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

Who's up for a summer holiday house sort out?

268 replies

Snap8TheCat · 20/07/2017 13:34

As usual my house needs a good declutter and clean Grin

I am a childminder by day and so will be out and about a fair bit but can also fit in some house chores whilst they are nicely amused and encourage them to help me with things like sorting the playrooms out.

The summer holidays and starting the new school year off with a fresh start seems like a good idea.

Would anyone like to join me?

Smile
OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Original poster
Snap8TheCat · 20/07/2017 20:08

Oh come on! I can't be the only one with a shit tip slightly messy home that needs attention?!

OP posts:
daisydalrymple · 20/07/2017 20:27

I would love to join you, my house has been a tip since before dc3 arrived 2.9 years ago. I do fear however, that the summer hols will cause more mess, rather than reduce it, but I'm willing to try.

We've basically just got too much stuff now. I've had a few bursts of decluttering here and there, (when dc3 was still having naps) and made some cash on eBay with baby clothes and toys, but still a long way to go!

It would be good to sell / get rid of bulky or obvious stuff over the summer hols, such as pram, spare toddler bed, baby chairs etc. And declutter ds1 and dd's rooms with them.

Ds2 starts playgroup for two mornings in September, so my goal is to properly declutter by Christmas. So much the better if I get a head start by sept!

daisydalrymple · 20/07/2017 20:28

I would love to join you, my house has been a tip since before dc3 arrived 2.9 years ago. I do fear however, that the summer hols will cause more mess, rather than reduce it, but I'm willing to try.

We've basically just got too much stuff now. I've had a few bursts of decluttering here and there, (when dc3 was still having naps) and made some cash on eBay with baby clothes and toys, but still a long way to go!

It would be good to sell / get rid of bulky or obvious stuff over the summer hols, such as pram, spare toddler bed, baby chairs etc. And declutter ds1 and dd's rooms with them.

Ds2 starts playgroup for two mornings in September, so my goal is to properly declutter by Christmas. So much the better if I get a head start by sept!

daisydalrymple · 20/07/2017 20:29

See am so keen I posted twice Grin

TooStressyForMyOwnGood · 20/07/2017 20:57

I'll join :) . Am fearing house will get more cluttered not less over the summer though Confused.

Original poster
Snap8TheCat · 20/07/2017 21:48

My kids are a bit older and I'm hoping to get them involved. Trying to teach them the skill of having regular purges and all that...Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
Snap8TheCat · 21/07/2017 07:56

Ok so coming down to maggots in the kitchen wasn't exactly the start of hoped for. Blush

I feel violated. Envy

OP posts:
krazipan · 21/07/2017 08:09

I'm in! Every room in my house is cluttered and half decorated! I need a kick up the bum to get anything done.

Itsafunnyoldgame · 21/07/2017 08:35

I'm in!!
Will be busy next couple of days but will try and get little bits done, kitchen table needs decluttering, so will do that 1st.
DD2 starts nursery in September so will get more done then.

carrotcakecupcake · 21/07/2017 08:35

I'm in! We moved house a year ago and still have unopened boxes in our spare room shit tip. I also need to do a purge of clothes (baby, maternity, toddler, and mine) and toys.

Original poster
Snap8TheCat · 21/07/2017 09:20

Oh great!

What is everyone's approach to this? I've written a list of categories and I will just plough my way through it hopefully getting to the bottom by September.

First on my list is my boys' clothes.

OP posts:
YourHandInMyHand · 21/07/2017 09:27

I will also join you! I too am a childminder and am about to have 3 weeks off work so I've no excuse not to get sorted. I want to declutter toys and clothes, have a car boot, tidy gardens up, retouch paint work on walls etc. I feel tired just thinking about it. Wink

What I also really need to do is buy a loftladder and investigate if I can use the loft as storage (even if it means buying some boarding too) as that would greatly help my house which has a real lack of storage.

TooStressyForMyOwnGood · 21/07/2017 10:16

Not sure I have an approach! I am hoping to get DCs involved but they are 6 and 4 and the 6 year old loves clutter. I try to follow Flylady very roughly (am on the Flylady thread on here) so may try to do that a bit more in the holidays.

Maybe a list is a good idea.

Squirrelfruitandnutkin · 21/07/2017 10:19

I'm in! 😄
I'm aiming to tackle the piles of stuff that accumulate in corners/ on surfaces. I suspect it's mostly dcs art crap and dh not putting post/ magazines/books back.

It's definitely not me making the mess!😂

TooStressyForMyOwnGood · 21/07/2017 12:18

Have taken a bag to the charity shop and gone through a few bits of paperwork today but can't say I've made a huge dent Confused.

carrotcakecupcake · 21/07/2017 13:02

No real approach here though I have an ongoing house "to do" list on my phone which I refer to when I have the odd moment to achieve something never.
Squirrel I have the same issue! I currently have a diplodocus that was proudly brought home from preschool taking up half of the kitchen table, and the sideboard is covered with DHs "important" papers.

My problem is that it usually takes ages just to stay on top of the day to day clutter that builds up (WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?!) and I never have time to sit down and sort through the other bits.

yomellamoHelly · 21/07/2017 13:13

Ha Ha! You could be my people. The whole house is pretty poor and really messy and disorganised.
Had a gousto box arrive today (and have stocked up on food for the dc) as also need to get on top of what I'm eating, so have cleared out and cleaned fridge and cleaned the kitchen sink. Cannot remember when either of these jobs were done. Think my standards have really slipped as they were pretty grim.
Want to get everywhere straight before September and work kicks off again.

IlPorcupinoNilSodomyEst · 21/07/2017 20:33

Oooh I was going to start a thread on this and found yours! Me please!

I work term time in school admin so bar Monday and maybe a bit on Tuesday, I'm pretty much finished for six weeks I hope. I tend to ignore the worst during term time so it is pretty horrible at the moment.

I plan to strip each room out and only put stuff back in that is useful or beautiful (a la William Morris). That means monster tip and charity shop runs. Youngest child is moving up school in September so hopefully that means a moving on from the mountains of 'young child' crap in her room. DS is a Lego fiend whose hobby is taking over the house. DH is a procrastinator of the highest order with lots of stuff too.

I may need more than six weeks.

spiderbabymum · 21/07/2017 20:59

I would love to join too

Starting Monday ?

But
We gotta follow some sorta program so we can all work in synch

spiderbabymum · 21/07/2017 21:04

Ok how's about we do this

www.apartmenttherapy.com/january-cure-2017-assignment-1-240063

It's a simple four week program with chores / a task every day mon to fri
With a different style of challenge At the weekend

It's simple Ans effective

Any git any better suggestions ?

MsAwesomeDragon · 21/07/2017 21:06

I'm in! My first room is the living room I think. I'll sort of generally tidy it tomorrow, then get an hour or so of proper sorting and decluttering each day Monday to Friday. 7yo dd2 will have to help as a lot of it is hers, and she'd notice of I gave her stuff to charity shops.

My big problem is actually getting rid of stuff. I'll sort out a bag, but then it just sits there in the hallway for ages waiting for me to get rid of it. Dh also "tidies" those things away again, so our shed is full of stuff that needs to go to the tip, etc, whereas if left it out so I'd remember about it and do something with it.

spiderbabymum · 21/07/2017 21:18

Thing is MsAwesome
There is an assignment every day

Happy to post them on here

Read the first one and see what ye think

www.apartmenttherapy.com/january-cure-2017-assignment-1-240063

It sounds super easy but the whole idea is to make it Doable and Achievable

I Cannot reccomed it highly enough

But I'm somehow needing s boost myself to get started

TooStressyForMyOwnGood · 21/07/2017 21:20

spiderbaby, sounds fab.

Cuppaand2biscuits · 21/07/2017 21:33

I really need to join in. I have a lot of commitments term time so I'm looking forward to being at home with the kids and getting some stuff sorted.
Every room needs sorting here. I also have a DS with a lego habit taking over the house.
We got back from a holiday 4 weeks ago and I still haven't completely unpacked the bags.

spiderbabymum · 21/07/2017 21:38

MsAwesome
The January cure will sort your charity shop avoidance problem