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how to turn from a slob into a neat person?

60 replies

HotChocolateAndMarshmellows · 21/07/2021 15:01

Hello,

Can anyone give me tips on how to not be a slob anymore?

I'm very messy and want to be cleaner and neater, but I don't know where to start. It's all so overwhelming to me.

I always admire the clean houses of my friends and want to be like them. x

OP posts:
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PeanutButterFalcon · 21/07/2021 15:04

I’m exactly the same. I once read about taking something that doesn’t belong in the room when going into another room - e.g when I go upstairs I’ll take some clothes with me, when I go into the kitchen I’ll take the recycling etc. It’s helped to keep things tidy

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coodawoodashooda · 21/07/2021 15:14

Seriously declutter

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0None0 · 21/07/2021 15:15

Make a fixed u breakable rule that every single time you go to bed from now on, the house will be better organised and tidier in some small way, than it was when you woke up

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Nuggetnugget · 21/07/2021 15:17

As above. Declutter and Declutter a bit more. The less you have the less you have to sort and organise.
Label maker for drawers / storage.
Have a place for everything e.g dc swimming stuff. Bbq utensils

Also worth having a rota. I just bought the Organised Mum method. There is also an app. I will start Monday (going to enjoy the sunshine while we have it)

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Nuggetnugget · 21/07/2021 15:17

I bought the book but there is an app TOMM

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Growtheroses · 21/07/2021 15:21

Flylady. Ingrained routines ÷ regular bursts of focused activity in different zones of the house.

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EllaBlaire · 21/07/2021 15:22

Marie Kondo. Get rid of everything unless it brings you joy (or is useful).
Marie Kondo’s folding method for clothes was a game changer for me… but you have to be the kind of person who finds folding knickers relaxing.

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EllaBlaire · 21/07/2021 15:23

Also find a home for everything you own and always put it back there. You can’t clean if every surface is covered in things.

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Love2cycle · 21/07/2021 15:24

I found flylady helpful.

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MotionActivatedDog · 21/07/2021 15:26

It requires a complete behaviour change. Being neat is an ongoing activity. It means tidying things away constantly. You don’t actually need to do a big declutter in order to be neat, I mean you can, and lots of things will be gone but it’s a big and overwhelming task for someone who isn’t used to doing tidying and sorting. What you can do instead is just start sorting it as part of your normal new daily behaviour. Less exhausting, less chance of burnout/boredom creeping in. Just make sorting all your stuff part of your day.

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coronafiona · 21/07/2021 15:49

Tidy up every day, so it never gets on top of you and feels overwhelming. (This is a do as I say don't do as I do post Wink)

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BewareOfTheAgapanthus · 21/07/2021 15:54

Invite the friends with clean houses round regularly and attempt to impress them!

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thelegohooverer · 21/07/2021 15:57

You need to check out a slob comes clean

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BewareOfTheAgapanthus · 21/07/2021 16:15

This question has come up before, probably more than once, eg:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4264240-How-do-I-stay-tidy

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Xiaoxiong · 21/07/2021 16:19

Have a lot less stuff. You know how it's easier to stay tidy in a holiday cottage? There's less stuff to have strewn around, so easier to keep tidy.

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YankHank · 21/07/2021 16:27

Marie kondo Marie kondo. Just the first book, life changing stuff.

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ANewNameToBitchWith · 21/07/2021 16:31

I’m a complete slob. It’s made me unpopular in office jobs, and house shares with foreigners. More than once, yesterday’s knickers have fallen out of the bottom of the trousers I’m wearing. I sometimes feel that my parents didn’t really bring me up: they just stood around jeering at my slobbish habits, but that may be unfair and I digress.
I have found that buying a carpet sweeper has helped because I use it more frequently than I would a heavy vacuum cleaner. It motivates me to regularly clear junk off the floor at least and the carpets and rugs look better.

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efeslight · 21/07/2021 16:36

Try listening to the A Slob comes Clean podcast. Really enjoying it and made me change my slovenly ways ... A little

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Ledgeofglory · 21/07/2021 16:42

Hire a professional if you can afford to even for a couple of hours.
This will give you a head start and you can follow there methods.
Or ask your tidy friends for tips. I follow a lot of people on ig and get all my tips from there

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5zeds · 21/07/2021 16:50

Tidy one surface for five minutes then continue reading MN for five minutes, repeat

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ForCluckSake · 21/07/2021 16:56

I am a very messy person.... But I declutter All the time and most things have a home. I find with the washing... Clothes go straight onto hangers to dry then when dry they are ready to put away quickly. Pj's and underwear goes on a maiden then folded and put away I try to stick to this method . I do not have a big pile of clothes in my bedroom to sort and put away honestly

I do tiding in little bursts so 20 mind tiding then cup of tea then do a few more bursts and it's done.

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Inmypjsagain · 21/07/2021 17:03

Don’t put something down when you’ve finished using it… put it away! Have that in your head.

But I agree, a huge declutter is the best place to start but it can be overwhelming. So I’d start a room at a time, a cupboard/drawer/part of the room a day and work through… good luck 🤞🏼

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PeacheyPeach · 21/07/2021 17:08

Literally tidy up every day. That's what i have to do. Every time I go in a room I'm picking up stuff moving it to were it should be, this is the by only way you can keep on top of it. Otherwise you can do one huge clean a week but it doesn't stop it from piling up again . It's neverending, often thankless but at least you can have a clear mind

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orchidsonabudget · 21/07/2021 20:14

Lurking
I feel slobby

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ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 21/07/2021 20:16

read & follow advice in this book.
it's brilliant

how to turn from a slob into a neat person?
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