tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838234360213313454.post1054911921233259847..comments2024-03-18T16:49:08.253+11:00Comments on All the Blue Day: A Housework Routine That Keeps Me SaneJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17803297366197086152noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838234360213313454.post-47075213325980243732016-03-14T12:53:04.289+11:002016-03-14T12:53:04.289+11:00Di, I am cheering for you here! I am currently in ...Di, I am cheering for you here! I am currently in the middle of selling the house, and so I am all about tidy right now. Every morning I do a quick survey of all the rooms, and put every single thing away (or get the kids to) down to the last bobby pin. Of course, many weeks of further decluttering also went into this outcome! It is amazing to live in such a tidy house, and really needs only half an hour or so a day to sustain it. So you go for it, and let me know how it works out (also hearing you on the not-enough-cupboards problem!)Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17803297366197086152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838234360213313454.post-23025623970079489292016-03-10T23:53:30.174+11:002016-03-10T23:53:30.174+11:00Just read your blog I keep a reasonable house but...Just read your blog I keep a reasonable house but get so frustrated that I never get all things tidied away. I think if I follow your idea of keep putting things away. Only cleaning when cleaning. And special declutter sessions weekly I may finally get on top of what I call the not enough cupboards problem!!! Hoping your motivation worksdinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838234360213313454.post-27792173502420340942013-04-26T10:01:53.484+10:002013-04-26T10:01:53.484+10:00I think the main reason I slowly began to develop ...I think the main reason I slowly began to develop this cleaning routine is that I HATE monster cleaning blitz sessions! Mind you, I haven't added work days to the mix. I am contemplating going back to university next year which will really test the system..Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17803297366197086152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838234360213313454.post-27734437290986044972013-04-26T02:07:29.208+10:002013-04-26T02:07:29.208+10:00I could have written the first 6 lines of this blo...I could have written the first 6 lines of this blog post myself, as it describes me so precisely!! I'm not very good at housework routines, even though I do try. My goal is to be doing a little bit as I go and have a reasonably tidy house all the time, but I seem to still have to have monster cleaning blitz sessions as things tend to fall apart on the days I work! Everyday Life On A Shoestringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06038009981638541163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838234360213313454.post-78071091000827025532013-04-24T21:39:19.135+10:002013-04-24T21:39:19.135+10:00Lucinda, you are clearly the winner at chores. I c...Lucinda, you are clearly the winner at chores. I can tell from all the way over here.<br />I am in two minds about lunch. It's kind of easier to do it myself, but that's not the point, really, is it. Can I stand for mornings to get even more chaotic? In the name of Life Skills?<br />I'm thinking of taking a leaf out of your book and staying in bed tomorrow. I have 3, yes, three, extra girls sleeping over tonight, and tomorrow morning will not be pretty. They will be making pancakes..Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17803297366197086152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838234360213313454.post-20846589744504248762013-04-24T08:07:47.272+10:002013-04-24T08:07:47.272+10:00Jo, your division of labour sounds fair. I read a ...Jo, your division of labour sounds fair. I read a book on happiness lately and it said people always assume their job is more critical/important and harder and that they do more - be it at work or at home. I thought that was spot on. Mr Sans and I always claim we have the more difficult chores! I am sure I am right!!! <br /><br />I stopped making lunch for my eldest when he was in Year 11 after hearing the author of Growing Gorgeous Boys Into Good Men. She said boys will step up to the mark and make their own lunches. We were not helping them with learning life skills. Sure enough, he started making his own. And when I offered to make them occasionally, he was very appreciative rather than expecting. I made his lunches for the HSC year but stopped again when he started uni. My youngest is a different kettle of fish. I make his sandwiches or he won't eat or will buy junk. But next year after he finished high school, he too will have to make his own. <br /><br />I will let you know how the life skill education goes. Today is "Clean your bathroom day" and "Use the vacuum cleaner well day".<br /><br />But as it is soooo cold after Alice , I don't know if I can even get out of bed!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838234360213313454.post-65899644970317766962013-04-23T20:56:07.183+10:002013-04-23T20:56:07.183+10:00Ha, your mother and mine have a lot in common!
If...Ha, your mother and mine have a lot in common! <br />If I worked outside home I think the division of labour would be a lot different. Currently, whenever The Man is home he has a paintbrush in his hand, for which I am very grateful, as I hate painting. So I think the arrangement we have is fair. He works full time, and does all the renovating (and washes the car, and does some of the dishes, and pours drinks while I'm making dinner, and fixes the children's toys, and changes the light bulbs..etc). I do everything else. Except for what I can achieve with the children by way of nagging... I mean, enabling their Life Skills. <br /><br />You know, it has just occurred to me, that I still make school lunches for three of my four children. I am sure they could do that. I have just never trusted that they could do that AND get to the bus on time.. I'm sure a 17yo should be able to manage that though. I am just a tragic helicopter parent.. <br /><br />I hope your nagging, sorry, Life Skill enabling, works well for you these holidays..Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17803297366197086152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838234360213313454.post-63603965652400808692013-04-23T20:07:10.289+10:002013-04-23T20:07:10.289+10:00Jo, growing up my response to request from my fami...Jo, growing up my response to request from my family to do chores was always, "I have to finish this chapter." My mother was always amazed I could sit in the middle of chaos and read. I still can! Which is just as well because my house is often messy. Can't help with a routine because I don't have one. More a mad, frantic cleanup when I have had enough! I continue to declutter in the hope that it wil make my cleaning and tidying up easier.<br /><br />I don't iron my children's clothes, except the youngest's school clothes. Don't do my husband's either. He does his own. We do have some divisions of labour that work for us, eg I load the washing machine, he hangs out the washing and brings it in, I fold the washing. Kids' bathroom is up to them. Except when I have guests staying over, then I scrub like mad. I also have a PhD in nagging. And now I am back from my week away, will resume nagging to get the kids to do their bit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838234360213313454.post-11938004842729350612013-04-23T10:59:07.979+10:002013-04-23T10:59:07.979+10:00Hi Heather - re vacuuming the bath tub - I have th...Hi Heather - re vacuuming the bath tub - I have three girls with very long hair, which gets everywhere, particularly the bathroom. Hence all the vacuuming. One day while I was doing the bathroom floor, I thought, why not continue into the tub? Works brilliantly.<br />I love seeing the differences between households. See, you are a very conscientious mopper, but I would empty and fill the dishwasher twice a day. We clearly eat a lot more at our house!<br />I hate cleaning windows too, so I pay the children to do it when I am up to them. And I only iron school uniforms and business shirts. I don't mind this, as I feel I have a legitimate claim to choose the TV program if I am ironing. Everyone has to watch Downton Abbey or gardening shows while I am ironing..Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17803297366197086152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838234360213313454.post-89434654350622690842013-04-23T02:49:17.249+10:002013-04-23T02:49:17.249+10:00Vacuum the bathtub? I'm flummoxed. I've n...Vacuum the bathtub? I'm flummoxed. I've never heard of that before.<br /><br />I am horrible at cleaning and I am horrible at routines. I'll spend a bunch of time making a routine on paper and by day 2 it is forgotten. Mostly every day I dust, sweep, vacuum, pick up clutter, and do laundry. I also wipe down the bathroom counters and mirrors and the toilets. At night I always clean up the kitchen after dinner. Otherwise, either my daughter or I will empty the dishwasher on the days it needs it. I mop the floors once a week, except for the kitchen which is done nightly. I only clean the tubs when it is obvious I have been avoiding cleaning the tubs. As for the windows...never. I never wash the windows. My husband will before we have a party, but I really don't give a hoot! Oh, and I iron clothes only when the situation is desperate. Wrinkles don't bother me so much, either.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14016303700981928418noreply@blogger.com