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Working Moms: How Do You Manage Housework?
By Cindy Posey | May 14, 2008
 Guest post by Melanie from Modern Mami @ TheParentBlog.com. Melanie is a full-time (outside the home) working mom and has been married for 5 years. Her and her husband have a beautiful, yet very active 2 year old daughter. Melanie writes as Modern Mami at The Parent Blog. |
As a full-time working mom, it’s very hard for me to keep up with the household duties. I’ve posted before about the expectations – false no doubt – that I’ve set for myself.
Elizabeth over at Career & Kids touched on the subject recently, when a friend of hers realized there’s not enough time in the week. As she mentions, when you’re working all week, you want to use the weekend to spend time with the family. That is when I’d like to take a trip to the zoo, the park, or sometimes it’s just a matter of the “must” trips – like grocery shopping that needs to be done.
What can working moms do to manage the housework?
I’m not sure I have the answer just yet, but I AM trying something new.
I’ve set up a weekly chore schedule and broken down the housework to a little each day – there’s even a day off!
Here’s my schedule:
- Sunday: clean bathrooms
- Monday: wash laundry
- Tuesday: fold laundry
- Wednesday: sweep & mop
- Thursday: vacuum
- Friday: OFF day
- Saturday: change bed sheets
Plus, every day is de-clutter day, since this can be done simultaneously with the other chores. That means, putting away toys, clearing the day’s mail, and other small tasks. The chores scheduled on the weekend can be done quickly in the morning before heading out for the day. 
To keep track of my schedule, I’ve printed out Hannah Keeley’s Total Mom Chore Chart, but any calendar will do.
I’m hoping this will help keep me on track and make things a bit more manageable. I’ve just made my list this week, so I’m only starting to put it into practice.
How do you manage your housework?
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Thank for the tip and sharing what works for you. I work out of my house and housework is the think that seems to come last ..unfortunately..It’s a work in progress. I am trying to decicate 15 minutes a day to decluttering and as a treat to myself..I do have a service once a week..but by the next day..you can’t tell they even came..AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Have a good one.
I wish it were the housework that I have to deal with. I’m really…ahem…particular about the house. So I tend to get the chores done before working out. Bad MWL, I know. Bad.
we’re supposed to clean the house?!
How do I manage housework? Um…I don’t. I was a SAHM for 21 years and kept a sparkling home. Then hubby died and I had to work full time. I’ve since remarried and still need to work now. And my house is a disaster sometimes. I need to get on a schedule. Thanks for the boost!
I’m with Susie and MizFit. I wasn’t born with the Clean Gene (MWL- I commend you. I sometimes wish that I had the clean bug in me because I would then make it a priority).
When picking our priorities, I know that cleaning and fitness don’t have to compete for the same time blocks, but it sure does feel like one is sacrificed for the other.
Why do we not sacifice TV time or Computer time for the cleaning bug! Finding the balance is something I’m still working on.
Flylady has worked best for me when I follow the simple babysteps, but I’ve even gotten away from that, too.
When I return home and my schedule returns to a normal, crazy, overscheduled routine, I hope to tackle the housecleaning chores with a vengence.
I’m going to have to resort to a time slot calendar style approach or else, I’m just going to ignore the house and do everything else.
I much prefer doing anything else than housework, but something must be done until we can afford a housecleaning service! I know the expense will be worth it. I’m all for outsourcing housework! We just can’t af