New Posts  All Forums:
 

Falling behind

post #1 of 22
10/19/10 at 11:04am
Thread Starter 
If you aren't able for some reason to stay on top of things, how long does it take for your house to fall into disarray?

I came down with a bug and just didn't have the energy to keep up for a couple days, and in that short time- my house fell apart.

Off to go find the 15 minute thread again lol...

You may also like:

Sitting or Squatting: What's Really Best in the Bathroom?
There Is Not Always a "Fix" For the Difficult Child
10 Things You Don't Need For a New Baby
post #2 of 22
10/19/10 at 11:17am
a couple of days. i have to remind my 10yr old twice a week to check her room.

between her and my dh, if i don't clean up after them for a weekend or so, it gets messy. as far as dishes, sweeping. luckily, my kids are at that great age, where they don't have constant messes of toys. just the dumping of bookbag/school papers.
post #3 of 22
10/19/10 at 11:27am
Thread Starter 
I have an 8 year old, and two toddlers. I know it *will* get better, but oh my gosh!
post #4 of 22
10/19/10 at 2:06pm
with four kids? It takes about 5 minutes for everything to be in disarray.

But really, if I don't keep up on dishes, laundry, picking up, etc., as needed, it seems like a day or two and the house can become a disaster.
post #5 of 22
10/19/10 at 2:15pm
Thread Starter 
Well, at least I'm not the only one with a house that falls apart unless I am really on top of it.

Ugh- my kitchen is calling to me, but my one year old is napping in there...
post #6 of 22
10/19/10 at 2:39pm
Two days? Pretty quickly, it seems. Our house is on the market right now and I'm surprised at how much I have to do daily to keep it in show-condition. Ugh.
post #7 of 22
10/19/10 at 3:49pm
Five minutes?

Seriously though, if I am not CONSTANTLY vigilant it comes apart. Two teenagers, two toddlers and an infant. I think the teenagers are worse than the toddlers!
post #8 of 22
10/19/10 at 4:06pm
Thread Starter 
It is pretty astounding how fast things come apart, really. My daughter can make the biggest messes, but she is usually willing to help clean them up as well. The little ones though- yikes!

Even that though is usually more a matter of picking up than really cleaning. The cleaning seems to be the every day life effect- laundry and the kitchen counters and the general need to *clean* everything that becomes overwhelming. I make enough messes to add to it all as well.
post #9 of 22
10/19/10 at 4:28pm
Within a day, I think. Especially in the kitchen. I have a 4 month old, 2 year old, 4 year old and 6 year old and we are pretty living on the edge of chaos.
post #10 of 22
10/19/10 at 5:02pm
even one day is hard for me! then it's no longer just "maintenance" you know? catching up sucks! however i wouldn't say that doing both today and yesterday's work would take twice as long as just today's. i mean, doing two days' worth of dishes doesn't take twice as long as one day - because i've already got the sink full of hot water, and i only have to wipe down the counters once, not twice, etc.
post #11 of 22
10/19/10 at 9:02pm
A day maybe, two if Im lucky..
Usually even by the end of the weekend the apartment isn't as clean as it should be and Im there and an active participant. Im just not cleaning as much as I do during the week.
post #12 of 22
10/20/10 at 12:04am
I am in the same boat, have had a few difficult weeks...first I was sick, then my son became sick...he has whooping cough we just found out, there is an epidemic of it at the moment.

Plus my two daughters have had health problems which have required me to go with them to have tests done and visit specialists, all of which takes a lot of time, so I haven't been home enough to get the housework done properly.

I am starting to feel very stressed from all the health issues and worrying about the house falling behind is not helping!

I think I need to cut myself some slack and remind myself it is not the end of the world if the house is not spotless.

Oh and I'd say it only takes 5 minutes here too...with 2 teenagers and one 8 year old boy, that is enough for a mess to be made in no time.
post #13 of 22
10/20/10 at 10:22am
Things start to go downhill within a day, and are in disarray by the end of day 2 if we aren't staying on top of it.
post #14 of 22
10/20/10 at 10:41am
Complete disarray would probably take 3 days
post #15 of 22
10/20/10 at 11:23am
Less than one day to get crazy. Two to get really backed up. Three to get overwhelmed.
post #16 of 22
10/20/10 at 2:10pm
Thread Starter 
I think I've largely reclaimed the place, luckily I live in a small house- so it's quick to clean but it gets messy fast as well.
post #17 of 22
10/20/10 at 3:41pm
From clean to embarassing disaster? Less than a day, if I did nothing to keep up...
post #18 of 22
10/20/10 at 5:08pm
About a day, maybe two. We are in that situation right now, we had a very busy weekend, then sick kids, sick parents and now we had to tackle some outside work, so the inside was on hold.

I tried to keep up, but I just couldn't. I am getting back on track now.
post #19 of 22
10/20/10 at 10:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drummer's Wife View Post
with four kids? It takes about 5 minutes for everything to be in disarray.

But really, if I don't keep up on dishes, laundry, picking up, etc., as needed, it seems like a day or two and the house can become a disaster.
Exactly!
post #20 of 22
10/20/10 at 11:42pm
Yup, we have a full house so it takes a day. Sometimes less. Sigh.

You may also like:

Sitting or Squatting: What's Really Best in the Bathroom?
There Is Not Always a "Fix" For the Difficult Child
10 Things You Don't Need For a New Baby