Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

a thread for making 2017 a cleaner, tidier and less stressful year?

139 replies

MyVisionsComeFromSoup · 29/12/2016 15:37

I need to declutter, organise, deep clean, and potential redecorate the house as it gets me down. I love the principles of Kondo, but can't quite get the house to the place where I can properly sort one category at a time, so I need to chuck stuff from all the different areas first, before there's any chance of finding eg all stationery bits in order to see which post-its bring joy Grin.

Less crap in the house will clear my head a bit, and let me focus on some health stuff (I'm about to be starting a treatment plan which will make me feel worse before I feel better I suspect), and making everything a lot calmer and more peaceful.

I meal plan and bullet journal sporadically, so I know I need to be more organised with that, I WFH part-time and have piles of paperwork which need clearing, and I really really need to cut down on spending and start properly saving to remodel the house (or move which seems a less stressful option as EVERYTHING in the house needs redoing from roof to floorboards via plumbing, electrics and plastering Sad). Plus I'd like to free up time and energy to do something about the garden.

Anyone else up for motivational nagging and bum kicking? Or alternatively just posting photos of beautiful minimalism for me to drool over?

OP posts:
spiderbabymum · 02/01/2017 07:53

Hi
Great t those who have signed up

The January cure is a thing of beauty
And it will change the feel of your home
But more important How you feel about your home

IF YOU WORRY AS NO EMAIL YET

The January cure is Monday to Friday

spiderbabymum · 02/01/2017 07:59

Oops

It's based in NYC

So expect the first email in today just after 13:00

I'm in Germany. Flying home today House is a mess as we left Boxing Day

And I'm looking so forward to it : I guess cause it gives me structure

Last year the first day was to clean all the floors of your home

That's right all of them

Took ages !!!!! Moist of the tasks take less than half an hour .. but you really felt u had made a huge difference in day one

Cani tell I love it

If u still puzzled

Search fir the concept of a " landing strip " on apartment therapy , or an " outbox" for your home ....... both reall helpful

PigeonPie · 02/01/2017 08:55

GreenRut we use Google calendars too and I'd be interested if you find a good solution.

At the moment I print out a month to view and then post it into plastic 'poly pockets' which are blu-tac'd to the wall next to the kitchen table. We have the current month and next month. It's not totally accurate because things change but it's a good start and involves the DSs in what's happening and gives them warning of the regular things.

HaveAWeeNap · 02/01/2017 10:21

Wash ALL floors as first task

spiderbabymum · 02/01/2017 10:28

Not necessarily Wash . Just hoover or sweep

Or wait is it out already for this year ???

HaveAWeeNap · 02/01/2017 11:08

No, just panicked at your previous post Grin

spiderbabymum · 02/01/2017 11:09

Yes it's a big job no doubt

cikecaka · 02/01/2017 14:06

I need to join! Did do massive clear out over the summer but house has fallen back in to chaos. I have been getting on top of the washing over the last week, Finally it is managable.

I have just being doing general clean up over the last week. Working til 3 tomorrow but would like to clean my room tomorrow. My ideas is to clean and tidy each room before decluttering. School starts back next week so will start decluttering then.

Today I need to go to the drier and get a black bag done.

HaveAWeeNap · 02/01/2017 18:23

Ok, January Cure started!

a thread for making 2017 a cleaner, tidier and less stressful year?
HaveAWeeNap · 02/01/2017 18:24

That was the 'before'.
Full drawer.
Drawer emptied, de cluttered, cleaned.
This is 'after'

a thread for making 2017 a cleaner, tidier and less stressful year?
BellaGoth · 02/01/2017 20:13

Still waiting for my January Cure email...

Grin
HaveAWeeNap · 02/01/2017 20:46

It's just basically to choose a drawer, any drawer and clean it out. Wipe the bottom and only put back in what you're keeping in that drawer.

everdene · 02/01/2017 22:30

Ooh I have signed up for the January Cure!

HaveAWeeNap · 02/01/2017 23:48

Good stuff! Hoping not to be the only goon who posts pics tomorrow. Grin

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 03/01/2017 00:14

HaveA I'll post before & after pictures of my bedroom cupboard at some point. Not this week though as I need to sort the lounge out.

HaveAWeeNap · 03/01/2017 11:04

Ooooh Bernard! I luffs a good Before and After.
Look forward to it.

iamamickey · 03/01/2017 11:13

I joined the fly lady. I have the app too. So she OH and kids go back to school I will get started. Tomorrow that is. I'm still hunting for the best Organiser. Tempted by Paperchase "time to sparkle"

spiderbabymum · 03/01/2017 13:06

Ok
For those WHO DID NOT get emails

I didn't get any either

I signed up a second time and WHOOP !!! Just got the email for day 2

Unfortunately I'm ill ....so migh just have to take my time in starting

For those looking for inspiration

See instagram #thejanuraycure

For those who haven't heard if the January cure

You will find it on apartment therapy .com

RueDeDay · 03/01/2017 17:22

I have signed up to the January cure too... Ended up cleaning the kitchen last night, but plan to tackle the laundry cupboard tonight!!

RueDeDay · 03/01/2017 17:24

I am doing the laundry cupboard instead of a drawer, I hasten to add. It's been untouched since mid-December and although everything in it is clean, there are no clothes in any other place in the house, so it makes mornings so much harder than they need to be!

RubyGoat · 05/01/2017 22:55

Bernard - ha! The County Council website still has last term's menu on, & despite all school communications supposedly coming to me via email /Parentmail, I've not received the menu! However I went to the school & got a paper copy so problem solved. Meal plan will be done this weekend.

So I've borrowed the KonMari book from the library on my tablet & read it. Helpful & food for thought.

I've got rid of a bagful of various tops, & DD's little wooden desk & chair (one of those convertible high chair things) that's been in the living room for ages, she's a bit too big for it now. Also got some of DD's Playmobil 123 out to go to charity shop / sell on, although will probably buy more. I'm doing my other clothes at the weekend. You can tell Marie Kondo didn't have kids when she wrote that book!

We also got the leaky radiator fixed & the condemned gas fire removed today - finally - it's been capped off for over 3 years. Hope the landlord doesn't take that long to install a replacement!

Original poster
MyVisionsComeFromSoup · 07/01/2017 11:25

Had planned to get down to things this week once school went back, but DD2 changed her plans and has been around this week too, hampering me Smile. So from Monday I have a clear run at the house.

Signed up twice to the January Cure but still haven't had any emails from them. Looks like i can follow it from the website though (would be nice if they numbered the articles though). Plus I'm stealing the "chuck out a bag of junk a day" suggestion from another thread - I intend to have full rubbish and recycling bins each collection, most of the stuff I've earmarked to go out isn't charity shop-able Sad.

Bought a TaiChi DVD for a bargain £2 which will hopefully help me with some of the health issues I've got, and have booked a GP appointment to sort out a referral which doesn't seem to be happening. Oh, and I managed oto accidentally book a week's holiday at Easter, so I have 12 weeks to lose two stone and tone up a bit (while not being able to do much in the way of exercise - had to stop Evil Jillian and her Flat Tummy's 30 day Shred due to neck and should problems, but I might see if I can do an even more modified version, as I have too much of an Notflat Tummy to brave a bikini in April Shock).

OP posts:
Velocity · 08/01/2017 08:36

Can I join? Read Kondo over Christmas and now more or less trying to follow the principles- tackled jewellery yesterday, and I have followed apartment therapy a couple of years ago. Today's plan - to write the room by room list of stuff that needs to happen/get fixed in the apartment. I also need to decide what my motivation is for doing all of this (apart from just a tidier less cluttered home). Also getting back into meal planning - weekly works best for us running from Thursday to Thursday with meals planned in shared online calendar and shopping logged in OurGroceries app.

WipsGlitter · 08/01/2017 08:41

Just do it!

I decided to do a room by room spring "clean". No actual cleaning but sorting cupboards and drawers etc.

Managed to get DH on board and yesterday we tackled the study!! Took four hours but looks fantastic. I even managed to file paperwork going back six years - stuff I've been meaning to do from when the children were born!!!

Next week the spare bedroom...