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AMA
Original poster

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

568 replies

Kitchenbattle · 30/08/2025 07:01

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…

OP posts:
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25
Original poster
Kitchenbattle · 30/08/2025 07:59

Reanimated · 30/08/2025 07:56

Do you restrict what is happening around the house to prioritise keeping it tidy? So say, would you discourage some arts and crafts for something easier to pack away or, choose meals with less prep work to keep the kitchen tidier?

Well, my kids are passed the arts and craft stage, but no, I wouldn’t when they were younger. I would set it up properly so I would cover the table and allow them to do whatever they need to do. Outside is great sometimes I would do those things outside. 🤣🤣 but no, I wouldn’t restrict them.
In terms of dinner, I cook most meals from scratch so
Lasagna
Curries
Roast dinner
Stirfry
Pizza nights

OP posts:
Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 30/08/2025 08:01

Are you my neice 😂
D

Original poster
Kitchenbattle · 30/08/2025 08:01

cornbunting · 30/08/2025 07:43

Do you have a large house and/or lots of storage and/or few possessions?

There always seems to be so much stuff everywhere in our house: toys, artwork, equipment, paperwork, cables... At least the books have shelving, they're the one thing that reliably gets put away by everyone 😂

I have a five bed House it’s three story, I don’t have tons of possessions. But everything I do have has a place. My kids are passed the arts and crafts phase relief, but my ds does have toys in his bedroom.

OP posts:
IstillloveKingThistle · 30/08/2025 08:02

BusWankers · 30/08/2025 07:30

How do you even get away with a load of laundry a week?? If there's at least 3 of you?

This is my thinking.
I have two children plus me and DH .
I am like you - my house is lovely and tidy and clean, and I have to do at least two loads of washing every day.
Literally every day. It’s beyond a joke but we all wear clean clothes / pjs every day, and I change bedding once a week at least.
Also DS thinks it’s acceptable to grab a clean towel every time he has a shower ..

Original poster
Kitchenbattle · 30/08/2025 08:02

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 30/08/2025 08:01

Are you my neice 😂
D

Maybe 🤣

OP posts:
Reanimated · 30/08/2025 08:04

I've got an 11yo who is modifying a nerf gun on the dining table and we're waiting for the paint to dry. I'm not sure he got the memo about being past arts and crafts.

Original poster
Kitchenbattle · 30/08/2025 08:05

IstillloveKingThistle · 30/08/2025 08:02

This is my thinking.
I have two children plus me and DH .
I am like you - my house is lovely and tidy and clean, and I have to do at least two loads of washing every day.
Literally every day. It’s beyond a joke but we all wear clean clothes / pjs every day, and I change bedding once a week at least.
Also DS thinks it’s acceptable to grab a clean towel every time he has a shower ..

Show quote history

We shower most days so I don’t feel the need to have fresh pyjamas every night. I change my pyjamas if I have any night sweats, obviously. But other than that, I wear a set of pyjamas from Monday to Friday and so does my DH. He showers every day in the morning and he showers before bed.
Bedding gets changed once a week, but as I said in another post one bed each week on rotation.
towels we probably get through 4 to 5 towels a week. We don’t use a towel once!

OP posts:
Original poster
Kitchenbattle · 30/08/2025 08:05

Reanimated · 30/08/2025 08:04

I've got an 11yo who is modifying a nerf gun on the dining table and we're waiting for the paint to dry. I'm not sure he got the memo about being past arts and crafts.

I said mine are past arts and crafts that doesn’t have to apply to yours…

OP posts:
Original poster
Kitchenbattle · 30/08/2025 08:06

TranceNation · 30/08/2025 07:45

Was your mum the same with tidiness and cleaning when you were growing up?

Yes!

OP posts:
AmoozzBoosh · 30/08/2025 08:11

Kitchenbattle · 30/08/2025 08:05

I said mine are past arts and crafts that doesn’t have to apply to yours…

Show quote history

That's a little rude, they weren't being snippy!

Oblomov25 · 30/08/2025 08:11

My house isn't clean but it's reasonable, I too am quite organised, so can't see why op is getting such grief. Now ds1 is at uni and only ds2 here I only do 1 load in tge week and 2 of 3 loads at weekends. Why is that do hard to believe.

Reanimated · 30/08/2025 08:11

Kitchenbattle · 30/08/2025 08:05

I said mine are past arts and crafts that doesn’t have to apply to yours…

Show quote history

I guess that's what I'm asking, did you encourage your kids towards less messy pursuits? It's interesting that you called it a relief.

Anyway, I'm not here to rag you out, I'm just basically asking if you focused on reducing mess in an unusually tactical way.

CactusSammy · 30/08/2025 08:11

Do you find time for hobbies, or to do things you enjoy?
I sometimes feel resentful that I spent my weekend catching up with washing and other chores, and then it's Monday again.

Rainallnight · 30/08/2025 08:13

Do you sort of feel like you’ve always got to be doing something? If I try to get tidier and cleaner I feel like I can only do it by being constantly vigilant and active.

THISnewbeginning · 30/08/2025 08:14

I think the fact that there are two tidy organised adults in the house is the main thing here

Not many people have that i imagine. I am a single parent now. But previously my ex was extremely messy. My house is better now but I wouldn't say tidy and organised. Then again I have 6 dc so I dont expect it to be

Toooldtopretend · 30/08/2025 08:14

Reanimated · 30/08/2025 08:11

I guess that's what I'm asking, did you encourage your kids towards less messy pursuits? It's interesting that you called it a relief.

Anyway, I'm not here to rag you out, I'm just basically asking if you focused on reducing mess in an unusually tactical way.

Show quote history

I have 2 boys and they were never into arts & crafts at any age. I was always jealous of friends who had kids who would sit and draw and colour for hours. At least I didn’t have to clean up glitter constantly though!

PhaseFour · 30/08/2025 08:16

I'm not tidy or organised, but I realised after a conversation at work a while back I'm the only one amongst my workmates who does this, which I'm pretty sure helps to keep my weekly washing down (although obviously not to OP's levels).

Mumsnet, I give you the ONE-a-towel-week-rule:
everyone is allocated one bathsheet a week, and only over my dead body will anyone get more than one a week! If they choose to leave it on their bedroom floor and it goes musty, so be it. Towel change day is either Saturday or Sunday (weather dependent).

i think it took everyone one week to realise that it was their best interests to hang their towel up each day to air, rather than leave it on the floor in the bedroom.

When I introduced this regime change it was a game-changer, I can tell you!

Re the OP - you sound like the person I strive to be, but never quite make it.

However, when your DCs are older, wear adult sized clothes and have weekend jobs, and a gym habit, the number of washes per week will likely increase.

You've inspired me this morning OP. There's an organised woman somewhere inside me, I just know there is!

Original poster
Kitchenbattle · 30/08/2025 08:16

Reanimated · 30/08/2025 08:11

I guess that's what I'm asking, did you encourage your kids towards less messy pursuits? It's interesting that you called it a relief.

Anyway, I'm not here to rag you out, I'm just basically asking if you focused on reducing mess in an unusually tactical way.

Show quote history

Oh, I didn’t get them towards anything particular at all. My dd is very sporty. That’s what she loves. My ds loves Lego, gaming and just generally being a child who loves outside, he adores Sea swimming.

OP posts:
Original poster
Kitchenbattle · 30/08/2025 08:16

AmoozzBoosh · 30/08/2025 08:11

That's a little rude, they weren't being snippy!

Show quote history

Sorry if that came across rude

OP posts:
Original poster
Kitchenbattle · 30/08/2025 08:17

CactusSammy · 30/08/2025 08:11

Do you find time for hobbies, or to do things you enjoy?
I sometimes feel resentful that I spent my weekend catching up with washing and other chores, and then it's Monday again.

I’m not big hobby person, but I love to go for a walk. I love to read and I love puzzles. So that’s what I do with my spare time. And I watch TV.

OP posts:
Reanimated · 30/08/2025 08:17

Rainallnight · 30/08/2025 08:13

Do you sort of feel like you’ve always got to be doing something? If I try to get tidier and cleaner I feel like I can only do it by being constantly vigilant and active.

Yes, this is me. Those times when the house is spotless - I spend far more time scanning for things that are out of place. It becomes an uncomfortable hypervigilence.

And I would call myself pretty organised and quite tidy but there's always things that are in-process to take the gloss off.

JamesWebbSpaceTelescope · 30/08/2025 08:18

AmoozzBoosh · 30/08/2025 08:11

That's a little rude, they weren't being snippy!

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I didn’t read this as rude. Just acknowledging that everyone is different.

Mine is 21 and still isn’t past (or passed - never got the hang of those two) the arts and craft stage!

cornbunting · 30/08/2025 08:19

Kitchenbattle · 30/08/2025 08:01

I have a five bed House it’s three story, I don’t have tons of possessions. But everything I do have has a place. My kids are passed the arts and crafts phase relief, but my ds does have toys in his bedroom.

Show quote history

This is a big part of it, then. Having enough space to be able to give everything a place is quite the luxury.
My youngest's bedroom is 6'6" x 8' (and over the stairs to boot), there's barely room for the bed never mind other furniture. We've done what we can in terms of storage, but there's a lot of overspill downstairs.

Original poster
Kitchenbattle · 30/08/2025 08:20

Rainallnight · 30/08/2025 08:13

Do you sort of feel like you’ve always got to be doing something? If I try to get tidier and cleaner I feel like I can only do it by being constantly vigilant and active.

No, I find I just do it all naturally just the way I am.

OP posts:
YourJoyousDenimExpert · 30/08/2025 08:20

I would love to be like this! I wonder if it’s too late (in my 50s). We definitely have too much stuff generally- and we seem to have ‘stuff’ on every surface. Please can you share whether you have ornaments / photos etc on windowsills, radiator covers etc- and if not where are they? The ‘dusting’ takes me ages….