Explain livable v. dirty?
Question:I watch 3 kids in my home 5:30 am to sometimes 7 (usually 530-6) Aged 7 4, and 4. I'm always pooped by the time they leave! I got the suggestion before to not worry about the house being spotless but "livable." I try to sweep and mop up the muddy footprints daily, make sure theres clean clothes, and no dishes in the sink (sometimes I leave the pots and pans) Wipe of crummy gooey tables, and the icky handprints and pee in the bathroom. What else should I be doing daily? I want my home to look livable and inviting-- homey but not dirty! I need some standards to go by here! Thanks guys!
Answers:
As long as you're doing a little everyday, your house is most likely livable. It sounds as if you are doing the basics daily - if you do that, and then once a week you tackle the bigger stuff (windows, sanitize, dusting, vacuum, etc.), everything should be fine. That's my method and usually other people with kids are shocked when they come over at how clean my house is.
i think that livable is just what it says can you live like that. then the kids should too. your house should be clean but not spotless dont let food sit around for days. once a day just pick up everything off the floor and clean the dishes. thats what liveable is
You are doing just fine.
Filthy is not doing the things you said you do.
I think as long as you keep doing what you are doing and you are okay with it then it is fine.
I also make sure to pick up things and put them away quickly for a good clean look fast.
Do things in short 10 minute bursts. Make it like a game, get the kids involved too. Like say, for 10 minutes, you are gonna sweep and mop and do it in that amount of time, or you are gonna put the clothes away in only 10 minutes then take a break. I hope that helps!
Well there is clutter which is usually reasonable when you have children :) Then there is filth which includes old food, mould, dirt, etc.. and it sounds like you keep on top of that. Otherwise, if it smells ok, it's liveable :)
i have a four, three and 10 month old. i am with them from 12am. to 12a.m. everyday. i do not have cleanest house to say. when people come over they always comment on how clean my house is. the trick to keeping your house clean is not letting those kids you take care of get away with making a mess in your house. my children know that the mess in their rooms has to be cleaned daily before they go to sleep. they are not allowed in the kitchen unless its breakfat lunch or dinner. in the restroom i try to go in everytime they go in their to tidy up what mess they make. but throughout most of the day they are outside playing. noones standards of cleaning should be yours. stick to a schedule and do it everyday.
As long as you're cleaning up the normal messes, have clean clothes and a sink that's basically dish-free, then I'd say you're doing livable. If you are satisfied with what that, it's livable - you can live that way. It gets dirty when food is left on the dishes in the sink and tables are not wiped, and that fgoes on for several days. I think you're doing just fine. Set the standard for yourself: I can live with... .
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