Household Cleaning tips

mybestfriendsfuturemrs

WIth FI and I moving in together next week I would really like to get on a cleaning schedule.  Who would like to share their tips with me?

lisa89760

This is probably my fiance and I's biggest problem with our house!  We did try to make an old fashion chore wheel  like in kindergarden (can you tell he's a teacher?) but that didn't work.  We both have really busy schedules during the week so we decided on having Friday as our cleaning day so before we go out or do anything we clean the house up.  Sundays are for the tough jobs like cleaning the floors and bathrooms and laundry.  It works pretty good for us! 

crhein26

Set your ground rules early.  For example, I load the dishwasher, FI unloads it.  I usually cook dinner, he usually takes care of the leftovers etc.  He is in charge of taking out the garbage, I do the laundry.  Whatever it is...decide who is doing what and stick with it.  Obviously there are times when you/he can't do your job and you help each other out. 

Another word of advice non cleaning related....pick your battles.  More than likely there are things that will annoy you about FI and vice versa.  Either learn to deal with it or make compromises.  Also, NEVER go to bed angry.  If you are arguing...talk it out before you go to sleep...even if you are just angry about something...talk it out.  FI has taught me that and I love him even more for it.

Congrats on moving in with FI.  It is for sure an exciting time.  I never really had the opportunity to enjoy it when I moved in with FI.  He broke his leg about 2 weeks after I moved only a few of my major items into his place.  I had to go into full nurse mode for about 2 months driving him around everywhere.  But I never complained because living him is amazing.

rcj2rcd

I 100% agree with establishing roles - that way you know what to do and you just do it, rather than wondering who is going to take out the garbage or empty the dishwasher this week.

I'm terrible at cleaning, well, actually I'm terrible at motivating myself to clean. Here is what works for me:

1. Turn off the TV (this is an essential step for procrastinators - how many times do you find yourself starting to clean and then suddenly a show you previously had no interest comes on and you just have to watch it?)

2. Plug in your iPod and blast Motown or Oldies (in my case, last night it was old-school Destiny's Child)

Start cleaning and in a few minutes you'll feel a lot better

LindsayTiz

I 100% agree with PP. When FI and I moved in together, I did most of the cleaning, and now 3 years later, I STILL do most of the cleaning.  It doesn't bother me too much because we have very different definitions of clean, but remember, if you hate to clean, or can't get motivated to do so, set you cleaning duties early!!!

Congrats on moving in together, it's so fun!!!

Julz629

Congrats on moving in together!  Where are you moving to??

Andy and I have very traditional roles in the house.  I do all the inside work -- floors, dusting, bathrooms, laundry, etc.  And he does all the outside work -- cars, shoveling, yardwork (even gardening), trash, etc.  This works for us because I have control issues and (like Lindsay), we have different definitions of clean so even if he cleaned, I'd probably have to re-clean.  However, if we had a condo and there was no outdoor work to be done, we'd definitely have to revisit our chores list.

Also, I take care of all the grocery shopping, but he returns the empty pop cans (I HATE doing this).  For cooking, I usually do most of the cooking, but he does the grilling.  If I cook dinner, he is responsible for cleaning up (and vice versa). 

We even divided up the dog responsibilities -- I walk and feed the dog in the morning and he takes him for the afternoon walk when he gets home from work.

I think it's about communication.  Before we moved in together, we talked about what each of us was responsible for.  We don't have a certain day that things get done, kind of just as needed.

Another suggestion -- come up with a list of "non-negotiables."  The things that seem silly, but really make a huge difference.  For example, Andy requires that the bedroom clock be 20 minutes fast, the garage is his area to do whatever with, etc.  I requested a 10 minute grace period when I get home from work to unwind, we keep a shopping list on the fridge if we need something from the store (otherwise I won't remember to buy it), you get the idea.  These things may seem minor, but they make living together a lot easier.

Lastly, GOOD LUCK!  Andy and I had a difficult time when we moved in together.  I know it's easy for some, but it was hard the first couple months.  But we made it!

lndskelly

FI and I definitely had a problem with chores in the beginning - I was doing everything and eventually it really got to me. My FI claims he cannot remember to do things on his own (and I refuse to nag him like his mother) so we ended up making a chore list on an excel spreadsheet. Basically there's a column for each chore (dishwasher, trash, cat box, floors, bathroom, wash towels, wash sheets, counters, etc). I made the spreadsheet to cover a whole month and put what day each chore needs to be done (cat box every other day, towels every week, etc). I alternate who is to do each chore (if I do the floors this week, he does them next week). We put the chart on the fridge so neither of us can claim we didn't see it or "didn't know" we were supposed to do something and we cross off each completed chore.

It sounds complicated but it needs to be detailed or he will "forget"

easullins

I definitely agree that you should establish household chore duties up front.  Immediately when I moved into FI's house four years ago I automatically assumed all cleaning responsibilities.  Maybe we should have talked about this in the beginning, but my definition of clean and his definition of clean are totally different, so I really don't have a problem with him not cleaning.  All I ask is for him to clean up any mess he makes and mow the lawn. 

sammichele

We are still working on this....and we've been living together for over a year!  The gradual defining of roles has worked for us so far because we are both very laid back, but it's getting to the point where we really need to set a schedule because too much time is passing where we don't clean a thing until all the sudden our whole house is a disaster area.  I'm hoping we'll be able to get organized a bit more with that now that we have more free time (since we both have been working less than usual).

Good luck and have a blast!  Moving in together is superrrrr exciting.  

mybestfriendsfuturemrs

I am interested in a weekly chore list.  Like Mondays clean outside of kitchen appliances, dust, vacuum, Tuesdays sweep & mop, Wednesdays clean bathroom, etc etc.

If you have one to share that would be great.