The Organised Mum Method

[IcanDorisIwillDoris]

Does anyone fancy joining me in following the organised mum method?

Back to work tomorrow after the summer off (work term time only) and need to get on top of a house work routine after struggling this last year or so to stay on top of things.

I suffer with anxiety and can easily get lost in my mood without structure and I like what I saw on the website. Will probably tweek the method as I go but it's a good structured plan to kick things off.

I work odd hours around the kids being at school but have a clear hour each day to dedicate to this. Plus I am sick of losing my weekends to playing catch up when I could be doing nicer things with the kids!!

Four of us in a 4 bed semi which is clean, just full of stuff that comes with having kids. It can get pretty messy!

Have done the odd bit of decluttering over the summer which has made a bit of a difference!

Looking forward to having a house that doesn't embarrass me on the odd occasion a guest arrives unannounced

Have totally fallen off the wagon this week! DS had decided firstly that naps are for wimps and secondly that any naps that are taken should be on my lap. I've touched him to sleep twice and taken him for a walk and he's been up within 2 minutes every time! My sole achievement for today so far is unloading the dishwasher and hanging out the washing, which I guess is something. I did want to get more done this will better visitors come on Friday though.

Anyway, enough moaning!

Agree about dust in the hallway littlechocola, I think it must come in from outside.

I'm so chuffed with myself! I was out of the house between 6am and 7 pm and when I got in, I was very much NOT IN THE MOOD for cleaning. I know the method allows you to skip a day (especially Wednesdays!!) but I am a serial giver-upper. I'm fine while the streak is going, but the moment it's broken, there's no guarantee I will ever do it again.

So I set a timer for 15 minutes and when that wasn't too painful, I did it again. All up to date and feeling confident.

Well done Stella, that's brilliant
! I'm the same about giving up so need to keep going

How easy is the kitchen today after focus Friday last week! Done it in 10 minutes! Loving this so much. Actually feel proud of our home

Hiya, I'm having a strange TOMM-related experience - I work full-time so we've always had a weekly cleaner but I've just realised she's due today and there's nothing for her to clean! Not that would take 3 hours anyway.

I haven't following the routine religiously, but still - having decluttered a bit during bootcamp made a huge difference, I think. Also I've been working from home a bit more (2-3 days) for the last couple of weeks so have had more opportunities to put a wash on etc, but I think the focus on 'little and often' has been the real game-changer, and something I actually look forward to now! Let's see if this lasts...

TwittleBee, isn't it lovely to feel
Proud of your home? Inviting someone in, without saying "Excuse the mess" is one of life's underrated pleasures.

NamedyChangedy my mum's a cleaner, if she walks into someone's home and she spots it's already really clean she won't waste time going over already dust free surfaces, she will instead really route about and get really unusual places clean e.g. tops of cupboards, the front door or curtain rails etc. Hope your cleaner thinks like that for you!

Steala so true! Although we are in middle of decorating so there is still some mess to be excused haha! (Mainly just unpainted walls, light fixings missing etc though rather than dirt and mess)

Namedy we had this too 😊 I gave our cleaner a list of obscure jobs like cleaning inside windows plus mopping floors because they were all hoovered already! Once I finish studying I think we will be able to manage without a cleaner but at the minute it's taking the pressure off.

Today was supposed to be my focus day (kitchen) but I was feeling super rough. Did half of what I was supposed to do yesterday & delegated the rest to DH. That still counts right?? Though the amount I time I spend asking him to do it, reminding him to do it & asking him if he's done it I could have done it myself

All in all though my house is the cleanest & tidiest it's been in ages. Tomorrow I'm at work so no cleaning for me, just Level 1 jobs.

I’m dreading going back to work tomorrow! I worry that I’ll let the routine slip.

Sorry to creep in, but was just wondering if anyone has done both organised mum and flylady and can explain how they differ? I love flylady and was wondering if it's a similar thing or entirely different? TIA

We’re close to house move here. So want to ask about cleaning products. What does everyone use? I saw TOMM had a insta post with her cleaning kit. Or her fave products anyway. Do you use these? Or just whatever you have?

I’m in the position of have nothing as used it up before we moved in with dparents so need to buy cleaning stuff.

raspberryblonde It's like that some weeks with a little one, at least the house will be okay because you've been following the method previously. That's what I think when we're having a clingy phase!

Steala That's fab!

Namedychangedy What a fantastic position to be in, maybe if you keep it up you could save the money spent on your cleaner and spend it on yourself instead?

It's been one hectic week here but I've managed to keep on top of things ish. Kind of only because my DM has been here so when she repeatedly asks how she can help with the house while I run errands and baby naps I've been telling her which room is the focus for that day. (okay, I admit, she also stayed with my LO and cleaned the living room while I had a spa treatment )

hodgeheg92 wow, send her here! My guests weren’t happy yesterday because dinner was late (I was out).

ememem84 I have the bathroom cleaner but apart from that grab whatever is cheapest!

danigrace I’ve not used flylady but remember looking at it when my dc were small and found it over whelming.

danigrace, I never got on with FlyLady, but from what I remember, FlyLady sticks to a room for a week in a five (?) week cycle and adds in good habits to get into eg house blessing, putting out hotspots etc. TOMM does a room a day for four days and then a more focused clean on one day a week on an eight week cycle. It also gets you into good habits through level one (daily) jobs.

I prefer TOMM because the build up in rooms is never too great - only a week away- so everything ends up "not too bad" at any point (DC rooms excluded!).

I have tried and failed with flylady a few times, I find it a bit overwhelming plus only coming around to the rooms every few weeks meant more work as they obviously couldn't be left all that time. I do use her instructions for a shiny sink though!

Managed quite a bit in the bathrooms this morning although need to do some more. It'll be more than 30 minutes but needs to be presentable for people staying. I've also done a few other bits like putting away shopping and organising some photos for DD to take in for show and tell next week.

Hope your return to work goes well littlechocola.

I had a look at fly lady but think TOMM will work better for me. So am keen to get going. Come on new house!!!

Thank you RaspberryBlonde! Bit of a shock to the system after almost 3 weeks off.

Have missed a few days, new tumble dryer coming Monday, so will be able to keep up with washing again.

Today I'm going to clean the bathroom and put some washing away.

I really need to keep up with this.

Totally fell off the wagon this week and am feeling it today. Plan of action is to tidy everywhere and then start with level 1 jobs today. Must keep on top of this and form good habits or it doesn't do my mental or physical health any good.

I'm between job at the moment. So I've been random cleaning to stay sane. We have a cleaner. But I'm finding the stuff that she doesn't get time to do ; skirting boards, I've taken apart radiators, washed out the bin. I've got through a whole bottle of viakal in a week!!

Anyone got any ideas how you get lime scale odd black shower boarding? (Mermaid board). Scrubbing with neat viakal didn't work. I left the spray on stuff overnight. It's a bit better but not sorted yet.

Hoovered living room and hallway
Hung up new bedroom bunting
Changed bedding
Cleaned out kitchen cupboards
Photo of bedroom!

Looks lovely Ollivander84

Bathroom cleaned and clean clothes put away.

I have work 4-7pm today so Dh can hoover the living room today, I'm going to get a coffee Ithink

My brother has just told me he's popping by tomorrow morning & for the first time I'm not looking at my house with dread & preparing to apologise for the mess. It's a really good feeling

It's a great feeling, isn't it @happytobemrsg!
My home isn't a palace but I'm happy to open my door!