Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Housekeeping

I would just like to say thank you

19 replies

Hagothehills · 15/09/2016 18:40

To all you lovely mumsnetters for your wonderful tips and tricks to keeping a clean and tidy house!

I only moved out of my mum's house when I was pregnant with DS so had quite the shock, not just adjusting to a new baby but also running a house on my own for the first time at the same time as I took on the role of sahm (which I now quite enjoy) as childcare costs would wipe out anything I would earn.

I struggled massively at the start and the strain it put on my relationship with dp nearly ended it.

But thanks to you lot I've got a handle on it all now, DS is easy, the house is mostly clean and tidy (as tidy as it will ever be with a toddler and not much storage space), I don't struggle to keep on top of it.

I went from appallingly scuffy living with parents 20 something drifter to totally together legit adult with an inexpensive but nicely kept house and happy clean toddler and my life is infinitely better for it.

Your wisdom has been invaluable and I couldn't have done it without you :)

OP posts:

Report

Coldhandscoldheart · 15/09/2016 18:44

It's amazing isn't it? In fact I think it's the biggest material difference MN has made to my life. There are threads I still return to to read for motivation & tips.

Hagothehills · 15/09/2016 19:06

It really is. Every time I see my lovely calm welcoming environment that isn't filthy and in total chaos I'm genuinely really grateful :)

OP posts:

pinkieandperkie · 15/09/2016 19:16

Yes I was inspired by Mumsnet to clean my oven the other day. It was horrendous. I am still really pleased with my achievement and I have wiped it round after each use and it is still spotless. Only takes seconds to wipe round. I text my sister a picture of my clean oven and now she is inspired to tackle hers on Saturday.

Coldhandscoldheart · 15/09/2016 19:34

Steady on pinkie! Oven cleaning may be a step too far.
I wouldn't say I live in a haven of order and calm, but it is so much bett, and I am so much more organised than I have been in the past.

Letmesleepalready · 15/09/2016 20:01

I'm slowly taking the tips on board. Would love a clean and tidy house, but it's slow going for me!

Matilda2013 · 15/09/2016 20:07

I have a clean oven at the moment too it makes me happy to look at it

Hagothehills · 15/09/2016 20:09

Mine is far from perfect and certainly not clean and tidy all of the time but it's a million miles better than it was. Slow going for me too Letmesleepalready DS is 3 on the 1st and still just getting there!

But that's the point. I wouldn't have gotten anywhere without the advice on these boards and I'd probably be a single parent with a shit tip of a house. I'm not though. My relationship is good, my home is for the most part nicely kept and I'm much less stressed.

OP posts:

Justwanttoweeinpeace · 15/09/2016 20:15

Hagothehills - YY!

After a truly marvellous response to a question I had about Zoflora, I went at my house today with all advice at hand.

It's good enough for Mary Poppins to come and stay now

Letmesleepalready · 15/09/2016 20:16

DD1 is 4, and although I think I've improved drastically these last 4 years, if you were to visit tonight I don't think you'd agree. I'd love to go to bed with a totally sorted house (like some people seem to manage here) and instead everything is still not quite tidy or clean. It just feels a bit grubby round the edges if you know what I mean.
The tips on here are really good though, it's just getting to do them consistently!

SoggyWetFlannel · 15/09/2016 20:23

I was just thinking of starting a thread about this. I kept meaning to tackle the house, it's not dirty per se, more full of mess and untidy. Something finally clicked and I spent 3 days in chunks cleaning / charity shopping / tipping, and now I can invite people in without worrying about the state of anything. I've used all of the tips I'd read over the months and now have a lovely routine going. It's very satisfying isn't it.

Hagothehills · 15/09/2016 20:36

Yes getting into the routine of doing all the little bits consistently (and straight away, I like the three passes rule) is the tricky part but it's great when you get it down

OP posts:

Wallykazam · 15/09/2016 20:38

Hi, where can I find these tips? I'm fairly new to mumsnet... Thanks

kate33 · 15/09/2016 20:45

Ooh what a lovely thread! I am in serious need of the tips and motivation you speak of Hagofthehills! please could you recommend a thread or two. I loved the zoflora one, bought a bottle of bouquet today! Thanks in advance. X

Hagothehills · 15/09/2016 21:02

The zoflora one is a good one!
The kondo threads are good too, even if you don't follow everything, I certainly don't, cba folding my socks like a sushi! But yy to little and often clutter clearing, clean as you go etc

OP posts:

Coldhandscoldheart · 15/09/2016 21:04

BEWARE ZOMBIE THREAD this is one of my favourite ever threads, but as I've said, it's a zombie, so probably best not to post on it or someone will shout

If you have specific things you need help with, do a quick search, you'll probably find things (viz the zoflora thread)

There are long running and various decluttering threads on the housekeeping board, adhering to different methods, fly lady, kondo etc, it's finding the method that suits you best. I prefer a smorgasbord of methods, so dip in & out & read what suits me.

Or start your own thread! The water's warm, and no one on housekeeping will call you a slattern because most people have been there.

For external links, I like www.unfuckyourhabitat.com a lot.

Tbh, if I spent less time reading the internet for inspiration & motivation, I'd probably have a tidier house

Hagothehills · 15/09/2016 21:16

Infuckyourhabitat is ace :) I started with flylady but it drove me nuts, I don't want to wear shoes indoors and I don't care that much about my sink. Yy to dipping in and out of different methods and seeing what sticks.
If you.could compare my house keeping skills from now to five years ago you wouldn't think it was the same person!

OP posts:

kate33 · 15/09/2016 23:13

Thank you so much. I honestly think it's one thing that could really improve my life. I panic if someone drops in and I frequently get to the point where I feel overwhelmed by clutter. It just does not come naturally to me (or dp for that matter) the funny thing is that both my dm and mil are absolutely obsessed with housework, obsessed and can't understand me at all. I tried fly lady a year or two ago but a bit too twee for me, plus can't bear shoes on in the house. Right, thanks for the info, I have my heart set on a clutter free, gleaming home this Autumn!

Coldhandscoldheart · 16/09/2016 10:02

Yeah, I mean, you need a balance I think :) one thing is true though - the less clutter you have, the easier everything is to clean.

Hagothehills · 17/09/2016 23:15

Yes, also storage! Seriously, finding a home for everything, even if it means (like it did in my case) buying a multitude of boxes, makes everything 100% easier. Then all you have to do is put stuff away and wipe down surfaces, 30 min job tops if you keep on top of it

OP posts:

Flip

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.