Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Yet another "Getting your shit together" thread... tips please!

13 replies

Flyingpompom · 18/08/2018 14:17

I know this has been done a million times before, but I'm naturally a lazy teenage slob. Left to my own devices I would clean once a year. I do maintain a higher standard than this, but I'd love to have one of those houses that seem serene and beautiful.
I want your tips for a lovely house, that is organised, sweet smelling and clean. Please fire away! Smile

OP posts:
YerAuntFanny · 18/08/2018 14:20

Also following as a naturally disorganised person who actually likes organisation 🤔

I say this as I sit in the middle of my children's room on the verge of a breakdown having emptied out their dumping ground wardrobe to organise it and now I can't see the bloody floor... I never know where to start!

CMH123 · 18/08/2018 14:24

Ah I have found my tribe!

YerAuntFanny · 18/08/2018 14:32

Actually as I sit here, I think the answer may just be to have less shit to keep together... I must be ruthless!

DelurkingAJ · 18/08/2018 14:39

I’m not naturally organised and I recommend small bursts e.g. ‘I will just put away the tshirts then have a cup of tea’ to break things into manageable chunks.

Slimmingsnake · 18/08/2018 16:11

Wonderful idea ..I too need this thread...I also need a getting my shit together diet thread...coz I can't do that either 😢😥😪

Slimmingsnake · 18/08/2018 16:14

Fanny ...I did my youngests clothes the other day...anything to small went...3 huge bin bags..he was left with 3 outfits...had to buy a whole new wardrobe,but it's manageable and out fits are matched on to hangers 😃

Anonymumtum · 18/08/2018 16:27

Top tips from me:

Bins in every room
(Small) laundry bin in every room
Dyson stick hoover - no longer a chore
If in doubt, throw it out
When the kids are out, go through toys and clothes and charity shop anything they don’t play with/wear
Shelves, shelves and more shelves. Easy to put up, drill, screws, real plugs. Alternatively bookcases, cupboards.

I always think a big declutter is like an omelette ie you need to break eggs first. It’s no good tidying if there is nowhere to put stuff. So counter intuitive but I start with cupboards. Three bags. Charity shop, bin, recycling. Clean cupboard, put stuff back. Put bags in bin/car boot.

Then start with stuff. Clothes for wash, rubbish, books, toys. Three more bags. Repeat. Do a room at a time but key is maintenance of newly tidy areas.

It is so so much easier to keep clean when there is less stuff.

Learn to enjoy housework, I know, watch Netflix or something while you do it or listen to podcasts.

Notagainmun · 18/08/2018 16:40

Take a photo of an area that needs sorting; kitchen counter, inside of wardrobe, anything. Then take another when it is clean and tidy. It really motivates me to do another area.

AllAtHome · 18/08/2018 16:40

Declutter
Declutter
declutter

Put stuff in boxes that are not important. After six months/ a year of disuse, send to charity shop.

When you only have what you use, you should have space.

Give everything in your house, a home. Make sure it always goes back to its home.

Then the cleaning is (boring), but much easier.

catinboots9 · 18/08/2018 16:48

The organised mum method on Facebook.

Changed my life. And I am a complete slattern

YerAuntFanny · 18/08/2018 16:54

Right. Wardrobe tackled.

I have 3 bin bags to go to clothing bank when DH gets back with the car. I could pass on/charity shop/sell but I want it gone NOW so I shall just have to deal with my conscience later and hope that these things make it to someone who can make use!

1 binbag of unfit clothing and a few bits of junk that there were lying around are now in the wheelie bin.

Have sorted 2 large zipper laundry bags for top shelf, one with autumn/winter clothing and one with hand me downs that are too big. I will not build up anymore than I can fit in those from now on!

Toys tomorrow 🙄

It's amazing what I'll do to avoid studying...

EyeDrops · 18/08/2018 17:15

Two tips that have vastly improved my house from MN:

"Don't put it down, put it away."

And JFDI - just fucking do it! So often I'd look at something and think "Oh I must do that at some point." Just do it!! Most often something that takes 5 mins or less, and then it's done!

Xiaoxiong · 18/08/2018 21:17

Eye drops I have a variant of that which is "touch everything once". So don't put it down somewhere where you'll have to touch it again to put it away. This was helpful to me because I am the master sorting into piles - I clear all the surfaces by sorting and then piling everything up on the side table/end of the kitchen bench/dining table/top of the piano. Touch everything once forced me to put stuff away instead of into neat piles still lying around on the surfaces.

Landing area next to front door with place for post, keys, purse. Then no need to rush about looking for keys and purse in the morning. Make sure they're there before bed.

Look at the next day's weather the night before and lay out your outfit. Then next day no need to faff about deciding what to wear. Also lay out kids uniforms and shoes, book bags, PE kit, lunches if needed. Kids then dress themselves when old enough.

In the morning throw bedclothes back off the bed and open the windows while you're in the shower. Bed and room will air and smell much nicer (and yes it may be cold when you get back from the shower, treat as a cheapo Turkish steam bath/cold room Grin)

Change beds once a week and try to line dry sheets if possible, smells so much nicer.

Sunday night business - DH and I sit down with laptops, diaries, kitchen calendar and online banking every Sunday and synchronise diaries, pay bills, etc. Means we save up "big" conversations about money, the kids, saving for a house deposit etc for Sunday nights and prevents DH turning over at midnight on a Tuesday saying "I was just thinking about whether we should move the DCs into a new school..." Save it for Sunday night business, let me sleep!!

I meal plan and do online shop, and then eat whatever leftovers we have the night before the delivery = clear fridge when food is delivered and less waste. He does the ironing while watching TV in the evening.

(DH and I both work full time and I travel a lot and have a long commute, so we had to get organised out of sheer panic when we realised we were ordering takeaways practically every night, wasting a tonne of food going off and DS forgot PE kit a lot...)

New posts on this thread. Refresh page