The Organised Mum Method thread 2

[Xiaoxiong]

Since we were all so chatty and supportive on the last thread, let's keep it going. We're not all mums, not all organised, but we're getting there!

For new joiners: check out www.theorganisedmum.blog for the basics of Level 1 and Level 2 jobs and then come and chat about it!

Hi all, I have just joined MumsNet for this thread!

I am hoping to officially start TOMM next week once I have finished organising cupboards and wardrobes!

Does it really work?! I don't have a dish washer or a tumble dryer so I guess these things will take me longer! Do you do extra work on top of the 45 mins a day?

My house is pretty tidy and clean at the moment due to some serious sorting and sweating already.

I just want to feel 100% organised!

Nice to meet you all. Need to crack on with stuff before pick up time! Will come back later.

Feelingfullandreadytoclean I suppose there are other extras that you do without counting them but they aren't really cleaning / housework. Things like paper work etc and then off course if you have kids there will always be spills etc to sort.

Welcome feeling! I have a tumble dryer but no dishwasher - dishes just get done after each meal, I don't really count those as part of TOMM as they need to get done immediately or we run out of plates and forks. Kind of like wiping down the dining table after we eat - it's all part of the meal, rather than "housework" per se, so when we finish dinner we bring plates through, immediately wash up and tidy the kitchen before we move on to the rest of the evening (for example).

And yes, the method has worked for me and many others - you probably will need to tweak it for your own home and what works for you (see for example the open plan flat modification we talked about above). But hand on heart I can say that the house is cleaner and tidier than when we had two(!) cleaners, we're always ready for people to drop by with no more than a quick whizz round clearing surfaces, and we don't do more than 45 mins Mon-Fri and nothing at all on the weekend. Keep checking in to let us know how you're getting on!

You've explained it so well xiaoxiong. I think it's getting into the mindset that it is a process and a routine not a one off/big task. I need the alarm to stop too.

Almost ran out of things to do in the living room last night. Dusted all sorts of nooks and crannies.

Hello, I’d love to join please!

Started TOMM about three weeks ago and I’m taking a very relaxed attitude to it but I’m stunned by what a difference it’s made for such little effort. I’ve always struggled with the mental side of housework so being told what to do and what to buy is basically saving my sanity.

I’m on mat leave with a four month old and naively expected I’d have quite a lot of time (and energy) for housekeeping but it hasn’t worked out that way so far

I didn’t manage anything yesterday as I was out all day but my washing is on this morning and I need to hoover round and get some laundry folded and away. In the bedroom today I’ve a bedside table to sort out and the windows to clean, plus a quick dust and vac.

pep I love that you almost ran out of things to do...but there is always more isn't there

Welcome bella - yes isn't it amazing how much you can achieve in actually not that much time! I think that's the whole trick of TOMM - it forces you to do more housework, I think before I would do hours of cleaning on a weekend and then get frustrated that the house was a tip by Monday. Now I probably do the same amount but spread over the week - I don't have that "whole house is immaculate" moment, because there's always one room that hasn't been cleaned since last week, but it all cycles through and makes a huge difference over time. Especially at the end of the 8 week Friday Focus cycle I find that the house is actually properly clean.

Floors and washing done, sinks and toilet wiped, sheets changed and bedroom carpets hoovered. My absolute least favourite day but at least it's done!

Luckily DH generally keeps on top of changing the sheets regularly so Tuesdays aren’t so bad for me! My worst day is the kitchen, I hate doing it and since there’s the dishwasher and surfaces to do most days, I feel like I’m constantly in there.

I’m feeling very inspired by this thread - thanks everyone! I think if I can motivate myself to do the washing up in the evening before I go to bed, that will easily free up 45 minutes in the morning to do TOMM. As it is, I usually leave all the dirty pans in the sink overnight and then spend 15-20 minutes in the morning washing up and cleaning the hob, which leaves me with no time to TOMM before work!

On another note, I did persuade DH to sell a load of stuff he didn’t want that was randomly taking up space the dining room. It’s now boxed up and waiting for collection today - result.

Awesome trying! I'm finding it's working really well. Looking forward to hearing how it goes for you.

Bedrooms yesterday. I have two nice boxes on my dresser but they're full of crap. I went through one last night and chucked out/ put away nearly everything in it. Doesn't look any different but good to do I guess.

I have two nice boxes on my dresser but they're full of crap. I went through one last night and chucked out/ put away nearly everything in it. Doesn't look any different but good to do I guess.

Satisfying to know that you've done it though Pep, and the boxes are now clutter free!

This weekend I'm hoping to do some more TOMM bootcamping - I'm going to finish off my lounge (which is nearly done) once and for all, and then really blitz my conservatory. That's a big job as it's basically become a dumping ground for random stuff over the winter. Some of the pot plants also need treating and replanting and the PVC is filthy and needs a good scrub. I reckon it could take me the best part of a day to get it all done...

Yay, found you.

There is a thread in _Chat about podcasts today and I started listening to one called "Dirty John" available on Spotify - OMG!! It's a true crime one about a con man who is scamming a wealthy woman. And the episodes are exactly 45 mins long...I listened on headphones the whole time I was doing my TOMM tasks and then making lunch and dinner, the time just flew by. I think I will be listening to podcasts instead of music while cleaning from now on! Anyone else have any good recommendations?

Yay chocola you found us! I tried to put a link at the end of the last thread but even MNHQ can't once it's reached 1000 posts apparently. How's the TOMMing

@Xiaoxiong still working for me! I looked and it was September I think that we started. I never stick at anything!

I listen to the playlists and sing and dance as I clean.

Level 2 done.
Just bathroom and hoovering to do and level 1 done.
I might do Friday focus later because I’m working tomorrow.

Ok everyone littlechoc here is living proof that this method works and even people who never stick with anything can stick with this! Take heart, new joiners!

Level 1 done except for toilets which can wait until the kids are in the bath and kitchen done as well, since I cleared off all the kitchen counters it's so much quicker to clean than it used to be! I cleaned out the baking cupboard as well and now have a bonus banana bread baking in the oven for lunchboxes over the weekend to use up three black bananas from the fruit bowl. This may have been definitely was a procrastinatory activity...

Haha! I think I deserve banana bread

I don’t think my ever be immaculate but I don’t think I would like it if it was x

Ignore the kiss. Texting dh at the same time

I love banana bread!

Some would say this was shameless place marking, but if it's place marking with banana bread I'm all for it

Went through the bathroom cabinets and cleaned them out and organised them as my 'Saturday focus'. Everything is in lovely straight lines!

Today is my my only day off this week so I’m going to do the front room but also a bit of others that need doing (dh trashed the kitchen cooking yesterday).

Jilted it was amazing banana bread, the best banana bread ever. It had bourbon in it the one on the Smitten Kitchen website, everything that woman makes is just amazing.

Chocola I'm the same, I'm going to do the living room but also get a jump on tomorrow and deep clean our spare bedroom because there's no way I will get it done tomorrow on top of the other two bedrooms. My (very much younger than us) BIL has been living with us for the past year, his room was a nasty black hole of filthy cups and clothes everywhere but he moved out this weekend into a flat with his lovely girlfriend. I cried after he left (but didn't let him see me cry!!!) but now I have to basically fumigate his room I may be crying for another reason...

Now off to Lidl for the weekly shop and a browse of the Centre Aisle of Mystery (I shouldn't be rude actually as I kitted the 4 of us out for skiing this winter from Lidl for about £50 total).

@Xiaoxiong sounds like my ds1 room. I don’t go in. How did you get on in the hole?

Another NSD.

Ignore the last bit I’m muddled (wrong thread and also didn’t actually have a NSD!).

Choc badly. Stripped the bed and found all sorts of dusty (possibly used??) sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases in a pile under the bed, so I washed three loads of sheets, now to fold and put away. And the room remains undusted, unhoovered and mattress still bare...ugh!

It just goes to show a little bit of housework every day is worth so much more than the big blitz. It's only one room and I know it's going to take me another few hours tomorrow just to get it habitable for a guest.