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 everyone, please could I jump aboard?

I have a wee 4 month old. Unknowingly, I've been kind of doing this method while he naps/plays in his bouncer - just snatching 20 minutes here and there to tidy/clean. So I was going to start being more organised about it!

I have a 5 bed house with 3 bathrooms and a downstairs toilet (14 rooms total). How do I fit this in? There's no 'bathroom' day - there's no way I can clean 4 bathrooms using just the level 1 15 minutes each day (plus laundry and tidying the kitchen). I've adjusted Wednesday to 'hall, stairs, landing, dining room and downstairs loo', however I'm still stumped as how to fit in the other 3 upstairs bathrooms. I could probably add the lounge to Wednesday (while I've got the hoover/duster out anyway) and make Monday into bathroom?

I'm guessing that I'd have to do more than 30 minutes a day to make it work?

Well, Sewing, I suggest first of all that you simply chop a bedroom or two and and least one bathroom off of your house. That'll make things much simpler.

In all seriousness I just manage to keep on top of two bedrooms and one bathroom

Sewing I watched a YouTube video in which she said she had 3 bathrooms and cleaned them all daily, but did differbag things each day so say clean loos and fresh towels Monday, basin and bath mats Tuesday. Floors and shower Wednesday..... x

Same as @NinaMarieP - 3 beds and 1 bath is a struggle and I don't do every bedroom each week except hoover.
I reckon even cleaning 4 loos would take more than 15 mins.
My 30 mins almost always becomes 45 mins but I don't really mind to be honest.
I though not having a bathroom day would be a pain but I'm actually finding it really amazing doing a bit every day, even managed some of the tiles this week, which is pretty radical for me!

Hi , hope it's ok if I join?! Just wondering if anyone is following Friday focus what is today's focus? Thankyou

I'm pretty sure it's week 8 which means gardens and outside space. But I did my hall because I a) swapped two weeks to fit with my shifts and b) fucked it all up and swapped the last three weeks around by mistake 🤷‍♀️ oh well I still did all 8.

Thankyou

Outside space. I did my car. It was outside

Yikes - back from a week away and how the washing piles up when not doing 1 load a day!! I will have to do 7 loads today to catch up which is exactly right I guess. Tonight will be a me folding and DH ironing extravaganza in front of the TV.

Now to put on the longest cycle of washing and take DS1 to suffer through enjoy a wonderful matinee performance of his favourite musical of the moment, Joseph & the amazing technicolour dreamcoat. And of course the weather is stunning today and we're going to miss it all sitting in a dark theatre. Grumble grumble.

Thanks for the advice guys. When we bought the house, we thought the extra space was great (your money goes a lot further up north!), but didn't realise what a pain having 4 toilets to clean would be...

I've managed to clean 1 bathroom today (the downstairs one, the easiest one...), do a load of laundry and some lots of folding. Not touched the dishwasher yet...

Then it's onto the lounge. I should be doing it while my son naps, but I don't feel well so I'm having a lie down :(.

Hopefully the theatre isn't as painful as expected, Xiaoxiong.

I was working yesterday so missed the lounge, luckily it’s not awful.

It’s lovely to be able to hang the bedding out on the line today!

I have just blown my half hour watching this week's Panorama programme and getting really angry, so now I need to rage-clean!

At least I have all the windows open and giving the house a really good airing.

Guys can I ask how in tune you all are with the "alternative" cleaning products everyone talks about on the Facebook page? I just use flash or own brand kitchen and bathroom cleaner, bleach and Mr sheen window cleaner and surface polish and Asda's own antibacterial spray for high chair, bins, changing mats etc.
Feel like it's probably all a bit chemical heavy but no idea where to start... (what actually IS zoflora...?)

@Xiaoxiong I love rage cleaning!

Londonloves I've just ordered some splosh. So far I really like the bathroom cleaner and laundry stuff.

I think zoflora is disinfectant with different scents but not sure!

London I don't do anything alternative, think I'm pretty basic - Lidl own brand all purpose cleaner for mopping floors and bathroom, own brand toilet cleaner for the bowl, a harpic tablet once in a while for the limescale, Viakal for anything silvery. Oh and own brand antibac spray for surfaces. If something branded is on special, I'll buy it only if it's cheaper! I think my many microfibre cloths do 90% of the work, they seem to work just with water most of the time.

I have managed to find the Pinkstuff and buy a tub off it but what do I do with it?

Somewhere isn't it just a ceramic-safe cream cleaner? I think you just scoop a bit out on a cloth, rub on surface, wipe with clean wet cloth, polish dry with dry cloth. I used it once on a saucepan I burnt in a holiday let and it was really good.

Sighs in pleasure...my home is finally visibly properly clean. Been decluttering for ages, kind of a la kondo, and that really helps. Tried Tomm method with dh but a stuttery start. Breakthrough is now I'm doing tomm method but using e-mop rather than vacuuming. So much better and quick!! I can actually see us keeping on top of this. Things look so clean it's a pleasure. Going to use fridays to continue to declutter and deep clean and can see every nook and cranny slowly getting there over time. Im not sticking to the days/ rooms/ tasks breakdown in tomm- I have my own adapted to our house. But have short daily tasks - that sometimes get missed for a day. An area for mon-thurs that cleans all of it. And on fridays a deeper clean/devlutter of whatever is bothering me most. Im starting to look forward to it. I actually spend the week eyeing up my friday task thinking Yeah. On friday that will be history! most bizarre but so nice.

I have managed to find the Pinkstuff and buy a tub off it but what do I do with it?

I'd be interested in this too. I've seen it mentioned on here so many times but I've got no idea either

I found focusing on products gave me the illusion of progress iyswim. Now I focus on cleaning and tidying itself. I basically use dishwashing liquid. Plus some bicarb and vinegar. Only specialist cleaning products i plan on continuing with are viakal, bleach and disinfectant and oil soap for wood which is basically magic. Once window cleaning products are used up I might try vinegar for that although I don't want to end up polishing windows for ages. But I'm not longer hunting after trying out, or even thinking about products.

That’s very inspirational @lasttimeround. Can I ask how long it took you to reach that stage? I’m hoping to start the daily TOMM routine soon, but I’m still at bootcamp stage. I’m trying to fit bootcamping and decluttering around a busy job but it’s taking me months - and my house is not large!

Decluttering has been a focus for ages. And we do well on clothed, toiletries and groceries. Less well on paperwork. That definitely helps with cleaning as things have space. But that's just background.
Before Christmas I tried to rope dh into tomm. We decided rooms and tasks but it was a bit hit and miss although loos and bathrooms definitely better as was bedmaking. The problem has been the vacuum cleaner really. We have a Henry big bulky I really hate it and it acted as a barrier.
The big breakthrough for me was 2 weeks ago: I started using an e-cloth mop and was surprised at how quick it is. I use the fluffy head for dust and weep up some bits that remain. Then a quick spray and wipe. Having done that for 2 weeks the whole house is so much cleaner. Time limiting also helps. So first week I did behind and under sofa, next week tackled the tv unit. That way i don't get to a point where ive had enough but theres still lots to go. Not gettung fed up makes cleaning again much easier next time round but over 2 weeks it adds up to everything being clean. The daily laundry has meant I've washed grubby items: backpacks, coats. Dh is well impressed and promised to step up ironing to twice a week instead of a big load on weekend. That will stop the clean pile building up so much.
So I'd say in a fairly tidy house 2 weeks got me to a place where suddenly everything looks great and I feel on top of things without it being this drudge. I generally hate housework and am not a tidy person.

Gosh sorry what a long post! no where else to talk about how happy my clean home makes me without sounding a bit odd

Lasttimeround great post. I have been following TOMM since Christmas, although I used to follow a similar method years ago so I know it works. I am out of the house at work for long days sometimes so I don't religiously stick to 30 minutes per room, it can be 10 minutes or 50 minutes depending on my day. The beauty is that you get on top of things so even if you miss a day it's not a disaster.

I am also lucky that my kids are grown up so I don't have all the toys and clutter that little people bring. I am a big Kon-Marie fan and it helps that our living spaces are fairly tidy - although my house is not perfect by any means!

I do find 15 minutes hard for the level one jobs, sure I spend longer than that! And I am still finding it strange to not have to spend all weekend cleaning.