https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:08:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people/page/2#post-2816721 Mon, 16 Apr 2018 21:07:10 +0000 gotkimchi 2816721@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Hypatia: if you find it let me know! That would be great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people/page/2#post-2816673 Mon, 16 Apr 2018 18:13:17 +0000 Hypatia 2816673@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: I think I might have donated the book, but let me check the attic this coming weekend. If it's up there, I can mail it to you if you'd like. I'll post back here on Friday if I find it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people/page/2#post-2816656 Mon, 16 Apr 2018 16:37:39 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2816656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Turtle: that's like the "have people over" suggestion to the max! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people/page/2#post-2816649 Mon, 16 Apr 2018 16:09:02 +0000 Mrs. Turtle 2816649@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another method: Become a foster parent. With social workers in your house weekly, early head start home services weekly, CPS worker monthly, adoptions worker monthly and CASA weekly or so, there just aren't too many days where you can let it get really bad! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people/page/2#post-2816633 Mon, 16 Apr 2018 15:44:08 +0000 gotkimchi 2816633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Hypatia: I really wanted to thank you for this rec - I’ve been working my way through the blog and it’s really resonating with me. I’ve been looking for the books but my library doesn’t have them. Going to search for the podcast now </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people/page/2#post-2813771 Mon, 02 Apr 2018 16:55:18 +0000 codeitall 2813771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are not 'clean' people. I've only mopped my whole kitchen floor once in the last 5 months. I don't think we've cleaned the master shower yet. But I try to not have lots of clutter around and have clean counters and table. Oh and we vacuum, a TON.</p> <p>My 3 and 1 yr olds are not really able to help much. If I nag DS enough, he'll help put things away, but sometimes he cleans up and then dumps it back out to play...</p> <p>My current method is to let the kids run wild when we all get home, have dinner, think about cleaning up dinner, decide we'll just have cereal the next night anyway and leave the mess for the next night. Then when the kids are wrapping up, I do a general pickup of toys or laundry sorting.</p> <p>Saturday is our catchup day and any day we have people over.</p> <p>Since DH and I are both, 'set the mail wherever' type people, I've tried to limit the places we have to dump. We have one designated messy zone in the kitchen.</p> <p>Lastly, I'll say that it can be really hard doing it all at once, I'll frequently just walk from room to room putting things away, but if I really wanted to be efficient, I'd just do one room at a time and make a pile of stuff to go elsewhere. I now have a little dollar store basket for that or I toss it in the hallway :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813636 Mon, 02 Apr 2018 11:54:03 +0000 Dahlia 2813636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Get rid of things. I find that the mess piles up when things don't have a set home with plenty of room to get them in and out. I put laundry away faster when I know there are plenty of hangers available and the drawer has space. Picking up toys is easy when everything has a set place. </p> <p>Between that and putting things away/cleaning up immediately (wipe that spill now, dishes straight into the dishwasher, clothes in the hamper when I take them off), it's pretty manageable. </p> <p>I try to vacuum every weekend and wipe down the bathrooms. </p> <p>My other trick is to invite friends over. I'm more likely to clean for them than us! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813624 Mon, 02 Apr 2018 11:01:22 +0000 snowjewelz 2813624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am a totally neat freak but have lowered my standards a lot since kids :happy: I also do not use cleaning people. I've used them once and I may use them bi-annually for the stuff I'd never clean like door trims, sliding door tracks, random stuff like that. </p> <p>I WOH, so the only time I have during the week is at night after bed time, which I am freed from probably earliest 8:45pm since I put our youngest to bed. DH puts our oldest to bed which takes less time, so he'd come down first and do all the dishes and any chores I assigned him (usually vacuum/mop or start a load of laundry). Then when I come down, I finish up wiping dining table/kitchen, putting things away, getting stuff ready for the next day, etc. </p> <p>I also assign bigger chores and break them down to do over the week. For example -<br /> Mon: Our landry<br /> Tues: Vacuum/Mop<br /> Wed: Flexible<br /> Thurs: Flexible<br /> Fri: Clean bathrooms, vacuum/mop<br /> (Fri for us is overloaded b/c we'd have people over and then I want to clean away all the germs haha)<br /> Sat: Flexible<br /> Sun: Girls laundry<br /> So on the flexible days it would be doing other laundry like towels, dirty rags, bedding. Or it could be I needed to organize something, etc.</p> <p>I try not to leave anything for weekend day time so we can spend it as a family. I think all the work I do constantly to upkeep prevents us having to so something so huge that is unattainable. And this is still a lot of work, but again, I have super high standards when it comes to cleanliness and clutter, so it's worth it for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813509 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 21:49:44 +0000 hummusgirl 2813509@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are total slobs but a few things that seem to be helping a little:<br /> - Podcast at night after kids are asleep so I'm being entertained while doing dishes<br /> - Husband does all laundry<br /> - I repeat this mantra from an article I read: "Clean people don't put things DOWN, they put things AWAY" </p> <p>We have a long way to go thought... I think the biggest thing would be just getting rid of 90% of our toys (which we've done in the past but somehow they multiply and I'm not sure how). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813477 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 19:06:58 +0000 MrsBucky 2813477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: the best gift I got for my dh (and my own sanity) was a set of tiles. He has one in his wallet, one on his keys and the apps on his phones. Click the tile or hit the button on the app and all of they go off so you can find the missing one. He uses it multiple times a week for the same reason. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813459 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 16:04:22 +0000 gotkimchi 2813459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Champagne: we look for my husbands wallet most mornings. I’m like just put everything in one spot!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813436 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 12:40:24 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2813436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: haha my husband also just puts tbingns down everywhere! Always batteries in random spots. Pens on the bathroom counter. 🤔 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813427 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 10:52:25 +0000 Anagram 2813427@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: yes, it's definitely never-ending </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813426 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 10:31:52 +0000 gotkimchi 2813426@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: what I find difficult is that I don’t mind cleaning if I’m alone, I find it tiresome and almost unproductive if the kids are home. Which is always :silly: in June they youngest starts preschool a few mornings per week and I’m planning for that to be productive time for me. I know we need to get rid of a bunch of things too and just overall it’s driving me crazy </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813425 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 10:25:22 +0000 Anagram 2813425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mother is the most organized/clean person I know. When I was younger, I didn't understand that everyone's house wasn't like this, but at some point in HS, we had a gathering after church at our house and one of my mom's friends commented that our kitchen floor was always so clean, we could eat lunch off it. Like you can drop in on my mom randomly, open any closet/drawer/cabinet in the house and it will be immaculately organized. Everything has its place, and everything in its place. </p> <p>But the reality is, its harder to keep a clean and organized house then to let it go to shit. That's just the truth. It's easier to clean when you basically always keep it clean, but the reality is keeping a house up takes work. My mom is the type that rarely sits, doesn't use the Internet much, and doesn't watch much tv. She's always doing yard work, house work, projects, something. She's retired but every time I call, she's in tr middle of something--power washing her front walk or weeding her garden or organizing her attic or something.</p> <p>I am so much lazier, but having kids has made me s little more disciplined because although I'm lazy, I also can't stand a chaotic house. So although you can't open all my cabinets and find perfectly ordered contents, I do try to keep the house mostly picked up. My husband is the type that puts piles of junk/paper/anything he's holding down wherever he is standing. So I find random packs of batteries on the bookshelf, cups on the mantle, earbuds in my makeup drawer, a kids game stored on s dining table chair. My main goals in life are to just pick that crap up everything before I go to bed. As PPs have said, we put dishes directly into the dishwasher and now my kids have to put their own dishes in. My husband sucks st loading the dishwasher, so I usually reorganize it and start it at night, and he unloads in the morning while DD1 eats breakfast. </p> <p>I never get around to those big "spring cleaning" jobs, but I try to keep the kitchen island clean, toys out away, and no dishes in the sink, and those 3 things make our place appear clean most of the time.</p> <p>On weekends, one of us takes the kids out to play for a couple hours and the other vaccumes and cleans floors and bathrooms. My husband is a laundry boss, thank goodness. He is great about putting things away immediately and I suck at it, so I try to remind myself of that when I'm clearing away one of his random piles of junk from the living room again. </p> <p>So he has his junk piles, but I'm bad at putting away laundry, so we balance each other out. He also doesn't "see" things like dirty appliances, dirty tile grout, etc, so I have to suggest very specifically that he do those if it needs to be done. Otherwise, he would easily go a year without cleaning his shower or cleaning the front of the fridge or oven. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813417 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 00:20:10 +0000 lamariniere 2813417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: yes about multi-tasking! I am all about clean as you go when cooking. My DH is not and it makes me crazy! We no longer have a dishwasher so we hand wash everything straight away after every meal. Otherwise we get pests. </p> <p>I also have tidy habits, like clothes never go on the floor, they go in the basket or hung back up if they aren’t really dirty. If I use something, I put it away immediately. I’m trying to get my kids to do this. I think it’s too late to save my DH :silly: . I also try to keep the kitchen counter clear of clutter and have everyone put away their stuff at the end of the day. We have a house cleaner and she does the heavy lifting, but I still spot vacuum and wipe down surfaces as needed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813400 Sat, 31 Mar 2018 19:42:55 +0000 gotkimchi 2813400@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@808love: I actually have drawers right next to the dishwasher where our dishes go so it’s not that much actual work but it feels like a lot </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813394 Sat, 31 Mar 2018 19:08:42 +0000 808love 2813394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I generally unload dishes while I am getting ready/making breakfast or just before I head out the door. DH usually loads the dishwasher just before he goes to bed. I prefer he do it right after dinner but he rarely does things exactly when I want! :) If I don't unload in the morning, he will ask me to do it at night so he can load or worse...he won't load.</p> <p>Oh and to make unloading super easy...I just unload and stack in similar groups right on top of the dishwasher area, then put away large groups of things. DH painfully does one dish at a time so I had to just takeover. Plus he puts it in the wrong place and it drives me bananas. Loading...he is very picky bc he wants everything to fit in one load and he thinks there is a right/wrong way. I guess THIS is why we are meant to be together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813393 Sat, 31 Mar 2018 18:53:46 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2813393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: ours takes quite a while too! Either set it the minute you're done dinner if that will give you time to unload, or first thing? It really takes me only 2 minutes to do but I used to put it off thinking it would take 10 minutes and I didn't want to spend time doing it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813391 Sat, 31 Mar 2018 18:50:40 +0000 gotkimchi 2813391@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Hypatia: 4 and 2 and the 2yo drives me crazy with the dishwasher so I prefer to do it when he’s napping or in bed or has tv. I do put everything in the dishwasher which is good but i do need the better detergent. </p> <p>@Mrs. Champagne: it takes a long time - the setting i like is 4:08. I generally run it before bed but the unloading is where we lose it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813389 Sat, 31 Mar 2018 18:33:27 +0000 MrsBucky 2813389@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: I bought cheap ceramic salad plates for DS to use and he has been using them since 18 months or so? His school also has them use “real” things (montessori) so it made sense and is so much easier than plastic for the same reason. And I don’t care if they break, though we have yet to lose one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813386 Sat, 31 Mar 2018 18:01:13 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2813386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: I usually do it as they finish up breakfast! So we sit, they eat (so slowly!) I finish eating before them, unload dishwasher. Really only takes like 2 mins. Or they like to "help" aka pass me stuff. I just grab all the knives out first.<br /> I do stay home though, so we aren't very rushed in the morning.. except getting to pre school twice a week.</p> <p>How long does your dishwasher take? You could turn it on right after dinner and unload right before you go to bed. We typically turn it on as we head to bed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813385 Sat, 31 Mar 2018 18:01:02 +0000 bhbee 2813385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Hypatia: I totally agree on having everything dishwasher safe! I invested in new pans for this, and more glass Tupperware, before #2 was born and so worth it. I even have the dishwasher safe cutting boards (epicurean). I know it may still damage some things over time, but I can live with that. So far so good. I use as little plastic as possible (harder when kids are really little) since my dishwasher can’t dry that stuff and I still have to leave it out to air dry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813381 Sat, 31 Mar 2018 17:45:12 +0000 Hypatia 2813381@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: How old are your kids? I set my one year old in her playpen and get the four year old to help me unload and lie the dishwasher. But I know you might not have time for that, or have kids that are old enough. </p> <p>One rule I put into place last year was that I would no longer have anything that couldn't go into the dishwasher, aside from cutting boards. I need to be able to throw EVERYTHING in there. I also buy Cascade platinum action packs because with the really good detergent, I don't need to pre wash and I can put my bottles in there. The time it saves me is worth the extra money (plus I buy in bulk on Amazon). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813380 Sat, 31 Mar 2018 17:23:25 +0000 gotkimchi 2813380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Champagne: for the dishes how exactly do you do it. Like on a regular day. You’re up before everyone? Kids get up and you do it while they do something? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813376 Sat, 31 Mar 2018 16:33:37 +0000 Portboston 2813376@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It’s been harder since going back to work part time but we are pretty tidy people. I think it helps not to have too much stuff. Everything has a place in our house and we try to do things as we go. I never go to sleep with a dirty kitchen but I also barely wash my floors (🙀) so I’d say our house is more tidy then it is clean. An easy first step is to get rid of clutter. That makes it feel way more clean and organized! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813369 Sat, 31 Mar 2018 14:51:26 +0000 MrsBucky 2813369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: @gotkimchi: I think part of the two minute rule is also that everyone in the house who reasonably can has to be trained to do it also. Like if I’m the only one? Eff that noise. But even my 3 year old can do some things- I see him do it at his school, so I have to train him to see things and do his part (this is a work in progress, obviously). So my husband also has to see (often the hard part) and believe it’s worth doing. I still do the brunt of the Home stuff, but them also contributing to the one minute thing makes it less 30 minutes and more 5 minutes a few times a day. I also have accepted that for me the brunt of Home upkeep means I’m the manager. I am most tuned into what needs doing and task it out shamelessly. My husband and I have talked about and he agrees that managing the work IS work so he knows that even if I’m asking a lot of him I’m still doing more and he needs to suck it up. If I had to nag him (I do have to remind him because his memory actually sucks) because he didn’t want to, I’d be pissed. This means I also have to accept and shut up if he does things differently than i would (omg I hate how he folds towels, but I say nothing). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813365 Sat, 31 Mar 2018 14:44:00 +0000 DesertDreams88 2813365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Champagne: same here </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813362 Sat, 31 Mar 2018 14:40:48 +0000 LCTBQE 2813362@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: yeah, the two minute rule doesn't work for me either for this reason--that's why I lump it all in at once at the end of the day, otherwise I'd be so distracted/preoccupied.<br /> @Mrs. Champagne: yeah, it takes literally 4 seconds and then dishes don't become this huge built up issue. we do hand wash all the baby stuff because our dishwasher sucks, but that's minimal pile-up.<br /> @gotkimchi: oooh, that's great! if he's home a little more and actually can clean effectively, maybe you guys could just set ground rules where it's like, x y and z get done every night before bed, and then trade off days?? or give him all the weekdays :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/organizedcleanly-people#post-2813361 Sat, 31 Mar 2018 14:38:51 +0000 gotkimchi 2813361@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: girl I hear you. I think my problem is actually my attitude because I feel like I deserve a break or to sit down after a long day or to go to bed or to check my phone or whatever. I don’t want to do more shit. But the one time I was caught up on laundry (April 2016, I wish I was joking) I had just decided I need to stop bitching and accept that wash is my problem. And then I washed and dried one day and folded and put away the next. So I guess I need a system and a new attitude </p>