How do you keep your house tidy so it does not overwhelm you?

[Amanda471]

With 3 little kids and a hubby that works all the time, I do everything around here and it feels overwhelming sometimes...if I even take a little time off the constant routine of laundry, dishes, tidying up, dusting, vacuuming, to do something with the kids, I feel overwhelmed...do you ladies have any tricks to help you get it all done??  All that plus we get an amazing amount of papers into this house-newpapers, notices from my kids' schools and homework type stuff, mail...it's crazy.  I try to sort it, file it and recycle it as fast as I can but it always seems to build up so quickly.

Can't really ask my hubby for more help...he works night shift every day of the week and sleeps most of the day and I guess I feel it's not fair to say, "...hey you have to help me clean rather than spend time with the kids."  I just would like to more organized & not break out into a sweat when someone comes to our door....lol! :) 

[Bigmetalchicken]

Check out Flylady.com.  She has great tips.

[mrsary]

I do it on weekends. This morning vacuumed & did laundry after I dressed the kids & fed them breakfast. I wash dishes after every meal though.

[MonicaJP]

It's really hard with little, little ones....

I've always been very OCD with cleaning, but I can say after all my kids were in school, it was WAY easier. :)

[JJJMommyKris]

I am overwhelmed too so bump for ideas

[my4boys2002]

I do 2 rooms each night

[MumsTheWord571]

I do the basics every day as I go. Then I have a list of the big stuff I want done for the week. No more than 10 things on that list. I complete as many as I can during the week and when the week is up whatever didn't get done is carried over to the next list.

[MommyAddie]

This is how I started and I don't even need her anymore! But I followed her for 9 years. I was a complete slob, could not manage my household for anything. Now I'm the most organized and clean housewife you could meet. It takes work, I stick it out in the kitchen a little longer than I want to at night to make sure it's done, and I make the bed every day, etc. And yes, it feels like it never ends because it doesn't. But it's easier than letting my house get out of crontrol and trying to start from there. Whenever I'm a little frazzled with it, I do this: everytime I go into the bathroom (for example) I do something to leave it better than I was before I went in. Windex the mirror one time, throw some cleaner in the bowl the next. If I have big cleaning, i work in spurts - I put on a tv show and work during the commercials (has really helped while I'm pregnant, keeps me from getting to exhausted.). Good luck!!!!

Quoting Bigmetalchicken:

Check out Flylady.com.  She has great tips.

[MommyAddie]

I want to add that it works so well that I've been able to let people into my house with no notice. Years ago, my exhusband and I visited a church and their pastor and asst pastor would show up to visit unannounced and I would make the ex talk with them on the porch because the house was disgusting. My df and I currently have our house for sale and I've had people knock on the door to ask questions and if df is home, I will let them in to look around on the spot. You could knock on my door before I'm out of bed and I could be comfortable letting you in. Definitely give it a try.

[Angelknot8]

I know what you mean I have 4 kids and its never ending. My house is small it feels like that theres no where to put anything, I have no closets so yeah I know what you mean!

[Lindalou907]

Don't have too much stuff,keep cleaning supplies under every sink,including rags,once your bathrooms are clean,touch them up every day,it's WAY easier to take 5 minutes a day than it is to wait a whole week,plus,your bathrooms will always look nice. Open your mail over a trash can,don't have more than 1 pile of "important" papers. File everything you can right away.Teach your little ones to put a toy away before they take out another one,and to help you fold laundry,clear their dishes,whatever they can do,I know it's easier to do it yourself,but believe me,you'll ALWAYS be doing it if you don't get them in the habit of cleaning,I learned that the hard way! Have them make their beds and do their chores BEFORE there's any play time or TV time or computer time. Praise them for helping,brag about them when they can hear you.