You know when the house gets SO bad that you don't know where to start?

[Alliwantisaroomsomewhere]

So, where DO I start???

Mid terraced, 3 bed house that is a bloody mess. Every room is a tip. Filthy kitchen, clothes need washing, beds need making. EVERYTHING needs doing.

I am on leave for a weeks and DH is not so I am happy to do it. DS is with a friend so I have time to do it.

Why am i sitting on my arse waiting for a Cleaning Fairy to swan in and do the lot??

Put the washing machine on first. That's always good for a sense of achievement without actually taking much work...

Then is there anything else that can 'look after itself'? Dishwasher? Anything to soak in a bucket of bleach? Dishes to stick in a basin of water to soften up?

After that, I'd get the Marigolds on and sort out the kitchen and bathroom, then sit down for a bit...

Go through the house and pick up any dirty clothes you find lying around, then put the washing machine on.

Next do the same with dirty pots and run the dishwasher.

Pull the blankets straight on the beds. Don't waste time making them up properly just now.

Next clean the kitchen. Clear any rubbish into the bin. Dirty pots are already in the dishwasher, so there shouldn't be too much stuff left to tidy. Wipe down the worktops and table. Sweep or vacuum the floor. Mop if very dirty.

Now sit down in your lovely clean kitchen with a cuppa and wait for the washing machine to finish

Feel your pain.

We started yesterday, it's just never-ending!

DS won't nap, DD always wants something and I'm exhausted in this pregnancy.

I just want to throw it all out and start again.
Some of the Crap isn't even ours but inlaws as it's their old house.

Keep asking dp ask about it, they keep loads of stuff.

I usually start with putting a wash on.

The grab a bag for rubbish and go through all the rooms bagging it all up.

Then put the pots on soak.

The make a pile of stuff to go upstairs and take it straight up.

House downstairs is usually looking better by now so do all the usual wash pots, Hoover and mop.

Then leave upstairs for as long as humanly possible!

I obviously have a problem with writing 'then'

OK, stage 2:

Transfer washing to dryer or hang it up to dry. Put another load on if necessary.

Go into your living room with a bin bag and a box or tray and throw away any rubbish. Put away anything that lives in that room and put anything else into the box.

Dust surfaces if very dusty, then vacuum the floor.

Put cushions straight and open the window to air the room while you do the rest of the house.

Squirt a bit of toilet cleaner in the toilet and clean the wash basin. Vacuum bathroom. You can do a deeper clean next time, but this will at least make it pleasanter for now.

Go have another cuppa. You've earnt it

Thanks... I have pulled duvet covers straight, put dirty washing in wash basket (see? told you it was bad!), cleared bathroom so I can clean.

Now to put washing machine and dishwasher on.

:)

If anyone comes round it will now look presentable, at least.

Then you just have the bedrooms left. Do the same as for the lounge - bin bag, box, vacuum, air...

Then go around the house with the box, putting things back in their place.

Fold clean laundry and hang out the rest.

Empty dishwasher.

Sit and relax in your clean house and enjoy it! Then have a last-minute tidy round before bed tonight, so it's still like this in the morning

Feel your pain. Very much.

Got to sort something out now (which just like housework I've been putting off for ages!) but I will be back later.

Mine is the same, I feel your pain. With the addition of having no kitchen and plasterers in situ for a couple of days making everything covered in dust.

www.unfuckyourhabitat.com

Just start somewhere. Good ways to break it up:

• By type of clutter - clothes, rubbish, recyclables, plates, toys, books, paperwork. Start with the one that's bothering you the most.

• Start at the door and work your way slowly around what you see when you walk into the house.

• Start with the area you spend the most time in

• Start by clearing a hidden area like a cupboard. Easy to get rid of stuff and then you gain space to put the rest of your stuff!

Imagine visitors are coming and visualise the tidiness of the end effect of your hard work. If your home is always tidy nothing much changes. However, a full onslaught on a mess can achieve great satisfaction. At least keep telling yourself this.! I have been there many a time!

"Just start somewhere". That's it! Getting started is sometimes the hardest part, isn't it?

I am making progress... just need to get some music on!

Thanks, everyone! And good luck to the rest of you who are struggling along!

Can you maybe invite someone round at the end of the week that you would hate to have see the mess. I'm usually on top of things but if I need that extra boost or motivation I'll invite my very house proud friend round or Inlaws. I can get more done in the hour before someone comes round that in a normal day ,lol.

Or you have to put photos on at the end of the week for us...you'd hate to have your messy place on the www so you better get moving ;)

Standinginline.

Well I'm back despite not having sorted out the other thing (DD's birthday party - waiting for a call back).

Do you struggle with keeping on top of it generally Alli? I do. I never really learnt how to do all this stuff and it is not at all natural to me. I am learning now at 27!

I am trying to gradually master one thing at a time. I have finally sorted out the laundry process so it's streamlined and the DCs are more involved too (putting their stuff away, hanging out wet stuff with me, putting their dirty stuff in the basket which now always stays in the same place). I have only recently got into the habit of airing the house out.

Everything else is very much a work in progress!

Clutter is the main problem, I went through years of buying way too much and not letting go of anything. My mindset is more healthy and minimalist now so I'm no longer adding to the problem, but it is so so hard to tackle the years of crap that's already here!

'Work in progress' story of my life.

Lovely to see positive motivation from everyone.