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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Anyone up for a Spring Clean motivation thread?

57 replies

hangingkebab · 25/03/2017 06:25

I've woken up with an urge to get the house sorted, which doesn't happen often!
I'm starting in the living room, I'm about to put all the loose covers on the wash, sponge down the rest, dust, polish and then deodorise the carpets. I'll come back when I stop for coffee...please tell me what you're doing to keep me motivated!

Also any tips to make the whole thing quicker and easier would be very welcome, as would ideas for getting two preschool DC involved! (I usually give them a bowl of warm water and lemon juice and 'let' them clean the skirting boards - they find this weirdly exciting. Oddbods).

OP posts:
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Leeloo2 · 02/04/2017 21:08

'When you're decluttering it can be like opening a can of worms.'

This is so, so true! My dh always looks at the huge amount of mess generated, with a Hmm expression and asks 'are you tidying again then?' grrr. The problem is that you do have to pull out all the stuff hiding in cupboards to be able to sort/clear it. I'm getting better at letting lots of stuff go though and that has to be the key, as you're then taking most to charity (or binning it) instead of spending time trying to repackage it. My mum has been great the last few times she's been here too and packed all the stuff into the boot of her car to charity shop for me, so it's gone from the house, which is such a good feeling.

I'm also a lover of the shiny sink, though don't do it every day and never got much further with flylady than that, but when you don't know where to start in the kitchen then shining the sink starts you off and somehow you can normally keep going from there. Although often the next job I end up doing is emptying the crumbs from the toaster... into my newly shined sink? Ah well...

Lol, yes re. poor ds being sick - it was either laugh or cry tbh, I was so thinking 'but I just cleaned in here!' The rest of the messes he made were just annoying, but what can you do with kids?!

Hangingkebab - fantastic, in that case enjoy storage shopping. What are you getting? Do post a picture so I can get a vicarious thrill, as I do love buying storage stuff. It's so satisfying when it's justified and you know it'll be lovely. I'm pretty much out of wall space now, so am having to use what I have now (boo).

Well done on sorting dd's room (any photos?), and 6 months after moving is nothing at all, so many people have boxes to sort years afterwards! Did you find much of it could be got rid of? Or is it happily back with its owner?

I'm finding my kids are much happier playing in their room now that it's clearer. I wouldn't have thought the differences are that obvious to them (as most of what I changed round was 'hidden' storage), but perhaps the room feels better / more cared for?

cikecaka · 03/04/2017 11:04

I am going upstairs to clean my room! It's like a clothes explosion up there.

cikecaka · 05/04/2017 11:53

Did I kill the thread!??

hangingkebab · 05/04/2017 20:36

cikecaka no it wasn't you! I've been rubbish at posting for the last few days...how is your room looking? Did you find any treasure?

I've just been keeping on top of things for the last few days housework wise (which is in itself a step forwards which I'm attributing to you lot Grin ), but have taken the first step in spring cleaning myself by giving up smoking. Wish me luck!

Leeloo no photos of DD's room I'm afraid, I didn't think! Wish I had, the difference is quite stark - and it's made me realise she could actually fit a cute little rug in there when there aren't toys everywhere!! Storage wise I need to really start from scratch in both DC's rooms as nothing really fits either the room it's in or the items it's used for! I'll let you know when I've decided what to get Grin.

How's everyone getting on this week?

OP posts:
intheknickersoftime · 05/04/2017 20:47

Grin at did i kill the thread. My bedroom is a clothes explosion also! Work has got in the way,I'm off tomorrow and Friday. Will report back!

cikecaka · 06/04/2017 11:35

Found €2! Have been washing clothes ever since, away for the weekend tomorrow so want to leave the house somewhat tidy looking

Leeloo2 · 07/04/2017 18:29

That's alright hangingkebab, I'm the same re photos. I guess starting off I'm never confident that the results will be noteworthy (or noticeable) and afterwards I'm never sure that the photos are impressive if you can't see the starting point!

I've come to my parents for a week or so for Easter (leaving the house a mess, but oh well...). I've brought my laptop with me though and plan to do some of my kids' photobook. I religiously did 1 a year from 2009 until 2015, then life (or stress) took over. I've now done until March 2016, so I've a way to go!

I also want to start doing a bullet journal for work again, so while I'm away I want to make a master list of jobs to do and how up-to-date my work is in different areas. Then when I have 10 minutes when back at work I'll know what needs doing. Otherwise I spend all my time on mumsnet procrastinating or stressing about 'how behind I am' and 'how much needs doing', but never really knowing what it is I'm meant to be doing!

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