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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

House too messy - no-one gets past the front door!

22 replies

glitterchick · 01/10/2006 21:15

My house is the bane of my life. It is soooooo untidy and disorganised (not dirty just messy). Work so hard but have 4 messy angels + DH who do good job messing it up. I do not let neighbours past front door cause of shame. Only friend around corner knows situation and she gets in (& ends up helping to clean most of the time). Am certain people think I'm weirdo cause no-one gets past the front door but there ya have it. Have cleaner in for few hours 1 day a week which eases stress but back into nightmare by next day. Seriously think I am lacking/missing the tidy/organised part of my brain. It's just not there. Does that make sense?

OP posts:
trinityrhino · 01/10/2006 21:18

I know exactly how you feel, I am definitely missing that part of my brain.

I can't find the thread just now but someone will be along to point you in the direction of the flylady thread.

crazydazy · 01/10/2006 21:21

I used to be quite untidy, I think this is because my Mum wasn't houseproud and as a result I was brought up in a messy but not dirty house.

DP is very tidy and so are his parents, I think over the years he has become less tidy and I have become more tidy and we have met in the middle. Now I love my home to be tidy and clean and get stressed if it isn't.

I bought the Kim and Aggie book and it really does motivate you without a doubt.

Original poster
glitterchick · 01/10/2006 21:21

Have tried the Flylady thing & got bombarded with a zillion emails. Got totally fazed out cause couldn't organise myself to read all those ha! ha! Had to unsubscribe. Told ya something wrong with brain.

OP posts:
trinityrhino · 01/10/2006 21:23

you can do it all without the emails, I don't get them, the thread is great aswell cuase your not doing on your own. honeastly, don't sign up for the mails just use the site or even just the thread on here

Original poster
glitterchick · 01/10/2006 21:25

Have Kim & Aggie book. Haven't looked at it in a while. Might take another look. Gotta try somethin. House doin my head in @ mo. Thanks 4 tip

OP posts:
UlySCREAMS · 01/10/2006 21:26

I'm the same glitterchick. I find using boxes with lids and having a declutter helps. How old are your kids? You can even get them to help. Make it a game as in who can fill the black bag, box etc..
You really have to be ruthless and feel so much better after. Start with one room though otherwise it gets overwhelming.

Original poster
glitterchick · 01/10/2006 21:26

Thanks trinityrhino. I'll give it a lash & see what happens.

OP posts:
UlySCREAMS · 01/10/2006 21:27

You can hire eco-skips too so you don't feel so bad about chucking stuff. Charity bags help of course.

Original poster
glitterchick · 01/10/2006 21:32

Thanks UlySCREAMS. I do my best to enlist help of kids. Gotta take it in the neck and do each room. Not all rooms in dire straits just 2 in particular. My prob is that I take 1 look and think holy crap and close door (out of sight out of mind!). Remainder of house is just maintenance. Just find it really hard. I find that my whole life revolves round the house and the state of it. It's not totally bad all the time.

OP posts:
UlySCREAMS · 01/10/2006 21:34

I honestly think I have ADD? My house is just getting under control but it is so boring isn't it? Some people find it a breeze but not me. You'll feel great when you do it though it's just motivating yourself. Do you have a tidy mate who will help? Put on some loud dance music and get a pair of rubber gloves and a pinny on and go girl!!

Original poster
glitterchick · 01/10/2006 21:34

Charity bags are fantastic. I need to follow through on the whole donation thing though i.e. actually getting the bags to the charity shop. One of my crappy rooms is full of charity bags. Gotta get that done this week.

OP posts:
UlySCREAMS · 01/10/2006 21:38

they pick them up for you if you ring round

Original poster
glitterchick · 01/10/2006 21:42

Better again. Thanks for that.

OP posts:
UlySCREAMS · 01/10/2006 22:05

Do you work during the day? Maybe we could start a challenge either morning or whenever you can? See how quickly we can declutter a room. I need to declutter the toy corner in the living room.

Skribble · 01/10/2006 22:05

Hi glitter chick, I am one of the ones on the flylady thread. Quite a few of us don't sign up for the e.mails but just use the bits on the fly site that you want to.

The key is to clear up in short stints to prevent burnout and boredom. Slowly as you clear up bit by bit you also start to establish a routine.

I was one of the ones saying life is too short to worry about housework. I have discovered that actually it is easier to be orgainised as life is to short to spend every monday morning searching for clean school clothes and swim gear.

My house was so bad I never let people in and had to spend hours clearing up if anyone was going to have to come in. After 2 weeks following fly routines and short bursts of clearing clutter I was able to have MIL round for lunch. She was shocked.

I am hosting Christmas again and instead of dreading it, I am quite looking forward to it. Run up to Christmas will be spent making mince pies and wrapping presents instead of trying to clear up mess.

Have a look at what we do, look at it like running a small business. You need procedures and routines in place for it to run efficently.

TooTicky · 01/10/2006 22:07

What is an eco-skip?

UlySCREAMS · 01/10/2006 22:19

it's a skip you hire but they recycle as much as possible

Original poster
glitterchick · 02/10/2006 09:27

Thanks Skribble. Will give flylady a look right now. HAVE HAD ENOUGH! TIME TO GET ORGANISED! Gosh feeling very motivated and positive this morning. Must be a Monday thing. Nice and sunny here also. Gonna get music on and windows open. FEELIN LIBERATED ALREADY...........

OP posts:
UlySCREAMS · 02/10/2006 09:45

can you pass some of your energy this way

janebracelet · 02/10/2006 11:12

glad to find I am not the only one who thinks they must be missing the tidy/organised gene.I have certain friends (those untidy ones) who are welcome anytime to house and those I prefer to give a weeks notice of their arrival(especially mrs perfect sil)-and I pray they dont want to use the loo!!!
Seriously the state of my house makes me feel overwhelmed and I beat myself up about it,but dont seem to be able to tackle it.
Tried getting the dd,ds and dh to help but we are all as bad as each other.

Skribble · 02/10/2006 22:56

I have been at it for 2 weeks and still feeling very positive, normally I crash and burn after a couple of days and things only get a superficial tidy then mount up until the next time.

This time I am maintaining what I have already tackled. Hate to admit it but I do need a routine and a plan.

batinshoes · 03/10/2006 08:06

agree with skribble. join the flythread we try and motivate each other into geting off our lazy bottoms

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