To be really embarrassed about state of my house after friends visiting?

[ComeTalkToMe]

Just that really... I live with my DH and 19 month old DD. We had another couple over tonight and they picked me up from work so we all came in at the same time.

Seeing my house through other's eyes I noticed how messy it is. We're about to decorate our living room so it looked particularly bad but in general the house looked bad.

I don't know how to get on top of this, it's not unlivable or really dirty, just messy. I've said to DH I'm not comfortable to have anyone else round until we have a much tidier house. He disagrees - AIBU?

Also any tips on getting organised/ tidy in a house with two naturally disorganised, working people?

[Lexie1970]

I feel your pain OP - having spent most of today tidying and cleaning it gets you down living in a pigstye!!

We are the same with clutter - I am dreadful for opening post and just dumping on kitchen table so before you know it mini piles of crap everywhere. DS has a playroom which is chocca - when he is at his grandparents there will be a major sort.

My tips would be dont start a dumping ground in kitchen with mail - open, recycle or file. As others have said never leave a room empty handed and one I wish I could get into - try and leave downstairs tidy before you go to bed....

Good luck!!

[ChipsNKetchup]

I'm the same in that I have a house stuffed with clutter. I've been half heartedly dealing with things and it hit me earlier this week what a state I'd got into and how much needed to be done.

On Tuesday my friend came round and we got brutal and managed to take 4 carloads to dump and charity.

We went round everyroom and pulled stuff out of every cupboard and drawer. I cleared all rubbish, out of date food packets, old paints and cleaning products. Anything chipped or damaged, anything I'd been meaning to repair for months, all those things I'd been holding onto for indetermined projects forever. I also went through all books and culled them and clothes.

I've got carboot and ebay boxes on the go. My rule is anything remaining in these boxes on the move day goes to charity. I'm having a fresh start in my new home.

The tip is to move fast and as soon as a load is filled take it immediately. Our local tip has charity bins for clothes and books so it was just one trip.

It was tough but once it was gone it was gone. I probably couldn't even tell you half of the stuff I agonised over binning. A good friend can be key as he just said what's it for? Then told me to bin it.

I've still got a lot to do but it feels so much better already. I'm not overwhelmed by stuff and don't have to open a cupboard and feel guilty seeing a project I've been meaning to do for years.

Don't bother storing crap, no matter how fancy the solution if you don't get into the clearout mindset it'll take over again. I felt so much lighter when I finished.

[farrowandbawl]

Make your bed EVERY morning, as soon as you have got dressed - let it air while you are in the shower and getting dressed. It makes the room look nowhere near as bad and it's a job done before you even realised.

[Mouthfulofquiz]

I could have written this myself a couple of months ago. We to a skip, chucked all the crap away, got some furniture to put stuff in, put large shelves up in the garage and put everything we wanted to keep but didn't need in the house into clear plastic storage crates. It's so much easier to keep on top of now. Good luck!

[Mouthfulofquiz]

I could have written this myself a couple of months ago. We to a skip, chucked all the crap away, got some furniture to put stuff in, put large shelves up in the garage and put everything we wanted to keep but didn't need in the house into clear plastic storage crates. It's so much easier to keep on top of now. Good luck!

[ComeTalkToMe]

HoneyStepMummy thanks, that post is great, really helpful. You sound really organised, can I ask have you always been like that?

I really appreciate everyone's input and I've started to put it into practice. Had a long and rubbish day today but actually managed to declutter two kitchen drawers tonight. Feel good, threw a bag of stuff away (didn't even know what some of it was ) and feel good. Going to keep it up over the weekend and hopefully start to see a difference soon.

It is helpful to know others have experienced this and that lots of you seem to have changed your ways. Fingers crossed I can do the same!