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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

My list is so long, I'm not sure where to start :(

35 replies

HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 27/07/2013 16:58

The house is such a mess. I don't think it can get any worse but I don't know where to start.

There isn't one room or even an area of a room which is tidy and organised.

DS and I started tidying his room last week which involved clearing out some of the boxes of stuff on his bedroom floor so his room has some carpet visible but is far from tidy/well organised...and the removed boxes are now in my bedroom Hmm.

I'm thinking, if I tidy my room and DS', these are most likely to stay tidy the longest because this is where we spend the least amount of time. On the otherhand, it would be lovely to have a tidy and uncluttered kitchen and sitting room as we spend a lot of time in these two rooms but they end up back in a mess really quickly.

There's not really any point to this thread but I'm hoping it will act as a kick up the bum for me to get moving and do something about the mess I've got myself into.

I'm off to spend 30 minutes tidying in DS' room...

OP posts:
Rummikub · 27/07/2013 17:02

Put a timer on for 30 minutes and work against the clock. All check out flylady's site. She has lots of different ideas that do work. I tend to do v quick jobs straightaway and am following the dont put it down , put it away to tackle clutter.

Report back on here with your progress!

gymboywalton · 27/07/2013 17:05

do the living room and kitchen first.

get a black bin bag and just load in as much junk as you can. old newspapers etc just bin them.

make sure there are no cups or glasses in there.

any books you haven't read in 12 months, take to the charity shop.

give me some clues as to what is untidying it the most.

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 27/07/2013 17:14

Thanks, both, for replying!

Rummikub - I will report back in 30 minutes!

Gymboy - I've just got too much stuff! I'm a CM so have a lot of toys for lots of different age groups. Lots of craft stuff...made worse by the fact the big children are off school and like making things. Kitchen is full of high chairs, paperwork waiting to be dealt with. Washing waiting to be washed...usually do it all Friday/Saturday but it's pouring with rain today so have put off doing it when I really should and just bung it in the dryer.

All I've done so far is fill in my tax credits form (which I've been meaning to do for weeks Blush)

OP posts:
Rummikub · 27/07/2013 17:19

Ok rendezvous 5.45. Stay focused. Don't get side tracked!

Wolfcub · 27/07/2013 18:33

start with the kitchen. I firmly believe that "as goes the kitchen so goes the rest of the house".At the moment my kitchen is a mess as the dishwasher has been broken and the rest of the house has just got gradually messier while it's been broken

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 27/07/2013 19:23

Oops, have been slightly longer than 30 minutes!

I've made a bit of progress in DS' room but he needs to be here to do the last of it so it'll have to wait until tomorrow.

Seeing as there's nothing on tv tonight, I plan to just keep going with tidying/sorting until bed!

Kitchen next, then 30 minutes doing the bathroom.

OP posts:
SlatternismyMiddlename · 27/07/2013 19:34

Good luck, keep going

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 27/07/2013 19:37

Thanks!

OP posts:
Rummikub · 27/07/2013 19:39

Thanks to wolfcub's sound advice I promptly went in to kitchen to sort out work tops and floor. I must be v suggestible.

Don't burn out and give up. Little and often works well.

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 27/07/2013 20:02

Great, well done!

I so rarely feel motivated to do anything round the house so have to make the most of it when it does happen Grin

OP posts:
Rummikub · 27/07/2013 20:33

Thanks SmileSame here usually, once in a blue moon I clean, de clutter and tidy in marathon sessions. Then it gets messy again quickly. That's why I love fly lady. I feel a bit more motivated by her emails, though don't follow to the letter.

How's the kitchen going?

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 27/07/2013 21:09

Very slowly!

I have a mountain range of doom which is where all paperwork gets dumped, waiting to be sorted out.

I have a box for important papers to be kept safe, a box for receipts (I'm self-employed) and a pot to put random, stray items in. Unfortunately, this system came undone when the two boxes were filled and started over-flowing! I'm nearly at the bottom of one of the mountains (easiest one) so do feel like I'm making a bit of progress.

I'm going to put a load of washing on and keep my fingers crossed that the sun comes back tomorrow!

OP posts:
Rummikub · 27/07/2013 21:32

Still sounds like you have some sort of system.

I was gutted when I'd almost caught up with laundry and my washing machine broke! Not happy!

ceebeegeebies · 27/07/2013 21:46

My house is usually exactly the same and then we end up doing a massive tidy up session when we are having visitors!

I was off work this week and decided to tackle it - you literally couldn't see the toy room floor, the conservatory looked like a bomb had hit it, toys were all over the lounge...you get the picture Blush

Anyway between me and DH, we got it clean and tidy by Tuesday but I was really pissed off by the time and hassle so we have decided we are going to keep on top of it from now on. I plan to spend half an hour every night just tidying up, expect more from the DC in tidying up after themselves etc.

I want a house where it is ok for the DC's friends to be able to pop in and out without being embarrassed about the state of the house!

I guess what I am trying to say is that once it is in a mess, it takes a lot of effort to sort it out but once done, maintenance should be easier!!

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 27/07/2013 21:47

Oh no! Broken washing machine would be a total pita! It's only DS and me here so I am able to save my washing up all week and just do it on the weekends but I will never forget going to stay with my dfriend and her young family, to help look after the children and realised just how much laundry a bigger family generates on a daily basis!!

Have just been distracted by two really important bits of paperwork that should have been dealt with ages ago so have now started a new list of urgent jobs that need to be completed first thing Monday morning Blush.

I am so crap Sad

OP posts:
Rummikub · 27/07/2013 21:51

I used to dread doing the bathroom. Now I clean the shower whenever I'm in it. Just use a scrubbing brush and whatever soap is there. Works well and doesn't get grotty.

Toy clutter does annoy me. I'm trying to train my dc to play and put away. Sometimes works..

Maintenance is key I agree.

Rummikub · 27/07/2013 21:54

You're not crap. Like I say, it does look like you have a system. Think it might be that you need to keep on top of it. Easier said than done.

Oh how I'd love to be able to wash just on weekends Envy

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 27/07/2013 22:07

I often think I should give the bathroom sink a quick wipe over while I'm doing my teeth but it never happens.

I definitely need to learn to keep on top of things. As soon as I finish work, I do nothing...my excuse is because I'm too tired. I mentioned on the night-owl thread about getting up earlier because I think that is going to be my best chance to keep things under control.

I am very grateful to only have to do washing once a week Smile!!

OP posts:
Rummikub · 27/07/2013 22:18

Definitely give the sink a cursory wipe whilst brushing teeth. It's quite satisfying and takes 10 seconds. Next time it's easier still. I do slip with this, but when I do I feel a bit more in control.

Clutter is another issue..

Frontdoorstep · 28/07/2013 11:16

Regarding clutter, I think you have to be ruthless and throw away, if something goes missing in our house, they suspect it's cos I've thrown it away, even if I haven't! Things like junk mail, don't even open , put straight to recycling, same with free newspapers etc. Broken toys, straight to bin, toys and clothes that they have outgrown, put in big bag and take to charity shop when bag is full, btw, I've been known to just bin them to get rid of them! Clothes that are washed out or beyond repair, bin when you are doing the washing.

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 28/07/2013 15:01

Frontdoorstep - yes, the clutter has to go. I find getting rid of broken stuff/junk mail/papers etc quite easy to do but the other stuff just causes me great stress. Things that could well be useful to someone else but not necessarily via a charity shop.

This is my biggest stumbling block because I never get around to dealing with it all.

I am making progress by massively reducing the amount of stuff that comes into the house now but it doesn't help with the number of things exiting the house!

OP posts:
Rummikub · 28/07/2013 15:22

I'm looking round my living room now and feel shame at the piles of clutter on dining table.

I also find it difficult to get rid of useful stuff. I've trained my dc to go through their stuff for charity. They are much better at it than I am.

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 28/07/2013 15:29

Ha, ha, same! I find it quite easy to get rid of DS' stuff Blush!!

Also, on the odd occasion that I have got rid of stuff, I've ended up regretting it and having to get a replacement!

OP posts:
Rummikub · 28/07/2013 15:34

Yes I have experienced de cluttering regret too! In work they think I'm organised as I often go through stuff getting rid. One colleague guessed my home to be pristine

Photos is my biggest stumbling block. I don't chuck even out of focus snaps! (Must apply to that hoarders programme on channel 4)

pumpkinsweetie · 28/07/2013 15:45

Same problem as you op, and slowly getting worse now dc off school.
When there is so much to do, it can be very off putting!

Will start on upstairs first i thinkConfused