Help me!

[spingey]

My house is horrible at the moment....just horrible. Im so ashamed of how bad it has got. Im feeling pretty low atm but I know that if I can sort the house it will go some way towards lifting my moods.

Today Im going to tackle the living room and get some washing done.

Anyone about to just kick me up the bum and keep me motivated.

Have made a list of everything I need to do:

Take all the dishes
tidy up
put toys away
throw any rubbish out
shred paper work
wipe down/dust surfaces
hoover

I want the room spotless by tonight so that tomorrow I can focus on another room. (sorry if I sound pathetic, I am pretty pathetic atm, but Im trying to be better!)

A tidy house always makes me feel better.
All that sounds doable today.
Are you DC free in order to just get cracking with it? Or are they going to be under your feet? Always much harder to tidy with the DCs around.
Good luck, hope you feel better

Makes me feel better too!

Working on one room at a time works well, but I would get everything out of the cupboards first before I add to them. Just to be sure it's all where it's meant to be!

My mood is always directly linked to the state of my house, although when I'm feeling low it's so hard to get motivated to do anything. It's a catch 22 situation for sure.

I've found that by doing a certain amount of things every day I can really keep on top of things with minimal effort. I've sorted tasks into daily (sweeping and washing floors, cleaning kitchen, washing/putting clothes away, general tidy up of toys and belongings left where they shouldnt be, wiping tables etc), weekly (bathrooms, dusting, hoovering) and monthly (declutter, washing Walls and skirting boards, cobwebs) really makes a difference and I no longer feel like I'm staring up at a mountain that needs climbing.

Today I need to:
Fold and put away 2 loads of washing
Tackle dining room - clean table and chairs, dust blinds, clean out guinea pig, sweep and wash the floor
Wash kitchen floor
Hoover everywhere

Good luck op!

How old are the DC's spingey can you get them to do a bit?

Give them a box to put toys in, even the little ones can help.

Put some good loud music on have a dance around whilst you fling things in a black bin liner!

Don't overwhelm yourself with too much, break each point down into little sections, sounds daft but it's great for feeling you've achieved loads as you tick them off!

As you do one area, have a quick report back here so we can kick you up the bum & push you on to the next bit

Good luck!

We need a 20 minute update :)

Not one that lasts 20 minutes you understand, on that tells us what you achieved in the 20 mins since you first posted!!

I have steel capped boots - I could pop around if you like.

Right - I am going to get off of my bum and go & tidy the kitchen and do the few dishes that are there. I'll come back when I've done that and see if you have updated :)

The kids are playing in their room. Generally speaking they are pretty tidy. we only have a 2 bed flat so I swapped rooms and gave them the master bedroom as it HUGE so they have loads of space to play in there. Ds (he is only 4 1/2) is pretty good at keeping it tidy and will even hoover if asked. So they should be kept busy whilst I get on with housework, although ds has a party at 2 so I will have to pop out for a couple of hours for that but I guess we can resume when I return :)

Thanks for all the nice posts, its good to know that a bit more normal than I thought and that other people get like this. Has made it seem a little less daunting already and lifted my mood.

I forgot, I also have a mountain of clean washing to put away. The drawers are bare because I havent put anything away for so long!

oh and in ways of an update I have put wet washing in the dryer and sorted a second load to put in the machine, bathed the kids and cleared a corner of the living room. Just having a quick glass of water then Im going to start on my next little section....Im working my way round the rug.

Oh well - at least the drawers are empty - that makes putting the clothes away much easier. Before you put them away though, take a look at what is in there - does any of it need throwing out/giving to charity/putting away for another child or anything? Often what's left never gets worn!

That's pretty good for 40 mins :) See you again soon!

I put some washing on then had to vacate the kitchen. I emptied a box of shredded paper into the recycling bin and the chemical fumes from the cleaning products in there (it was the ecover trial box) have given me a headache. Hopefully the products themselves wont or it will be a short trial!

So instead of the kitchen/dishes, I'm going to put away some clean washing and change the bag in the hoover and see what Henry ate yesterday that he shouldn't have Henry is the vacuum cleaner and I saw something sparkly being gobbled up - just have to see if it's some tat (suspect a shiney stick on bow out of the wrapping box) or something 'real' that needs saving. Sigh - lovely dusty job!!

Hi spingey, I'm with you. Been horrendously busy the last 2 weeks and the house is a state. The kids are playing nicely, dh is away working so no excuse (just 'cos we'd rather sit around drinking coffee and chatting at weekends than doing housework).

On my list: 3 loads laundry (1 in), hang out to dry
Change my bed (just for meeeee)
Put away clean clothes
Tidy, dust, hoover living room - I also want it looking good tonight so I can relax in a lovely room.
Quick wipe down and hoover in dining room
Clear floors of dc's rooms so I can hoover (they will do the clearing)

Kitchen gets done as and when - tomorrow I may mop the floor.

Having a wee break for a coffee and watching the Sali Hughes video, also had to chat to a BT man who wants to put a telegraph pole in our garden - I'll check in again at lunchtime.

Good luck!

I was doing so well but the kids are being so naughty. Ds is having a complete meltdown over nothing and they are totally trashing their room. I shouldnt have said they are good before I knew it would jynx it!!!! Aggghhh bloody kids!

Im still working my way through the living room. Nearly half of the floor is clear now and all the dirty dishes are in the kitchen, I just wanted to be further along by now. :( stress!

Good luck to you too badpoet :)

the state of my house totally affects my mood. the good thing is that once you get start getting it sorted it creates kind of the opposite of a vicious circle (a virtuous circle?) where you feel better and proud of yourself and more able/motivated to tackle the next task and so on (until you let one thing slip and it all slides again! but that can't be helped...)

Also, threads like this one are brilliant for keeping the motivation going - I completely changed my approach to keeping on top of housework with checking in every day with fellow mn-ers strugglinh witth the to-do list and clutter...

second bossy's suggestion to break every task down into its smallest sections. then you just have to follow the list, rather than thinking 'where do I start?!?!'. Also, I would plan a treat now for when you are all done, so you can look forward to that.

Today I must do:

• 2 loads of washing
• an hour or so sorting through crap in the loft
• putting away clothes
• change bed!!! (it's been way too long)
• and I would like to hang some pictures if we get round to it

Tell DS if he doesn't stop being naughty & tidy his room he will not be going to the party this afternoon!!

I have done the dishes. Make some brunch (tinned tomatoes on toast - YUM!).

I am going to hang up the first load of washing & finish the kitchen now :)

See you soon!

They are soooo ANNOYING!!! I have just shut the door and told them not to open it for 20 mins like they understand the concept of that!

I have cleared all the crap off of the living room floor and either put it away of thrown it out! But before I can hoover Im going ot have to empty the hoover.....a job I HATE doing! I could do with taking the whole thing apart, the upright bit of it isnt working, I think the giant elastic band thing has come off! So the I have been hoovering with the hose thing.
Its so nice to walk in the room without having to wade through toys and crap! gonna have to start getting ds ready for his party in a mo! so I want to have got something else done by then. Better go and get on with it. :) Gonna stick another load of washing on in a mo.

Im so glad I started this thread it really has given me lots of motivation. :)

Good luck with the hoover emptying - I fear I may have to tackle that too.

My kids are running out of goodwill towards each other too. Luckily I've got a magazine each stashed away and I think it's time to bring them out (well, eating lunch at the mo but after).

I have:

hung up one and put on another load of laundry
emptied & restacked dishwasher
taken out recycling
put away tesco
cajoled elder dc into tidying so I could hoover. Younger dc still a work in progress
put away about half the clothes
done a quick wipe down of the dining room
talked my mother through setting up an amazon account on the phone

loads still to do but I am really grateful for this thread! Now have a ham, mozzarella and basil toasted roll and a cup of earl grey tea waiting

Good god you lot have been busy! Brilliant!

I've not done much but have

DOne 2 loads of washing & sorted the rest to plough through-actually got some on the line beautiful sunny cold day here.

Does anyone else get a bizarre satisfaction out of putting laundry on the line?!

Have hoovered and am tackling the sitting room too. I stopped doing AVON recently as the bloody clutter of catalogues/orders/bags was making me feel more cluttered than I am and the profits didn't outweight the hassle. By getting rid of a load of bits I reclaim a corner & shelving unit I can use for other clutter important stuff.

I haved to have a carrot & stick approach with myself, task then reward.

RIGHT music on, 15 minute boogie then a cuppa & lunch.

Report in later- have a good party spingey!

Just about to go out for the party. Just going to write what I have left to do on here because I managed to throw my actual list away in the process of tirying.....got a bit carried away there!

When I get back I need to:
wash and dry another load of washing
fix hoover/empty
hoover lounge
tidy dining table and desk
dust/wipe surfaces
put washing away.....or at least fold it all up into piles for each person.

I think thats acheivable, especially once the kids are in bed!!!! Catch you all in a bit!

Hope it's continuing to go well for everyone - I flagged a bit after lunch but got back on track. Hung up 3rd & final load of laundry
Put away clothes apart from those for ironing (tomorrow)
Hoovered throughout upstairs & cleaned bathroom
Stripped bed & remade, apart from duvet
Dusted polished & tidied living room.

Still need to empty hoover & do downstairs, & put duvet cover on. Then I'll be done, & ready for the magicians with the kids tonight.

Bossybritches - love hanging laundry out! Sadly mine is inside, too damp here. Spingey, hope the party went well!

Hello, room for one more? After all the tidying there should be!

Today I have:

Done the food shop, put it away and rejigged one of the cupboards
Meal planned for the next week
Got dinner in the slow cooker
Done all the washing up (huge pile )
Advertised some bits on Freecyce and organised collection
Hoovered Living Room
3rd load of wasing in now
Checked post and actioned letter
Bleached toilets
Tidied DD's room (with the help of 2 year old DD!)

Still to do:

Hang washing on airer
Put away clothes from the tumble dryer
Give away last of freecycle bits
Wash up after dinner
Put vanish on DD's new top + stick it in the machine
Take DD's stuff out of our room + put in hers
And most importantly a long, hot bath!

Im in from the party now, tea is on the hob cooking away and I have just put a load of washing in so whilst the pasta for dinner is cooking i might try and fix the hoover.

Keep on going everyone. Think of how nice it will be tonight to sit down and chill without worrying about the mess! We have made a good dent in it today!

I didn't get much done at all. I still feel under the weather. One load of washing & a trip to the supermarket where I grabbed a few basics. There was a mother in there Loud Parenting and I really, really just wanted to shout at her to Shut The Fuck Up. Her two girls weren't being any bother to anyone else (just a bit silly & giggly) but she just kept on and on and ON. I tried reverse shopping but she seemed to follow me wherever I went so I grabbed the bare minimum & left. I unpacked the shopping and have been sitting here MN'ing ever since with very little intention of doing anything else today/tonight.

The rest of you have done well :) and deserve treats

Chipping that's one load of washing & shopping done more than you'd anticipated. TBH that's good if you're poorly!

at the Loud Mother that is a PITA when you are trying to whizz round.

Think we all deserve a later.

I shall alternate doing things & MN-ing as its crapola telly tonight.

3 loads of washing done & almost dried, alternating radiators and drying rack, look like bloody Widow Twankey's in here.

I have a clear corner in my lounge!! Very satisfying. All hoovered & polished too so can enjoy relaxing in it tonight as no teens to pig it up till Monday.

Might re arrange the dumping area behind the telly DVD's & CD's later. If not add it to the next list!

ooh good work everyone.

Not too bad here - clothes away, bed changed and some washing in. Had DD by myself all arvo and feeling knackered, so not too much done. Also, I hate the weekends for the way I always feel like I am constantly cleaning the kitchen. When it is just me and DD at home on weekdays I can keep it completely under control, but weekends it's like every time I get it sorted I turn my back and it's a tip again...

Am sitting in the one properly clean and sorted room of the house now though - feels lovely and calm in here. The rest is a bit scruffy but nothing a quick sweep round wouldn't sort out. Early bed required I think though so no more tonight...

So who is creating the mess mackerel at w/e's ?

Can any of them help you to clear up a bit?