Time to Come Clean
Whew. A study recently conducted for USA Today says that I am not alone in employing the time-honored “throw-everything-in-the-closet-when-company-stops-by-unexpectedly” approach to house cleaning.
Over 800 moms were asked to clock their weekly clean up time. The majority of respondents – more than half or 61% - said they spent one to five hours a week cleaning. (Twenty-three percent spent between six and ten hours a week, 7% between 11 and 15, 3% between 16 and 20, and 5% more than 21 hours weekly.) Two-percent don’t spend any time at all on housework (you go girls!).
Okay, it’s time to come clean here: how much time do you spend cleaning your house in a typical week?
I’ll start us off: “More than the hubby but not nearly enough. The dust bunnies around here have been known to multiply like, well, rabbits."
Comments
I probably fall into the area of 15-20 hours.
I used to spend much more time on cleaning until I looked around my house and noticed a few able bodied individuals living there who were contributing to the mess and not the clean up. My kids and husband now do their part.
Gloria,
I'm with you! Now if I could only get those other people who share my last name, address, and DNA to step up to the plate more. How'd you do it? Ideas anyone? Cheers, Laurie
Here's a tip to lighten your dusting load. Get a long-haired cat. The hair acts as a dust magnet and, since cats like to jump anywhere and everywhere in the house, the dust gets picked up in the hardest-to-reach places.
On a large piece of chart paper, I listed all household jobs (big and small) done by SOMEONE. Using colored markers, I noted who the someone was for each task. It didn't take long to see that one color was dominating the chart. I then called a family meeting and presented the evidence. As they analyzed the chart, it was apparent that they were totally oblivious to some of the work that goes on "behind the scenes".
It also became apparent to me that I had been "depriving" them of vital information (i.e. what it takes to run a household). Since everyone lives in some type of household, those skills can mean the difference between smooth sailing and hectic chaos.
Various TV segments address the condition of feeling totally overwhelmed because of having no household skills. I've now evolved beyond thinking that assigning domestic chores to my kids will thwart their aspirations. I now see these skills as invaluable tools that support any career, as they involve organization, time management and responsibility.
Wow, Gloria, I am totally impressed with your method and philosophy. I wholeheartedly agree that encouraging our kids to be self-sufficient, both in and out of the house, can only lead to good things and indeed that instilling skills, domestic and otherwise, is a gift we can give them. Kudos to you for doing so! Cheers, Laurie
I have a long-haired cat but she just seems to contribute to the mess by leaving hair all over. I spend about 10 hours a week cleaning. Could be less if my "well-abled bodies" would help.
Good site! Good resources here, All the best!
I've named my dust bunnies.
