How do you do your housework?

[Sugarlump]

I have this really good new system.
I do everything in short (10 minute) bursts.
Before I used to think Oh God I don't have the time or energy to clean the kitchen ... now I break it down into little jobs. (Like cleaning out one or two cupboards ...tidying up the cutlery drawer...watering my herbs...
folding up the washing).... and gradually everything starts to shape up and stay under control. Drew still does the heavy stuff, like hoovering, cleaning windows, emptying the bin and suchlike.
I also like to put everything away rather than down. Now that does save a lot of time and energy.
If someone is coming round I like to make sure the sofa is empty except plumped up cushions. The downstairs cloakroom is clean with a fresh towel. The Coffee machine ready to go.
And all that only takes 10 minutes!!!
Priorities on how you expend your energy!
How do you tackle yours?

[kristina]

Good question Sugarlump, especially since some of dialysis-sessions can be very exhausting...
My husband and I have discovered a way to keep our household always very clean and we are quite happy about our "system" ...
We have discovered some very special wipes (Duzzit floor wipes) and for some reason they are absolutely perfect
for dusting all our furniture only once a week, because these dusters prevent any dust to collect on our furniture for at least one week...
That alone cuts down the time in dusting... hovering is also once a week and our carpets are always perfectly clean...
... Our bathroom is cleaned very thoroughly every day - as it should ...
... Our cooking-dishes are washed - bit by bit - whilst we are cooking, husband washing the dishes, me drying them
and that particular "system" cuts our time a lot in washing-up after a meal...
Our windows are quickly cleaned once a months etc.  and the glass-frames of some of our paintings are carefully cleaned once or twice every year...
... all our lamps are cleaned twice every year as well etc.
... Our used towels are washed once a week in the washing machine with the hottest temperature ...
...  our cooker is cleaned every day and the inside of our fridge is washed & disinfected once every week  ...
... Those are our "essential basics" and we are quite happy about this simple "system" to keep our place always very clean without doing too much about it...
It also helps a lot to use those little energy-bursts for these "not so favourite" activities, but we always make sure that we don't do too much about it at once,
in order to allow us both enough time for our other activities... i.e. me piano-playing and learning a new piece againand my husband enjoying his research...
Best wishes from Kristina.

[Sugarlump]

Glad you mentioned the fridge Kristina! I am very OCD about my fridge.
I like to wipe it out weekly, then fortnightly take everything out and wash the shelves, crisper and door drawers and then put everything back neatly.
I like the air to be able to circulate around the food.
I also check dates on perishable food and throw stuff away. At least it reminds me each time of what I have in the fridge!

Little tip: Don't ever look in anyone else's fridge!!! It will scare you to death.
I mean, yes because of our weakened immune systems we need to be extra careful, but other people (shudder)'s fridges, stuffed full of food and looking like they haven't
been cleaned in months...     

I have hard floors downstairs, wood and lino, and we use a swifter brush daily (that collects up dust and dog hair) and then hoover most days too.
I have recently invested in a triangular head steam mop. Wow that gets things clean!
I love to walk barefoot on the floors once I have used that...lovely feeling

[Rerun]

I do it in short bursts too:  $10 for the neighbor girl to vacuum  $10 for her brother to mow my lawn. 

           

[kristina]

I agree Sugar,
Making a point of cleaning the fridge once every week and changing all the towels once every week plus changing the bed very regularly ...
... and changing our clothes every single day after the shower etc. is all very vital when accommodating our compromised immune system due to ESRF...
... Please tell me: what sort of "swifter brush" do you use? ... And was it expensive to buy?
... And what sort of "triangular head steam mop" do you use and did it cost lots of money?
Thanks again from Kristina.

[Sugarlump]

The swifter brush came from Sainsburys Homebase (It's a JML one) and cost about £10.
The steam mop is a Beldray triangular head mop, has quite a few attachments for doing things like oven tops or bathroom tiles etc
and it cost about £30. Well worth it 

[Michael Murphy]

When I was single I learned up disturbed dust don't bother me, dusting causes my allergies to go berserk.  Now that I am married well  pick up or be nagged.
Picking up is easier and to be honest fairer.

[kristina]

The swifter brush came from Sainsburys Homebase (It's a JML one) and cost about £10.
The steam mop is a Beldray triangular head mop, has quite a few attachments for doing things like oven tops or bathroom tiles etc
and it cost about £30. Well worth it 

Thanks again Sugar, I have just looked up these two "little helpers" on the Internet
and I shall soon make my way to Sainsbury's Homebase ...
Thanks again from Kristina.