I’m not your typical house frau. I learned this after browsing a Canadian census on line. For one thing … I was actually reading the census. On a Friday night. For fun. Yup. I feel quite confident at this point that I can advise anyone who is considering this as a form of evening entertainment to eat a wool sweater instead. It would be more fun. So yeah, I'm not typical.
But I was bored and avoiding housework. That’s something that everyone does at some point, right? Housework I mean, not avoiding it.
Well, according to the census … not so. Of the approximately (I’m being approximate … not the number loving , abacus polishing folks in the Census department) 9 million Ontarians that are “eligible” to do housework, almost 1 million of them don’t. As in, they checked the “I do zero hours of housework in a week” box.
What about Spring Cleaning? They don't even Spring Clean? (THIS is PRIME spring cleaning season by the way and here are 3 Quick Spring Cleaning tasks you can accomplish in UNDER an hour.)
I can understand people are busy with working and kids and Netflix and everything, but not devoting at least 3 minutes a week to cleaning a toilet? Not that I run around with a feather duster in my holster all day long, but I do find it necessary to do the odd thing around the house to keep my life running smoothly. Like washing my unmentionables. Or perhaps throwing out that 7 year old miniature bottle of Heinz ketchup I thought I might need for a French fry emergency one day but didn’t.
My job as a blogger allows me to work at home. This accomplishes two things. I'm always here to make a mess and I'm always here to clean it up. I prefer the making of messes mind you. On occasion I will do neither and actually venture out of the house, most often to go to the Dollar Store.
I LOVE the Dollar Store. For one thing every single thing in there is a dollar(ish). They used to only take cash which made overspending difficult but now that they take debit cards it's a bit of a free for all. It makes absolutely NO sense to leave The Dollar Store without $50 worth of off brand scented candles. None. I’m getting a bit off track. The discussion of grossly underpriced toilet brushes and stackable boxes does that to me. We were talking about housework.
I figure I do about 7 - 10 hours of housework a week. Which is a total guess based mainly on cleaning the kitchen and scowling at the litter box. Is that excessive? 7 hours? The census made me think so. It implied I was freakish even. A veritable cleaning machine at 7 hours a week.
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I called a stay-at-home mom friend to ask her how many hours a week she thinks she spends doing housework. In between the roar of the vacuum and the screams of her children she said “Oh … I’m not sure … OH MY GOD THE DOG’S PEEING ON THE COUCH AGAIN!!”. Then she had to go. So no help there.
Like everyone, (except those curious one million who don't do ANY housework) I have my favourite household chores. Who doesn’t like those vacuum marks on the carpet? The only thing better than a vacuum mark on a carpet is a vacuum mark on a couch. I’ve convinced myself as long as I have at least one of those vacuuming marks on the couch in conjunction with a clean kitchen sink, I can actually fool everyone into thinking my whole house is clean. So my kitchen sink is always clean. Usually.
I have a relative who actually runs her hand over the couch so it *looks* like a vacuum mark to keep herself happy.
Emptying the dishwasher? That is a chore I hate. HATE. I couldn't dread it more if the dishwasher were filled with somersaulting centipedes as opposed to clean dishes. In fact, I'd prefer it because at least that would make a really good Instastory that I could get some mileage out of.
I also really love having freshly washed sheets and freshly washed pajamas. All white if possible. I don't love washing my sheets and duvet cover but the end justifies the means, so that's a household chore I can get behind. Ironically I did find a centipede on my bed a while ago and did indeed Instagram it.
It wasn't as fun as you might believe and I'm actually rethinking that whole dishwasher filled with centipedes scenario.
So, I’m not your average house frau. I’m not sure I’ve ever met one. What I am sure of is there are approximately one million of them out there I will consciously be trying to avoid. Ick.
So lay it on me. How many hours do you think you spend doing housework? Is it ... zero? And most importantly ... how much do you love vacuum marks.
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Sabina
What's a dishwasher?
Ella
I wash and iron my sheets and duvet cover weekly. Takes about 2 hours but it’s how I keep up with everything I pvr’d - otherwise too much entertainment pressure. I also termed the Dyson cordless B8 vacuum “life changing” so....I am definitely NOT one of those slovenly 1 million (men).
Dina
First of all, I DESPISE unloading the dishwasher, putting groceries away and laundry too. I LOVE to stuff the washer full of clothes, but I'm not loving it now because I have to disconnect the hose in the back and scrape out the mineral junk that is clogging the little wire strainer! I have well water. I paid someone $$$$ to do this when my washer was not filling and I watched him and so I will not be paying the $$$$ again! Now, about housework...it's hard. I do own a feather duster and I don't use it enough. I do dog rescue and I could vacuum twice a day, but it's really more like once a week, since it is so defeating...kitchen floor, should be done also once a week at the very least but more like once every three weeks, hands and knees job. At least I know what a hands and knees job for washing a floor is right? Then I ask myself: if all these dogs were not here, would I be any different? Probably not, as my favorite thing to do is stay in bed all day and listen to books on Audible and drink lots of Harney's rose-scented tea, or garden...and not quite to gardening season here yet in Pennsylvania.
danni
I hate to clean but I live alone so at least the mess is mine. I DO clean routine stuff all the time, (kitchen, dishes by hand, dust, mop, vacuum, wipe down bathrooms, laundry,) and other stuff, (under sink cabinets, windows, closets, walls, etc,) are saved for rainy weekends. Just this past Sunday it was a rainy day and I was up before dawn and went top to bottom for over 8 hours. So I'm gonna say average of 12 hours a week.
During summer I'm bad tho. If the sun is out I want to be outside. Sometimes I look around and realize we need rain, if not for the garden then just so I'm trapped inside to clean!
Ella
"abacus polishing folks" that was hilarious! I will have to count like they do this week, because I have no idea! I'm guessing some weeks 1 hour, some weeks 20!
Trish
About 10 but I’m not happy about it.
Kari from Dallas
Big house, two teen boys, four dogs and a cat. I’m cleaning approximately 20 hours per week (easily conservative estimate). No maid, work from home.
Ps, I hate cleaning. And I’m a slob.
Ann
My husband and I are clutter fiends and both hate to clean.
So recently we made a pact with ourselves. 3 days a week we set a timer and we focus on the house. So now we are consistently putting in about 6 hrs of cleaning a week, which does not include laundry or dishes which need to be done daily.
But you know what? My house really doesn't look all that much better....
Gwennie
I clean about 20 hours a week. The best thing I have done is start listening to Audible books. I find I stay focused longer on a task when I have "company". I divide the house into zones and vacuum and dust each zone once a week. Dishes, laundry, wiping counters, etc are a many times a day job.
Beth
Between 40 and 60 hours a week, is spent on the household and large men maintenance, stray persons dropping through, and a general open door policy which usually results in piles and clumps of varied and indeterminate matter, food prep and dissemination, and the debris aftermath of all the feeding, Dish drain or dishwasher, it is the “putting away” that makes emptying either so loathesome.
I work perpetually, what with owning my own business and my office is on the property. I do have a houseman in once or twice a week, but that is for under 12 hours and gives the fluctuation and spread between 40 and 60. Are we including grocery shopping and external hunting and gathering and whatnot in this calculation or just onsite upkeep? That would add a few more hours.
After thinking about this, I wonder how accurate these self-defined numbers are. I do person hours of labor as part of my work when estimating labor on a project. It has been my experience that “civilians” grossly underestimate the time and labor needed for any particular task. They also grossly overestimate their own abilities and stamina, for which we are grateful as fixing their disasters of their own making is highly lucrative and an ironclad guarantee of a perpetual supply of beer and skittle and college tuition payments. But you know that....
Debbie
Wow! A post on a Thursday! Nice to see.
I am a clean freak according to everyone I know. I don't think so, I was taught to do this by my Mom and my grandmothers. House gets a good scrubbing once a week, with touch-up in-between. No vacuum marks on carpet here as I have wood floors that get at least vacuumed twice a week (keep away the dust bunnies--where do those suckers come from?) and washed once a week (more for the kitchen as necessary). Oh, and I also vacuum the insides of my drawers in the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, dressers, cupboards, etc., at least 2--3 times a year. It is a great time to remove unnecessary things and either throw them out or give away to charity.
Sheets get washed weekly. When I dust, I not only do the surfaces of the furniture but the walls, corners, baseboards, under the furniture, etc. , get done as well. I have discovered that if I spritz or lightly moist the swiffer duster pad with water, that it picks up more dirt and things stay cleaner and dust free longer. I have indoor and outdoor shoes so that also helps to keep things cleaner.
Just for those basics, it takes me 4--5 hours or so to clean the house weekly (1200 sq feet). Yes the music is blasting while I do it. I have playlists for cleaning! Or, I will also play on my Alexa, the Tick cleaning broadcast from Amazon (which cracks me up). If I am doing sorting, giving away things, deep cleaning, etc., then I devote at least a day to a couple of rooms and do it over time. The more I do it, the less there is in the long run to go through and get rid of stuff and the less time it takes.
I also do all my own cooking, baking, etc. That is at least 4--6 hours of time a week, plus the cleaning of that (I clean as I go as I have a tiny kitchen). Then the rest of the week, I just reheat or take out of the freezer to have my meals.
Oh, and then there is the yard work that I do as well......but at least my house and yard are pretty much company ready at any time. I love having a clean house. Feels calming and good.
Debbie
Oh, yes, I work full time as well, so not too much free time during the week. Can't understand folks who choose to live in a dusty, dirty environment. I especially don't understand folks who have someone come in and clean for them and then I notice that the baseboards are filthy and there are cobwebs on the ceilings and walls. You are paying someone to do a bad job??? As I have gotten older, I do have someone come in and clean the windows (love that) and the light fixtures in the ceiling. So worth it! And the swiffer duster thing with the water spritz (I use a spray bottle), that is for the furniture, baseboards, wall corners, ceiling, etc., and no it is not soaking wet so it doesn't ruin my furniture.
Heather
I clean for at least two hours a day Tuesday to Saturday: I run a day spa from my home, so there's a lot a lot of cleaning and laundry. I love to cook, and that's an everyday thing with all the clean-up that entails, so there's another hour a day, at least. And I love vacuum marks...I never realized how much I clean. I must love it. How come my house doesn't look like I do? :)
Jeannette
Karen, what is that thing you are holding in the picture? Not being one to do hours and hours of housework each week, I don't recognize it. Should I?
Gwennie
I believe that was "the fellas" sock and she picked it up to dust with. That was a long time ago, but I have been a faithful reader for a long time!
Karen
That's a sock. :) I often grab one to dust with if I'm upstairs and not close to any cleaning supplies. ~ karen!
karin
I do the same thing! But it's usually my husbands dirt socks that he has left some random place. I have been known to dust off the toilet bowl with his underwear. The laundry chute is in the bathroom so as soon as I'm done, down it goes. Does anyone have a trick to cleaning porcelain? I feel like all I do is smear around the dirt because it is never dry enough to properly 'dust' and my rags never seem to pick up the dirt, just push it around.
Nancy W
Karin
I'm no expert at cleaning but being a perfectionist I hate those little shards of dust that get left behind on the porcelain when it's wet...try a microfiber cloth or even paper towels. When the towel or cloth is dry it works better so maybe use a couple or three.
That all being said I have no idea how many hours a week I spend on housework..I think it's more like minutes...but I do spend a lot of time at work!
Kimberly
Also just because I can’t be alone:
I LOVE CLEANING SO MUCH!!!
I love to vacuum. I love to dust. I love to do the glass. I love to sort and organize (sorting and organizing is my favourite).
Now: putting away (dishes. Laundry. Kids toys) not my favourite. It isn’t cleaning. Cleaning is fun. Putting away just needs doing. Though. Folding sheets and towels is pretty wonderful. And I like to sort the kids toys.
I had to add this because I read through all the comments and it seems Iike people don’t like cleaning. I find it so satisfying. Especially because I am always trying new systems to make it so things stay cleaner longer. New systems for storage and just getting rid of things (love getting rid of things) and systems for kids toys. Capsule wardrobe attempts. Etc.
Anyway. I have goals. House goals. Cleaning goals. I love this shit. Gotta stop talking about cleaning.
😘
Eileen
Kimberly, I will send you my address and you can come to my house anytime to work out your love of cleaning.
I HATE CLEANING.
There. I said it - out and proud!
Kim
I would totally love to clean your house. Sort. Organize. Throw out. Decorate. Yes please !
Kmarie
I love this! I agree to a certain extent but it took me a journey to get here.
Kim
Yep. But once you’re there it’s like: ahhhhhhh
Robert
I also love to clean, when the mood strikes which unfortunately is at odd hours of the day. But folding sheets and towels or other simple pieces of cloth is a nightmare since apparently no one bothers to cut them or sew them right so I either end up with uneven corners and no wrinkles on the insides or a total mess between the folds
Kimberly
I have three kids and two furry fur leaving pets (dog and house rabbit). So let me think:
20 minutes a day making beds and general putting away in the morning
15 minutes vacuuming
35 minutes dishes
10 minutes laundry
30 minutes I’ll sort something
Maybe 1.5 hours a day. I have a house cleaner come every two weeks to do a deep clean or it would be more. Sometimes it’s more. Like when I decide the kids need help with their rooms. And also there’s sometimes outdoor cleaning. I’ve timed myself for almost every single task and they always take less time than I think. Try doing this for laundry. Laundry is super quick! Yet it’s my nemesis.
The trick for unloading the dishwasher is to unload it all (except cutlery) on to the counter above it. All of it. Then do the cutlery. Then close the dishwasher. Then take the dishes from their counter stack and put them away. It’s one more step. But way less: bend over. Walk. Put away. Walk back. Bend over. And repeat.
Maybe everyone already does dishes like that. But I just discovered it!!
So like 8-15 hours a week.
Cynthia Jones
I don't know.
I do know I absolutely hate cleaning the bathtub and sink and toilet. They are old and the patina has worn off the porcelain.
I recently discovered Shower Power so my new routine is to spray the tub, the sink and the toilet with it every morning while I shove the wet shower curtain out through the louvres to dry the bottom. I am also going to buy Shower Wash rather than use soap as the lovely tile shop lady told me that the fat in soap harbours mould to grow in the grout. Good enough for me.
I leave it all for ten minutes and then spray the tub and sink with the hand shower hose, then wipe the toilet with toilet paper and 'voila" clean bathroom every day. It sure saves me the horror of what I was noticing when I put my glasses on.
I do about an hour a day cleaning and tidying, shaking mats. My husband vacuums our hardwood floors. Let them buy a Dyson and its likely they'll take charge.
I wash about 5 or 6 loads a week and iron once a fortnight. Tidying the garden also goes under the housework banner for me.
I guess that's about 10 hours a week. Not sure. I don't have kids and do have two black Pomeranians.
Oh yes, add in brushing the Mongolian sheepskin cushion once a day after the old girl sleeps on it.
Centi
These folks with no housework at all are millionaires, perhaps? Or husbands. People who don't have to do it themselves. =/
Diane R
Yep, my thought exactly, exc ept maybe not millionaires... Just wealthy enough to afford a housekeeper. ;-)
Tasha
I would say I do about 5 hours a week. But my husband has taken over the kitchen (which is almost enough to make me believe in god) and he is meticulous about it. So, we probably average about 25 hours a week now :)
Kate
7-10 hours a week sounds about right for me, unless I get in a baseboard cleaning type frenzy and spend a whole weekend doing all the things that I normally avoid. Love vacuum marks on the carpet. My favorite thing. Means my husband has been vacuuming again.
Thandi
Our region will run out of water by the end of June if the drought doesn't break, and for some reason the creative methods of saving as much water as possible has made my husband a lot more interested in housework. We only have 50litres of water per person per day at the moment, so dishes can be a challenge and laundry can only be done twice a week (three times if I'm sneaky). All of this means less time cleaning, and more time cleaning smart. But I do have five birds, so vacuuming happens every day. I luuuuurve vacuuming. Hate dusting. HATE IT. But birds make dust with their sheddy feathers and their stupid food.
Lez
I live in the same area of South Africa as you Thandi, & this drought is becoming very scary. Like you, we save every recycled drop of water, all our dishwater, and mopping water all goes in the garden, we are ready with huge tanks to save every drop of rain, should it ever come again!
As I have a guest house & a big house to clean, I'm very fortunate to have a cleaning lady twice a week for all the horrible stuff, actually I think ALL housework is horrible, but I do have to clean & tidy & do dishes & laundry. So probably an hour or so a day.
Thandi
So scary! We rigged up our washing machine so that we collect all the water in our trusty 5litre bottles, then that water gets poured into the toilet cistern. One load of washing is 4-6 days of flushing for two people. It's a pain, but it means I can sneak in an extra load of washing and not feel guilty.
Karen
I can't even imagine having to work so hard for water. It must be incredibly stressful. ~ karen!