I think I'm done with a messy house

joysworld · 04-15-2014, 03:18 PM

I can't stand it any longer. I try and try and try to just deal, but I can't. I have a 6, 7, and 8 yos and they keep me sooooooooo busy. I just don't have time to clean. But I'm done having a messy house. What do I do? Is it possible to have a clean house with kids these ages? And if not, how do I learn to deal with a messy house. Any tips?

staceylayne · 04-15-2014, 03:27 PM

Don't scare me like that! I thought you were done with us.

Regarding the house...I have no miraculous answers. Do your kids help clean at all?

Singingmom · 04-15-2014, 03:32 PM

Scared me too!

At those ages it's sometimes more work to have them help with things and teach them how, but in the long run it's gold. What kinds of things are they already doing?

joysworld · 04-15-2014, 03:40 PM

Sorry about that. Didn't even realize. I'm just so tired and done with a messy house.

They empty and load dishwasher, empty dryer, vacuum (but do an awful job). And clean their room.

The good thing is I'm a minamalist so when it's messy, an hour and the whole house is clean. But what's the point of cleaning it when its messy an hour after I clean it.

Soliloquy · 04-15-2014, 03:42 PM

I wish I had an answer for you. It drives me nuts, too. I keep telling myself that some day I will truly miss this. My kids are creative and do all kinds of projects (and even finish them, sometimes!

). I'm working on HTCI and making sure everything has a place. I do also tell them that I do not want to see ANYTHING on the floor unless it's a floor activity that they currently doing (building or something). Legos, papers, books, on the floor go to Goodwill.

WanderingJuniper · 04-15-2014, 03:56 PM

I am so there with you. I have no answers either

Maggirayne · 04-15-2014, 04:08 PM

Cleaning with kids is like shoveling while it's snowing. I hate it. :P

ThreeKids · 04-15-2014, 04:14 PM

I've actually just told my kids to stay on the couch while I clean and then for a while after. I just needed to see progress that badly. I didn't care what they did on the couch, there just had to be some stalling of the constant "pick something up, wander over there, drop it, pick up something else" cycle they do. I try to tell them to just visit things where they are, not to wander around with it if they can't put it back where it was, but there are more of them than there are of me and I wouldn't have the attention span to watch for them dropping stuff to tell them to take it back even if I had three sets of eyes.

staceylayne · 04-15-2014, 04:16 PM

We're all loads of help!

Is it cleaning-cleaning (dusting, scrubbing toilets, etc) that's getting you down? Or the tidy-cleaning of toys and papers and crayons and legos and discarded socks and Rainbow Loom bands (

) and and...?

Lady Grey · 04-15-2014, 04:19 PM

I have no solutions, just

Peaceful Meadows · 04-15-2014, 04:27 PM

Do what I do, find a friend who also has a messy house then you'll feel normal.

Seriously, you are in the midst of busy years. You have the rest of your life to clean. It's o.k. to sometimes let the house go as long as it's not hazardous.

It helps me to have the kids pickup their things in the living and family rooms before lunch and before bedtime. When I'm consistent in this, it keeps the main living areas mostly clutter free. The bedrooms are a different story, though.

ETA: I have them each in charge of an area. The oldest and youngest are in charge of the vacuuming and dusting the living room. The two middle boys are in charge of vacuuming and dusting the family room. They each have a part of the bathroom they clean. It helps so much for them to have areas they are responsible for.

joysworld · 04-15-2014, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by staceylayne

We're all loads of help!

Is it cleaning-cleaning (dusting, scrubbing toilets, etc) that's getting you down? Or the tidy-cleaning of toys and papers and crayons and legos and discarded socks and Rainbow Loom bands (

) and and...?

It's all of it. I don't even get to the cleaning cleaning because I'm so busy picking up.

Aerynne · 04-15-2014, 05:02 PM

I think you really just have to be on it almost constantly.

Sparrow · 04-15-2014, 05:10 PM

GIGANTIC LOVING SQUISHY HUG.

You don't know how much it scared me to see the title, and the relief to see it in housekeeping.

Anyway - clean house. My kids have to pick up there own stuff and put their own stuff away. When I fold their laundry (less often than I'd like to admit

) they have to put it away. If they don't put their stuff away they lose it

I've thought about getting everyone their own basket. And when I do my 10 minute tidy I just dump their stuff in there and they can put it away.

joysworld · 04-15-2014, 05:17 PM

What about something like this

---------- Post added at 07:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:16 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerynne

I think you really just have to be on it almost constantly.

That is soooooo tiring though and I can't really do it constantly.

04-15-2014, 03:18 PM	#1
joysworld Deactivated ~I choose joy~ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 4,763	I think I'm done with a messy house I can't stand it any longer. I try and try and try to just deal, but I can't. I have a 6, 7, and 8 yos and they keep me sooooooooo busy. I just don't have time to clean. But I'm done having a messy house. What do I do? Is it possible to have a clean house with kids these ages? And if not, how do I learn to deal with a messy house. Any tips? Last edited by joysworld; 04-15-2014 at 07:52 PM.

04-15-2014, 03:27 PM	#2
staceylayne Rose Garden Hopeful. Join Date: May 2011 Location: Dallas (ish) Posts: 3,596	Re: I think I'm done Don't scare me like that! I thought you were done with us. Regarding the house...I have no miraculous answers. Do your kids help clean at all? __________________ Married in 2003 to my favorite person in the wide world Joyful momma to: B - 7.5, my pensive planner D - 5.5, my spunky sunshine C - 3.5, my cuddly cutie And baby girl A, born April 28! Why, yes, I am ENFP But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:17-18

04-15-2014, 03:32 PM	#3
Singingmom Administrator Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 25,954	Re: I think I'm done Scared me too! At those ages it's sometimes more work to have them help with things and teach them how, but in the long run it's gold. What kinds of things are they already doing? __________________ Kelly Wife to my sweetheart for 30 years Grateful mom to 3 young adults Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

04-15-2014, 03:40 PM	#4
joysworld Deactivated ~I choose joy~ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 4,763	Re: I think I'm done Sorry about that. Didn't even realize. I'm just so tired and done with a messy house. They empty and load dishwasher, empty dryer, vacuum (but do an awful job). And clean their room. The good thing is I'm a minamalist so when it's messy, an hour and the whole house is clean. But what's the point of cleaning it when its messy an hour after I clean it.

04-15-2014, 03:42 PM	#5
Soliloquy Rose Garden Why climb a mountain? Because it's there! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Selkirk Mountains Posts: 52,860	Re: I think I'm done I wish I had an answer for you. It drives me nuts, too. I keep telling myself that some day I will truly miss this. My kids are creative and do all kinds of projects (and even finish them, sometimes! ). I'm working on HTCI and making sure everything has a place. I do also tell them that I do not want to see ANYTHING on the floor unless it's a floor activity that they currently doing (building or something). Legos, papers, books, on the floor go to Goodwill.

04-15-2014, 03:56 PM	#6
WanderingJuniper Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 10,819	Re: I think I'm done I am so there with you. I have no answers either

04-15-2014, 04:08 PM	#7
Maggirayne Rose Garden Standing for gentleness and honesty Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Looking for Hope Posts: 12,027	Re: I think I'm done Cleaning with kids is like shoveling while it's snowing. I hate it. :P

04-15-2014, 04:14 PM	#8
ThreeKids Rose Garden Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: .. Posts: 10,737	Re: I think I'm done I've actually just told my kids to stay on the couch while I clean and then for a while after. I just needed to see progress that badly. I didn't care what they did on the couch, there just had to be some stalling of the constant "pick something up, wander over there, drop it, pick up something else" cycle they do. I try to tell them to just visit things where they are, not to wander around with it if they can't put it back where it was, but there are more of them than there are of me and I wouldn't have the attention span to watch for them dropping stuff to tell them to take it back even if I had three sets of eyes. __________________ DS (12), DD (10), DD2 (7) And my kids were going to behave perfectly all the time and if they didn't, they'd be Dobsoned, but I was going to Dobson so perfectly that they'd know not to slip up but once or twice because I was going to be sooooooo consistent and awesome and wise.

04-15-2014, 04:16 PM	#9
staceylayne Rose Garden Hopeful. Join Date: May 2011 Location: Dallas (ish) Posts: 3,596	Re: I think I'm done We're all loads of help! Is it cleaning-cleaning (dusting, scrubbing toilets, etc) that's getting you down? Or the tidy-cleaning of toys and papers and crayons and legos and discarded socks and Rainbow Loom bands () and and...? __________________ Married in 2003 to my favorite person in the wide world Joyful momma to: B - 7.5, my pensive planner D - 5.5, my spunky sunshine C - 3.5, my cuddly cutie And baby girl A, born April 28! Why, yes, I am ENFP But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:17-18

04-15-2014, 04:19 PM	#10
Lady Grey Rose Garden Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 5,620	Re: I think I'm done I have no solutions, just __________________ Sara

04-15-2014, 04:27 PM	#11
Peaceful Meadows Rose Garden Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,901	Re: I think I'm done Do what I do, find a friend who also has a messy house then you'll feel normal. Seriously, you are in the midst of busy years. You have the rest of your life to clean. It's o.k. to sometimes let the house go as long as it's not hazardous. It helps me to have the kids pickup their things in the living and family rooms before lunch and before bedtime. When I'm consistent in this, it keeps the main living areas mostly clutter free. The bedrooms are a different story, though. ETA: I have them each in charge of an area. The oldest and youngest are in charge of the vacuuming and dusting the living room. The two middle boys are in charge of vacuuming and dusting the family room. They each have a part of the bathroom they clean. It helps so much for them to have areas they are responsible for. __________________ Sue ~Mom to four awesome boys ages 24, 22, 18, and 17 (and a wonderful daughter-in-love as of June 2022! ) Feel free to visit my little nook Last edited by Peaceful Meadows; 04-15-2014 at 04:32 PM.

04-15-2014, 05:02 PM	#13
Aerynne Rose Garden Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 27,358	Re: I think I'm done I think you really just have to be on it almost constantly. __________________ Erin born of water and of the Spirit 4/96 married 5/02 Mama to: 2004 2007 2010 2012 2017 2019 Jan 2, 2024 And many I hope to hold in heaven one day

04-15-2014, 05:10 PM	#14
Sparrow Rose Garden Immerse your soul in love. Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 17,609	Re: I think I'm done GIGANTIC LOVING SQUISHY HUG. You don't know how much it scared me to see the title, and the relief to see it in housekeeping. Anyway - clean house. My kids have to pick up there own stuff and put their own stuff away. When I fold their laundry (less often than I'd like to admit ) they have to put it away. If they don't put their stuff away they lose it I've thought about getting everyone their own basket. And when I do my 10 minute tidy I just dump their stuff in there and they can put it away. __________________ Manda Mama to: Bear 16.75 Funny and Tender. Larger than life. ENFP Max 14 Affectionate and Spirited. Artist Chickadee 8! She's Sunshine and Song. Born in the caul We have a fur baby. A cat called Charlie

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