AIBU to ask how do you keep a tidy house?!?!

[SeriouslyMessyCow]

I don't know what the heck is wrong with me but I live in such an utter mess.

I don't have kids so can't blame them but my DH is not bothered about mess either so we both just accumulate so much stuff.

We also both leave the house around 7am and don't often get back until 8/9/10pm. We then wash up what we need, make dinner and go to bed. Then weekends we're either shattered or busy socially and now I've got clutter upon clutter and it's getting me down.

How do you do it?! I can imagine many of you have less hours in the day than us, and more people that make mess, so AIBU to ask your secret?

Please!

Good luck!

I did a massive declutter after we'd moved & id been in the house a year & could see what I actually used.

If you're going to declutter get rid of it that week or it will never leave I find.

Wash up the night before, that is the best thing I do. It means I'm able to get on with steam cleaning/hoovering/another room.

My OH had hoarder parents too & Ive slowly made him realise it's okay to throw stuff out by selling/charity or recycling.

Our rented house has no storage space so it's been great at seeing what we actually need.

Be ruthless & reward yourself with cake/whatever you like to eat afterwards.

Friend of mine was a bugger for piling up used crockery etc so he took drastic action.

He got rid of all except
One knife
One fork
One teaspoon
One dinner plate
One mug

Worked for him! (He never had people round before or after as all rooms were "odd" - bits of projects everywhere, he' s an inventor type)

This is good stuff OP!

Sorry to bore you all with my updates, it just keeps me accountable. If I disappear before Sunday you know I've been lazy and given up

Bathroom looks impeccable and I've got a whole bag of toiletries for the food bank. Just filled a black bag of shoes for charity shop (I only ever wear the same 4 pairs anyway) and thrown or given away all my tatty handbags.

This is seriously therapeutic! I'm moving onto books, CDs and DVDs next of which we have absolutely hundreds so feel like it'll take me all afternoon. I found my Kondo book as well (in an old handbag) so been pausing for reading breaks in between.

Well done. Don't give up. Get it done. Honestly, you won't miss any of it. And living in a tidy house is so much better for your frame of mind. Mess and clutter is just depressing,

Then get into the habit of just tidying as you go. When you finish with something, put it away. It's surprisingly easy and means it's always nice.

I agree, I've been seriously depressed recently and I genuinely think living in a pit has been one of the key reasons.

The house (and my mind) is feeling lighter already

I am a genuine believer in tidy house tidy mind.

Obviously it isn't always that simple, but from my own personal experience, you can't have a clear head and a relaxed time in a environment in disarray.

Well done so far. It will make you feel so much better and probably save you time and money in the future.

Fuck wish I knew. One day it looks like a show home and the next a squat.

I agree, I've been seriously depressed recently and I genuinely think living in a pit has been one of the key reasons

I agree with you too. I felt so much better after I had my massive sort out. I did feel so much 'lighter' and calmer.

Good luck with the decluttering! The Kondo book is great. I made a good start on it last year but then we've moved house and had months of building works, so living in a right old mess at the moment. I'm going to reread Kondo and start again tho, as I want my house to be a lovely place to be, and am sick of constantly being surrounded by piles of crap!

This was my lightbulb moment for decluttering
: I am a thoughtful person who gives to charity
: Giving decent "stuff" to charity is the same as giving money
: Decluttered and feeling like a good person!

My tip for your junk room: cheap shelves or hoppers to put things on or in. Screwfix does a good line in these if you don't mind the industrial look. The key is not to think that, just because you have thrown everything in a container, your job is done. DH is very good at forcing me to tackle the contents of boxes and trunks etc every few months so that we don't store things we don't need.

I also sometimes get up early to do jobs, rather than trying to do them in the evening. In the morning I am less tired and more motivated. I have got to be quick because of having to leave for work, and getting something done before I even leave the house sets me up nicely for a productive day.