The Organised Mum Method thread 2

[Xiaoxiong]

Since we were all so chatty and supportive on the last thread, let's keep it going. We're not all mums, not all organised, but we're getting there!

For new joiners: check out www.theorganisedmum.blog for the basics of Level 1 and Level 2 jobs and then come and chat about it!

[NamedyChangedy]

Thanks for the new thread @Xiaoxiong!

When everyone gets here I'd love to know how long it should take to strip and remake three beds - one king and two singles. I think I must be doing something wrong as it takes me blinking ages!

[meow1989]

I'm a newbie to this ad currently bootcamping (trying to do all in one go whilst DPIL have baby today). I am hot and sweaty but mybjouse will be clean! Not sure how well I'll do with dexluttering mind... one floor down and 2 to go.

Also, I grew up in a house with Windows in the bathroom, why did no-one tell me extractor fans need to be cleaned out more than once in 5 years?! Adulting fail.

[tryingtosortmylifeout]

I'm still in bootcamp stage on this - but am so determined to reach the point where I can start following the method proper! My kitchen and dining room were an absolute state, so it's taken me several months to properly deep-clean and declutter them (doing sporadic bits here and there, obviously). I'm still not quite there with the latter.

Both rooms look lovely now, to the point where we had some impromptu guests over on Saturday and the kitchen/dining room were fully presentable within about 10 minutes. It was such a good feeling, as normally I'd have had to arrange to meet them in the pub due to the house looking so untidy.

Next I really need to finish off the ground floor by sorting out the conservatory, which is currently full of cobwebs and dirty PVC. I bought some special PVC cleaner so will be cracking that open soon! Then it's onto the lounge (which is in quite a good state anyway tbh) followed by the upstairs.

I'm just really struggling to fit in the deep cleaning around work at the moment! Will I ever complete bootcamp?!

[Xiaoxiong]

Namedy it takes me 10 mins for our king size (one duvet, four pillows) - stripping takes about 2 mins, then a minute to put on the new fitted sheet and the rest of the time doing the sodding duvet. The singles take about 5 mins each. That leaves me 5 mins to hoover our bedroom and 5 mins to hoover the kids room. I have some surfaces to clear as well but they honestly can't be done at the same time as changing all the beds so I often leave them until the Friday focus or until DH gets a tidying fit at midnight.

I do the "bed pack" thing where I sort the fitted sheets, pillowcases and duvet cover into a set and keep it inside one of the pillowcases. So I just grab a whole pack out of the airing cupboard and I know it will all fit the bed. This speeds the whole process up enormously.

[Somewhereovertheroad]

Just placemarking.

Didn't get anything done today and I'm still at work.

[NamedyChangedy]

Haha I set a timer for 10 mins- by the time it went off I'd managed one single bed, and was trying to wrestle the other one off DS1 as he was 'helping' me! I think it would be a good half hour for all three. Can't believe I've made it through 40-odd years without knowing the proper bed making technique!

[tryingtosortmylifeout]

TOMMers - can I ask when you fit in your 45 minutes per day? Do you get it done before work or when you get home? I think I'd be too tired by the end of the day so first thing is probably best for me.

[Xiaoxiong]

I do my 15 mins Level 1 after I get back from the school run and my 30 mins usually after lunch. But when I was working full time I would do the 30 mins while DH was clearing up the kitchen after dinner and sorting out kids uniforms and lunches for the next day. Then we could sit down together for the evening knowing it was done. Usually we started cleaning up around 8 and we were done by 8.30pm. You have to set the timer though or it will expand beyond the 30 mins and then you will get resentful that your evening is gone.

I know it's no fun and I'm always tired in the evening, but the trade off of no housework on the weekend is worth it for me.

[cautiousoptimist1]

Can I join you? I recently discovered TOMM and my house looks better already and we don’t need to do a manic tidy and clean when someone’s coming round ! I am struggling to fit bathrooms in but think I’ll get there.

[Xiaoxiong]

Kitchen done, Level 1 done. Phew!

On bathrooms. The only way I can fit bathrooms into my Level 1 15 mins is if I do bits and pieces of the bathroom over the week depending on what looks manky, and I do the toilet in the few mins when the kids are in the bath at night. So on Monday I might wipe down the the sink as part of my 15 mins. Tuesday I might do the sides of the bath where the water builds up. Wednesdays I'll do the glass shelf with the toothpaste stains and the mirror. Thursdays I might viakal everything shiny like the shower fittings and the taps. And Fridays I'll do the floor (or I'll add that on when I mop the kitchen on Thursdays). So by the weekend, everything's been done (albeit bit by bit). I use the bathroom Friday focus to declutter and organise medications and toiletries, do the tiles and grouting, the kinds of things that only need doing every couple of months.

This is made much easier by keeping a bottle of flash, viakal, and bleach with a stack of cloths in the upstairs airing cupboard - I can dash in and do one task in the bathroom for a couple of minutes without having to go get anything from downstairs.

[NamedyChangedy]

I'm finding that everything's taking me longer than it should - TOMM has helped me realise that my house only looks clean and tidy on the surface, so for anyone just popping in they'd think it was immaculate but if you actually dig around you'd realise that we're on the verge of overflowing with junk.

I know that Gemma has her 'Clutter Buster' challenge but for some reason I haven't been able to crack it. I spent about an hour yesterday sorting through papers but I hardly made a dent - thinking I might need to call in a professional to help...

[Xiaoxiong]

Level 1 done, and I used my entire Friday Focus cleaning the kitchen windows and the glass on the oven doors. I literally could not remember when it was last done. Backbreaking! But now we will always, always wipe down the oven glass when it's warm - it's just too impossible to clean otherwise!

[Xiaoxiong]

Namedy you need to do a KonMari and purge everything! TOMM is only feasible in a decluttered home in my opinion, otherwise half the time is tidying rather than cleaning and then the cleaning never happens.

[NamedyChangedy]

I completely agree! I'm amazing with KonMari for clothes (all our dressers are a thing of beauty ) but I always always fall down once it comes to papers and komono, I just don't why! Maybe it's because absolutely none of it sparks joy!

I also have a moutain of things that are in limbo, waiting to be got rid of but haven't quite made it to the charity shop / skip. I probably need a couple of days off work to crack it.

[mollyblack]

I've kind of customised it so its not as thorough but achievable.

Daily tasks
Wipe down kitchen
Wipe down bathroom
One load of washing, washed, dried and put away

Then each day follow the rooms but not as thorough so only 15 mins a day- its enough for decent clean around. Then I pick something on fri or at the weekend to go a bit deeper with- I actually have more time at the weekends and dont mind a bit of pottering as long as its not overwhelming.

[Somewhereovertheroad]

Yes have customised a little here too.

Totally agree with needing to actually get the washing dried and put away too.

[Skinfulnappies46]

Yesterday only got about 10 mins done in kitchen though actually probably more as I did Windows, blind , hoovered,mopped and cleaned out 1 very messy cupboard under the sink. I feel very satisfied though as I had been keeping up all week. I have never in my 48 years felt so relaxed and in control of the housework.

[Pepvixen]

We had friends staying the last few nights. It was amazing not having to do a mad tidy before they arrived. Planning to go through the cookbooks and clean out the fridge tomorrow as 'Sunday focus'.

[Xiaoxiong]

Amazing skinful and pepvixen - isn't it a great feeling to feel on top of this!! I honestly feel it's done wonders for my mindset to know the house is generally clean, tidy and presentable at a moment's notice.

We have a funny problem though - it's freed up so much of our weekends because we no longer are stuck at home trying to get through a list of chores as long as your arm. We had plans for tomorrow that have been put off to next week so suddenly have a free Sunday! Any suggestions of what to do with DSs aged 5 and 7? What's your ideal Sunday? once your Level 1 jobs are done of course

[5BlueHydrangea]

Look up Geocaching! It's my new obsession.. look at geocaching.com for info, get the free app on your phone and see what's near you! It's a sort of treasure hunt, very kid friendly and lots of fun. Try some in the woods to make sure the kids aren't too bored - although some of them are harder to find than ones in the street.

[8FencingWire]

Can I have a little help customising, please?
I have no problem doing Level 1, it needs tweaking a bit but that’s alright.
What I struggle getting my head around is level 2. I don‘t have a house, I have an apartment. Ultra modern, which means:
Livingroom, kitchen and entrance are one room. Sort of T shaped, the long bit is the living, the short one is the kitchen and entrance.
Then I have a hallway with 2 large built in cupboards. One bathroom and two good size bedrooms.
So what do I do each day in my 30 min? I can’t say: kitchen, it takes minutes to load a dishwasher and it’s done, to mop the kitchen floor means mopping both the kitchen and the living and the entrance. And I never just do that, I continue into the hallway and then bathroom.
I have a rug in front of the sofa, the rest is hard flooring.
So, in your opinion, how do I divide the rooms, in which day?

I’m sure it’s obvious, but I am really dyslexic, my brain goes into a tangle.

At the moment I spend one day doing it all. The whole house. Takes me 2-3 hours. We’ve been here 3 years now, but I used to have a cleaner, I used to work insane amount of hours. I decided to stop working so much to pay for stuff I didn’t have time to do because I was working so much.

I would be grateful for any tips.

[Xiaoxiong]

Hmm interesting question. Initial thought is that once a week on the entryway day I would make that my mopping day and do the whole flat (does it take you more than 30 mins?) and nothing else that day. Then on living room day I'd dust and declutter the living room and entrance way together. Kitchen and bedroom days I'd concentrate on everything above floor level and only hoover any carpet, since hard flooring will be mopped on Wednesdays. Does that make sense?

[Pepvixen]

I agree - sounds sensible to do the floors in one go if it is 30 mins or less. Xiaoxiong's plan sounds good :)

My fridge was - so, so terrible. Didn't quite get it spotless, but will go over again next time kitchen is the focus. It will never be that bad again!

[MustBeAWeasly]

Ooo I'm so glad I've seen this! I posted a few weeks ago asking if anyone wanted to start with me and no replies. Did bootcamp and we all came down with something and we're sick for three weeks. Back on bootcamp now so I'll be starting next week!

[Xiaoxiong]

Happy Monday all and welcome to our new joiners! Floors done, laundry done and in the dryer, just toilets to do and Level 1 is finished. Luckily the living room is in pretty good shape so I think I'll only need 15 mins in there today to tidy, hoover and dust! Hurrah!

DH did the Meyers Briggs test on me last night and I came out as something called the Provider, ESFJ. Apparently I get lots of pleasure out of routines, checklists, and organisation - I can't say no to that! Since starting the TOMM thing for the house I really do take pleasure in seeing everything getting cleaned over the week and having checklists to follow, and I love knowing the house is always ready for unexpected guests which we get a lot of.

I do have to force myself to stop at 30 minutes or the perfectionism kicks in and I waste the whole day trying to get the house clean top to bottom. I used to do this and it would be lovely, then be so disheartened when the kids would come home and destroy everything - I have had to change my mindset to see it as a continuous process, not a one-off mega task to be ticked off.