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Housework, am I alone?

(182 Posts)
lincolnimp Wed 20-Sept-23 13:20:45

Am I alone in doing as little house work as possible---usually only when we are expecting visitors?
Toilets are obviously cleaned regularly, as are kitchen work surfaces /sinks and cooker. Regularly does mean when they need cleaning!!!

I just have far more interesting things to do with my life, as well as newly imposed Grandparent duties. Some of you may know why these duties are non negotiable .

travelsafar Wed 20-Sept-23 23:30:59

I have a cleaner too. She comes once a fortnight for 2hrs and goes through the whole house. It eould take me all day!! I much rather go out and about than worry bout housework. There is only me so the place doesn't get in a mess really. My lovely neighbour cuts the grass and i try to keep up the rest. My plan is to let the end of the garden go wild and as I can't kneel I will just have pots of flowers along with the plants that come back each year.

Maggiemaybe Thu 21-Sept-23 00:00:05

Yes, a tidy house is a clean house, to my mind anyway, and I do the bare minimum. I have a few “must dos” - I can’t abide an unmade bed, for starters. And I could certainly do with a major declutter to make the tidying easier - there’s a multitude of sins hidden away behind those cupboard doors. blush

Tizliz Thu 21-Sept-23 12:03:34

I didn’t know whether to be embarrassed or grateful when my OH’s friend was doing something to our hifi cabling and said ‘pass me a duster’

netflixfan Sun 24-Sept-23 11:10:48

This is very refreshing. I’m not the only housework averse person in this community. My mum used to say oh put salt on it (?) get out in the park with the children. Even though she was quite immaculate herself.

Quizzer Sun 24-Sept-23 11:11:04

Great to hear that so many others clean as often (or not so often) as I do!
I have friends who either spend hours cleaning a home that no one else ever sees, or a fortune on professional cleaners. My MIL was an obsessive cleaner and I often felt guilty that I didn’t spend the same amount of time as her.
Not feeling guilty now!

Nannan2 Sun 24-Sept-23 11:15:53

Recklessgran- that reminded me of when my eldest granddaughter was little-i had her to stay a few days,and there were toys all over at end of day from her& my own 2 youngest boys playing(very similar in ages) so i said "come on lets tidy up then" & she asked,"why, whose coming?" (Said a lot about her own house too)😂

Susieq62 Sun 24-Sept-23 11:18:32

I loathe housework but I do like things clean and the wet areas are done regularly! I had to remind the other half that two of us live here as I was cleaning the lounge of cat hair and he was complaining! He did get up and mop floors plus he hoovers when he remembers 😂
Dust if you must but isn’t it better to …..

If I could afford a regular cleaner I would employ one ! The upper floor gets done when we have a visitor otherwise it stays as it is! Life is too short to worry about housework but then I do have a blitz occasionally on a rainy day !!!

Witzend Sun 24-Sept-23 11:19:08

I used to know someone who almost invariably met me at the door with a cloth or duster in her hand, saying, ‘I haven’t sat down all day!’
The houses were small prefabs on a construction camp in Oman - what on earth she found to do in it all day I have no idea.
But IMO you’re either born with the endless-cleaning gene, or you’re not.
Thank goodness I was not!

ninamoore Sun 24-Sept-23 11:19:59

Absolutely not alone. Basics for me, unless visitors due. Only dust when the sun shines on it. Way to go 👍

grandma1949 Sun 24-Sept-23 11:21:27

We live out in the countryside, surrounded by fields and very muddy lanes. Our two very big, long haired dogs bring in leaves, twigs, lots of mud and hair. So our kitchen floor frequently has the appearance of a farm yard. No point in getting stressed about it. Love and kindness lasts much longer than a shiny floor.

kwal Sun 24-Sept-23 11:21:28

I'm a crafter so housework is at the bottom of my list. When it gets to the stage where it HAS to be done I do it but not willingly. Life is too short.

JayDee60 Sun 24-Sept-23 11:21:39

I’m exactly the same. I do hoover each day including kitchen floor, mop about once a week or when it need it. I was looking at my window blinds and what a job they’ll be so that’s on hold. Don’t feel bad, as long as it looks tidy and smells nice what harm is it doing. Enjoy your own time.

grannyro Sun 24-Sept-23 11:23:05

I hate housework with a passion, there are so many other things I would rather do. I do have a fair few visits from family and friends so I just clean before they come. Otherwise the house is tidy and work services and toilets and bathroom are wiped over regularly but I can live with a bit of dust!

Laurensnan Sun 24-Sept-23 11:24:08

I do the least possible nowadays. I keep it tidy and it looks clean ....but it's not 🤣. I have grandkids I see most days, I have a dog who I love being with and getting outside with and I have my husband who I like to spend time with. I have a sister I go see every week. It's just me and my hubby at home so who cares 🤷. If I had visitors I'd do a clean , other than that I wait til things look like they are begging to have a clean🤪 I saw my mum and mum in law cleaning a lot well onto their old age, and I look back now they've gone and realised what a waste it was. I'm 62 and I don't intend wasting my last 10 or 20 years cleaning. As I write this I'm sitting outside a coffee shop with my dog watching life ....and the bathroom has needed cleaning for ages 🤣🤣

Witzend Sun 24-Sept-23 11:25:33

kwal

I'm a crafter so housework is at the bottom of my list. When it gets to the stage where it HAS to be done I do it but not willingly. Life is too short.

Me too.

Nannan2 Sun 24-Sept-23 11:25:59

Do as lttle as possible due osteoarthritis &other problems- do toilets& sinks &worktops, &laundry,& we vac when needed but go a bit 'all out' best we can if visitors due😅Used to have a cleaner but she is too far away now....

Cabowich Sun 24-Sept-23 11:27:14

I loathe housework - I do it, but find no pleasure in it whatsoever, and am in a grumpy mood for however long the job lasts. It is a huge relief when it is done and I can get on with something more interesting.

Evans64 Sun 24-Sept-23 11:27:28

Absolutely not alone!! There are so many more important things to do in life than constantly cleaning. Like you, our house gets a thorough clean when we’re expecting visitors! Nice to know I’m not alone 😁

Greyduster Sun 24-Sept-23 11:33:54

No, you’re not alone but I found myself sticking to the kitchen floor this morning😳 so desperate times call for desperate measures! When I can write my name in the dust and read it from the sofa, I think seriously about it!

Buttonjugs Sun 24-Sept-23 11:40:41

So refreshing to read this as I thought I was alone! I have a son with ASD and he messes up the bathroom every day. He uses orange shampoo for a scalp condition that stains everything somehow and there’s toothpaste on the sink and floor so I have got into the habit of cleaning the bathroom before I have a shower. I have a sacroiliac problem so get backache really quickly when standing still and leaning forward so I can’t do much at a time. I have a gardener once a month during the summer. I have also learned to be less fussy about clothes because ironing hurts my back too. I used to do it for other people as a business up until Covid too! Like others I do have a bit of a blitz when expecting company, I just have to do one thing a day leading up to it!

Amalegra Sun 24-Sept-23 11:41:10

I do just enough cleaning now for the place to be respectable! I am a tidy person and live alone so it is usually not too bad. Kitchen is not used excessively as I rarely cook a full meal just for myself, only when guests/gc around. Bathroom cleaned daily- not much mess there anyway. I have always disliked housework and never gained the satisfaction from it that I have observed in others. It is a necessary evil as far as I am concerned- so many more interesting things to do! My former sister in law would often chirrup how she loved to ‘keep house’. It filled me with horror!

Jaxie Sun 24-Sept-23 11:42:07

Posts very reassuring. I’m 80 & scared about turning into a repulsive old woman whose guests don’t fancy drinking out of my cups. The dishwasher is invaluable for that. I have a problem with damp though so use a dehumidifier & sniff the air frantically when I return to the house after an outing. It’s a constant battle with mould on window frames. Quite depressing really as I’ve always had better things to do than mindless dusting & cleaning. If only I’d had a ceramic kitchen sink instead of a composite one which stains & scratches. I shan’t go on…

Saggi Sun 24-Sept-23 11:42:22

Only do any housework ( apart from the obvious essentials to stay healthy!) when anyone is coming over ….my sons due in an hour to do some jobs and eat a roast with me in payment …..but apart from a sluice around the loo ( so he can report to his sister that I am ‘ looking after myself!) …I’m drinking a glass of plonk as I prep lunch😂

Missiseff Sun 24-Sept-23 11:44:22

I like it. I like a clean house. Hate dust and cobwebs.

Oopsadaisy1 Sun 24-Sept-23 11:48:54

I do housework when I’m stressed.

I’m stressed roughly 3 days a week………….

However, I don’t iron bedding or towels.