I just realised I have NO idea how to look after a house. Guidance and encouragement, anyone?

[fuzzpig]

This is really embarrassing!

I am 25 and have never lived alone. I got a staggeringly bad example from my parents - house falling apart, dust and clutter everywhere, mouldy food, broken windows not fixed (my bedroom), mice/rats/slugs/beetles etc, it was not nice to grow up with - and escaped the hell hole moved out with DH. Similar with learning to look after my body/appearance, but that's a whole other thread which my self esteem isn't ready for yet!

We get the basics done (DH is actually much better at getting on wih it than me - I have AS and am rubbish at routines and organisation) and at least we aren't in as much of a state as my parents (and our landlords have not complained when they've visited), but I really have very little clue how to keep a house properly clean and lovely!

We've had an awful couple of years due to our health, DH is nearly better but as mine is now getting worse (CFS/ME) I am really starting to see how much harder life is because our house is messy! We have managed a lot of decluttering recently (I have a thread on the Christmas board about it :o) and that has helped, I feel ready for being more house proud now and having a simple, achievable routine. I have tried flylady/Ongoing GH threads in the past but I found it too difficult to keep up with, I think I'd do better if somebody could tell me what needs doing and how often, what stuff to use etc, and we can just get on with it and gradually make it habit.

Our house is tiny, no garden, very small bathroom and galley kitchen, carpet everywhere except kitchen. Plenty of storage but not using it efficiently at the moment.

Can anyone give me a few tips please?

Yes they are for eczema, the suits are really hard to get clean - they seem like they aren't as absorbent after washing even though as instructed I don't use fabric conditioner with them. Will definitely do maintenance wash more often then!

Have been housekeeping for about 30 years now give or take..... de cluttering is an absolute must in a small space and it is continuous!! If you really don't need it - get rid!! Tidy as you go and wash and clean dishes etc as you go. Tidy, tidy, tidy as you go. Make beds etc, only make the beds about fifteen minutes after you have gotten out of them though, pull back the sheets, duvet and allow the bed to air, stops the dust mites, well helps!! Open the windows and allow the room to air for a while. Dust when you have a few moments spare, hoovering is important too, if you iron put the clothes away as soon as you get the chance. Doing one or two jobs a day even little jobs helps and it doesn't take lots of time, the secret is to do a little and often, every day something gets done, big or small, write them down if necessary, get a to do list every day if you have to. Start with small steps and eventually graduate to bigger ones - it takes a long time to learn how to keep a house properly and you don't do it over night, it's taken me 30 years, I'm pretty good at it now but it does take practice and you will get there!! Slowly!!

I like what barleysugar said on the first page...my mom was too good at housekeeping, it seemed to me that houses just cleaned themselves!

One thing I find is that I absolutely must keep on top of decluttering. I have to toss things every single day without fail, and keep up with dishes and laundry or it is a disaster before I can blink.

I'm really hoping to get a better handle on all of this...I'm having a baby in May and the thought of having two (DS is 5) and school schedules, sports, and the dog shedding everywhere and being tired from a newborn...arrgghh! If I don't keep the house relatively tidy I really can't focus (ADD) so I know I need to get better at it.

We bought a vax rapide carpet cleaner last year and it is astonishing how much dirt comes out of the carpets. It cost about £175 but once you have it you can use it regularly. Much cheaper than getting a company in to clean your carpets.

The first time we did the small living room (where the DCs spend most of their time), the water was black and the tray was full of silt. I felt much better for having done it. Then I did it again and it still came out dark grey, then the third time it was still mucky. I was horrified that so much dirt was on the carpet. It's cream as well and whilst it looked a bit grubby it didn't look dirty as such.

Virgil, which Vax Rapide did you buy? I've been considering buying one of these for a while but the reviews are so varied and there is a huge range in prices.

rule no 1 -no shoes in house, keeps the dirt out.

washing up - in dishwasher if you have one, otherwise blitz at least once a day. (too often wastes a lot of water and time), air dry more hygienic than tea towels. But NO dirty plates overnight. Surfaces wiped, anti-bac spray occasionally, scrub with bicarb if greasy.

No bleach in this house as we have a septic tank. Washing up liquid, Cif, vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, anti-bac spray on surfaces (not down sinks) , ecloths - nothing else. Toilets cleaned with cif and an ageing kitchen scrubber which is binned afterwards. Training course in progress re wiping up spills on seats. :-) Dishwasher is a slight risk to septic tank but I took the great MN tip of using only half a tablet.

rubbish and recycling - all straight in the right bin. If council collects food waste, use the system, saves lots of rubbish. Bring in less; reuse plastic bags, don't buy excessive packaging, just plain buy less. Flyers through door STRAIGHT into recycling, do not even open. Always tick 'no' to junk mail offers, charity donations only by anonymous cash or you will be SWAMPED.

vacuum = every three to four days if needed. Or before visitors. :-) Less furniture = less to clean round.

washing is a challenge with no outside space. Beds changed weekly and towels kept aired (airing cupboard/radiator rack) and changed when won't dry. Clothes do NOT need washing after every wear except knickers and socks, or unless spillage or got sweaty. Own-brand washing liquid, no conditioner. As we do have outside space, washing only on sunny days - dries even in winter if put out and brought in early enough.

minimal ornaments = minimal dusting!

windows; ecloth is great, use it for the condensation and the inside gets a clean too. Outside done twice a year or so by reaching out, there's this great thing called rain.

kitchen and shopping - keep a notepad in there, write down what needs replacing next time you shop. Anyone who uses stuff up and doesn't write it down, does without.

which am I - slob or laid back?

I'm taking notes Special. :)

I am so glad I started this thread! Thanks everyone. And an extra big thanks for not judging my slovenly ways!

It's going to be routine all the way here, though I know it will take baby steps to get there. I need to be efficient and make things easier on us as a family. As I suspected I would be, I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (aka ME) today.

Sunmoonstarstoo ours is a Vax Rapide ultra 2. It is the best housework tool I've ever bought, I would definitely recommend it.

Thanks Virgil.

Sunday
Dust
Clean kitchen
Monday
Hoover
Mop hard floors
Laundry x2 colour + whites
Clean bathroom
Tuesday eve
Empty bins
Thursday
Laundry x2 whites inclu all towels + colours
Every 3 weeks change all bedding.