Need help with cleaning and decluttering...

[withaspongeandarustyspanner]

DH is unhappy in our relationship and wants to leaveand has cited my housekeeping/lack of ability to get rid of stuff as a factor. I'm overwhelmed. Don't know where to start.

Any tips?

Ah well done. Inspiring! I'm stuck in the house with poorly kids this week so I've been doing similar. Inspired by you to get more done tomorrow!

Love you guys (I may be overly emotional due to beer) x

Good morning Sponge, hope you enjoyed your well deserved drink and had a good sleep.

I am looking forward to hearing about another successful days clutter blitzing.
I am (sadly) very excited about the bin men coming this morning, I will have lovely empty wheelies to refill!
In between work I am planning to attack the kitchen drawer from hell, loose old batteries, keys, menus, chargers, glasses and so on.
I hope you are motivated for another day, what do you plan to tackle next?

Not having a good day today. I feel very low. I know I still need to do this, but I have the feeling that it's too little, too late.

Well, you did a fantastic amount yesterday. What about fixing a small space - one cupboard or a set of shelves or one wardrobe or something with 'limits' that you can do before lunch, then report back in ?

Sorry to hear you are having a low day. You know though that whatever happens with your DH, you do need to do this, for yourself and your kids.
A slower pace today perhaps is called for, be gentle on yourself. Let us know how you get on if you need motivation.

Never too little too late. You can do this. You will ultimately feel so much better.

I keep starting and stopping decluttering. Am in a starting again phase right now! It gets easier. I love th feeling of lightness after. And it makes general keeping on top of things in the house so much easier.

You can't control your DH's decision. But you CAN control this.

Also on the drawer(s) of doom Maryz, where does it all come from, why do we keep spent batteries, why?

I posted in relationships too. The general consensus is that there is an OW which is making me feel worse. (I don't actually think there is an OW).

I know, I need to do this. It's just mustering the energy and the correct mental attitude. I do think some of the posters above have been right about the state of the house reflecting my state of mind though. I think I've been low for a long time.

I'm going to have a coffee and see if I can make the kitchen/family room sparkle.

Thank you.

Good luck today Sponge, enjoy your coffee, I am having one right now too, and hey, guess what? I have 2 x empty kitchen drawers!! (I found 6 pairs of 3D glasses, 4 pairs man's sunglasses and hundreds of Allan keys amongst other sheer crap.

I was waiting for you to start so family room it is. Old magazines, bits of toys and games and dust balls all in my sights - DVDs will require all the energy I can muster.

I have 3 x empty drawers in my kitchen and a clean oven!
I did bring something into the house, 4 x microfibre cloths in lovely bright colours since I wrecked all my cloths cleaning the manky oven.

Well done Grumpy. I cleaned my oven yesterday. Although have to admit it is self cleaning so I didn't do much! Highly recommend pyrolitic ovens!

I have an admission. And I'm sorry to mention Christmas on a thread in February while Maryz is about but needs must. We finally put the Xmas decorations away this afternoon. . We had taken everything down but dumped it all in the dining room which only gets used at Xmas. So boxes finally sorted properly and put away. And most embarrassingly I finally took the Xmas tablecloth off the table and washed it along with the napkins! .

Hope you are doing ok sponge.

I'm a Kondo fan too. My neat and orderly kitchen is entirely down to her genius! Join us on the Kondo thread in Housekeeping OP! www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/2564756-Kondo-thread-10

Did you manage anything this afternoon Sponge ? I am afraid that I made little progress with what should be one of the easier rooms in the house - spent most of the time helping building playmobil! However still got half a bag into the recycling and tomorrow is another day. I hope that you are ok.

No. Not today. I can't face it. I've just about managed to feed the kids. I've not eaten in 48 hours - just not hungry.

I am really sorry to hear that - things are obviously really tough for you at the moment. Try at least to keep drinking and you may manage to eat tomorrow. Hard to keep going with everyone at home for half term as well let alone doing more clearing and sorting.

I know he's been odd for a couple of months, but this is all completely out of the blue. I never expected this.

Maybe clearing something will be cathartic. I will try tomorrow.

I am going to phone GP this morning. I am anxious anyway, but my anxiety is through the roof. I think I've had mild depression for a long time. I can't concentrate on things I don't like - I can't focus and I end up avoiding them.

I did eat last night. I made DH some stirfry when he got home last night and had a bit of that.

Excellent I hope you manage to get an appointment. Glad you managed to eat too - try to keep that up today. What are your plans for the day?