Is it possible to learn to be a tidy person?

[oldfashionedgirl]

I have clutter and the house is never properly tidy. I think I am messy by nature but it stresses me out! I have more stuff than I have room for but get attached to things.

I just want to be one of those people who are naturally tidy!

[Llareggub]

Lurks

[IDismyname]

I married someone who was manically tidy. After 18 years of marriage, he's become a little less tidy, and I've become more so!

I think we've met in the middle

[WhateverLover]

I'm the same. Every time I do tidy up I think "this time I'm going to keep it this way" and within days it's a mess again. Moving to a brand new house soon and I'm hoping I can change

[RandomMess]

I keep my desk at work tidy...

Hmmmm I'm a bit better than I used to be, but I don't think it's ever going to become 2nd nature tbh.

[3DcAndMe]

I don't think you can change how you are naturally but you can try and develop better habits

[Mouthfulofquiz]

I agree - better habits can be developed... I always make sure I do little jobs when I notice them rather than leaving it. Took a while though! Now people can actually drop round without me feeling embarrassed!

[yegodsandlittlefishes]

I have gone from being a naturally untidy horder to being a tidier person with a lot less stuff, in a cleaner and bigger house. It helped that we movwd house a few times and I had to make decisions about things.

Having lots of good storage helps. I also decided some years back that I prefer photos on the walls to rwmember people over clutter or memorabilia so I got all the surfaces clear and just have the odd clock, candle or vase of flowers.

I still hoard a lot of different craft supplies, at this stage in case DCs will want to use them, mostly, but also in case I need/want to make something.

Then I have worked as a cleaner on and off and so have learned how to get a whole (uncluttered) house clean and sparkling in a matter of hours, and this is motivation to keep the clutter at least in unseen corners and behind screens and not on constant display to everyone, making cleaning difficult.

I've been pretty goid for a year or two but am seeing clutter accumulating again, and in my head I haven't any idea of what to do with it, as I have so much on my mind and sorting is such a bore and chore.

So clearing your head of negative thoughts or persistent distractions is a way to change one's natural inclinations, I think. Looks as though I need to work on this myself too. :)

[Mrswellyboot]

The only way you can truly do it is have less stuff. Buy expedit from ikea, wicker baskets, deep chest of drawers

Bag up excess towels and put them in the attic, thin out books and clothes

Keep the decor plain and have cream accessories

I am always buying new baskets and I use a carrier bag every few weeks to go around the house getting rid of stuff.

[PigletUnrepentant]

Flylady.com has a plan on how to get cleaning habits over a few weeks (day to day activities calendar inclusive) What I like the best is their advice not to overdo it, the house didn't got itself in such state in a day and it is not going to be sorted in a day. It helps you to keep the house perfectly in order all the time over some weeks of 15 minutes a day cleaning. Very effective.

There is a book called Clear your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston, which tells about why we keep clutter and how it makes us feel down. Quite an interesting reading, first time I read it I took bags and bags of stuff to charity shop/tip and had the house looking like a show home for years. Need to read it again...

[QueenTea33]

I'm a scruff. I keep the kitchen and bathroom clean, but my living room and bedrooms have things piled up or chucked in corners. My fireplace is always littered with receipts and change and my windowsills are full of bits and bobs.

I'm the same at work, too. All the girls make jokes about my inability to keep anything tidy.

I just think life's too short. As long as you know where everything is and nothing is dirty, what does it matter? :)

[ICanSeeTheSun]

My housework is done every day.

Infact I have been up and dressed and my housework is done.

Storage and getting rid of junk I don't use and keeping every service possible clear is the way.

Not always been like this.

[sadsaddersaddest]

There is always a little mess in our house, but I have become much tidier over the years.
I buy much less "stuff" now, and we are trying to create more storage space in the house.
Everytime I think "I'll have to do...", I scream to myself in my head "Do it NOW!". It works.

[BillyBanter]

The only time I was close to tidy was when I first bought a flat and had more space than stuff. Now I have more stuff than space.

Brutal declutter required!

[Whathaveiforgottentoday]

I think you can learn to an extent but it doesn't come naturally. Having a good system and routines helps. Make sure everything has a place to be stored for starters. I have a rule that if i haven't used it for 2 years it goes in the boot sale bag. I'm naturally very messy but DH is tidy and I must admit I've got tidier and he's learnt to relax about a bit of mess.

[Rexandralpf]

Yes me. I have. I solved the problem by recycling/charity shopping/ selling/giving away/skipping any thing that is not essential or attractive. Getting good storage. Getting a routine which involves keeping the house at a certain standard each day. Getting kids and SH to pull their weight daily.

[Nanny0gg]

I always said that the answer was lots of storage, but I read an article recently that disagreed with that. The author basically said that if it's not needed for any purpose at all then get rid of it.

Actually sounds like a good idea to me.

[Anomaly]

Storage is key. I'm naturally tidy and hate clutter. I very much stick to the mantra of is it useful or beautiful. If not either then it goes. I regularly have a clear out of stuff which no longer fits the criteria. If it fits the criteria then it needs a home. I have three kids so the house is not a show home but every room at some point in the day will be properly tidied. It is an effort but I can't have an untidy home it makes me very stressed. I also like knowing where everything is.

[oldfashionedgirl]

I think I need to be ruthless and get rid of some stuff.

[Shonajoy]

Yes, once the kids have left home. Seriously with young children you take stuff along as you go, put clothes on stairs to go to rooms, etc. my dd was away for a month training for her uni course and my kitchen was TIDY in the morning. And we had milk and cereal.

[trashcanjunkie]

Yes! get rid of stuff, ask a ruthless friend to help. I grew up in chaos and mess, and as an adult always felt totally ashamed of my home. About eight years ago I met a lovely friend, who taught me about systems. Now I am a really tidy organised person, and it's so much less stress. Some one else mentioned fly lady. I don't use her but I've seen her stuff and it's great if you're starting from scratch. Good luck

[magimedi]

Yes. When I was in my 20s I was amazingly untidy & disorganised. I got fed up with the time I was wasting with this & am now (late 50s) very tidy & organised. I have little clutter & a place for everything.

Housework is boring & by being tidy & having a routine I can keep it to the minimum & have time for fun stuff instead.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

I honestly think the biggest difference between a tidy person and an untidy one is that the tidy one will just get on with it and tidy up

[EeyoreIsh]

What damediazapam said! i'm naturally a bit messy, but mostly it comes down to procrastinating.

I flat shared with someone who was very clean and allowed no clutter in the shared areas. I soon picked up her good habits.

[Twoplusboys]

I changed! I was really really messy until about 4 years ago I went through post natal anxiety and the only way I could control the panic attacks and ease the symptoms was to clean. It took my mind off it. Then I recovered from the anxiety and I'm all I'm left with is the good cleaning habits! I'm no clean freak, my house does get messy but I'd spend about 1.5/2 hours cleaning on my days off :)

It's funny because when I was messy, dp was very house proud and would always be tidying up after me but now I'm clean, he Is a lot more lazy!

[Twoplusboys]

I cringe when I think of how messy I was, like I'd only sweep floors/Hoover once a week. The bedrooms were covered in clothes, dirty and clean! I only hovered the stairs about twice a year