I’m super organised and my house is always tidy.AMA

[Kitchenbattle]

Off the back of another thread I realised am ridiculously organised and my house is always tidy, always ready for visitors etc didn’t realise how tidy I was until I started commenting on and reading the other thread. So just a fun, or nosy AMA.
maybe there’s nothing to ask 🤣 thought it might be interesting though…

My big tip (I know it's not my thread but I found this useful) is to get rid of excess furniture where stuff piles up. We don't have coffee table or side tables. Those are hard to clean around, rooms feel bigger and stuff doesn't accumulate

This is helpful, thanks OP. I think the major difference for me is having a messy husband, who works long hours but leaves mess everywhere. Two of you tidying must make a difference. I should have trained the teens better too. Will follow your advice though, as a naturally untidy person.

A

A Japanese technique used in industry but can be used in any situation really.

Thanks. It's much tidier than my box, but then I have a box and not a cupboard unfortunately.

Where do you put your tea/coffee then when you're sitting on the sofa?

We have a nest of tables so we pull out one of those 🙌 my dc are not allowed food or drinks in the sitting room so I don’t tend to do it often as I can’t have double standards 🤣🤣

I know that wasn’t aimed at me but thought. I’d answer too 😅

"my dc are not allowed food or drinks in the sitting room so I don’t tend to do it often as I can’t have double standards 🤣🤣"

No cuppa or glass of wine with Netflix?
I couldn't live like that...

Yes…when they are not looking 🤣🤣 like right now I’m having a cuppa. They are out.

@Kitchenbattle thanks for this thread. I know you've had some grief but your premise is sound.

A tidy house is easier to keep clean and tidy and you have inspired me to be a bit more on it.

I know when I've done a really good clean I make the effort to keep it that way. But as soon as there's one thing on the drainer, there's a pile.

Or one letter to be dealt with, all the post ends up there for a week!

As soon as something slides, it all does and then you are back round to the big clean.

What do you use to wash shower screens with? Genuinely can't find anything to get them looking clean!

Hi, OP!

When your kids were little, how did the "toys situation" got dealt with?
I am so overwhelmed by toys!
What kind of storage or organising system did you use for them?
TIA 😊

Agree.

I'm sure some posters are just trying to get a reaction!

I too would regard myself as organised clean and tidy and apart from wanting to live that way I also do it to free up my time as I find the more organised I am, the less time I spend cleaning/tidying and the more time I have to my self.
I lived in a 2 bed cottage with 2 smallies and lived the exact same then as I do now with DH and 5 boys, ranging from 9 down to a few weeks old, currently in DH's 4 bed house while ours undergoes a big renovation and extension.
I'm a HUGE believer in "everyone who lives here and contributes to the dirt/mess is responsible for cleaning/tidying said dirt/mess"
So, you wee on the toilet seat? YOU clean it off. You leave hairs/toothpaste/soap in the sink? YOU clean it off etc.
I don't do 'stuff' or a lot of ornaments but do have a house full of photos, several lamps and candles, a bookcase full of books as we all love to read and a press full of games.
Everything has a home and it is put back there when finished with.
I refuse point blank to be anyones maid - thankfully DH is on the same page.
I go out of my way to reduce un-necessary workloads for any of us.
From the moment they were able to understand instructions they were encouraged and taught how to clean and tidy.
The 3 oldest (age 8, 9 and 9) are responsible for hoovering and dusting their own rooms, bringing their laundry to the basket and stripping their beds.
They are also responsible for feeding and watering the 3 dogs, washing their bowls and replacing mats under said bowls.
They unpack their bags as soon as they come in, be it sport or school bags and put everything where it goes - dishwasher/shoe box/sports basket/laundry basket and repack sports bags straight away for the next session. It all just comes naturally to them and the next 2 will be taught the same.
They can eat/drink/play anywhere they want in the house, so long as they tidy up after themselves.
They also know how to load and turn on both the dishwasher and washing machine.
No shoe household (just for us, not guests) cuts down massively on hoovering/washing floors.
I am as environmentally friendly as possible regarding washing, if it doesn't smell or is not dirty it does not need to be washed. Everyone reuses their towel and they are put in the wash every 4 days, beds changed every 10/11 days, the only things that go in every day are underwear/socks, dishcloth, tea towel and hand towels, everything either line or clothes horse dried and finished off in dryer if needed. I iron nothing (apart from linen or similar) much to DH's horror so he does all the ironing!!!
I also sea swim most mornings, train once a week and coach my boys team twice a week, meet friends at least once a week for coffee/drinks/lunch.

If I had to do it all myself it would be no where near as easy but as a team it does run smoothly - most of the time, unlike now as I look at ds4 who is 18mths and has just run into the room and is covered in some sort of lotion, thick white lotion!!! and has taken his nappy off (is doing that lately when he does a poo) and is being chased by DH before he smears both the lotion and the shit all over the place😂

You need to squeegy them after every use…annoying but it gets rid of the drip marks. Then I wash them with soap when I’m in there. Then you don’t need anything for heavy grime. But I use a foamy cleaner by pink stuff.

IKEA kallax all day!! Easy and you can put the toys into categories. The dc get to know fast where things go.

We don't really drink hot drinks on the sofa - it's something I only have at the start of the day so at kitchen table. If I have wine, I just hold it in my hand. If I need to put it down for a moment, I put it on the floor or at kitchen table if popping to loo etc

I’m the exact same as you OP and apart from changing the bedclothes every 3 weeks , I keep my home clean in the same way. My utility is a mess and I am not always super organised but i stay on top of it.

@Kitchenbattle is your house newer with flush panel doors and clean lines, or do you have architraves and mouldings that serve as dust-catchers?

We have shaker door panels. And straight skirting, it’s a new build. But I’ve lived in old Victorian houses, they do require more attention for sure!

I just looked up shaker doors and they look really nice and not completely plain. I’m envious :-)) (and sick of fiddly mouldings)

It sounds as though being tidy and organised has always come naturally to you. Was there a time when you questioned your ability to maintain your standards eg after children or a house move?

I’m asking because any time I do a big tidy or declutter I feel as though I’m working through archaeological layers of emotional ups and downs. I’ve never really reached a point where I was confident it would last.

There was definitely a time when they were very small that I felt out of my depth. But like anything I suppose you just get used to it. I also dropped my standards a little when they were newborn.

Ah, I think the new build situation really helps with the clean lines and everything being relatively new and fresh.

I find that even when our house is tidy and clean I don't feel satisfied but I think that's more of a decor issue and everything looking tired and old (currently saving for a big house reno).

How often do you do a deeper clean eg hoover behind sofas, beds etc?

Every few weeks usually for a deeper clean.