirty clothes lying around. That day's clean laundry is folded and put up at least before I go to bed, if not earlier.



The toys are put up right after they are done being played with. The only exception for this is during a holiday or birthday. But even then, everything is put up (including new gifts) before the kids go to bed.



My girls and husband know that we do NOT allow clutter in our house and we cannot leave things lying around. I'm also very strict on things being sanitary as well. All surfaces get a wipe-down at least once a day, more if it's necessary. (Especially if something messy like crafts is done that day.)



I know, I'm crazy! lol I just grew up with a hoarder for a mother so I refuse to let my house get out of control.

Claire - posted on 01/21/2012

A lot of us do the same amount of cleaning, give or take a difference here or there! No right or wrong answer - as long as it works for each individual family right?! I want to share my secret weapon with you all. It's called 1000+ Stain Remover and I buy spray bottles from the dollar store and keep one in a few rooms throughout the house, filling it with 2 parts 1000+ and 8 parts water (it goes a long way) and then I get busting stains all over the house - saves me time, saves me money and saves me energy. Safe, gentle, biodegrable - it works well in so many ways, everyday fingerprints on walls, tough stains - check it out www.1000plus.ca or http://www.facebook.com/1000PlusStainRem... - let me know how you like the 'banana-like' smell of it and happy cleaning!

Claire

Suzanne - posted on 09/02/2011

Honestly I try for once a week. I live with two boys! I put my Ipod on and start in my bathroom and work my way around he house. The sheets are done very sparodically. But it's whatever my husband asks me to do really

Valerie - posted on 09/01/2011

I think being a good house keeper depends on you alone and not what everybody else does. I was raised by a woman who demanded I clean her house to the point of spotless every other day. So naturally I am not that strict in regards to cleaning. I am a PITA when it comes to other people in the house making messes and not cleaning them up though. While I currently have an almost 8 years old and my other baby will be here in 19 days I do have to say I am more of a stickler with clean about thing in regards to the baby than in regard to my 8 year old. My 8 year old is old enough to clean up his own messes. When he refuses to I clean it up and hide the toys that he left out because he was simply being lazy. When it comes to laundry, sweeping and mopping the floors, that all depends on how much dirt gets tracked in and how much laundry needs to be done. I usually do laundry at least every other day just to keep up on it. The toilet gets cleaned about three times a week depending on aiming issues. It all depends on you and how you can fit things in with your schedule. Now if my step mother walked in she would say that my house is a pig sty because her description of clean is different than mine. I do prefer the slightly lived in, I love my house look over the don't touch anything museum look. It just depends on the person.

Alysha - posted on 08/31/2011

I've found that making a list with the day and chore you are going to do is the best.
Ex~
Monday- Dust and Vacumm whole house
Tuesday- Clean bathrooms (toliet, tub, sink, etc.
Wednesday- Wipe down Kitchen (refridgerator, cabinets, wall [if necesary], ect) and mop
Thursday- Run any errands that need done
Friday- Touch up and catch up so you can enjoy the weekend.
I do laundry as needed throughout the week alothou Monday and Friday I usually have the most. I do the kids sheets one week and my husband and I's the next so they get done every other week. I try to do base boards once a month and I wipe out the fridge as I put in the fresh grocery's. Dishes and wiping down counters gets done everyday several times a day. This is just an example you have to find what works for you. This is what I did when my kids were younger now that their in school I've found I can get everything done in one day since my oldest is in school all day and my youngest is in am pre-k but I go back to this type of scheadule in the summer. =D

Rebecca - posted on 08/29/2011

I'm really big on having everyone pick up after themselves to the best of their ability especially any spills. I do laundry once a week, sheets are done as needed or every couple weeks. Kitchen gets wiped down after cooking. Dishes are done pretty much every day (thanks to the dishwasher). We have wood floors and found that my daughter loves to help with the Swifter. Takes longer but she is having fun. I mop as needed or every couple weeks. Deep cleaning tends to get broken up and rotated as my daughter loves to try to help. I try to get her involved as much as possible. It definitely helps not make it feel like such a chore. If I don't get to the deep cleaning or have to push off doing some cleaning for a little while I don't stress it. If I have to pick which areas to clean, the kitchen gets top priority, the bathroom second.

I used to go nuts about the cleaning and then my mom reminded me about all of the strange stuff that my brother and I would touch/put in our mouths as kids and how we were fine and that a little dust and clutter is not going to hurt anyone (exception being dust allergies). Plus since my daughter has hardly ever been sick in her 3 years, I don't worry about it.

Lucy - posted on 08/21/2011

Hmm... I tend to have a "cleaning day" once a week where I vacuum, dust and clean the bathroom, but other than that I just get the little jobs done as they need doing. Unless I've been baking or something else that as required a lot of dishes, I let them pile up through the day, then throw them all into the dishwasher at night. I have 2 laundry baskets, one for light and one for dark, so that when one gets full I can just tip the whole thing into the machine and switch it on! Sheets get done about every other week... So, as low-maintenance as possible, but it does bug me if things get dirty, so I definitely keep on top of things.

Jen - posted on 08/15/2011

My husband and I are both stay at home parents to a 5 month old daughter. We do our dishes and bottles every day-every other day, depending on what we need and how messy everything is. Our counters and our stove get scrubbed every time we do dishes. The bathroom sink and toilet get scrubbed every 3 days. My husband does laundry once a week (we're in a building it's a pain). We vacuum when we notice our black cat has covered our hallways, but not before. And, our babies blankets and bedding get washed every week... ours... well if she spits up we'll wash them with that weeks laundry, if nothing major happens we can wait it out a month :p I'm a better parent if I spend time with my child making sure she has every thing she needs. My husbands friend told him "Baby comes first, let your house burn down if you have to." That advice has been most helpful so far.

Tara - posted on 08/14/2011

Forgot to add washing clothes is my down fall We don't have a washer or dryer so I have to go to the laundrymat so when I go it takes me all day because I only go when we start to run out of clean clothes.. lol

Tara - posted on 08/14/2011

I sweep/mop the kitchen at least once a day and the same for my living room. I don't have carpet so I don't vacum. Because we have hardwood floors Jared's cars go under my sofa so I pull it out once a day. I scrub the counters everyday before bed. dishes are done twice a day. Bed are only made if company is coming.
I will be honest when I worked full time sometimes it would be a few days between mopping but now that I"m laid off I do it everyday because I find ittakes less time to deep clean if I do other stuffeveryday....Also I try to do one big job that I hate once a day(such as clean the desk off). My grandmother always said as long as your dishes were done and people could find a seat you were good. Don't go crazy just do what you can.
Also I find it much easier to play the clean up game with Jared so that he picks up most of the toys so I clean sweep and mop.

Nicole - posted on 08/04/2011

um, I am constantly cleaning something or someone it seems, and nothing ever gets done. I'm not at all a good housekeeper (I should be doing better since I'm a SAHM)

Crystal - posted on 07/29/2011

I know I should clean more, but as a Stay-at-home I just can't get motivated until it gets overwhelming. I vacuum every other day(maybe) and I sweep once a week (though, the kitchen is off limits) and I do dishes every other day.. I clean counters every day and I clean tub and toilet once a month.. clean the stove once a week at least and I clean the baby every 3 hours! lol If I can find motivation, I can clean like crazy, but it no longer exists in this house!

Amanda - posted on 07/19/2009

because we live in an apartment cleaning doesn't take me as long to do so i'll try tidy things up after my daughter goes to bed. sunday mornings are usually the time when i do the big stuff (tubs, toilets, etc.) my daughter is a messy eater and likes to throw things so i vaccuum everyday or atleast every other day. i just find the time.

Daniela - posted on 07/18/2009

Im Glad you asked this question as i have been wandering the same thing lately, especially since im a full time stay at home mum. I guess i see it as my responsibility since hubby is at work contributing finacially.. (sad isnt it?). I wipe down benches ect daily and sweep almost daily as the floorboards seems to get so dirty and dusty quickly. Mopping, vacuuming, furniture dusting i try to at least do once a week. laundry (the worse) can be every second day or so.. depends. I have moments of being on top of it and moments of total laziness which then leads to guiltiness lol etc But its true balance is important and quality time with hubby and bubby is important so there are times where i have had to turn my back on a not so spotless house and go on an outing with my family. At the end of the day its these moments that make me smile and feel content

Heather - posted on 07/17/2009

I am a full time working mom so this is a tough one for me. Our house is always kept tidy for the most part. As far as cleaning is concerned I broke down and pay someone to come to my house once a month to do a deep cleaning (she uses organic products and a hepa filter vacuum). I honestly don't do much in between besides wiping down counters and taking out trash and sweeping kitchen floor. I would love to do more but I don't have the $$ or energy. i prefer to spend every moment away from work playing with Anna...

Erika - posted on 07/16/2009

the basics like wiping down stuff gets done every day/every other . Vaccum/ Bathrooms once a week and major cleaning once a month (scrubbing/carpet clean/rearrange furniture) Oh and my "fav" laundry once a week cuz i just dont have time to do it more... plus thats like an all day thing..bed sheets once a month or a switch them out/rotate.



as long as my place looks presentable/decent 90% of the time im okay with it. life aint perfect therefore my house isnt gonna be either...

Amy - posted on 07/16/2009

Well, I probably don't clean as much as I should...I only have wood floors in my house, so I have to sweep every other day (probably should do it every day, but I just don't have the time). I don't mop very often - probably every other week. Tubs and toilets - probably every other week, too, but my husband helps out with that a lot. We probably wash our sheets about the same - every other week! lol I definitely clean the stove every day...it just gets gross if I don't, but it's a flat cooktop, so it's easy to clean. My husband is a freak about the kitchen counters, so he uses the antibacterial stuff on the counters every night, lol. I am so blessed to have him around!



I think as long as your cleaning doesn't rule your life (for instance, you could ignore the fact that something needs cleaning if you have an improptu tickle fight with your kids), then you're alright. When your kids are out of the house, they probably won't remember the cleanliness, they'll remember the experiences and the relationships that were built there. As long as you keep that in mind, I think things will be fine! :)