How do you motivate your stay at home wife to do more cleaning?

1. 60

   Nefarious_Miseryposted 12 years ago

   How do you motivate your stay at home wife to do more cleaning?
   
   I understand we have four children, and I am in no way expecting an immaculate house, but there has to be SOME effort. It seems to me that she just sits on the couch all day.

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2. 68

   onegoodwomanposted 12 years ago

   Well, she probably does not..........
   
   
   but you could encourage her to develop  an organized  routine.
   
   Involve the children in specified activitites, get a handle on  the day.
   
   You could value the efforts that she makes and then, reinforce  her rules and schedules.

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3. 64

   mitowriteposted 12 years ago

   It may seem like she doesn't put enough effort, but maybe she doesn't realize that it isn't clean enough for you. I wouldn't tell her she's lazy or anything though. Each family member should have a chore so you ALL can keep your house clean.
   
   But honestly, if it bothers you this much that you have to ask the masses, talk to her about it instead. We can't do much to get her to clean.

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4. 66

   davenmidtownposted 12 years ago

   you stay at home and raise the four children and clean the house to your expectation and then have dinner ready for her when she comes home from working, have the grocery shopping done, the children fed and bathed so that you can pay attention to your wife... if you can live up to your own standards then you can judge here.  Having four children is enough for one person to deal with let alone keep the house immaculately clean and have a demanding husband.  Why don't you come home and clean the house....

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5. 55

   flikabingposted 12 years ago

   you are a lucky guy! you married a not so fond of cleaning wife. however, if what you mean is your wife is really lazy, you can try to talk to her about the problem. and if it won't work out, then you just accept her as she is and you can hire a maid to do the cleaning instead...

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6. 94

   Blond Logicposted 12 years ago

   Housekeeping is a constant on going battle. It is something that if left, can almost appear insurmountable. Perhaps this is what the problem is. As onegoodwoman said, depending on the ages of the children, they can be allocated tasks. Not always easy, but once they know what is expected of them they do, albeit grudgingly.
   
   In my experience, no one wants to live like a pig, everyone likes things orderly. You have told your wife it isn't acceptable, suggest she too gets a job as well. This will put a work ethic into her and the extra income can be used to hire a maid. Staying at home, cleaning, and raising a family can be a mindlessly dull job and it is easy to get stuck in a rut but I fear, she is the only one that can pull herself out.

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7. 82

   mary615posted 12 years ago

   I would suggest you install a video camera in your house.  I think you would be surprised at how hard your "lazy" wife works every day.  She probably has gotten discouraged because you and the kids just destroy the house after she has cleaned it.
   You didn't say how old the kids are, but why not have them help around the house?  You are doing them a disservice if you don't teach them some responsibilities.  Even small children can help do a lot of the chores. 
   I have to ask:  do you help your wife with the housework?  You could, you know?

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8. 61

   prettydarkhorseposted 12 years ago

   hi, what ages are the children? If there are toddler, then the house can be disorganized most of the time. Talk to her and ask her what kind of help she needed. Organizing perhaps. She can have a general cleaning once a week, maybe on weekend where you are there and you can stay with the children while she cleans. I find it easier to clean the house when everything has a place of their own. Plus the children can help as well with simple tasks. Has she been always like that?

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9. 84

   kerrygposted 12 years ago

   This hub was written in response to a question by Nefarious_Misery, who wrote:
   
   I understand we have four children, and I am in no way expecting an immaculate house, but there has to be SOME effort. It seems to me that she just sits on the couch... read more

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10. 67

    nancynurseposted 12 years ago

    Give her positive feedback. Tell her the things you appreciate about her. Let her know the positive qualities that made you fall in love with her. Second whenever she starts to clean she probably gets overwhelmed and wants to give up I bet if you started helping when you see her cleaning you will spure her on to do more and do it quickly because she won't feel so alone and like it is more than she can handle anyway. Then thank her for what she did.

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11. 60

    duffsmomposted 12 years ago

    You have time to be on hubpages and work 80 hours a week? Is there a chance you might shut off the computer and help out.  Also she may be chronically depressed and incapable of making a change.  Maybe the two of you could see her doctor together.

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12. 81

    peachpurpleposted 9 years ago

    i am a stay at home wife, my hubby nags at me with stern warning that motivated me to do the household chore provided he promised not to disconnect the internet

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