Housekeeping, how and where to start?

bumblebee_: Where do you start? How do you keep the house livable and not feel like you are constantly being buried alive? Does anyone else feel an overabundance of dread when coming home, because you know the mess that waits for you there? How do you deal with the mess any tips and tricks to keep everything neat?

Eonblueundertow: yes..alot... and alot of it is just being generally overwhelmed
.. pair down,,,, organize... and do one room at a time.
also.. watching hoards can help.

AretoNyx: I make a list and try to keep up with day to day various lists. I use some apps and make my own
chore lists.

The giant midget: I have a cleaning lady that comes once a week
Cleans the house does laundry and if she's in good spirits cooks dinner too

The giant midget: I always seen her start top to bottom , she starts the laundry 1st with the washing machine.
She does it pretty fast I think , 5 bedrooms ( only 2 really need cleaning , others 3 are never used ) . Than she does the laundry folding, and does the main floor cleaning , last is the basement recroom that nobody uses.

thinktank4: You phrased it so well Bumblebee. Remember the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step (author unknown). Just start...dont get overwhelmed by the immensity of it. Dirty dishes are usually the first chore. And success encourages you to do more.

WHlSKY: Maintaining the cleanliness. Wash dishes after use and assign some chores to the kids if you have them at home.

It's not too much to maintain.

WHlSKY: I change my mind on what I said above. This evening my boy did the laundry and placed my new blue shirt with a yellow towel and now it's a greenish yellow colour. Can't use it any more. Lord.

DIAMONDfire: know your house mentally , how to clean each part by incremental practice. then master it spend money you'll end up spending less

straywlf: BumbleBee it sounds like you have a need to feel like you are getting some where along the way. Try this. When you get up make the bed. Right off you accomplished something. Its not a lot but it's a successful start. Each thing you do finish it. Work on the area you live in. If you spend most of your time in the kitchen get thst straight first. Then move on. If you have a family you will never be able to do it all. Its just life. If I visit a house with kids and its perfectly clean something is wrong. Very wrong. Enjoy life and relish the little things or accomplishments. After 45 years in my relationship there has been ups and downs. We all have them. The best thing is to be able to look back and smile at the good things.