SUMMER HOLIDAYS HOUSE BLITZ!

[fuzzpig]

Excuse me for shouting in the title :o

My house is utterly, completely hideous. As in, can't see the floor in the bedroom, no clear surfaces, can't find anything, falling over stuff hideous.

I've never been house proud but it's spiralled further and further as my mental health got worse, and then in 2011 my physical health followed :(

Apart from when I have flare ups of my condition(s) I have just about got used to keeping on top of the two biggest things, washing up and laundry. I am doing those now since DH started FT work a few months ago (he was unemployed due to being injured for a long time and is really struggling to adjust now). He does this on weekends and does the tidying up stuff but TBH it's like trying to bail out the Titanic with an egg cup. POINTLESS.

I seriously, really and truly can't handle this anymore. The mess is making me more ill and I'm totally disgusted that my DCs have to live with it. I just want to cry. Or burn it all (but then I panic at the thought of throwing stuff away).

Anyway. DCs are on summer holidays as of next Friday. I will hopefully be recovered from current virus as I REALLY need to tackle this. But I need to be careful as doing too much will make me more ill. I keep making the mistake of doing too much and then by the time I've gone to work as well, I've messed up the entire week because I've pushed my physical limit too far. I only work 12 hours but it's a very fine, precarious line.

I need some buddies for mutual support and motivation. HELP.

Ah it's not an expedit it's an old fashioned unit, very pretty kind of mahogany coloured. Bargain from British heart foundation furniture shop! All of the bottom bit has wooden doors, the shelves at the side have glass doors, then in the middle the arch bit is open and underneath is a fold down type door. I would've taken a photo but too embarrassed at the state of it and it would totally out me to anyone who's seen my house!

Loving the description of your drawers (that would've meant something quite different in the past ). I'm thinking of turning one of the little drawers into the 'daily' drawer - all the stuff we use all the time:
Diary
Cash book (we budget for certain things and write it down)
Pen
Tangle spray
Hair brush/bands/clips
Not sure if anything else would fit in that category?

The toothbrush principle sounds great. Unfortunately we don't have it at the library and can't afford to buy right now BUT I am totally going to remember the rule when I'm deciding how to organise everything. I need things to be as streamlined as possible!

Right I'm going to stick the laundry airer outside and open the windows to get some air in.

Right have also managed to put another wash on and put aaaaall the loose DVDs away in our DVD holders (there was an embarrassing amount ) and found some new empty DVD boxes to take to work (library - we use them to replace broken ones)

So I have achieved something today at least! Off to work in an hour which means the rest of the evening is a write off!

Decided on my plan for the TV unit so that will be one of the aims for the end of the week. My 'everyday' drawer will be in the bigger unit (smaller drawer, easier to open too!)

Could probably fit more in the wrapping paper/cards drawer but not sure what else would 'go' IYSWIM?

How about sticky tape, scissors and stamps in with the wrapping paper?

I use little containers - margarine tubs, clear plastic fruit trays - to separate everything out into type.

Hi Fuzzpig

Just wanted to add my support and say good luck with your mission!

I have bouts of depression and anxiety issues so I can totally relate to things sliding at home. I work 3 days a week but when I am down I spend a lot of my spare time sleeping (just getting out the door, doing a days work and being polite and chatty drains me like crazy!)

I also have a whirlwind toddler DD and a DP who is never here (works 12 hour shifts plus has an hour commute each side) so it's down to me.

We seem to have a never ending tide of crap coming into the house. I'm ashamed to say we moved earlier this year and I sorted most of the crap out but already it's as bad as it was!

My aim today is to empty the washing basket as the weather here is good. I also need to cull the number of towels we own- anyone know how many bath towels we would need for 3 of us?! I personally think 6 would do...

Good luck and keep posting!

Thanks neon :)

I totally get the just getting out the door, doing a days work and being polite and chatty drains me like crazy! thing - it's overwhelming.

Off to work now. Don't feel quite ill enough to stay home but don't feel well enough to work either will see how I get on! Going to collect up those DVD boxes to take so at least that's a few things GONE!

Towels, we have 5 big ones for two adults and 4 and 7yo, plus a few little ones

Hi I'm in! I have currently knackered my back so am very limited in the housework I can do but I'm getting good at delegating it!
Today I sat at the breakfast bar and cleared the junk corner ( well half the b/fast bar actually!) of ALL paperwork and crap - now it's just phone and pen pot!

My ds's room is very small and really needs a good sort out but don't know where to start!

And as for the utility room!! Oh gosh- I duck every time I open a cupboard cos god knows what will fall out!
It's things like batteries, tape, cards, light bulbs etc. I never know where to put it all!

I mean a few little towels, not a few little extra children :o

Hey fuzz your new system looks good! That cabinet sounds gorgeous I am of mahogany style bargains.

On towels, we threw out SO many when we moved here last summer, now we have 2 each (I like a hair + body towel) and 3 nice hand towels (one each for bathroom/cloakroom/kitchen), plus 3 thin towelling bathmats and 2 large navy guest towels. We go struggle if more than 1 person is staying (they only get one towel each then even if they're a girl and need a hair towel) but to be honest that's happened once in a year.

We probably will, when debt free and more flush, throw out all our towels and invest in a set of all matching ones in a darker neutral, and I'll get 4 guest towels then.

I was just reading this and enjoyed it - 10 tips for a clutter free home! bemorewithless.com/tinytasks/

Forgot to say Harriet thanks good idea about extra things I can put with wrapping paper etc.

Sounds like you've had a good day, fuzzpig
I had all sorts of good intentions, but the day ran away from me and I just did lots of organising of the DC's toys upstairs, but not actually any cleaning/tidying of downstairs which is where it's needed

I am here again

I still haven't done much

I might empty the dryer though .....

Late to the party as ever, but can I join? I had a moment of realisation today when faced with a mouse. I've not had a problem before, now I'm imagining little pissy mouse feet over everything and I need to declutter.

I still haven't done much and it's 3 days later

I'm very proud of the fact I've taken 8 sacks to the charity shop yesterday, and have put out to big garden sacks of rubbish and have 2 more sacks in my hall waiting to go round to my friend's boys.
House is still a tip, but I know it's a slightly less full tip than it was on Monday night.
I'm going to try the 'focus on one small area' thing, as I do get distracted by another job when I go to put something away elsewhere.

Wow, Back, 8 bags!

Yes, precious, the heat is definitely not very motivating here! Just makes me cba.

Wow! That's an amazing amount.

Well, end of term is here. End of infant school (it's not a primary so moving to totally different junior school) for my eldest, I she was very emotional!

They are off to a sports day thing at school but DSD and her friend are coming so I'll try and tidy a bit while they're here if I don't get distracted by all the inevitable anime-watching :o

I was going to leave putting the clothes away until it was ALL washed and dry but it's built up too much so I'll get what's there done today. I still have lots to wash, even that mission of getting it all done was too much! I'm feeling a little better but still worn out especially with all the extra end of term stuff we've had going on, and it's hard to keep up. ARGH! WIBU to force the DCs to stay in their jammies all week so I can catch up?! :o

I've done my plan though for my first aims:

Phase One
Laundry all caught up and put away
Bathroom decluttered and organized
TV unit sorted as in diagram above
Piano music all in correct shelves
Everyday drawer cleaned out and organised

I am pleased with 8 sacks full, but it's all relative - just shows how cluttered the hose is really

That said, I went to the tip this morning with 4 sacks from the garden, 2 sacks of tetra packs for recycling, and a couple of broken things that have been cluttering up the conservatory, so at least I feel I'm continuing the much overdue removal of stuff from the premises.

*house