If you had to clean, tidy, and declutter the whole house, where would you start ??

[IllegallyBrunette]

I have to start it tommorow and feel a bit overwhelmed at the mo.

[PeachyHidingInTheShed]

with half a bottle of vodka and serious therapy

[Lovemyshoes]

I'm going to do this after my holiday and I am starting from the far back bedroom (dd1's and so bad I refuse to enter} and then working round the upstairs, the landing and then the living room and finally the kitchen so everything can be thrown out the back door

[SlightlyMadSweet]

How long have you got to do it?

If you have a couple of months to do it over IO would join hte FLY lady threads. It is a structured way to decluttering and tidying that produces long lasting results.

[Psychomum5]

Bathroom. a clean bathroom is easier and quicker than anywhere else (simply as it is smaller), and it will give you the 'oomph' needed to carry on.

[TheFallenMadonna]

Kitchen for me usually.

For each room I get a recycling box, a black bag and a box for things that belong in other rooms. I start at one end and just keep going until it's done.

Did you decide about the house?

[IllegallyBrunette]

I have about 6 days, possibly longer, but aiming for 6.

Good idea about the bathroom, as that is by far the easiest.

[IllegallyBrunette]

Objective is to have the house looking so lovely, that the lady who is hopefully coming to view it next week, will want to exchange with me asap.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

My plan would be

1. Get on top of dishes and laundry ala fly lady.
   
2. Clear the area around where you relax (I used to do the side table that dd can't reach) and kept that tidy - so I had at least one place that looked nice.
   
   
3. 15 minutes with a bin bag and a recycling bag. Only do recycling bag if you can deal with it immediately. Don't start filling bags that you have to deal with later! The key to this one is speed - don't hesitate or dither - if in doubt it goes out.

[crokky]

Clean and declutter kitchen and bathroom. Then attack rest of house with charity bags and bin liners. Hard to clean and tidy if you have too much stuff that you don't need.

[IllegallyBrunette]

Good idea about charity bags, and I actually have 3 from the dc's school that have to be filled thats good.

Washing is my downfall. I keep up with the actual washing bit, but the putting away and ironing bit is more or less non existent here

[Psychomum5]

put tow bin bags per room, maybe three.

one is for rubbish

one for recycling

one for charity.

oooh, maybe an extra....one for stuff you/the kiddies do not use but may in the future......place into the attic for now.

never good to take one with you per room, you will mix them up etc, then get more confused!!!

[dylsmum1998]

take things to a friends house if you have no-weher to hide them so that you house looks clear and spacious

personally i always start with the kitchen as it doesnt seem as much hard work as the other rooms. think because everything acutually has a home in the kitchen, it just rarely got put there

[MrsFogi]

at the top and work your way down and out

[Orinoco]

Message withdrawn

[dinny]

we are doing this next weekend

[luckylady74]

When I sold my last house I went through the whole house and filled huge bags with clutter and stuck them in the shed - I had 2 days. Then I cleaned and cleaned - cobwebs to skirting boards, all throws, scrubbed the carpets, washed every window. I put appliances away like the toaster because my kitchen was tiny. Remember to shut the doors to the other rooms downstairs and take them into the largest room first . Open doors confuse the eye. Best or plainest bed linen iyswim. Oh dear I think I watched far too much house doctor. I would just stuff all the laundry under the bed in a bin bag and concentrate on cleaning.

[luckylady74]

Oh yes - do you really need all the furniture - not the sofa obviously, but if you've got things cluttring up the room (like the bean bag and chair in my living roo) take them to a friend's house.

[Quattrocento]

Start from the top down. I did this last year. Hired a ginormous skip for stuff that couldn't be given away. I counted four trips to the charity shop - each with around 10/12 sacks of stuff. Was sooo therapeutic. Def start from the top down though. Clean as you go as well. Did it in two days. Was fab. Want to do it again this year but no time ...

[Idobelieveinfairies]

i find watchin a couple of 'how clean is your house' or anthea turners 'perfect housewife' motivates me.....

start upstairs and wok your way down i say....

good luck!

[IllegallyBrunette]

I started with the kids rooms in the end, as dd1's was the worst so I wanted it over and done with.

Now all bedrooms inc mine are nice and clean and tidy.

I lay on the bed afterwards, just to relax for five minutes, and I fell asleep for half an hour