How often do you clean your house?

[cookies]

How often do you clean your house? Weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly? I am talking about cleaning the whole house, not just things that need to be cleaned daily (like kitchen counter, kitchen table, sink, etc). Do you have cleaning lady come every once in a while to help you out?

DH and I are moving into a big house (over 4000 sqft). Just 2 people, no pets or kids yet. DH doesn't want to pay for regular cleaning service, and promises me that he will help clean the house as long as I ask him to. But obviously I will need to motivate myself to start the tedious cleaning process, before getting DH started.. Even though we both love to live in a clean place, we tend to be lazy, and I am concerned about no one ever cleaning anything for a month or two..

 

[elrohwen]

Honestly, only about once a month. I like to pick up clutter and I try to keep things neat, but I haaaate actually cleaning. I'll usually vacuum every couple of weeks because the bunnies get hair all over the carpet, but I only dust once a month and do the bathrooms once a month (other than a quick wipe of the counter). I do keep the kitchen clean - this is the only area where a little dirt bothers me quickly.

I desperately want a cleaning lady to come every two weeks once we get a house.

 

[zoebartlett]

Aside from the daily stuff like emptying/loading the dishwasher, cleaning the kitchen counters, scooping the litter box, and doing general straightening, I clean our condo every weekend. That's when I clean the bathrooms, dust the living room and our bedroom, vacuum the whole condo, and file mail and other paperwork that's piled up. I usually wash the kitchen and bathroom floors and do heavy deep cleaning one per month.

 

[stephbolt]

I vacuum weekly (though with three pets I should really do it more often). Bathrooms, dusting, and other deep cleaning are once a month maybe?

 

[soocool]

I have a 3000 sqt ft home, 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bath and an office. I personally clean the house once a week. (less than 2 hours)

DD cleans her own room and bathroom so that is easier for me. 2 other bedrooms are spare rooms so they get a quick once over about once a month. My house mostly hardwood flooring and tile so I vacuum once a week (I got my new Miele Polaris!) and dust once a week (damp cloth and also use the vac to dust). I steam clean the kitchen and bathroom floors (and shower) about every 6 weeks.I also use car wax on the shower tiles and nothing stcks to it (makes cleaning so very very easy)

All in all if you keep up with it the cleaning is easier than if you let things go. Putting things away immediately save loads of time.

So: if you have no kids, no pets, and don't accumulate clutter by getting rid of stuff or putting stuff away immediately cleaning will be a breeze.

 

[zoebartlett]

My husband has stated that he's "not good at cleaning," which is why he doesn't really do it. He does a few things, and he is perfectly capable of being more helpful, but I'm the one who does most of the cleaning. He'd LOVE to get a cleaning lady. He talked me into it right before we left for our wedding/honeymoon, and I have to admit, it was HEAVEN coming home to a spotless, squeaky-clean house.
Someday, I might be willing to hire someone to come in once a month and do the deep cleaning, but not now. It's funny, my parents never had a cleaning lady when my sister and I were growing up and they were working, but now that both of them have retired (and are home more often), they have someone come in once per month. They still take care of the day to day stuff themselves but someone else does the deep cleaning for them.

 

[Lauren8211]

Above the regular daily stuff like counters, sweeping, dishes, clutter, kitty litter, I would say I clean once a week. I vacuum every other day or every day. I mop, dust, do laundry, and clean bathrooms once a week.

I usually end up cleaning an hour a day, more if I'm doing my more thorough weekly cleaning.

 

[jaysonsmom]

Before we had kids, my husband did the cleaning once a week on Saturdays. I think that's sufficient for 2 people with no pets or kids. We had a deal, I cook and do laundry, he does the cleaning, because I have no clue how to clean.

Now we have a cleaning lady that comes every other week, but I really think we need full time help! Every since we got a maid, my husband has become a total slacker, he doesn't even put his clothes in the hamper. He'll occasionally vacuum or clean a bathroom if we're expecting guests unexpectedly...I also must have the dirtiest kids ever. They are always tracking in dirt, leaving food under the couch etc.

 

[kenny]

A little every day.

If there is some event or house guest coming it will get a more thorough/complete job.

 

[Tuckins1]

Weekly. Of course I clean up daily as I go, but I try to do a whole kitchen/bathroom scrub down once a week. Now that i'm big and pregnant, it's more like bi-weekly. I am completely anal about my floors and countertops....

 

[Sha]

I usually clean every Saturday. That includes tidying, dusting, wiping down surfaces, sweeping and mopping. Some Saturdays if I have limited time I'll just straighten each room and do some dusting - and leave the rest of the stuff for the following weekend. OUr house isn't too big - it's 3 bedrooms, with two bathorroms, a kitchen, dining room, and living room.

I like cleaning, actually, which is good, since I'm responsible for cleaning at our house.

 

[Haven]

Aside from the daily stuff like emptying/loading the dishwasher, cleaning the kitchen counters, scooping the litter box, and doing general straightening, I clean our condo every weekend. That's when I clean the bathrooms, dust the living room and our bedroom, vacuum the whole condo, and file mail and other paperwork that's piled up. I usually wash the kitchen and bathroom floors and do heavy deep cleaning one per month.

Just like this. We clean on Saturdays.

We have wood floors so DH mops them every couple of days, but we have pets in the house so it's necessary.

I cannot imagine cleaning a 4,000 square foot house by myself! Our house is all windows and while I love them dearly, they take a lot of time to keep clean!

 

[PinkTower]

I have a cleaning lady every other week. That is enough; I prefer to do things myself rather than have someone in my house.

 

[mayerling]

About once every 10 days.

 

[movie zombie]

DH doesn't want to pay for regular cleaning service, and promises me that he will help clean the house as long as I ask him to. But obviously I will need to motivate myself to start the tedious cleaning process, before getting DH started.. Even though we both love to live in a clean place, we tend to be lazy, and I am concerned about no one ever cleaning anything for a month or two..

that says it all. he expects you to ask him?! sorry but that in and of itself worries me. you both want a clean house and admit to being lazy. you are wise to worry!!!!! you are very wise indeed.

tell him it will be cheaper to have some one in each week than to have someone come in at 6 months to start from scratch. its one thing for you BOTH to do supplemental house cleaning but another to expect that YOU and HE IF YOU ASK HIM will be able to do so.

don't put the stress on yourselves or the relationship. getting your home cleaned is cheaper than therapy.

MoZo

ps and it will only get worse if you have kids.

 

[Gypsy]

We both hate cleaning and are lazy. We have 5 cats. We keep thier stuff clean/immaculate but our stuff slides. Since DH's back surgery and my health stuff we've had a maid come in twice a month and it's been a god send. But prior to that once a month was sufficient.


If we could afford it, I'd keep the twice a month. I just love it.

 

[LALove]

Weekly. Of course I clean up daily as I go, but I try to do a whole kitchen/bathroom scrub down once a week. Now that i'm big and pregnant, it's more like bi-weekly. I am completely anal about my floors and countertops....

This is what I do. I was raised to do a thorough scrub down (that's a real saying?? I thought just my mom called it that lol) every single week. Scrub basically every surface but the walls, clean toilets, tubs, sinks, wipe off the shelves in the fridge, change sheets, dust all the furniture etc etc. I vacuum every day because I have a toddler who walks around making crumbs and I wipe off the counters many times a day because DH cannot help but make crumbs (he's blind to them). I cannot stand crumbs, dirt, dust- it drives me nuts. I cannot relax if my house feels dirty. I only do things like taking off the couch cushions to vacuum and clean out the kitchen "junk drawer" about once a month.

I used to do it on my own and it'd take about 2-3 hours if I didn't dawdle. Now I hire someone to do it because DH and I work so many hours. I still do vacuum every day and straighten, wipe counters.. I'm kind of obsessed...

 

[megumic]

Never. DH does it

 

[Puppmom]

My husband has stated that he's "not good at cleaning," which is why he doesn't really do it. He does a few things, and he is perfectly capable of being more helpful, but I'm the one who does most of the cleaning. He'd LOVE to get a cleaning lady. He talked me into it right before we left for our wedding/honeymoon, and I have to admit, it was HEAVEN coming home to a spotless, squeaky-clean house.
Someday, I might be willing to hire someone to come in once a month and do the deep cleaning, but not now. It's funny, my parents never had a cleaning lady when my sister and I were growing up and they were working, but now that both of them have retired (and are home more often), they have someone come in once per month. They still take care of the day to day stuff themselves but someone else does the deep cleaning for them.

Aaahh, the old "I stink at it" line...DH tried that one too. He has also tried "You notice it's dirty before I do."

To answer the question. We clean every weekend. We always keep on top of daily stuff like dishes but that's mostly because MIL is at our house every day watching our son and we've learned that if we don't do it, she will. It's very nice of her but we don't want her to feel like she's our maid! We also vacuum every other day. It's necessary with a dog IMO.

 

[davi_el_mejor]

DH doesn't want to pay for regular cleaning service, and promises me that he will help clean the house as long as I ask him to. But obviously I will need to motivate myself to start the tedious cleaning process, before getting DH started.. Even though we both love to live in a clean place, we tend to be lazy, and I am concerned about no one ever cleaning anything for a month or two..

that says it all. he expects you to ask him?! sorry but that in and of itself worries me. you both want a clean house and admit to being lazy. you are wise to worry!!!!! you are very wise indeed.

tell him it will be cheaper to have some one in each week than to have someone come in at 6 months to start from scratch. its one thing for you BOTH to do supplemental house cleaning but another to expect that YOU and HE IF YOU ASK HIM will be able to do so.

don't put the stress on yourselves or the relationship. getting your home cleaned is cheaper than therapy.

MoZo

ps and it will only get worse if you have kids.

The SO is a much cleaner person than I. I can live in a "messy" (not dirty, but messy) home, no problem. On the other hand, SO was raised much differently than I and can't stand a messy anything. I only work 2-3 days a week so I'm home quite often. I am left with a list of what should be done that day. The list usually involves dishes almost everyday, couple times a week a general "straighten up" then the once a week items like laundry, dust, vacuum and bathroom/kitchen. If I didn't have a list well, the house would be a lot messier. I do the list because it makes life easier for the both of us

Being asked isn't always a bad thing.

 

[movie zombie]

yes, a list is a way to go. i can't imagine how long the list will be for a 4000 sf house, though........

perhaps a summit meeting between both the OP and her hubby [as both want a clean house and she admits both are lazy] of what constitutes a clean house, how often it needs to happen, who is going to do what, etc. then the list as a reminder. check off lists each week on the refrigerator. dates to do housekeeping. yes, it can be done.

all comes down to priorities and utilizing one's time to best advantage. i haven't read yet that anyone has a home that large and keeps it w/o help. i can understand OP's husband not wanting to spend the $ but i don't think he grasps how much time may be involved.

and it could be that when the discuss it further they decide that they're not that into having as clean a house as they thought....also not a bad decision.

MoZo

 

[somethingshiny]

I live in a small house and I think you notice a dirty house more the smaller it is. I clean everyday but I'm a SAHM. I don't have a day of the week that I do the cleaning, I do the bathrooms one day, floors one day, etc. Sweeping, kitchen, laundry, are done everyday. When I was working and it was just 2 of us, I still did it like that. I don't like to have a whole day of cleaning. I'd rather do 30 min a day instead.

 

[cookies]

DH and I just made a compromise. He agreed to have the cleaning lady come once a month, and we will take care of the day to day stuff, like doing dishes, laundry, keeping kitchen clean, etc. What a relief! I cannot imagine ourselves cleaning so many windows and rooms every month, not mentioning there will also be a big lawn to mow and a pool to clean, and DH and I both work full time.

DH plans to mow the lawn and maintain the pool all by himself. He said it would be good exercise for him. We will see how that turns out.

 

[movie zombie]

thank the graces, Cookie! i was not envying you or your hubby at all!!!!!!!!

day to day is one thing but cleaning a house of that size all on your own [especially since you both work full time] sounded like a plan for exhaustion, frustratrion, and just plain misery. and now that you've added in the pool and yard work, too, well, there are only so many hours in a day and/or weekend.

personally, i'd rather do the yard work than do the in house stuff.

MoZo

ps hey, if he wants to give it a go re the pool, more power to him. but keep a pool service number handy.......

 

[NeverEndingUpgrade]

About twice a year. Nobody around here cares, so I figure why should I? I ask my spouse to help with the kitchen because he eats too but can't cook, and he does his own laundry, but as far as thorough, whole-house cleaning, it really doesn't happen that often. He won't let me hire someone because he has this weird fear that a maid/cleaning service will "steal" all the junk in his office. Things aren't the way I would ideally like them, but I have decided to quite stressing over it because it is not worth it.

 

[Ninna]

Cleaning lady comes once a week....it's impossible for me to do everything. DH works longer hours and both of us are quite particular about things. I really don't mind doing a laundry load daily to avoid the huge pile on Saturday. There's no carpeting just a few rugs, I normally sweep the floors every other day. Counters/sinks get cleared/sanitized by the end of the day. Our oldest is in charge of the dishwasher and her room. The little one has to put his 'stuff' away every night right before story time [2 minutes]. We also keep oxo squeegee to remove water/soap from shower surfaces every single time we use them. I work on-call so hubby makes diner a few nights per week I grew up with the clean all weekend routine, but I rather work 30-40 minutes a day/every day to be free on weekends! If we didn't have 'team' work-- the house would be a complete mess!

 

[Kaleigh]

I have cleaning crews come every other week. More if need be. Like if the silver needs polishing. I have a ton thanks to Nanny....But hate for it to tarnish.


I can't do heavy cleaning due to a bad neck. 3 herniated discs. I do all the light stuff myself, I am a fanatic about having everything clean. We have 2 dogs. One is blind and deaf, so there are messes... My husband is not the neatest, so am picking up after him as well. But hey, he does take out the trash, LOL!!! I gotta pick my battles...

I loved it when I could do it on my own. I would take one day and do the whole house. And that was our old house, a ranch... I would get it done in 2 hours.

I do all the laundry and ironing. I love to iron, so odd!!!!

 

[mayachel]

I guess we "spot clean". The sheets/towels are religiously washed and changed every 5 days or so, the bunnies' area is cleaned at least 3x a week, and dishes are washed daily-I have a phobia of finding bugs/mice. Then-i have a home office. So public areas, which includes a bathroom are cleaned weekly. The rest of the house maybe once a month. Our windows have never been washed in the 3 years we've lived here, though I'm sure they could use it.

We are so lame, because we both crave clean, neat, tidy space but both of us are clutter bugs and not particularly motivated after the work hours we keep. I feel lucky, because DH assumes/desires that we hire a cleaning person, but I feel like I must be home when they are here and we just haven't gotten on top of it. Our goal is to have someone else clean the floors/bathrooms/counters every other week.

 

[asscher_girl]

We have a cleaning lady come every other week and the weeks in between I clean. But I'm also a neatfreek (hubby's pretty good too) so everything is always orgainzed and neat but I do a complete cleaning (clean floors, bathrooms, dust, etc.) on those off weeks. It's been great having those weeks off of cleaning, I love it!

 

[davi_el_mejor]

DH and I just made a compromise. He agreed to have the cleaning lady come once a month, and we will take care of the day to day stuff, like doing dishes, laundry, keeping kitchen clean, etc. What a relief! I cannot imagine ourselves cleaning so many windows and rooms every month, not mentioning there will also be a big lawn to mow and a pool to clean, and DH and I both work full time.

DH plans to mow the lawn and maintain the pool all by himself. He said it would be good exercise for him. We will see how that turns out.

I smell a pool boy in your future!!!