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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

LITTLE things that help keep you organised?

562 replies

starrychime · 16/04/2012 18:27

There's a lot of threads about cleaning routines, 15 min sessions etc which I love to read but never get round to following (one day, one day I will!)
Wondered if anyone has some little hints and tips that make things just a little bit easier about the house?
I use paper plates Blush for morning toast, lunchtime sandwiches etc as I HATE washing up (no washer) - and it keeps it down a little bit.
Also keeping a small Ikea drawer sorter in the bathroom with DD's bobbles and clasps so they're to hand in the morning helps a bit.
Anyone else have any little tips?

OP posts:
MushroomSoup · 30/04/2012 13:39

Pink that sounds like a great plan and you also get 29-31st with no jobs - bingo!!
I'm the same with my upstairs and my bedding. It gets washed frequently but I have no routine and have no idea how long it's been on the beds!

pinkpainter · 30/04/2012 16:48

Mushroom - Glad you like my idea! I would have liked a weekly routine, but there were far too many jobs. The 28 day plan made me see that it's unrealistic to try to get the whole house clean and all bedding and towels washed every week - so I need to stop beating myself up about it, I just worked out a plan based on what is achievable, none of the daily jobs take should take more than half an hour on top of the tidying that I already do.
The list can only go up to 28 as it wouldn't work for the months when there are more days, but at the moment I have 2 days with no jobs so that's great!!

ParsleyTheLioness · 30/04/2012 17:26

Have an emergency tenner in my key purse, so I can always get bread, milk emergency wine and chocolate
When you get a clear bag, eg those that come with shower curtains, some carriers, save it. These are good for hanging on hooks in the cupboard, so that you can see contents at a glance. Have a back up of things that need to replaced immediately, toothpaste, soap etc.
Birthdays etc go into the filofax at the beginning of the year, also on phone with a reminder a week before. This also records the age of the person, so I know if it a birthday ending in 0 requiring a nicer/special card, etc.
Have a packing list in filofax, under a separate section, also Christmas section with ideas so I can get things on sale, and keep a record of what I have. I prefer the filo as I do not trust the technology not to go poof I like to see it written down.

KampaKat · 01/05/2012 10:11

Pink - that is a fabulous idea - is there any chance you can post your 28 days planner. I need the inspiration to get started!

pinkpainter · 01/05/2012 12:10

Here's the 28 day planner as requested, but please take into account that I have 3 bathrooms and a biggish house (2010 sq foot) - ideally I'd clean the bathrooms at least once a week and do the bedding and towels every week too but I had to really limit what I can realistically get done....as I said earlier I tried to make sure that no job was so big it would take more than half an hour, otherwise it's just too daunting. Hope this helps though:
1 - loos 2 - showers 3 - sinks 4 - bath 5 - floors washed 6 - vacking upstairs 7 - towel wash 8 - loos 9 - bedding 10 - sinks 11 - spare bedding 12 - DC bedding 13 - glass upstairs (mirrors and windows) 14 - dusting upstairs 15 - loos 16 - showers 17 - sinks 18 - bath 19 - floors washed 20 - vacking upstairs 21 - towel wash 22 - loos 23 - bedding 24 - sinks 25 - spare bedding 26 - DC bedding 27 - glass downstairs 28 - dusting downstairs

CaptainHetty · 01/05/2012 15:48

In terms of a planner I have a basic one that works on a 7 day basis (kind of, apart from the general tidying and cleaning that has to be done, Sunday is my day of laziness). I do a clothes wash (or two...) every day along with the other things:

Monday - deep clean bathroom, clean my bedroom

Tuesday - mop all the wooden floors, deep clean kitchen

Wednesday - hoover upstairs, towel wash

Thursday - clean bed sheets, deep clean lounge

Friday - kids' bed sheets, and 2 '15 minute blitz' sessions - one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Saturday - kids' tidy their rooms, put away clean washing, and weather permitting I give the garden a tidy.

Flubba · 01/05/2012 18:53

Well I've sorted my own wardrobe and clothes cupboards, (kids' to be done later on this week), and bought a new storage thing from my local charity shop which has 6 separate drawers - one for each classification of kids' crap normally shoved into a bottomless box which has broken and overflowed. Although DS (15m) followed me round and emptied everything as I filled it :D :D Hmm :o :o

MushroomSoup · 02/05/2012 04:54

I love the emergency tenner!! (I keep one in my bra when I go out as emergency taxi money!)
I am keeping on top of my laundry with the one-basket rule (it's made a huge difference) and I'm doing the "don't walk past something when it's a 5 sec job to do something about it" rule!

betterwhenthesunshines · 02/05/2012 16:29

Someone asked about sewing baskets - I keep all my sewing stuff in a plastic tool box - the top layer is great for pin boxes, cotton reels etc and then the scissors, velcro tape, zips, bags of safety pins etc all go in the larger base compartment.

Stitchthis · 03/05/2012 12:14

I need a basket for all my sewing baskets!! Grin

Engelsmeisje · 04/05/2012 10:29

I am inspired!

Can someone link to the storage thread please, I can't find it....

blueskycp · 04/05/2012 22:20

Please can someone explain about the duvet in the pillowcase tip? Been reading back through the thread but can't find it!

scrappydappydoo · 04/05/2012 22:28

blueskycp You essentially create a bed pack - putting the duvet cover, and undersheet inside the matching pillow case. So when you come to change bed sheets its all in one place and you can just grab it and go . Also keeps things neat and tidy in the cupboard. A small thing but makes a big difference :)

bessie26 · 04/05/2012 22:33

I just keep the bedding for each room in that room (in a plastic box under the bed) The DC have 3 sets each, so 2 sets of bedding in the box. We only have 2 sets, so 1 set in our box. I keep everyone's towels in the box too.

blueskycp · 04/05/2012 22:38

Great tip! Thanks. Plus the boxes under the bed idea :)

SilverSky · 05/05/2012 18:50

Any tips for keeping cars tidy? My back seat footwell is stuffed with toys, blankets and allsorts!

MushroomSoup · 05/05/2012 19:07

You can buy those hanging pockets things!! I'm sure someone will do a link cos I can't They're usually used for toiletries etc

trixymalixy · 05/05/2012 19:07

Don't know if anyone has said this already. I staple the receipts for big electrical items to the instruction booklet. These all go in a box, so you know exactly where the instructions are when you need them and can easily find the receipt for proof of purchase if something breaks.

bessie26 · 05/05/2012 20:00

silver google "car tidy" there are all sorts of things. We have one on the back seat in between the DC's car seats for them to put toys/drinks/wrappers in. You can also get bigger ones to go in the boot.

SilverSky · 05/05/2012 20:32

Ta Bessie. Will have a look!

chalat · 07/05/2012 20:01

silversky Look here Smile

SilverSky · 07/05/2012 21:37

Grin great. Any reco's or experience on a particular type?

chalat · 07/05/2012 23:34

silversky - how old are your dc? If you are looking for something fairly simple and inexpensive, I'd be tempted by the one on sale on that page. When ds1 and ds2 were small I made a similar holders for them which I sewed myself out of sturdy material. Meant stuff was easy to reach for them and didn't roll away. Over time have tried various ways to keep the essential stuff in vehicles but also keeping clutter to a minimum or it gets dropped and trodden on, etc.
Best tip would be to get into the habit of picking up any mess and removing from the car asap and always keep nappy sacks and wipes in the car, irrespective of age of dc!! Grin

SilverSky · 08/05/2012 21:50

chalet he's almost 18,5mo. I keep meaning to put together a nappy bag for the car. Have organised myself with a nappy changing station downstairs. Need to buy a pretty box to store it in.

Wrt clearing the car -once I've carried everything else out including the child I'm too lazy shattered to go back out again!

MrsPlanB · 08/05/2012 21:59

I am just learning about this being tidy and houseproud malarkey, after years and years of being chaotic and messy.

Tricks that help me:

I don't have a big 'wash day' anymore. I put a wash on most mornings, then fold it as soon as it is dry / I have a sec (always on the same day) and put away. Easier to keep on top of small loads than have a week's worth of a family of four's washing to wash dry and put away.

I put a couple of those easy-iron sheets in the drier when I wash our bedclothes and also take the bedclothes out and shake them half way through drying - minimises need for ironing.

I keep this stair basket at the bottom of the stairs, chuck things in that belong upstairs as I pass, and the take it upstairs and distribute tings in the evening.

I am the opposite of a hoarder. I chick a black bag of crap out at least once a month. I am forever charity shop-ing clthes and toys.

I also keep cleaning products everywhere! I have cloths, sponges and cleaning spray in two paces in the kitchen, both bathrooms and our bedroom.