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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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Original poster

Ok, those of you whose homes are pretty much always tidy, how do you do it ??

64 replies

nutcracker · 28/12/2006 14:46

Mine should be spotless, I don't work, we have more than enough room and yet it looks like a tip again.

I have started making myself fill at least 2 black bags with stuff to put out or give away each week, but it still doesn't look right.

I tidy it and it looks great but then half hour later there are bits and bobs everywhere.

Right now on the living room floor there is....xmas cards that have fell down, about 3 lots of instructions for things, several bits of toys, pj's and a poster of ds's, a plate, a pencil case and ds's bike.

I am not a naturally tidy person but it is starting to pee me off now.

OP posts:

mellowma · 28/12/2006 14:51

Message withdrawn

Original poster

nutcracker · 28/12/2006 14:54

LOL, cage might be a good idea.

It just won't stay tidy for longer than a few hours, I mean I am lazy but not that lazy, where the hell does all the stuff come from.

Think I possibly need more storage.

OP posts:

Fimbo · 28/12/2006 14:56

I don't think it is possible unless you have a playroom. I have a fairly decent size lounge but it just means that the dc spread their stuff out more! Ds's bedroom is too small to play in properly, so the lounge is the only place to do it. I cringe if the doorbell goes!

SherlockLGJ · 28/12/2006 14:56

Once a day I say to DS, I am going to tidy up in a minute, if it is on the floor it goes in the bin.

He ignored me once or twice in the past, they went in the bin.

Now he stops what he is doing and puts away the stuff he is not using.

I have also cured DH of the clothes on the floor thing, if it is on the floor it goes in the wash. "But" "but" I only wore in once, I was going to wear it again. You can wear it when it comes back from the ironing lady. When he sees me starting a tidy up, there is a scatter to hang his clothes up.

Now if I could just stop the dog moulting.

Kittypickle · 28/12/2006 15:00

I am probably not the person to answer this, in fact if you had seen my house earlier you would have probably passed out from shock, I almost did ! We're far from always tidy (well the kitchen nearly always is because I waited 4 years to have cupboards attached to the wall so I'm not letting it get in a mess in a hurry). But finally have got to the stage where there is some semblance of order and it does sometimes look tidy.

The secret is I think is to have a place for everything so you can just chuck it back where it should be. And the other thing I have been trying to do is to never leave the room empty handed. And my secret weapon is one of those rechargable electric carpet sweeper things so I can whip it round and make it look a bit better in minutes.

ludaloo · 28/12/2006 15:00

Hmmm.......I think housework is a form of Japanese Torture...very similar to Japanese Water Torture. I do exactly the same in my house every single day....
Pick up toys
Pick up clothes
Do the washing
Load the dishwasher
Cook the tea
BLAH DE BLAH
BLAH DE BLAH

It will eventually one day wear my brain completely away...its half gone already!!!!!!

mellowma · 28/12/2006 15:04

Message withdrawn

mellowma · 28/12/2006 15:05

Message withdrawn

ludaloo · 28/12/2006 15:08

Thats not too bad mellowma!
I was all tidy until the kids found the tin of Quality Streets.....Just sitting here I can see 9 wrappers in various places round the room.

It appears that temporary deafness has set in as Charlie and Lola is way more appealing than cleaning up wrappers!

Original poster

nutcracker · 28/12/2006 15:16

Thats what it is, I don't have a place for everthing and so tidying up takes far longer then it should.

I am not one of these people who would hear the door bell ring and think yeah, house is tidy, visitors welcome. What actually happens is, door bell rings and i think Oh shit.

Obviously if MN didn't exist then my house would be perfect

OP posts:

danceswithreindeer · 28/12/2006 15:22

Ok...I'm at the kitchen table and there is a half dead poinsetta, a set of pens dd got for Christmas, my address box, a bib (dirty) a used baby wipe (for wiping face not bottom!) a tub of crayons and the phone...and that's just the table...also two windowsills covered in junk, a basket of screwed up clothes (clean) a dora watch, a baby's bottle - on the floor and Dh's shoes NEXT TO the wooden shoe bench by the back door and that's just the tip of the iceburg, I don't even know where to start

Original poster

nutcracker · 28/12/2006 15:24

My windowsills are like that Reindeer, mainly because evereytime I tell the kids to clear the table, it gets moved to the window.

I think I need to join the Flylady threads.

OP posts:

brimfull · 28/12/2006 15:24

Oh god I have often wondered how people keep a house tidy,I think they have genetically tidy children,I've heard they do exist,but mine are not.
I have just done a tidy and hoover up,can't see the point in doing ot everyday as it's like threading a necklace with no knot on the end....pointless.
Now if I lived on my own......

Original poster

nutcracker · 28/12/2006 15:25

I have an urge to buy baskets and stuff lol.

OP posts:

brimfull · 28/12/2006 15:26

I need something for shoes in the hallway,despite the fact I have a large cupboard under the sstairs there are still about 5 pairs of shoes strung all ove rthe hall

Original poster

nutcracker · 28/12/2006 15:28

I want one of those storage units with boxes in from Ikea, that can fit under stairs. Could fit shoes and all sorts in there.

OP posts:

TooTickyDoves · 28/12/2006 15:29

Oh, ours is beyond anything you could possibly imagine. What I can't understand is where all the little scraps of paper come from. And how so many things end up under the sofa. And who invented dust anyway?

brimfull · 28/12/2006 15:31

ooh can feel an ikea trip coming on

LemonTart · 28/12/2006 15:36

flylady

she is the patron saint of twee organisation. As much as I choke and splutter reading her OTT website or tweeness, I have to admit it - IT WORKS.
If you haven?t already found flylady and are genuine in need of inspiration/battle plans etc it is as good a place as any.
Secret is to stick to it. No good blitzing the place and then let it go to rack and ruin the same day. Just like dieting, need to be committed...
Ok, I had better go clean my bathroom. Feel shamed into it now talking about flylady

SherlockLGJ · 28/12/2006 15:37

I am obviously the only Meanie Mommie.....

BaileysMilkshake · 28/12/2006 15:43

Dont bother buying anything to put your shoes in, because they will breed in the comfort of thier new home and you'll never fit them all in anyway.

My lving room floor currently has:
3 my little ponies and all there bits.
A baby rocker
A plastic loud roller coaster
A wooden stacking puzzle
A toy cash register
DS nappy changing bag
And the trailing wire for broadband so I can chat on here

The sofas are covered in mis matched pillows and throws, blankets etc as well as toys and magazines, which if on the arms fall on you the minute you sit down

And behind the sofas are all the presents DD has yet to rediscover since unwrapping them - mainly craft stuff (see my rubber walls thread) that we dont actually want her to see!

Also for some stupid reason that we are yet to fathom, when our friends asked us if DD would like their DS's wooden ride on plane (about 2ft wide by 2ft long) because the boys had outgrown it and DD always played on it, bearing in mind they have a spacious 5 bed sprawling bungalow and we have a 3 bed semi....we said.....yes

My kitchen has 4 piles of laundy to be washed and sorted for the dryer or airer. And everywhere in the dining room and untility room is food and drink which was bought for Christmas and never touched or is mid way through being eaten!

Every night as soon as DD is in bed and DS is settled we blitz the lounge and kitchen, pile up all the toys and hoover, wash up and clear counters. It's still not perfect but it makes us feel better and as we both do it it only takes about 10 minutes!

mellowma · 28/12/2006 15:49

Message withdrawn

Original poster

nutcracker · 28/12/2006 15:51

I do do the move it or I'll bin it thing LGJ and it does work, I think I need to do it more often.

I hate the fact that I can tidy and then I sit down and can see several thing poking out from under the sofa and apparently no one put them there and they don't belong to anyone.

OP posts:

SherlockLGJ · 28/12/2006 15:53

The other thing do is, I encourage DS to give away some of his toys to make way for new toys. So twice a year Birthday and Christmas, he puts a load of stuff in a black sack for the poor children.

EniDeepMidwinter · 28/12/2006 15:53

I tidy a lot. periodically clear 'hot spots' eg the windowsill in here, a bit in the kitchen, the stairs

I have lots of baskets and boxes that I chuck stuff in to at least keep it off the floor

atm on floor is:

dd3
playmobil castle and thousands of bits (I have to keep moving dd3 away from it)
a few baby toys
bottle lid
two cushions

I clear all toys up at the end fof the day

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