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Retired folk - how long do you spend on household chores?

(133 Posts)
Revolucion Sun 13-Jun-21 11:52:25

Wondering how much time people who are retired generally spend on cleaning, cooking, laundry, food shopping and other household chores.
For me I think it’s about 12 hours a week as DH (who is still working) does some of the cooking, I guess another 3 hours or so.

How about you?

HillyN Sun 13-Jun-21 13:52:31

I help my DD out by cleaning at her house for 2 hours once a fortnight. I reckon I spend even less time on my own housework.

hazel93 Sun 13-Jun-21 13:54:38

I too do just enough these days - life is not only too short to stuff a mushroom it is also too short to worry about a bit of dust.
Like Ginny, once I think" time to clean that" I do but it takes a few days before I actually bother.

Oopsadaisy1 Sun 13-Jun-21 13:56:58

Just waiting patiently for this to happen (52 years and still counting)

hazel93 Sun 13-Jun-21 13:58:36

Dream on girl !!

Puzzler61 Sun 13-Jun-21 13:58:40

???

Callistemon Sun 13-Jun-21 14:16:50

I cleaned the house thoroughly about 3 or 4 weeks ago, it took ages as I can't do it in one go.

The problem is, it just gets dirty again.

Visgir1 Sun 13-Jun-21 14:23:36

Cleaner is the answer and tidy up as you go.

MawBe Sun 13-Jun-21 14:31:58

I’m not sure why you are asking this OP
Are retired people any different from those still working?
Does not going out to work somehow mean you think we spend all day straightening the antimacassars or that it takes us longer to shuffle round the supermarket?
We are not a separate species who are likely to spend any more or less time on our domestic lives than those 10 or 20 years younger - or indeed older. confusedconfused

Jaxjacky Sun 13-Jun-21 15:25:39

Saying that Maw we used to eat more takeaways or out when I was working. When I travelled a lot I had a cleaner/ironer/childminder or nanny too #lazymum.
BTW my antimacassars are in the wash while I clean the leaves on my aspidistra ??

MawBe Sun 13-Jun-21 15:38:03

Everybody is different- when I was working and our three girls were at school we couldn’t afford to eat out and takeaways in our village involved a drive. But I did have a weekly cleaner. The big difference for me is in the amount of ironing generated, while Paw was working there were 5 smart and 2 casual shirts every week . Once retired he wore casual shirts and then cotton polo necks but there was still much more laundry.
Different times in ones life bring different pressures but also different financial circumstances. A household of 5 can generate more dirt (and untidiness and laundry ) than me on my own but I am just not convinced that being retired is the principal factor.
Just off to polish my carpet slippers and knit a few more shreddies.

Callistemon Sun 13-Jun-21 15:47:50

Jaxjacky

Saying that Maw we used to eat more takeaways or out when I was working. When I travelled a lot I had a cleaner/ironer/childminder or nanny too #lazymum.
BTW my antimacassars are in the wash while I clean the leaves on my aspidistra ??

We've eaten out far more since retiring.

But I can't leave the house without straightening my antimacassarwotsits.

Greeneyedgirl Sun 13-Jun-21 15:49:08

Have a cleaner once a week. As am not a domestic goddess don’t spend much time over a hot stove, but do manage to concoct some sort of meal most days. Will have a tidy round when visitors come, but not much need for that lately. Prefer to spend what time I have left in this life, reading, thinking, socialising, walking, or just generally doing what I want, and sometimes just nothing at all……..

Gwenisgreat1 Sun 13-Jun-21 15:56:01

20 MINS antibacterial clean round, usually with my Roomba i. hot pursuit. Anything else as and when

Amberone Sun 13-Jun-21 16:16:12

Bit like asking how long is a piece of string really - everyone's house will be different, furnishings different, different number of people/hobbies/interests....

I don't really understand where this idea comes from that if you do housework you must be house-proud and everything must be pristine in your show house - or maybe you just don't have all the exciting things to do that others people are doing.

When my OH is at work I probably spend a good part of the week doing housework if you include washing and ironing (I don't do my OH's ironing) unless I am going out, and my house is definitely not pristine, or a show house. Never plumped a cushion in my life.

AGAA4 Sun 13-Jun-21 16:25:02

Like many just enough to keep the place clean and healthy. I don't enjoy cleaning and have other much more interesting things to do.

Talullah Sun 13-Jun-21 16:26:24

Not a lot. In fact my DH has recently retired and is always buzzing around tidying up. Which is fine by me.

MiniMoon Sun 13-Jun-21 16:28:05

I do enough to keep the dust at bay, and the bathroom clean. I've never been one for doing a lot of housework. The children came home from school once, to find me cleaning the kitchen cupboards. Their question, "is somebody coming?"?
That about sums it up

TrendyNannie6 Sun 13-Jun-21 16:35:09

I’ve never really added it up to be honest, but housework alone I think would be more than 12 hrs a week, but I like doing it so I don’t really consider it a chore,my house is a home and not a show house, but there’s still a standard I like to keep to , I have pets so obviously that takes time especially as they moult

annodomini Sun 13-Jun-21 17:14:04

Loading and clearing the dishwasher! If I happen to see any dust, I take an old sock (which I use for that purpose) and remove it. I did have a cleaner before the pandemic but he went off to volunteer to help the NHS and I haven't employed one since.

ninathenana Sun 13-Jun-21 17:36:26

As little as possible ?
DH is very good he knows I struggle with some tasks these days.

Lucca Sun 13-Jun-21 17:46:23

No idea And how boring to try and work it out.

The amazing disappearing OP again ?

MawBe Sun 13-Jun-21 17:51:01

A survey? Material for an article on houseproud/slutty grannies?

Very boring whatever

Lucca Sun 13-Jun-21 17:56:57

Remember the glorious pages long chat about dishcloths?,

LadyGracie Sun 13-Jun-21 17:57:47

Less than midgey

Katyj Sun 13-Jun-21 18:45:24

I deep clean twice a year. In my book that means the rest of the time I can hoover without moving big furniture once a week, dust once a week, floors twice a week, kitchen units and worktops once a week, bathrooms twice a week. That seems to keep everything looking good. Im still working part time, have my elderly mum and grandchildren to look after. I won’t be doing more though when I can retire in two years ?