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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Can I sort this mess by Saturday?

67 replies

sadkoala · 13/12/2018 09:43

I really want to but not sure I can.
It's getting to me and I can't think straight being stuck in a messy house, I'm driving myself up the wall.
We have a small house which gets cluttered v v quickly.
It's a sorry state atm as clothes are taking absolute ages to dry and the washing is mounting up. There's clothes on our bedroom floor that we didn't put away because our wardrobes are already messy.
Same goes for DCs room.
Pretty much every room needs a good declutter and tidy. The amount of crap and stuff to sort through is really overwhelming.
Kitchen is the main culprit as you walk straight into it and I would love to really minimise everything on the worktops as I hate it - but in order to do that I would have to make room in narnia the cupboards.

We are going to be really busy next week and won't have time to do much before Christmas. I've got today with 1yo in tow. Tomorrow with 3yo and 1yo and on Saturday DP is taking both DC's out for a few hrs per my request so I can try to tackle it but I know Saturday itself isn't enough and I need to start now.

Where do I start and what do I do? 😫

OP posts:
LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 14/12/2018 11:54

Come on - turn the camera around!

Whattodonut · 14/12/2018 12:12

I bet the kitchen is full of things you never use and your cupboards full of clothes you never wear.
Be ruthless. Bin bags, 1 for charity, 1 for bin for each room and take 5 secs max on each item to make a decision. Its a cliche but ask yourself "does this make me happy?" And your gut instinct is right. Works for me for kitchen, clothes, books and nickknacks. Chuck chuck chuck

And then spend 1hr putting the rest of the stuff away.
I would spend 1 hour per room max. 1 day is enough. You can do it!

WhoKnewBeefStew · 14/12/2018 12:13

One room at a time. As my old boss used to say. You cant eat a whole elephant, just take a bit at a time Grin

Start with a visit to the laundrette and a major clear out if the wardrobes and then clear out kitchen cupboards

GreenHillOpposite · 14/12/2018 12:13

Well done OP!

WhoKnewBeefStew · 14/12/2018 12:16

I couldn’t live without my tumble dryer. We are skint at the mo and ours broke. I used radiators and a drying rack for a few months but it nearly drove me mad. I had clothes stacked everywhere, and like you op, nothing ever looked tidy

Whattodonut · 14/12/2018 12:23

Well done! Looks like you're making good progress! Have you got music on to keep you going?

Motoko · 14/12/2018 12:27

Wow, what a difference, that looks great! It's such a good feeling isn't it?

Try to keep on top of it. Just spend a few minutes each day, keeping that area clear.

Apartment Therapy is a US site, but they have lots of articles on decluttering and organisation, and in January, they do a sweep, where they send an email every day, giving you a job to do for that day. Some jobs are decluttering, some are organising, some are just to go around with a pen and paper making lists of things that need doing, etc. They also have comments open below each day's job, where people chat about what they did, which is very motivational.

A pp mentioned Flylady, she's also good. She uses a timer, set for 15 minutes, when you do something for 15 minutes and then stop for a break. She also uses routines, like swish and swipe, where you give the toilet a swish, and run a cloth around the sink every day, and clearing hotspots (those flat surfaces that things get dumped on). This stops the dirt and clutter building up. Not going to bed with dirty dishes in the sink, and the sink wiped round, etc. She says it didn't take the mess a day to get there, so don't expect to clear it all in one day, take baby steps.

As you walk straight into the kitchen, you need a landing strip. Somewhere to put keys, the post, possibly shoes, coats and bags if they get dumped there, so they don't clutter up the worktops and the floor. Apartment Therapy have articles on the landing strip.

You've started well, just keep it up! It's amazing how different it feels coming downstairs in the morning and being greeted by a tidy kitchen.

Last2Know · 14/12/2018 12:28

Even wash everything and tumble at the launderette if service wash is too pricey

This is my plan tomorrow. Wash everything then throw it in the tumble at the launderette. Will cost me about £8 for what I need doing.

I have to go to the tip also, to declutter. DP cleared out our wardobe this week so that was a massive help.

I agree that you need to tackle each room by room. Gather ALL of your dirty laundery and place it by the machine and that will clear a load of space.

Clear out cupboards as others have said. I feel your pain OP, I'm doing all this, this weekend

sadkoala · 15/12/2018 12:02

Ok so we've started on the back foot today.
DC's and DP got out of the house much later than plannrd after he came back from the gym DC2 was still napping and needed to eat before leaving but I just booted them out 5mins ago.
I have about 2-3 hrs undistrupted before we have to leave for a family event which is more than I usually get I suppose so I'm going to try my best.
Will be trying to do upstairs as never get round to it since that's where DC2 naps.
Wish me luck!

OP posts:
GreenHillOpposite · 15/12/2018 13:01

Remember to take your before photo!

jimmyhill · 15/12/2018 13:06

Get a tumble dryer. They are not that expensive to run given the improvement one will deliver to your quality of life.

SassitudeandSparkle · 15/12/2018 13:24

Good luck, you've got this koala! Start filling the bin bags!

sadkoala · 15/12/2018 14:04

Quick update as I'm 2hrs in and having some water.
I forgot my before pics 😫

I've made a list though and I'm trying to channel my inner Mrs Hinch 🙈
Thanks so much for all the advice again!
There were so many clothes and random crap on our bedroom floor I'm mortified but at least I can see it now. Got about 30mins left before I need to get ready so I'm off again 🏃‍♀️

OP posts:
sadkoala · 15/12/2018 14:05

My list so far!

Can I sort this mess by Saturday?
OP posts:
Cassimin · 15/12/2018 14:09

Don’t know if anyone has mentioned it before but I have been doing the organised mum method.
Someone on here recommended it, I’ve been doing it for about 2 months.
I no longer need to run around like a mad woman if an unexpected visitor is at the door.

SassitudeandSparkle · 15/12/2018 21:30

Doing well koala!

Babyblade · 17/12/2018 09:27

Looking good Koala

A suggestion for lists - if you do something that's not on the list, write it on retrospectively and cross it off so you can still see what you've achieved and it still feels good crossing it off.

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