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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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Original poster

House is in Tatters!!!!!!!!

15 replies

Houseisintatters · 06/09/2006 16:25

I have changed my name for this as I'm a regular poster and to cut a long story short the house is in bits!!! For the past year I was suffering with severe depression and I'm coming out of the worst of it now but the house is a tip! Every single room is overflowing with crap and I really want to tackle it now but stil feel very overwhelmed by it and don't know where to start. I know it seems pathetic, a grown woman having lost the run of her home but that's the reality. I just don't know where to start, I could really do with any Kim/Aggie types or any advice really.
TIA

OP posts:

beckybrastraps · 06/09/2006 16:33

I do know how things can get out of control, and how hard it seems to get started. Choose a room. I always start with the living room, because we spend most time there. Get a big roll of bin bags and some stackable boxes. Start at one end and be ruthless. Chuck stuff away. Box the other stuff. When the room is cleared, and cleaned, you can go through the boxes, if you have the energy, or stack them to make them look tidier until you have enough oomph to go through them.

It may be putting off the real decluttering, but having a room that looks half-way decent is such a big boost that it does seem easier once you've got that far. Then the kitchen, kids' rooms, your bedroom.

Good luck. Once you've got over the inertia, it does get easier.

JackieNo · 06/09/2006 16:43

Don't try to do it all in one go - have a look at the FLYlady thread - do 15 minutes, then give yourself a break, then another 15 minutes of something, etc. It really does work.

MrsFio · 06/09/2006 16:45

I am exactly the same!!!! My house is just absolutely awful. Today I decided i was going to tacle it BUt so far i have only bought a loads of storage things!!!

I think i am going to do one room at time.........

tortoisesdonotwearshoes · 06/09/2006 16:45

If your overwhelmed with it the us FLYers are the ones to visit on our thread!!
We are all finding its working.

charliecat · 06/09/2006 16:45

Id second the 15 minute bursts with some music on. Get black bags ready and a paper pile for recycling, a charity shop bag and if you havent used it recently throw it. Good luck.

cupcakes · 06/09/2006 16:46

Start in one room and be really thorough with everything. Don't try to do more than one room a day or you'll rush it and not do it as well as you need to.

Original poster

Houseisintatters · 06/09/2006 16:50

Thanks everyone, I realised when I had to literally Olympic style jump into bed last night that enough was enough. I just can't believe how much I let it go!

OP posts:

nutcracker · 06/09/2006 16:50

My dad is alot like this and it was really starting to get him down. The loft, living room and garage were all full to bursting.

In the end I told him to go in the loft each day and bring down 3 bags or boxes, sort through a box, then have a cuppa, then do the next and then once the bags were done don't do anymore until the next day.

It took him a whole week but the loft is now done and the living room is well on it's way too.

Just take it one tiny bit at a time.

MrsFio · 06/09/2006 16:52

Can anyone remember that polish guy on a life of grime several years ago?

charliecat · 06/09/2006 16:52

I have to leapt into bed over a pile of rubbish every night, its completly normal here

Original poster

Houseisintatters · 06/09/2006 16:57

Thanks nutcracker, I've never been the most houseproud of people but when the depression was really bad, there were days and I mean literally days when dishes were left piled up. My ds started school this week and I want to try and find a routine because I basically havent got one! I badly need to do some decorating as well and now in hindsight realise that because the house was/is so bad that I couldn't invite friends over and I want to be able to open my front door without having it half closed/miltary style in case God forbid someone saw the utter chaos!

OP posts:

beckybrastraps · 06/09/2006 16:59

OMG yes. Once I got straight I had to keep inviting people round to give me an incentive. Anthea Turner I'm not!

Original poster

Houseisintatters · 06/09/2006 17:02

Mrs Fio, You wouldn't be too far off the mark! I havent done my windows in months! Believe me the whole place needs an overhaul!

OP posts:

Original poster

Houseisintatters · 06/09/2006 17:09

Well that's it then I'm DEF starting tomorrow morning once I've dropped ds to school. What amazes me is that I can leave the house and present as this reasonbly well groomed woman, tho all the while knowing and feeling flaky and insincere because the house is in such a state. I've often joked that if burgurlars came to do a job they would leave thinking it had already been done, except it's not a joke!

OP posts:

Skribble · 10/09/2006 22:29

My tip is to put away as you are clearing up there is nothing worse than a box of stuff with no home at the the end of a marathon tidying session.

I got three tall cardboard boxes and taped them together, bin bag in each, one for charity one for bucket and one for storage/ loft (keep this one to a minimum). Also armed with box containing spray cleaner, kitchen roll, scissors labels for bags etc. I drag this along behind me and do a little at a time. Rule is deal with each bag as soon as it fills. Any item that doesn't go in the bag must be re-housed immediatly if it has no where to go it heads for the bin.

I am in the overwhelmed state at the moment and currently have to do a slalom to get anywhere in the house, taking me all my time to stay on top of orgainisng kids for school and clubs ATM, but I am hoping to get my 3 bag box out again and get a bit further this time.

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