Are you doing less housework ?

Like you Romola house work usually only gets done when I run out of more interesting things to do. So for me to do less would probably result in none at all! After all no-one's going to visit and see the dust gathering on the shelves or the dog hair in the corners so it can wait until I feel in the mood! If I have to be confined to the house I will occupy myself with things I enoy doing. Having said that I do keep the bathrooms and kitchen worktops clean. Some time in the future we'll all be able to travel again and the kids will want to visit us and I'll have to have a massive Spring (Autumn?) clean!

@nipsmum

another thread that has made me laugh. Everybody is so different it's great.

I clean quite a lot anyway as we both suffer from perennial rhinitis, which in a house full of books means we are constantly sniffing and sneezing if it's not dusted really well all the time. My OH suffers from hayfever at this time of year so he would be quite poorly if it was dusty too. I use my Swiffer mop thing (dry, not wet) to clear cobwebs and dust off the ceilings and it always shocks me how dusty they get.

I haven't bought bleach in 20 years - everything is washed down in hot soapy water (Dr Bronners or Fairy washing up liquid) and rinsed well. I do have some antibacterial wipes that are used for loo handles/seats and door handles but that's it. Also use steamer for a lot of things, mainly bathroom and kitchen. I have a glass splashback behind the hob and the steamer is brilliant for cleaning any grease off quickly.

We only go out once a week to the supermarket, touch as little as possible, don't go near anyone, wash bags when we get home and obviously hands and faces.

I started off by doing a bit of spring cleaning but have run out of steam. Hopefully I'll get back my enthusiasm at some point. I've been working on a project so tidying up has gone on the back burner. As no-one can visit us it doesn't really matter, does it? As long as it gets back to being reasonably civilised in due course.

I wonder how many of us who are lucky enough to have a weekly cleaner have continued to pay them in full since we went into lock down. We have so far been doing merely the essential cleaning and have discovered lots of things that don’t need ironing! We’ve also discovered the things that don’t seem to get done! As someone said on my Book Club’s What’s App stream - why waste time dusting - it’s all there again the next day?!

How long is it reasonable to feel it necessary to pay a cleaner in full?

Ours has been with us over 15 years and has a very difficult family situation at home - with a husband who has multiple health issues and is at high risk of Coronavirus, who therefore can’t work, and a daughter with a chronic neurological condition.

I wonder whether other Gransnetters have a view on the morality of reducing her income to half?

A clean house is the sign of a wasted life, so the saying goes.
I would much rather be in the garden doing jobs.
Happy Easter all. xxx

Granof412 I was thinking the same.

I am wondering about getting a steamer. Are they ok on grouting on bathroom tiles and flooring? Is there anything you shouldn't use them on?

I am doing a bit of spring cleaning along with my usual housework, the only thing I’m doing more of is hand washing, as I’m self isolating and haven’t been anywhere for weeks, as no one is visiting us, I’m plodding along

Just doing my usual cleaning with additional bits eg wiping door handles and light switches not that a lot if folk trek through only two of us. I have though cleaned the top of the kitchen units. I had intended lining with cling film so I could just whip it off in six months time instead of scrubbing again. I was told I was mad as it would be a fire hazard. The wardrobes have been calling to me since lockdown and I have managed to ignore until a few days ago. Only had the strength, more like incentive to clean out one and only the clothes not the handbags, shoes and goodness knows what else is lurking in them. A project for a rainy day!

I’m doing far, far more. Our weekly cleaner is no longer coming for obvious reasons and now Im working from home with no commute and no after school things to ferry DS to I have so much time on my hands. The house has never looked cleaner and I even scrubbed my en-suite floor today - as in, on hands and knees with a scrubbing brush and bleach. I’m v proud of myself

PenJK50 I intend to pay my cleaner in full. She isn’t costing me anything more than normal, apart from the time I’m spending cleaning. It’s not like I don’t have time to clean and it’s some exercise.

Mine is likely to want to ‘repay’ me by doing some extra bits when she finally returns but that’s up to her.

I looked in my shed yesterday and wish I hadn't! Everything that came out wouldn't go back inside, even after I had been bringing things inside! Many of us are shielding because of age or health but I was told not to clean things too much by friends in the know so I am not dusting as much because I am by myself but then I see the sun showing the dust and I rush to find a duster!

I think I am doing more basic cleaning than usual and wiping handles etc when I’ve come back in ( after washing hands) just walking every day, not shopping.

I have done a lot of sorting/ tidying jobs. The wardrobe and desk in the bedroom have been emptied, sorted and tidied and when they were empty I moved them places and they look must better changed around. I’ve also tidied and cleaned the kitchen drawers and under sink cupboard, this was particularly satisfying ! I have also done lots of knitting and read many books so it’s not all work

Pen unfortunately we’re not able to - DH is furloughed so our income has reduced and we now have the older two back from uni so our food and utility bills have increased. I can’t justify paying a cleaner who isn’t cleaning to be honest - I did explain that to the company owner and she totally understood our position, she was lovely about it.

I have never been that keen on housework and thought because we aren’t going out apart from a walk and no one is coming in that not too much extra is required.
However my neighbour who I never thought was much of a cleaner either keeps hanging out little cloths, clearly washed in the machine , so am starting to worry I am not doing enough (though I did clean my handles anf light switches last week.) Is once enough...?

Can’t do any washing as my machine has broken. Because of the virus I can’t have a new machine as we are in isolation. Washing pants ok but what about sheets duvet covers. Any ideas

Someone recently on here at the same problem Izzi and others were suggesting putting them in a bath and then stamping on them like you’re crushing grapes. Drain, rinse and then drain again before trying to wring as best you can. What a nightmare for you

Thankyou for that idea. I’ll give it a go. But it is a nightmare because when will it all end and I just don’t know what to do with all the washing

No I’m doing much more!.
We too pay our lovely cleaner as after all it’s not her fault that we’re all in lockdown. She gave us her bank details so we pay her money into her bank account. DH helps with the hoovering and we do it when it suits us, it’s not as if we don’t have enough time but it’s so boooring.
I use rubber gloves when handling the mail and parcels and don’t open for 24 hours and I use wipes everywhere and some bleach.

Stared off doing more cleaning just to keep occupied but now worrying that DH's attitude of 'it'll still be there tomorrow' is rubbing off on me.

Blinko
Too push to push...eh????

Should read Too posh to push...

I too can't enthuse over housework Romola and I often think the neighbours must realise when I have visitors due as they hear the vacuuming ! Great excuse at present as no visitors allowed of course!

Hetty, I find the steaming very therapeutic! My range has never looked so good! [Wink]

izzipop will a local laundry/dry cleaner take them?