Has anybody managed to go from quite messy to tidy and kept it up?

[Viviennemary]

I was just wondering this. I've managed to get tidy after a total marathon effort but can't keep it that way for more than a day or two. Seems like I'm waiting for the magic system. Flylady or the apps I've read about on this list. Keep scrolling the list for that magic method. Don't suppose the Flylady books is much good stored under the bed and never looked at. So basically has your house ever gone from nearly always messy to nearly always fairly tidy. I need inspiration from folk who have conquered this.

Ooh

Yeah I have.

Storage is the answer, as in places for everything, cupboards, smart boxes, ottomans, etc. Buy more storage but also have a thorough de-junk to make sure everything fits in it's place.

Regular de junking

Doing a little bit each day above the minimum, eg minimum for me is making sure kitchen is tidy, so if I've done that then I'll clean a floor, or hoover, or throw old items out of the fridge, or clean a mirror in the bathroom, anything really as long as it's one thing above the minimum you decide on. Even if only 5 mins cleaning a mirror.

Never leave a room empty handed. I bring bins down from upstairs, or washing, or both, on pretty much every trip, and clean washing goes up any time im on my way up there already. Likewise little things that are out of place and need to go up/downstairs. Also same with mugs or plates in the living room, or the wastepaper bin, or junk mail... if i'm off to make a cuppa, something comes with me to the kitchen.

I've kept this up for over a year now so feel almost safe to say I've cracked it!

Over a year. I'm very impressed!! Just been and tidied a bit thanks to you and taking my empty coffee mug to the kitchen.

I am mid mega tidy at the moment. I really would like it to last.....

I've always been pretty tidy - the key for me has always been tidy as you go rather than wait for it to get messy. Most things have a place and if they get moved I move them back. Stuff like cleaning the bath making beds etc I do as I go - you know, if I pop into the bathroom for something I'll clean the sink, then next time to toilet... etc. It keeps things tidy and feels like much less of a deal xxx

Well done :o

I think I just finally managed to make it all a habit, my house isn't perfect by any means but 95% of the time I would be happy to have sudden visitors, and that wasn't the case before for my whole adult life. KidsAuthorKate is right too about tidying as you go.

Eg, once I've taken the plate/mug/pile of junk mail whatever to the kitchen, because I'm on my way there anyway to make a coffee or lunch or whatever, then while the kettle is boiling I will stack the dishwasher or take the main bin out, or some recycling, or stick the washing machine on... it's amazing what can be done in kettle boiling time.

I would also say to let go of perfectionism, sounds a bit mad but perfectionism actually made my home awful, because I never felt I had time to do anything thoroughly and properly. Thing is though, thorough really doesn't matter, what matters is that you do something

Eg I have a very old and lovely tiled hallway floor, and I like to scrub it, dry it, and polish it, but it looks very very nearly as good just with a very quick swish over with a microfibre mop (the microfibre thing makes it dry really quick too) and sure as hell looks a lot better than leaving it mucky. it's OK to just do a quick and unthorough job of something sometimes.

And again I might quickly do that before i go upstairs for something, so it's dry by the time i come back down. So I'll be thinking... need to run a bath in a minute, I'll just grab the mop... and do the quick swish and swipe before I head upstairs.

Hope that makes sense.

Try not to move around house empty handed. Before go upstairs have a quick look to see if anything needs taking up, same going to the kitchen, leaving the lounge or bedroom. Ties into tidying up as you go.

Well I've been taking the advice and it's really working. Usually I sit and think must do some housework but put it off so I never get started. Now I am picking things up as I go along. And it's been so hot that I couldn't do a marathon anyway but house not looking too bad. For me at least. Thanks! Must keep going though.

Tidying as you go is definitely the key. There have to be places for the things to go though, which seems to be my problem. I'm working on identifying what things seem to hang around with no place to go.

I don;t find tidying as I go works for me. I firget to do it. I think if it came naturally to me, I'd be a tidy person

One thing I find does help is having a mini place for everything in each room, so I have a small toybox and a couple of laundry baskets hanging around, and wastepaper bins in every room. That means if I find a toy/clothe in the wrong place I can just stick it in the small toybox or washing basket rather than having vague piles for things or thinking "I should take that upstairs. Eh, I'll do it later."

It's about looking around and seeing what's most bothering you and then changing your routines or behaviour to address that. And categorise.