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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

I've just had the kitchen professionally decluttered & cleaned.

131 replies

BeCool · 02/04/2013 11:25

Well semi-professionally. A friend came to help me. She has been paid lots of money to do this for the rich & famous & she offered to help me.

I took a big breath, stepped back and let her go for it.

She emptied and cleaned every kitchen cupboard, chucked everything out of date (2005!!!!), reorganised the cupboards, got my entire bench area cleared, and the entire place sparkles. She worked for 9 hours full on, like a dynamo.

I am in awe & I could not have done this on my own. I needed help esp after breaking up with exP at Xmas - I was feeling swamped and stressed (work FT, 2 young DC, overcluttered messy small flat).

I gave the bathroom the same treatment so now 2 rooms are declutterd, deep cleaned and lovely.

Over the weekend I took out 7 large bin bags of rubbish, 2 of recycling, and 1 for charity shop.

I clucked and fretted over throwing away some items - which was ridiculous as I'd forgotten they every existed and haven't used them for years. I guess it's to be expected - after all my very DNA was under attack. I'm relearning retraining reprogramming my thought processes re buying stuff and keeping stuff and giving emotional meaning to stuff. I'm getting emancipated and it's wonderful.

I'm at work today but I want to be at home going through the other rooms :)
I'm finally feeling like stuff can just go.

I feel like life is changing for the better - all because a wonderful kind very energetic dynamic slightly OCD person stepped in & threw stuff out for me! WOW! She want's to take on the rest of the flat with me now.

(so happy I just had to share - the DC's stuff and our clothes are next to be done)

OP posts:
Murtette · 07/04/2013 22:38

BeCool - for Christmas & birthday gifts for your DC, bear in mind that the experiences don't have to be one offs like a panto. DP lost his job just before Xmas which really focussd our minds on what we did & didn't want and I realised DD (3) did not need a doll's pram (she already has a pushchair) which was what one set of grandparents was going to get her and so they renewed her membership at the local farm which we tend to go to on a fortnightly basis and the other grandparents (who were thinking of getting her yet more play food & jigsaws) are paying for her ballet lessons this year. If something particularly interesting happens on one of our trips to the farm or at a ballet lesson, then DD calls the relevant grandparents that evening to tell them all about it which they really enjoy so I feel that both parties are benefitting from it.

ChippingInIsEggceptional · 07/04/2013 22:59

Oh I do love a good decluttering thread Grin

BeCool - you are doing really, really well!! You too Gwen!

weloveourfamily · 08/04/2013 10:26

i am now inspired to declutter. We just moved into a new house so previous tenants have left alot of shit. I dont know where to start x

GwendolineMaryLacey · 08/04/2013 15:15

I've got tulips on my kitchen windowsill! I'm pathetically pleased!

Original poster
BeCool · 09/04/2013 02:17

welove. It's really easy to feel overwhelmed. Is stuff still in boxes? Could you just go one box at a time as you unpack? get the essentials out then so methodically through the rest? Getting rid of stuff that's not yours would be an easy place to start and make a big impact. Would your landlord help with that?

I started by getting things grouped together. Then I can make keep/chuck decisions. As for the proper decluttering and deep cleaning my friend was amazing and showed me what was possible. Is there anyone who could come and help for a day? I work ok alone when I get going, but working alongside someone is so motivating and helpful.

OP posts:
Original poster
BeCool · 09/04/2013 10:31

So on Sunday (DC with exP) OCD friend and I started round 2.

Three bags of recycling, 3 of rubbish, 4 for charity shop. Things are starting to shape up. Oh and of course as ExP now has is flat sorted I can lose a bunch of toys to his place - hooray!

OP posts:
weloveourfamily · 09/04/2013 13:49

everything is out of boxes now and has found a place but i foolishly left the previous owners stuff in cupboards rather than throwing out and i really dont know why. So today i shall tackle the kitchen cupboards. i had already thrown out old food and all thats left is blue moulded glasses and chipped plates. aghhh my nightmare.

Original poster
BeCool · 09/04/2013 14:16

I've been planning a folder for all my recipe cards & printouts etc - I organised the folder, the plastic pockets etc. Now I'm thinking I'll just Evernote the lot!!! I hardly use them anyway, but I find it sooo hard to give them up. Also I have oodles of cookbooks too.

Right that's decided then - no recipe folder in my flat. Evernote all the way.

OP posts:
MyPreciousRing · 14/04/2013 20:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MyPreciousRing · 14/04/2013 20:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
BeCool · 15/04/2013 00:53

I'm talking with everyone about the towel thing. It's contagious.

OP posts:
notcitrus · 16/04/2013 14:21

Been ill or working, but just sold the sewing machine that in 5 years I've never used, and given away all the outgrown baby clothes, including ones I once intended to sell on eBay and decided I couldn't be bothered. And possibly making inroads into the baby toys.

Thinking what non-clutter presents the GPs can buy is a really good idea, especially as any requests to pay into child trust funds get ignored. I know Sea Life centres do an annual pass...

Original poster
BeCool · 16/04/2013 14:25

Great work notcitrus !!!! How do you feel re letting sewing machine and baby clothes go?

I'd love DD to see the Lion King show - wonder if you can get Theatre vouchers????

OP posts:
notcitrus · 16/04/2013 15:12

I was happy to get rid of sewing machine but MrNC didn't want to as it was his mum's. Until I told him someone was paying for it and I could have my mum's any time. There were a couple babygros Knowing his mum she's probably got a spare! I wanted to keep that got mixed in, but I'm not really sad to have them go. There are many photos.

Ds age 4 is embracing the idea of getting rid of a toy in order to get a comic each week - all comics have toys on now but it makes him happy and helps keep the clutter down. Unfortunately after years of refusing to do drawing or sticking he is now bringing home wads of craft work. I'm sneaking most of it into the bin within a fortnight and only keeping one every few months.
The collection of pieces of toys in my room is yielding results, getting some full sets, and less to tread on. Eventually dd will be trained out of pulling open drawers and throwing contents everywhere, which I can't easily pick up. I'm supposed to ne sleeping while the cleaner is here so better do that...

notcitrus · 16/04/2013 15:14

Ds would like Lion King too - will see when the next subtitled matinee is. Yes, you can get Theatre Tokens...

Britchic · 18/04/2013 14:56

Thanks so much for this thread OP. We are moving country this summer, so I've been thinking about decluttering before the move. Thanks to this thread I've realised that my ideas were a bit tame (few toys,few clothes) I'm now really excited now about my future manic clear outs!!!

Original poster
BeCool · 18/04/2013 15:05

Nice one Britchic - come and join us in the Minimalist Quiche for ongoing adventures in chucking sorting cleaning and clearing stuff here

OP posts:
mum2jakie · 18/04/2013 17:43

A really inspiring thread. I'm going to tackle a kitchen cupboard once the kids are in bed. I managed a drawer a few weeks ago. (Small steps...!)

UterusUterusGhali · 20/04/2013 20:31

Making place.

I have gone through the bookcase. Tbh I mostly cleaned and rearranged them. I may need more help!

MummaBubba123 · 21/04/2013 21:58

I desperately need your help and am in Shenley (near Radlett). 20 mins from you!
I've no idea how to PM you so I hope you get this message, MN216

MummaBubba123 · 21/04/2013 22:08

I'm strangely excited about finding this thread. Strange - because I'd been depressed and cluttered (latter still applies) for about 4 years!
I'm thinking of starting a Facebook group where we could encourage each other with 'before and after' photos of windowsills, cupboards, rooms, etc. that we need (even) virtual company to tackle. I've been soooo lucky to be found on a MN thread by a kind MNer who I'm doing this with by phone. I've made a start on my dining room. Thanks to her, we can just about sit on the chairs (huge deal) and there's nothing in the table (even bigger deal)! Anyway, I tackled the garage today. We can now walk into it. My bra drawer now opens and closes, thanks to a clear out. I'm wearing my lovely new undies - not the cruddy old things now in the bin.

Trumpton · 21/04/2013 22:13

Mumma go to MN216 post and to the right , on the same line as her name , is a "message poster " icon. click on that and away you go.

MummaBubba123 · 22/04/2013 06:05

Trumpton, thank you! I will try that now!

gremlindolphin · 23/04/2013 11:14

I totally agree with only hand down really meaningful things!

I have completely cleared my Mum's house and she is a proper hoarder. I have kept so many things as it seemed wasteful to get rid of them but now can never buy another t-towel as she had 250 brand new ones!

I am determined not to leave my dcs with boxes of things to sort out and have had to learn how to get rid of things as no one had ever taught me.

xx

Original poster
BeCool · 23/04/2013 11:22

I am determined not to leave my dcs with boxes of things to sort out and have had to learn how to get rid of things as no one had ever taught me. - brilliant!!!! We can learn these important life skills at whatever age.

DD2 has the most gorgeous teddy bear made out of a tea towel!

Tea towels are colelctables and they would be quite quick and easy to ebaY

OP posts: