Does anyone want to join me in a major sort-out and tidy-up before Christmas?

[AlexaShutUp]

The house is in a terrible state. It's always a struggle to stay on top of it, but I've been really stressed at work recently and it's just out of control. It's really getting me down and I feel overwhelmed just thinking about it, but I can't decorate a shit tip, so it needs to be dealt with.

Is anyone else in a similar boat and up for joining me? I need some encouragement, that's for sure!

Yes yes yes.

It's just cluttered in my place and driving me mad.
I've made a start today and cleared out the shelf in the airing cupboard with lots of toiletries and make up. Some got binned and others got organised into containers. Only took 20 mins and I feel "lighter" for it.
Next is my PJ drawers. They're scruffy and old and I really don't wear most of them. ☺️☺️

You can do this. Small steps. Set a timer for 15 mins and focus on one small area.

Oh my god yes! Mine is getting messier and messier. How to tackle? Room by room?

I am always torn between getting more storage space to put all the crap in or de clutter and risk needing some of the stuff later.

I'm in :) made a start today as it's the 1st :)

I've got loads to do, mainly the upstairs and want to decorate too so got tons to do.
Dd is in the box room and has an amazing bed, she's nearly 8. It's a camper van high sleeper and cost a fortune, she's drew on it etc and the room is a shit tip.

I have OCD and fibromyalgia and am often torn between cleaning and resting which is tough. My house used to be absolutely immaculate but since developing fibro I've struggled so much.
Mine is a 3 bed semi and I'm determined to have it perfect for Christmas.

I so need this thread

Jeez,
Apologies for all of the smileys...

I could have written this! Mine is personal stress as opposed to work though. Work is my relief at the moment!
Today I tackled upstairs. A real sort out and deep clean. In fact I still have the landing to do as everything I cleared got dumped there. Am going to tackle downstairs tomorrow ready for the tree later in the week.
I actually feel a bit better for doing it. Can you start one room at a time to make it seem less daunting.

Thanks Ratbag. Have been trying to focus on small steps at a time. We just have so much stuff!!!

I'm using our Alexa to set timers, it's the only way I can motivate myself.

Well done on making a start with the airing cupboard, and good luck with the drawers!

My house wasn't too bad but I did the Organised Mum Method Bootcamp and now do the cleaning routine every week. Feel so much better for it!

Ooh I'm thinking of doing boot camp, is it on the website?

I have started today! Every time I get it even half tidy the DC make more mess! They don't appear to understand putting things away or rubbish in the bin

I am arranging a cleaner for 2 hours a week so the mission is to tidy before they start!

I’m trying really hard to do the flylady tip of the ‘27-step-fling-boogie’ every day. So that’s chucking 27 things daily - out of date school letters, junk, clutter, duplicate or unused items. All in charity bags or the bin. And once you start you don’t stop until you have reached 27! No idea why it’s that number but it seems to work! I’ve got two days off work in a fortnight and rather than do something indulgent I feel it’s going to be a better use of my time to use those days to blitz the kids rooms. I’m aiming for 2 black bags from everyone in the house and all straight to the charity, no messing. That and the 27 things I hope by Xmas it’ll look and feel clearer!

I aim to get rid of as much as possible!! Great we're all in this together.

Ooh, lots of posts! It's good to have company. Chucking out 27 items a day sounds like a grand idea, might try that. Will also have a look at the bootcamp on organised mum!

Good luck everyone, we can do this!

@Zoflorabore @AlexaShutUp This is a link to the Bootcamp...

www.theorganisedmum.blog/2017/06/26/1-week-boot-camp-for-when-youve-lost-control-of-the-housework/

We are in the middle of decorating so we are in chaos throughout the whole house. Hopefully we can put the house back together from tomorrow and I’m going to have a big chuck out!

I so need this...... I just can’t get on top on my cleaning. It needs more than a clean. A complete declutter and then a deep clean. Just not enough hours. It actually brings on my anxiety, I can’t bear to be in the house. I need to learn to focus on a small area at a time.

This thread is just what I need! For various reasons my house has got out of control cluttered this year - DH is a hoarder but usually I stay on top of it. Now I have the ILs coming for Xmas, and mentally I can no longer cope with this level of clutter. tidaquel I hear you with the anxiety, I can barely bear to be here either let along relax, but so hard to get motivated. I can't even do my xmas shopping because there is nowhere to put it.

Last week I did 4 big bags for charity and a car-boot full of rubbish, and that was just one cupboard - the craft/ present/ wrapping cupboard - which took about 3 hours.

Here's what I need to sort:

DS room - clothes need annual sort out, cupboard, shelves, bed needs moving - needs a fat deep bookshelf along the lines of those ikea ones that everyone has - 3 hours

DD1&2 room - toys need 90% throwing away - 2 hours

bathroom - airing cupboard needs entirely sorting out - 2 hours

my wardrobes - need sorting out - 3 hours

chest in lounge - 1.5 hours

chest in entrance hall - 1.5 hours

utility room - 2 hours

So plan for tomorrow - have to take MIL to hospital so unlikely to get much done, but will try for chest in lounge in the evening - 1.5 hours.

The worst thing is I have to smuggle bags out, as DH gets so twitchy and upset if he thinks I am getting rid of stuff.

Mine is a pile behind the sofa, it started as just popping a bag of business related things that I will need after Xmas but there's an alcove behind the sofa so literally only I would ever know it was there.
Gradually more and more things have been out there and now the pile is so big it's taller than the sofa 🙈 it's overwhelming so I keep putting it off!

Maybe removing 27 items a day is the answer

I'll join. The house is a tip. I get so jealous when i see other peoples lovely neat houses. Unfortunately both dh and I are terrible at throwing things out which means we haven't got any spare room to put stuff away even when we try too.

We have a big behind the sofa mess too. Out of sight out of mind

YES! I'm in!

I don't know how I ended up with so much stuff 😭 it's just everywhere. I don't even know where to begin. Other than the mountain of stuff I need to list on Gumtree.

The timer idea is fab. I'll be using that.

Made the dc sort out their coats and have washed five to take to charity shop and chucked three. Kids have blitzed their rooms and we have had a pretty good clean of the rest of the house ready for christmas decorating next weekend.

Need to tackle my own coat and shoe cupboard which is horrendous.

Also washed the sofa cushions for the first time ever.

Yes please. We’re doing lots of hosting every weekend now till Christmas. The DC have had a fluey virus and so I am starting December already behind. And tired from looking after them so without the extra energy to get stuff done!!!

Thanks for the thread OP, we can totally do this 👍

I’m such a hoarder!! I’m trying to be ruthless but find it hard throwing DCs Birthday cards away and their old school books. I’ll try the 27 rule tm.

Yes I'd love to join you!
I've started a few weeks ago, but this week I was not well and behind on things again .
The bedroom and study need de cluttering the most as we have visitors staying at Christmas. I keep asking my dh to get rid of the magazines he hasn't read ( he gets them once a month for his hobby) insists he needs them for future reference . Yet never reads them? Anyone else dh like this?

I'm in! I've had enough of my flat looking cluttered and dirty. I dust but not thoroughly!I'm starting off with the kitchen today. I am going to get some flat fold boxes from Wilkinson's when I pop into town & put things in there that I hardly use and store it away in my storage cupboard that I've managed to de clutter and make space in. I am also going to clean my oven, microwave and fridge as well so my kitchen is all clutter free and sparkling.
I've also got lots of Tupperware boxes that I have to put leftover food in. I might get two storage boxes from B&M for them so one for lids and one for the boxes. We shall see! I will pop back on and let you know how it all goes later

Update! So far I have cleaned and uncluttered the kitchen. I managed to clean my oven as well I had to unscrew the glass to give it a good clean. Decluttered my drawers and I also bought a little 3 tier trolley to put on top of my counter for fruit and veg. Moving onto the bedroom shortly after I've had my lunch and cup of tea