How much housework do you do?

Published

Specializes in midwifery, gen surgical, community.

I have just had 2 days off, and realised I spent most of my time cleaning the house, and being mums taxi.

So, a little lightheartedly, how much housework is normal? I do about 3 hours a day on working days, and 6 hours on days off. Is my daughter right and am I a cleanaholic?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My house looks like the Munsters house...hehe, I almost never dust and only vaccuum about 2 times per month...haha, there's only 3 of us living here full time and we all agree that life is just too short to be working every day, be it at work or at home....I would dump the vaccuum in a heart beat if the sun is shining and the 4-wheelers are calling...LOL, I live at the end of a gravel road about 1/10 of a mile from a river, I must say that because of all of the dirt outside, my house has more dirt in it than a lot of other homes, and we just all get over that, because if I had to keep my house clean 24/7 I would never have time for anything else...

Life is too short, life is too precious and if anything happened to my family members, I would be soooo sorry that I spent more time cleaning my home than I spent with my family members....ASHES TO ASHES, DUST TO DUST...that's where I came from, that's where I live now, and that's where I'll die...in a big pile of dust...hehe, my home's not really that bad, but sometimes I feel like it is...and that's when I clean it...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

Clean House? That's a concept that doesn't apply around here. I wouldn't mind cleaning house if dh and ds would just pick up after themselves and put their dishes in the dishwasher. I can clean and the house looks really nice but in 24-48 hours it's back to messy. I feel like I'm shoveling snow when it's still snowing. They obviously don't appreciate a clean house or me doing it so I do a little as possible. I keep the laundry and the dishes done. That's it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, High-Risk L&D, IBCLC.

I do the bare essentials of housework, including dishes, laundry, putting clutter away, etc. I do vacuum and dust, but only about twice a month. Life's too short to spend keeping a house spotless - I watched my full-time working mother waste her precious time off on her hands and knees cleaning every spot in our house that could have possibly had a speck of dirt on it. And in the end, no one cared but her and she could have spent that time on herself relaxing!

I have vowed to keep my house clean enough to be presentable and keep bugs away. That's as far as it goes for me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in renal,peritoneal dialysis, medicine.

about an hour a day i reckon, but once a week i go through the house top to bottom

i find that since i have moved house recently i do less, we used to have a coal fire before which caused an awful lot of mess

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

That reminds me, once I took Mom with my to my counseling session. I don't even remember why now. Anyway, he asker her what she did when she had kids at home. She said "I was always home, I did all the cooking, cleaning, laundry, ironing, making beds, dishes, etc". He asked what did you do for yourself? She said "I guess Nothing", he said that's really sad, don't you think? She said (and I had never ever heard this before) "I wish I had gone to school and had a career when the kids got older, I would have liked to been a social worker".

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Housework????

Hm, let's just say, I'm putting away the Christmas greens today.

Worst thing I ever did was buy a Dyson, the stuff that comes out of my carpet scares me. Is swear there is a naked dog running around in here.

My menfolk are old enough to clean their own bathrooms and if they chose not to, well they an explain it to their friends.

Dishes are always done and put away and the kitchen is reasonably clean, but cleaning the windows is still on the list.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.

I do the majority of the housework around here, however, if I tried to tell you how many hours I spend...I would probably depress myself.

What's nice, is that I only have myself and a husband to clean up after, no kids or pets yet. I don't cook everynight because hubby works nights, and most of the time is gone before I'm hungry and he gets a lot of free food as a Policeman.

I am the only one who does the laundry. I am the only one who cleans the bathrooms. Usually, I am the only one who does the grocery shopping...if I want us to stay within budget and actually have food to eat LOL. On top of that I pay all the bills, make all the financial decisions, and keep us on schedule with all the family get togethers, dates with friends, etc.

Hubby basically goes to work, comes home, and makes a mess. He does take out the trash, which I refuse to do. And he will vacuum or cook once in awhile.

No wonder I am so worn out.

There is no harder job in this world than being a woman!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
What's nice, is that I only have myself and a husband to clean up after, no kids or pets yet. Hubby basically goes to work, comes home, and makes a mess. No wonder I am so worn out.

There is no harder job in this world than being a woman!

Just wait until the kids come along! Better get his butt moving now!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, MS, ICU.

I do a little everyday...Like pick a room and clean it. Takes me about 15 minutes to dust and vacuum. The only rooms that require more than that are the bedroom and kitchen.. I know this will sound nuts but I clean the bathroom when I shower..I have one of those cleaning wands and scrub the walls while my conditioner is on...If I don't do it this way it will never get done. Husband is a SLOB and I hate having to worry about spending 5 hours on my days off. I always throw a load of laundry in before bed...when I wake up I put it in the dryer...I know, I know...I'm a Dork! I can't help it....My parents were complete neat freaks when I was growing up...It was what I was around until I met my husband! He does however do the yard work, take out the trash and he will load the dish washer.

So, he is not a complete Slob afterall...I guess:lol2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

i cant clean and do the all nurses thing... i have the dirtiest house in texas

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i love how many americans have answered to the uk thread, didnt know so many of you lurked around here.

personally my favourite uk saying is that " you dont keep a dog and bark yourself "

isnt that what husbands are for?

although i always think that theres still enough for me to do as i always clean better, but we refuse to be ruled by housework, too old for that one.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion