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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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:
mulranno · 19/04/2012 00:06

I divide my to do list page into headed sections...ie Buy, Post, Phone, Pay, Banking, Research, Sort, and then do all phone calls or post or payments etc on one day in one go, ....was taught this at work is called "batch processing" and very time efficient rather than flitting between admin tasks.... or I do one massive long random list and then use a highlighter to prioritise just 3 things to do that day - then cross off and do again the next -- stops me feeling overwhelmed!!

Laundry is the big issue in our house -- I say that I will do a load a day but mostly I cant be arsed - and sometimes I dont mind just doing a big blitz on a sat or sunday morning

mulranno · 19/04/2012 00:11

Also rate the "one touch" approach hate when I just move things along rather than completing the task as nothing has been achieved - again learnt this from work with paper work one touch only -- then either action now or archive now or set aside to read later - my sister was taught another "one touch system" which was do, dump or delegate!

SkinnyVanillaLatte · 19/04/2012 00:52

Label every bag as you put into storage (loft etc) and do a master list of what is in your storage area.

Ginfox · 19/04/2012 04:56

Little sock-clip things from Lakeland - life is too short to be spent pairing socks

Internet Sainsbugs shop - not having to drag my arse around a supermarket is completely worth the delivery charge, plus I can't browse and end up with stuff I don't need

Box at bottom of stairs for stuff to be taken up stairs (and so I don't leave stuff ON the stairs and fall over it)

Wipe-clean board behind kettle for important dates, appts, etc - cos I am a tea addict so will see my memos several times a day

Tidy as you go, and train DH to do same (ok still working on that one) :)

rudeawakening · 19/04/2012 06:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BalloonSlayer · 19/04/2012 07:10

I get one of those Family Organiser calendars each year but instead of using the five columns for Me, DH, DS1, DD, DS2 like you are supposed to I divide it into:

Birthdays - Morning - Afternoon - After School - Evening

Because if the DCs are doing something, then so am I really, there is no need for separate columns. Plus, I can look at the calendar from a distance and see if there is something written in the box, then that slot is not free.

The evening is almost always blank Sad

JugglingWithTangentialOranges · 19/04/2012 07:57

Ooh, that's a good idea Balloon about the family calendar - although I still like the idea of a column each - I just wish everyone would use it, especially DH Smile

javotte · 19/04/2012 07:59

I have lots of clothes (yo-yo dieter so I have to have a wardrobe in every size between 12 and 22) and not a lot of storage space. The clothes folder board saved my life, the clothes are neatly folded and take up less space.

I have a "clutter box" in the living room (where the children play most of the time) where I quickly dump everything that's lying around. I empty it a couple of times a week, putting everything back in place.

javotte · 19/04/2012 08:25

Oh, and I always keep a complete spare outfit for each child in the car in case they are sick.

JugglingWithTangentialOranges · 19/04/2012 08:33

Keeping some games, maybe a scooter and a ball, a bucket and spade in summer, in the boot of the car works well too - also if you have spare ones a coat or jumper. Also sun-tan lotion ( and hats ?) in glove compartment.
We also have a bag of hats and gloves by the front door - under the coat stand.
(Our version of all this is slightly more random than it sounds !)

DonkeyTeapot · 19/04/2012 09:27

Foolonthehill I like your idea of storing outfits together, rather than all trousers etc together.

The frozen sandwiches though, are they not horrid when you thaw them? How do you thaw them? I have memories of mum freezing bread, and it always had one wet corner. To this day, wet mushy bread makes me heave, so I only freeze bread that's going to go directly into the toaster.

morethanpotatoprints · 19/04/2012 09:32

Pardon?

morethanpotatoprints · 19/04/2012 09:33

sorry, wrong thread

festivalwidow · 19/04/2012 10:00

Gift bags. Buying them in bulk and re-using ones we've been given has saved me ages and a lot of suppressed swearing: it takes seconds to stuff a present into a bag as opposed to the faff of wrapping. They don't take up much storage space either.

I try and use the mantra 'never go up or down stairs empty-handed' which does get the washing done and the bins emptied fairly regularly.

MadameChinLegs · 19/04/2012 10:18

Yy to giftbags. Got a mass of pink ones when dd was born so im hoping theres lits of girls born around me over the next few years

emanwen · 19/04/2012 11:33

Great stuff here, but could i please have some paperflow tips?

I am sinking under bits of paper - whoever said technology would bring us a paperless society was lying!!
Filing cabinet is on 3rd floor which doesn't help. Various in trays just overflow.
How do you deal with: brochures, little research projects of mine, school stuff, financial type ISA reports and stuff, bills, stuff i think DH should read before I put it away, things i should read later/someday/probably never/, things i need to respond to, special offer leaflets, lovely little notes the kids have written, endless lists.

How do you all tackle this stuff? Do you have kitchen paperwork storage or ruthless about getting it all up into the study area?

MrsHoarder · 19/04/2012 12:05

emanwen we have "in trays" in the kitchen which are sorted into:

  • stuff to respond to
  • stuff to file
  • stuff to read (someday)

Then its supposedly a weekly task to take the respond and file away to be dealt with. The stuff that needs reading otoh...

For notes etc, I have a "project display folder" which individual pieces of paper can be slid into. Then anything that wants keeping like personal notes/letters and news articles is put into there. When its full, date on the spine and onto a shelf. Ok you still have folders that aren't strictly necessary, but at least its not hundreds of loose bits of paper cluttering the kitchen.

MrsHoarder · 19/04/2012 12:06

And time-limited leaflets/vouchers and menus for takeaways that we actually use go on a pin-board in the kitchen. Cycled out once out of date.

StealthPolarBear · 19/04/2012 12:09

getting on this

Not sure if this is an "organised" tip or an indication of slatternliness but I find paper builds up in piles in the kitchen - notes from school, bills to pay etc. I keep a box file in the kitchen and throw it all in there - looks tidier than piles of scrappy paper.
Unfortunatekly at the moment I have a full box file AND piles of paper :(

GreenMamba · 19/04/2012 12:10

And fix the kitchen pin boards inside the cupboard doors.

So much tidier!

Helenagrace · 19/04/2012 12:19

I am a professional organiser. My top tip would be to plan, plan and then plan some more.

Meal planning is essential. I have an in use and a spare policy for everything. If you open the spare write it on the list and the shopping fairy will ensure it gets ordered. If you don't then do this then you will run out . Sorry slight "why aren't there any razor blades in the cupboard?" inspired tangent there...

I have a planning session every Sunday night (I call it the board meeting). I go through the calendar, my diary and DH's diary. I keep a file of dates that come home from school and add those in at this time. I do it whilst DH is gettting the children ready for bed. I shout up what kits are needed (swimming, guides, beavers, street dance etc) and he gets them ready and they are lined up in separate bags on coathooks inside the children's wardrobes so they can be grabbed as we go. Once I've synched everyones calendars DH and I go through the next 4-6 weeks looking for clashes and identifying who is doing school runs, guide runs, late school pick up, meals etc. That also goes on the calendar. This gives me a 4-6 week heads up if I need a babysitter / after school club / favour off another mum. We often text taxi drivers and babysitters at his time. We also open a bottle of wine and discuss where we're at with long term plans and we can discuss anything that is annoying us before it gets to the screamy hissy fit stage.

Paper work which DH needs to see goes in a file on his desk which he takes and reads on his journey to see clients (he goes on the train). He scrawls on it and I sort it out afterwards.

I run a bring forward system for the house. So, a school letter with three dates on it comes home. The dates go in the calendar. Then the piece of paper goes in the bring forward file for the first date. After that date, if it is still needed it goes in the file for the second date and so on. I have a monthly (Jan - Dec) file and a daily file (31 slots). So at the end of April I'll get out May's papers from the monthly file and allocate them to a day in the daily file. It sounds a lot of work but it actually takes 5 minutes a month. Each night I go to the daily file and takes out the next day's paper and put them on my desk to deal with the next day. It means that the letter about a school weekend trip in November with payment dates in September and October is always in the monthly file so I don't lose it and I don't have to see it for months on a noticeboard. It will appear in September when I need to do something and then I refile it in October ready for the next action. I file holiday brochures in there too. We usually book our Summer holiday in April so any useful brochures, newspaper clippings etc go in the April section. Likewise my car insurance is due in July so if I see any good deals they go in the July section. I also use this for chasing people. So if I write to HMRC and want to chase them in a fortnight I put it in a slot in a fortnights time. I don't have to remember where the paper is and the bring forward system will remind me when I have to do something. If I need it in the meantime I know it will be in the file and I can lay my hands on it is 20 seconds.

I have a pretty box on my desk which has all my projects in and I take an A4 folder, put everything in the folder relating to that project and store it in the box. It's out of the way but I know where things will be. I only use this for things which have no date attached.

Receipts go in a large envelope in the hall. At the end of the month I seal the envelope and date it, start the next envelope and file the old one. I also shred the one that is now a year old. So at the end of April I will seal April 12's envelope and file it, shred April 11's envelope and start May 12's envelope. I only do this for day to day receipts as I have a folder for bigger purchases. So a washing machine receipt goes in the folder, with its manual and guarantee and a petrol receipt goes in the envelope.

Gosh sorry mammoth post.

CarolynR · 19/04/2012 12:32

Have somewhere you have a place where you ALWAYS keep stuff e.g. party invitations, specialist appointment cards, etc. It might be in your "intray", pinboard, calendar (if you have one with pockets) but just making sue you are consistent means that you'll know where to look.

ivykaty44 · 19/04/2012 12:34

Pretty keyholder on the wall next to the stairs so that house, bikelock and car keys go on it on the way up and never get lost. Saved hours

No hide it away - if you do get broken into they can take your house car and bike lock keys - best hide away the keys out of sight

StealthPolarBear · 19/04/2012 12:40

Helen I want to be that organied! Love the receipts thing. Can I hre you??

thewickedestSMinthewest · 19/04/2012 12:47

helenagrace .... swoon Will you be my wife?