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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Does being tidy come naturally to you?

74 replies

JonesTheSteam · 19/11/2006 21:29

Been thinking about this today.

I am just not naturally tidy. I am absolutely useless at putting things away after I have used them. I leave things all over the place, and then moan when I can't find them. I know it's sheer laziness and I'm making more work for myself in the long run, but that's the way I am.

Don't get me wrong - my house is generally ok for someone with two young children. But I do tend to leave it until it's getting on my nerves before having a blitz and tidying up/cleaning!!

But it just doesn't come naturally. Do you think there's a way of making it become natural?

OP posts:
lockets · 19/11/2006 22:46

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Gillian76 · 19/11/2006 22:46

Not at all, but my messy house depresses me.

Gobbledigook · 19/11/2006 22:47

I cannot watch TV if there are 'things' lying about in the room. The floor has to be clear, any magazines have to be stacked and tucked at the side of the sofa, the remotes have to all be together lined up on the foot stool. Am obsessive!!

Tommy · 19/11/2006 22:49

not naturally tidy at all (wish I was!)

My Mum is about the most untidy person I know though so maybe I've got it from her. DH likes things to be "tidied away" - i.e. in neat piles as opposed to big heaps but he doesn't really sort things out and put them away where they are supposed to go.

Have a big plan though, to sort the house out (in the next 3 months before this baby comes )

Prego · 20/11/2006 00:14

Am constantly intruiged as to whoelse lives here...they ALWAYS leave plates out, towels hung over banister, used casseroles left in the oven...

and the pixies NEVER turn up to clean...sheer madness I tell you!!

fifi26 · 20/11/2006 08:38

I'm another one who's naturally untidy.

The only thing that makes me stay on top of it is unannounced visits/inspections by MIL.

As far as I'm concerned life is to short and there are far more interesting things to be doing with my time than cleaning.

I'm not lazy, just rather use my energy doing something else

FloatingInTheMoonlitSky · 20/11/2006 08:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sherbert37 · 20/11/2006 10:08

Yes find being tidy comes naturally and rest of family is not too bad. However, I would rather tidy (have to tidy) rather than sit down in the evening. Could not go to bed without having cleared up and done my ironing as I know I won't have any more time the following day. Like a military campaign round here...

Sparkletastic · 20/11/2006 11:02

Ahhh Pruni - am suffering with you! House just gone on the market and my word did it take a major effort to get it looking ship-shape and de-cluttered. I now obsessively follow DD1 around picking up after her and sicky Babytastic is fully bibbed up at all times to avoid smelly deposits on the carpet. Wish I could shrink-wrap them both for the duration really...

charliecat · 20/11/2006 11:04

I am naturally untidy. I am passing this hideous trait onto my dds.
I can make a mess by just sitting watching TV and ill lose the remote at the same time.
I do a HUGE blitz, then watch it slide for a week. Then blitz again. And its not that I havent done ANYTHING, its just bits get left undone when i do do things...

sandyballs · 20/11/2006 11:12

I'm very tidy, bordering on obsessively so, according to dh . I can't relax if things aren't put away or organised, makes me stressed.
I wish I wasn't like this, I'd prefer to be a bit more chilled about it. I think having children has helped me, if I had stayed childless there would have been no hope for me .

Ellieorange · 20/11/2006 11:29

I am so relieved to read this thread, as I am exactly like you, Jones. However, I know where EVERYTHING is when the house is a mess, and as soon as everything is put away, I can't for the life of me, find it!

In my opinion, more storage is WORSE. We now have drawers, dressers, fitted wardrobes, FILLED with junk and we have only been in house a year (before that small flat, much more organised).

I would say I am generally clean, but definitely messy. There is a big difference. Dh hates seeing a room with stuff all over the place. Doesn't bother me, but if carpet needs a hoover, it does bother me.

Ruwla · 20/11/2006 11:41

I am untidy naturally but like my house to be clean and tidy. My mother was not houseproud and as a result I grew up with not much experience of keeping a house tidy but I am proud of my own house and as a result I do try and keep things tidy but I have 3 messy people in my house so its a very hard thing to do.

Tanktop · 20/11/2006 12:11

I just can't relax at all if my surroundings are untidy or needing cleaned. Could never go to bed leaving dishes or sitting room untidy. Beds are made as soon as I get up and I never allow ironing to pile up etc etc. My hubby thinks I am neurotic but I am at my happiest when all my housework has been done.I am also a sahm so I do have the time to be this way even with a 2 year old, who may I add loves helping me dusting and cleaning up. I do allow my DD to scatter her toys all over the house but they are all tidied away when she stops playing with them and any mess created while she eating is cleaned up as soon as she is finished. I have set days when things have to be done and hate if for some reason I can't get the beds changed and sheets all washed and dried on a Saturday for instance. God I think I am a freak.

lucycat · 20/11/2006 12:20

I think going away to Uni made me tidy as I lived in one room in Halls so if stuff wasn't put away you couldn't get in it.

dh is very tidy - he was even more obsessively tidy before he met me, my messiness rubbed off abit on him.

Even so the lounge and kitchen have to be clean and tidy before I go to bed - I'm not a morning person so it all has to be done the night before.

Pruni · 20/11/2006 13:48

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KathyMCMLXXII · 20/11/2006 13:57

Oh God, I am so untidy. As DH pointed out, if I get something out it doesn't seem to occur to me to put it away again

Sheraz · 20/11/2006 14:06

I struggle i like tidy but forget to pick things up. I leave things lying around, waiting for them to put themselves away, then - lightbulb moment, best do it myself cos no one elde will

nutcracker · 20/11/2006 14:08

No, i really struggle sometimes, but I am getting better since xp left.

I hate sitting in clutter so I try and make sure the living room is tidy.

My room, is awful.

Sheraz · 20/11/2006 14:11

My underwear drawer is embarrassing, loads of odd socks and knickers with holes in them.

ComeOVeneer · 20/11/2006 14:13

I am prety tidy. I find that if I do little and often it keeps the place preety clean and neat. If (for whatever reason) I let it slide for a few days it is a daunting task to put it right.

WigWamBam · 20/11/2006 14:18

Good lord, no! I am the slattern to end all slatterns!

Life's too short and there are too many other things to do - I'd rather read or play with my daughter than do the housework.

It gets done eventually ...

beckybrastraps · 20/11/2006 14:19

It doesn't come to me at all.

Stockingsofdinosaurs · 20/11/2006 15:07

I am perfectly capable of living in squalor myself.
I am naturally lazy but hate rushing so I have to be very organised and give myself plenty of time if I want to get dd to pre-school on time.

peanutbutter · 20/11/2006 15:08

yep comes naturally to me, but I do believe you can be indoctrinated into it too.

I can't sit and relax until all my little jobs are done (ie. the ones i've chosen to be my little jobs). Can't go to bed unless all's tidy downstairs. When going on holiday, the house has to be gorgeously tidy and relatively clean before I can close the door and get in the car - so lovely to come home to that it's worth the effort.