How much cleaning is enough?

Where does anyone find the energy to change their bed twice a week? About once a fortnight for me. Kitchen & Bathroom kept clean(ish), dust when I feel like it & hoover when it needs it.

I've never been a huge housework fan, doing what was necessary, I'd rather be out in the garden or coffee/lunch with friends. Life's too short.

I work four days a week and am a carer for my DH with dementia. Doing a daily wash and a two course meal every day, organising food shops and unblocking a loo several times a week (don't ask!) means I haven't the energy to do much beyond washing up, tidying and the occasional hoover. I "treat" myself to a cleaner once a week and that's it.

Wow! grannytotwins
That sounds really interesting.
I bet he had some stories to tell.
I have a book by Daniel Farson, ex BBC reporter and his stories of Limehouse, Francis Bacon and cohorts are, to me, an eye opener.

I like to stay on the right side of a health hazard but I do like it to be quite tidy. If we expect visitors then it gets a good going over. Happily this time we had unexpected visitors the day after and it was still very presentable. Usually unexpected visitors cause mild panic!

Anmarr

Very true. I like it.

I use cleaning the house as my fitness regime which keeps me active and saves on gym fees. I am also a bit OCD and like things spick and span.

However, there are many other things I like to do such as read, walk, cook and garden.

So in the morning I am theservants and in the afternoon I am the Dowager countess of Downton.

I'm with you on that NfkDumpling. And you, too KatyK. Unless or until it gets so bad that I can't concentrate on anything else lol

My DGC keep me cleaning. After their frequent visits for a meal and playtime, my flat looks as though a hurricane has passed through!
I don’t complain, tho’ - their company and love is worth all the sticky marks and toy chaos!

I’m with you dumpling...... I clean when it looks dirty. My hubby won’t lift a finger... his thinking is ... if water flows into into it can’t need cleaning. The thought of having a schedule to live by when I’m retired is just diabolical. No schedules... no methods.... no housework that isn’t absolutely necessary to our health. There are too many books to read and too many wonderful grandkids to enjoy.

Enough cleaning is whatever you are comfortable with, even when unexpected visitors turn up.

Housework must be much easier if you have a minimalist house. That's my trouble...too much clutter to shift before getting down to the cleaning.

Anmar Brilliant.

On a Friday when my children were at primary school, I did the weekly shop early before dropping them at school. Spent 2/3 hours thoroughly cleaning our (4 bed, 2 bathroom) bungalow whilst making bread for the week, (no bread maker). Then Monday a quick clean and another bathrooms clean midweek.

We have accumulated so much furniture and stuff since then it would take me 2/3 days to thoroughly clean one room, so I rarely bother. Kitchen worktops get a daily clean but the rest of the house, as and when. I have often thought of getting a cleaner, but am too embarrassed to let anyone have a good look at our mess.

Who was it that said ‘if you don’t move anything, the dust won’t show’.

I am still trying to deal with the image of Quentin Crisp in just a shirt and blue eyeshadow.

I prefer a tidy house, but it’s the house or the garden. In the summer our house is usually untidy. Gardening is more enjoyable. Also, I take the view that on our deathbeds, we won’t be saying ‘I wish I’d done a little bit more housework’!

Must admit I’d love the luxury of a fresh bed every night (with someone else making it of course) but I too settle for a good airing all morning and make up after lunch ready for nighttime- love my bed!

If only I enjoyed housework...I just can never find the enthusiasm for it.

Is it our expectations we clan for or what we presume are other people’s?
Your house is your home not a show home.
Having said that....I grew up with a mum who didn’t know how to make cleaning fun and even once I’d vacuumed she say it could be better. Really put me off cleaning, but....I do dust, vacuum and so forth regularly but am not manic about it. Who, for example, has ever seen a gravestone stating .....she kept her house spotless. Plus.....I love sewing.
I’m luckier than my predecessors as I have a onderful asking machine, a dish washer and amazing cleaning products.
I hold the belief that too many cleaning products have contributed to some of the asthma here days.
Do what makes you happy. Xx

Grannytotwins........I would have loved to meet Quentin Crisp- such an interesting character.

Same here annodomini....on my own and believe me, I do the same , fold the duvet back for an airing...great day today for an airing...all my windows are open. Love days like this .

Once a week or maybe two weeks. Very little 'spring cleaning' unlike when I was at work. I planned to have such a smart house when I retired but life got in the way!

I'm with you crazyH. Nobody uses my bed but me. I don't always make it every day but fold back the duvet to air it.

Change bedding twice a week? I'm tired just thinking about it. I do mine once a fortnight ...

Life is too short to be cleaning - keep it hygienic but enjoy life - remember we will all be dust soon

I know someone who lives with her husband and two children and changes the bedding every day.

I knew Quentin Crisp. I certainly didn’t find his room too dusty. He had a room about the size of a double bedroom which was his living room, kitchen and bedroom. We all shared the bathroom on that floor. He would entertain me for tea and I never noticed the dust. I really don’t notice it in my own house until it’s bad! Once he invited me in wearing just a shirt and blue eyeliner!