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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Support group for those trying to get their house sorted

282 replies

CatwantsaTidyHome · 03/02/2013 05:32

Hi all, I know it's a crap title! I'm just fed up of living in an unorganized mess!

Tried to do Flylady but got sick of it, I need a less rigid way of sorting my house as and when the mood takes me. Grin
I have paperwork chaos, tons of washing to get through and I find the washing up tedious! --so it tends to pile up--
Add to the mix 2 children and an untidy husband and I think you get the picture.

Anyone else living in Chaos want to join?
I won't get on here often but will try my best, Hoping there are others like me so we can support each other in trying to get sorted! Smile

OP posts:
WhispersOfWickedness · 15/03/2013 08:15

My third habithacker email didn't reply, what's up with that?! Confused

notso · 15/03/2013 09:41

I didn't get the third habithacker either WOW I looked it's telling you to find a place for your keys and always put them there.
I am on day four and polishing my place twice a day bit Hmm I don't think it needs doing twice, perhaps I should introduce another place instead.

Have to do the kitchen floor today it's rank in DD's words.

Oscarandelliesmum · 15/03/2013 09:50

Morning all.
Didn't sweep or mop, decided
poor neglected dog needed a walk more.
today being met by 24 hr ingrained porridge on the floor.
Have popped dd infront of cbeebies for an hr and will try to....
Tackle breakfast mess
Laundry on, wet laundry out to dry
Make beds
Clean loo
Am just doubtful ds will tolerate these shenanigans.
Will report backGrin
Well done all for more productive evenings!

WhispersOfWickedness · 15/03/2013 10:15

Excellent, I already have a place for my keys Grin

DD is having a nap and I am studiously ignoring the kitchen floor. She only sleeps for about 45 min so will attempt to do it when she is up. I have started doing it with the Hoover as it's quicker Blush I do go round the squishy bits though Grin

goodjambadjar · 15/03/2013 10:33

I do that WoW. I hoover the kitchen a couple of times a week, and steam clean it once a week or once a fortnight. I try and spot clean any food DD throws around but I sometimes miss bits. I love my steam cleaner, its made my life so much easier!

notso · 15/03/2013 11:03

I did too WOW!
jam what steam cleaner do you have? Mine isn't very good, or maybe I'm not good at using it!

WhispersOfWickedness · 15/03/2013 11:07

I don't even spot clean thrown food, that's why it's so disgusting Blush

I'm interested in a steam cleaner too, what have you got? Smile

notso · 15/03/2013 11:34

Mine is a Eubank one, it was quite cheap, well free with clubcard points. It's good without the nozzles on to clean small areas but as a mop which is what I wanted it for it doesnt seem so good.
I don't spot clean either and I stopped using plastic mats under the highchairs as I ended up with loads of manky ones shoved in a carrier bag Blush
Maybe with four DC two of them under 3 my expectations are too high.

goodjambadjar · 15/03/2013 19:47

Hi all, sorry for the late reply, all day play date then bed time means I've been busy all day.
I'm here now though!
My steam mop is the X5 that's advertised all over the place. It wasn't cheap (£100) but I had some Christmas money.
The reviews looked good and you get a load of extras, like the nozzle, brushes,etc. I chose an add-on pack of extra cloths for a bit more money which has proved really handy.
The cord is lovely and long and it gets the floors clean really quickly.
Oh, and an added bonus is that the carpet steamer attachment can get furniture dents out of carpet. Grin

notso · 15/03/2013 20:47

I sit zombie like through the ridiculously long advert for that X5 when DS2 is up at 4.30 Grin

Got my steam cleaner out today but have lost a major nozzle so couldn't even attempt mopping. I swept and hoovered, then made Comic Relief flapjacks with DS2 and messed it up again.

WhispersOfWickedness · 15/03/2013 22:35

That sounds like me, notso, I had a mat under the high hair but food just used to go under it and go mouldy BlushBlushBlush I still haven't managed to clean the floor today and am out all morning tomorrow at the sale. Have got a lot of things labelled up, will just have to leave the others for now.

Jam, I am sooo Envy about the x5, I love the advert!! Is it as good as the advert, as amazon has very mixed reviews...

vvviola · 15/03/2013 23:20

Our dining area is carpeted (nt by choice - rental house!) so I spend an awful lot of time hoovering around the bottom of the table, even with a may down for under where the DDs eat.

It only went and rained on my washing last night!! They officially declared a drought yesterday, it's been months since it rained, and typically I decide to leave washing overnight on the line & it rains!

Today's major task is rearranging the walk-in wardrobe to fit my study desk & rearranging furniture in both DD's rooms. I suspect the house will be even messier than normal by this evening!

GreenLeafTea · 16/03/2013 01:07

I'm still here, still plodding away.

My last house was laminate all through so a steam mop really helped but I rarely use it in this house. Our kitchen is tiny so it's too much hassle. I just wipe the floor with a cloth.

My house is strange because I have really clean areas and really messy areas.

Weekends are hard to get anything done so will try and stay on top of it. I have been good at keeping the clean areas clean so I need to keep chipping away at the messy areas.

WhispersOfWickedness · 16/03/2013 07:08

Ooo, carpet in kitchen/dining areas and bathrooms give me the rage!
Green, what steam mop have you got? We have laminate in the kitchen and dining area and tiles in the hall, so definitely think we would use one.

GreenLeafTea · 16/03/2013 08:03

Mine's a Shark. It's just a steam mop though. I really wish I had the two in one Shark that converts to a handheld steam cleaner. It's still good though.

I did a fair bit of the kitchen this morning. I need a de-clutter of the kitchen shelves.

PoppyWearer · 16/03/2013 09:53

I had another day off from the mess-sorting yesterday, had to pay some attention to DS and also to our finances and admin whilst he slept. Having sorted our study on Thursday I found some paperwork that needed my attention. (Oops)

DH and I have resolved to assemble some of the sitting-in-boxes flat-pack storage furniture this weekend. Hopefully our marriage will survive! Grin

WhispersOfWickedness · 16/03/2013 15:25

My sale went well Grin Sold a fair bit which I'm really pleased about have also bought a bit, but never mind Blush

Will have to have a chat with DH about a steam cleaner, he is as addicted to the x5 advert as me, so hopefully he'll be easily swayedGrin

Karbea · 16/03/2013 16:40

greenleaf I've been eyeing up that shark steamer, mine is a cheap Lakeland one and it's not up to the job, most of my downstairs is tiled. I'm really tempted by the Shark...

WhispersOfWickedness · 17/03/2013 09:00

I wonder, looking at the negative reviews for all steam cleaners, if people are expecting too much from them or not using them properly? None of them seem to have no negative reviews at all...

PoppyWearer · 17/03/2013 10:24

WoW you have to buy stuff at a sale too, tis the law. Well done!

Another wasted day here yesterday as DH indulged his sporting hobby then DD had a birthday party, then it was the Six Nations.

DH has set about the flat-pack furniture already this morning, however, so there is hope! DD's room should be able to be tidied up considerably by the end of today.

WhispersOfWickedness · 17/03/2013 14:09

I have finally cleaned the floor Grin and have decided that should be my place to polish. It's my worst job, it will be much easier if I stay on top of it, right?!
To add to the general chaos, dd has decided to start potty training herself. Feel like I am in a never ending potty training circle of hell, DS has only just got it sussed at 3.3 Hmm

goodjambadjar · 17/03/2013 18:16

Well done everyone!

I haven't done much as MiL is here today. We haven't got an oven atm so dinner was microwave lasagne.Grin
I'll catch up tomorrow.

As for steam cleaners, I don't think you'll ever find a perfect one.

I chose the X5 mainly because it was a hand held and seemed more suited to what I needed over the Vax or Karcher. I didn't know about the Shark!
In our old house we had wooden floors in the hallway and dining room, and tiles in the kitchen and bathroom. It was also a really hard water area, so the glass shower screen would get really built up with limescale in just a week. I was constantly waging war on it in the loo and sink. Sad

the steamer cleaned the sink no problem but the screen needed vinegar or lemon juice before cleaning with steam.
I bought the extra pad pack for the coral pad as I didn't want the steam in close contact with wooden floors as we were renting.

I find it easier than getting the mop and bucket out. All I would say is read the specs and a good mix of reviews and decide.

maishoffwcingras · 17/03/2013 19:59

Can I join please? I'm not bad at laundry, hoovering, cleaning bathroom & kitchen surfaces, but never hardly ever dust and always seem to have mountains of clean clothes that need putting away. Plus stacks of papers that need sorting & miles & miles of DH's cables for god knows what

what do I need to do?

goodjambadjar · 17/03/2013 20:24

Hi Maish.

Everyone is welcome, nice to see you.

I would stick DHs cables in a box for him to sort out.
Try and put your washing away as soon as you've done it. Piles of clean clothes are also my downfall. Sad
I find the rule "don't put it down, put it away" has really helped me get on top of things and get into good habits.
I have cardboard folders for my paperwork and I put it all away when I get a chance. I want to get a filing cabinet so I can put it away straight away.

Good luck, let us know how you get on. x

maishoffwcingras · 17/03/2013 20:37

Hi GJBJ, I've tried putting the cables in a drawer / carrier bags / boxes but that's where they remain. I bet he doesn't even remember what half of them are for. I am so tempted just to chuck it all - I bet he wouldn't even notice (until he needed something then I'd be in trouble).

Whenever I'm tackling a pile of washing to put away I always say to myself that I'm going to put it away as soon as it comes out of the tumble dryer, and I do sometimes, but then another time something will come up - doorbell, phone, DCs, meals need cooking etc then it gets left & the whole cycle starts again! (or visitors/weekends away bugger it all up). I'll try the don't put it down, put it away thing.

Filing cabinet's a very good idea but we just don't have the space. Am thinking of maybe getting an in&out tray for the kitchen (which is where all the papers accumulate), but I want a nice looking one..