Once upon a time, I was a tidy person. Back in the day when I had only myself to clean up after, I lived a fairly mess-free existence. And then along came a husband and two children and life became very busy and very messy. Instead of just tidying up after myself, I had three other people creating a mess and frequently it was just me cleaning it up afterwards.
More mess and less time to clean – it’s not the best combination in the world. That small window of “me time” seems too precious to fill with house cleaning – I’d rather focus on the essentials in the day and use that time for myself to relax instead. Once in a while though, that window of me time sees me giving the house a more thorough clean. Usually it’s not just because it really needs cleaning though. These are my real reasons why I’m cleaning my house:
1) I have friends and/or family coming over to visit and I want them to think that my house is always this clean.
2) I’m taking a photo to share on Instagram/my blog and don’t want my followers to see the clutter in the background.
3) I’ve arranged a playdate so that another child can come and help my children make my house messy again.
4) I’m trying to put off doing that really important task that’s sitting right at the top of my to-do list.
5) I’ve lost something in the mess mountain and I need to find it urgently.
6) It’s first thing on a Monday morning/the start of a new month/new year and I’ve just made a resolution to myself that I will keep on top of the clutter. If I’m still feeling enthusiastic and motivation about it tomorrow, it will be nothing short of a miracle though.
7) I’ve just done a big spring-clean (for one of the other reasons previously specified) and I’m still in that ‘isn’t-it-nice-to-have-a-clean-and-tidy-house-let’s-keep-it-this-way’ phase
Of course, my house is clean and tidy really. Well, clean enough. Just don’t look in the cupboards or too closely at the skirting boards, okay?
Ah, the skirting boards- haven’t cleaned them in ages, why did you have to remind me?! As luck would have it, my husband and daughter are both very tidy people, so it’s only really the small one that I have to clean up after, and to be honest, his sister does that for him – phew! x
Ah that must be nice to have two more tidy people in the house! Love that Boo helps tidy up after Little Man 🙂
Haha! brilliant post Louise.
I can certainly relate to number 2.
I am forever picking up after this household of males! right messy lot they are 🙂 x
Thanks Jayne – glad it’s not just me that struggles with this! It does get a bit frustrating when everyone else around you is messy! 🙂
Brilliant, I can completely relate 🙂
Thanks Sara, glad it’s not just me! 🙂
Brilliant Louise, I could have written this myself! I was lucky enough to review a house deep cleaning service recently, and it’s spurred me on to keep the house cleaner than ever before. I’m already planning to get them back in six months time 😉 #DiffLinky
Thanks Reneé – was very envious of your deep cleaning review! Really must try and book something like that, the house could certainly do with it!
Haha sounds pretty much the same as my reasons for cleaning! My house always gets cleaned more when i know my Mum is coming round lol! Xx
Oh yes, I do the same! My mum is the tidiest person I know but thankfully turns a blind eye to my chaotic house. She does love cleaning it for me when she’s here though! 🙂
I can relate to these! I love clean surfaces but my cupboards are a total mess – I’m forever grabbing stuff off tables and hiding it away in boxes so the house doesn’t look cluttered. I often tidy bills away and important letters and forget about them. Eeek.
Oh I do the same – I’m trying to be more organised when they arrive now though – have mislaid things too many times!
Gosh I can so relate to all on your list, especially #4! I do love clean surfaces, especially in the kitchen, but I seem to be the only one as everyone else constantly leaves things just lying around. The option I have it to throw them into a cupboard in the playroom – the poor children, their playroom gets the blame for being the black hole in our house!
Great post!
Clean surfaces seem to be a magnet to everyone else to fill them with stuff! We have a ‘study’ downstairs (which is really a junk room at the moment) and everything gets hidden in there. The trouble is you can’t then find anything when you go in!
there is no other reason to clean than number 1
Lol, that’s usually my main reason! 🙂
I could have written this Louise! All too true! Xx #thelist
Thanks Sam, glad you could relate! 🙂
I won’t look in your cupboards if you don’t look in mine! #TheList
Lol, sounds like a good deal! 🙂
Great post. I hate those jobs like kitchen that take you ages and 10 minutes later look like they need doing again. Is it wrong to make the small people eat outside 😉 #thelist
Lol, sounds like a good plan to me! 🙂
haha, this sounds just like me. I can’t cope with it all sometimes, I think I have too much stuff in a too small house – not to mention a toddler who is a little wave of destruction! #thelist
I definitely have too much stuff and not enough places to put it! Throw in small children and it really is a recipe for disaster 🙂
Having too much stuff in a too small house is my problem too – and then throwing a toddler into the mix is just asking for disaster, isn’t it? 🙂
Ha Ha! This is good and I enjoyed reading it. Being a mum and having so much to do can make it hard to clean and we too tidy for other reasons. It’s a good honest post and made me smile.
Angela from daysinbed xx
Thanks Angela – it’s reassuring to know that I’m not the only one who frantically cleans for those reasons and glad it made you smile. 🙂
I have definitely done the ‘clean before Instagram shot’ myself! #TheList
Lol, glad it’s not just me that does it! 🙂
Number 1 tends to be the main trigger for me. I’m glad I’m not alone! #TheList
It’s quite reassuring to know that lots of other people are exactly the same, isn’t it?! 🙂
Oh wow, do some people really clean just because their house needs to be cleaned?? Haha! I pretty much only clean if people are coming over (which thankfully happens AT LEAST once a week, so I can’t go too long) or because baby is going to have some floor time. I don’t know if I should have admitted that!
Lol, I know what you mean about being a little reluctant to admit it but good to know that there are a lot of people who do the same! 🙂
Life is too short for cleaning, However I don’t like dirt or mess 🙁 Being a grown up sucks! Thanks for linking to #TheList x
I know what you mean! Lovely to link up again 🙂
Hehe! I definitely clean up for playdates, when obviously the children are just going to mess it up again! Its silly really all the pretence, although I would definitely appreciate a cleaner tidier existence, my children just don’t share that view:-) Thanks for the giggle. xx
I do think cleaning for playdates is one of the more depressing reasons for cleaning – you just know it is going to get messy again even more quickly than usual but at the same time you don’t want other people to think you live in a hovel!
Thanks for linking up Louise I enjoyed this one!! Xx #thetruthabout
My pleasure Sam, always lovely to link up and glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Uh oh.. if you were tidy to start with what hope does the future hold for us natural messballs?
You’ve got me worried now…
x
The Crazy Stork Lady | http://www.breakingupwithcontraception.com
Lol, yes I can imagine that makes it a little more challenging! 🙂
In my house, there’s only ever ONE reason why I’m cleaning it – because we have visitors coming over! Most of the time I just cannot seem to keep on top of it. Argh!
I struggle to keep on top of it without visitors as well! 🙂
It’s funny that everyone cleans when someone is coming over because that person’s house was so clean when we visited, but they had probably only just cleaned it because we were coming over. The cycle of appearing like you’re on top of the housework, is the only way to actually stay on top of the housework!
Definitely – am sure most people are just the same. We’ve just started rehearsing for a fundraising concert with rehearsals at my house twice a week – which means that I have a good clean at least twice a week now which has been great for staying on top of it all! 🙂
I can so identify with this, I just about to keep the bare minimum clean I think. The skirting boards best never look downwards in my house 😉
Ah glad it’s not just me, Laura! 🙂
hehee – I don’t believe you! I bet your mess and my mess are two very different things 😉 great post. I ALWAYS tidy when I’ve got something very important and urgent to do. I’ll put it off right to the 11th hour. Not that I have a tidy house to make up for it…!
Thanks for linking up to #TheList xxx
Thanks Hannah – it’s funny how tidying becomes a way of putting off other things, isn’t it? 🙂
Mine’s hopeless. Oh how I miss the days of having a cleaning lady. I’m sure health and safety are going to turn up and shut us down. Loved your number 3! #thetruthabout
Ah having a cleaning lady would be bliss! No. 3 has definitely got to be one of the most depressing reasons to clean your house but I still find myself doing it! 🙂
haha loved this, probably as I can relate, don’t look at my skirting boards. I can mostly relate to 1 and 3! #coolmumsclub
Thank you – glad I’m not the only one! 🙂
I clean either when we have visitors, or when Im particularly stressed, so hubby knows a clean house is a really good or a really bad thing. #coolmumsclub
Lol, yes that can sometimes be the case here too! 🙂
Haha no. 2!!!! so much…we’ve been rumbled! x #coolmumclub
Lol, I find myself doing that one a lot! 🙂
Keeping a house tidy with two small people is so much of a challenge isn’t it! I would sadly have to add one to your list…8) Its the end of the day and I struggle to wind down to me time amongst all the primary coloured plastic trip hazards! sad I know, but I am what I am! Thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub
Ah yes, that is also a good reason to clean! Lovely to link up to #coolmumclub, thank you for hosting 🙂
hahaha Yep! That’s why I clean! 🙂 I actually hate cleaning the house for people to come over and just make it a mess again but I guess that’s just the proper etiquette. hehe
It is frustrating sometimes, isn’t it? Has to be done though! 🙂
Haha- yes! Very very familiar. Thank heavens we have a cleaner once a week or we’d be drowning in forgotten Cheerios.
#coolmumsclub
Oh how lovely to have a cleaner! Feeling a little envious now…! 🙂