Tell the truth...is your house clean?

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-18-2003
Tell the truth...is your house clean?
24
Fri, 03-19-2004 - 12:38am
Hi everyone,

I'm new here and I thought I would introduce myself and ask a question about a dreaded topic--housecleaning!

I'm a SAHM to two girls, ages 4 and 2. They're 15 months apart.

My husband read a quote from an article about housecleaning, and how the average number of hours spent housecleaning has declined. I was shocked to hear that in the 1950's, the average woman spent 4 hours A DAY (yes, one day!!) cleaning the house. My husband and I chuckled because I don't spend 4 hours a week cleaning!

My house right now is so so clean. It's not a total disaster area, but if someone called and said they were coming over, I would spend at least 20 minutes picking up and making the place look presentable.

I'm very humbled and ashamed to say that I do not sweep the kitchen floor daily. I vacuum every other day and dusting....what's dusting?

I am just so busy with the girls, but I think I really want to change this.

I'm wondering if I'm the only bad housekeeper. I just have the notion that most people have close-to-spotless homes and that I'm the only irresponsible one who neglects the housework.

I do make efforts to clean. By the time I spend a half hour picking up toys, and doing basic straightening---I'm tired! I feel like I could hire someone--FULL TIME--to pick up toys off of our floor!

I am anxious to hear what everyone else has to say about this topic! I look forward to hearing your opinions and stories.

Angela

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-17-2003
Mon, 03-22-2004 - 11:13pm
I have to admit I have always been a bit of a clean freak, but these days since I have Fibromyalgia-Chronic Fatigue-Anemia-and a almost 2 yr old dd I am pooped!!! I don't know if I can keep this up much longer. I have let the upstairs go the last few months because I can't bare to walk up there more than I have too. I keep the downstairs pretty spotless. I have to dust and vaccum everyday with my dd allergies. I grew up loving to scrub toilets-vaccum and sweep. I do wish I could hire someone to come in and cook for me!! I would rather get take out.

Trish :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-22-2003
Tue, 03-23-2004 - 5:01pm
I always say my house is a total wreck!!!

I have 5 kids and one on the way, we homeschool and I take college corses on the side, dh works offshore so is gone ALOT!!

When I have company they say my house looks clean, I dont know if they are being nice. I think it is horrible..

Cyndi

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2003
Wed, 03-24-2004 - 7:13am
I have to say that my house is semi-clean. Mainly because I HATE to clean. I always have, ever since my mom (a cleaning freak) made us spend every Friday night and Saturday morning on our hands and knees. But, I am a lot better now than I was in my single days. The kitchen is almost always spotless (nothing disgusts me more than left over food stuck to dishes) but I am a lot more lax about the bathroom. And I agree...dusting? What's that? I could vacuum 5 times a day, every day (light beige carpeting) but I manage twice a week. I have a just-turned one-year old and one on the way. I'm tired.

:)

m

Meldi
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2004
Wed, 03-24-2004 - 9:15am
I have 7 kids and my house is never spotless ! I clean one room and the kids follow behind me and mess it up! I seem to be cleaning all day,but it never gets me anywhere! My mom was a neat freek! You could literally,eat off her floors,but she never had time for us kids!I swore I wouldn't be that way! If my house is messy,OH WELL! I have the responibilities of three families! I don't spend all day cleaning anymore! If someone says they are coming over my reply is come on over,but the house is a mess right now!If they don't like it they can come another day.I spend three hours clening on special occasions,but by the time everyone leaves,it looks like I haven't touched it! Why spend my time cleaning when I can spend it with my kids! Thats how I feel about it!

Suzanne

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