Can't cope with the mess - please help

[lorisparkle]

I have three DS (4,3,10mnths) and a messy DH.

I would love my house to look reasonably tidy but seem to be fighting a losing battle.

How can I get DH and DS to be more tidy without turning into a boring nag.

I know this has been asked a thousand times but find the mess is getting me down.

Thanks all you tidy people!

Declutter, be ruthless!
Storage - large boxes for toys, smaller ones for little figures, lego etc., storage for shoes, coats, laundry.
Set the timer for 15 minutes - everyone (except 10mth old!) has to put things away until it goes.
Games - everyone pick up 10 things and put them away. etc
Get a basket for everyone. Go around the house and put stuff in your basket then take it to your room. Obviously little ones will need help.
Tell dh to man up and support you.

Excellent advice from Celia.

Another tactic that has been mentioned on here is to have a clutter basket in every room. At the end of the day or before every meal or whenever it is all getting too much get everyone to put all the random stuff into the basket at least.

I know everyone will groan when I say this but I follow flylady and it does help enormously.

I need a skip and a dh that doesn't think getting rid of stuff is putting it in the loft. We need a skip to de clutter but I hold little hope. I am thinking a major declutter needed to clear cluttered draws and cupboards so I can put things away and stop drowning in piles of crap.. arghhh...stressed now and may need to recover.

We do get a skip every once in a while. It's not cheap, but god it's easier. And it focuses the mind - while it's there for a limited time and is costing you, you get your act together and sort things.

But tbh, with kids your age my advice would be don't worry too much. Keep the kitchen and the bathroom hygienic and the rest will be fine. The older 2 can help tidy - make it into a game ("I bet X can't tidy the Duplo faster than Y can tidy the train track") but really, it sounds like you have enough on your plate.

You cant have a tidy house unless there is a place for everything to go.

Sounds simple but its amazing how much stuff we get without thinking about where we are going to put it.
It has taken me a loooooong time to learn this rule.

I find I dont stress when the house gets untidy now because I know I can get all the toys/books/clothes put away quickly.

The best thing to do is make a start. Start with a half an hour go at a corner of one room. You WILL make progress and that will spur you on.

Once you start getting rid of stuff dont replace it. Those of us who love 'stuff' make this mistake so we can end up getting nowhere.

Belive me, I know. Its taken me a lot of time and a lot of chucking out

Thanks so much everyone for your advice and support. I have decided to FLY! and feel better now I have a plan of action. I think storage and throwing away seems the key so we are off to buy some more boxes! THanks again

Have you found a thread to offer motivation and support lori? You are welcome to join us here as we are revising the babysteps just now.

Freecycle a load of stuff - you don't need to take pictures like ebay and people often come to collect the same day.