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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

A clean & tidy home for 2020 - accountability group needed

59 replies

DisasterHome · 15/12/2019 03:42

Hi, I am looking to start a Whatsapp accountability group for keeping the house clean and tidy - entry-level style! (i.e. for those of us that live in utter chaos and with a pretty dirty place).

Basically, my house and all the stuff in it are massive sources of stress and I just can’t take it anymore. But despite this, I’m usually quite happy to go to bed with all my dishes dirty, not having touched a bathroom cleaning product in a month, etc, etc). I recently joined a Whatsapp accountability group for something else (exercising from home) and it is working a treat. I’m hoping to replicate the same for this other area of my life where I just can’t seem to get my arse into gear.

So, I’m hoping for around 5-6 people max to be accountability buddies. That seems to be the magic number as otherwise you become anonymous and the accountability dissipates... I know this site is mostly used by UK parents, but just in case, I suggest UK (or GMT) only as otherwise the messages would come at times that don’t help each other get the job done. The plan that I’m hoping to follow is:

  • Daily ‘Shine your sink’ (based on the FlyLady) for week 1
  • After week 1, incorporate 10min cleaning/tidying/decluttering whatever is pestering you the most.

And that’s it. Nice and simple but I reckon this could have a massive effect. Specially the sink! So if you would like to join me for the above, just let me know by private message and we can start the group.

A word of warning, since this is for a Whatsapp group, please do not post your number on here as it will be visible to the whole of the internet. If you would like to join the group, just private message me., Similarly, anyone who joins the group and is found to be wanting to use the group for any malicious purposes will be blocked and reported to both Mumsnet and the police. Sorry to sound so harsh but I don’t want to compromise my

For a bit of background, I’ve never ever managed to keep my current house consistently clean on a daily basis. Over the last few years I have spent an awful lot of energy and focus on getting good habits for keeping my home tidy, organised & clean, but I always fail consistency-wise. So my head is a mumbo-jumbo of info from The Clutterbug, Marie Kondo, The Flylady, Diane from Denmark, A Slob Comes Clean, Taylor from Storage-solutions-101, and a number of youtubers. I’m hoping to keep it simple by just focusing on the sink and a short burst of whatever is needing the biggest attention and to make 2020 the year when everything changes in my house!

Hope someone will want to join me. Thanks!

OP posts:
DisasterHome · 15/12/2019 03:50

Oh, I didn’t mention that I also have a massive problem with going to bed at sensible times and though it’s getting better, having a house like a tip isn’t helping.
I’m off to bed - good night!

OP posts:
NamedyChangedy · 19/12/2019 08:44

Sounds like a great idea - I tried to get something similar set up last year, but it fizzled out a bit after a week or so. How are you getting on so far?

DisasterHome · 19/12/2019 11:06

Hi,
So far it’s only two of us and we’ve just started with our kitchen cleaning/sink situations...

You are very welcome to join us. If you’d like to, just send me a private message and we will add you.
Let’s see if we can nail this year! Or at least make some progress... Any progress... :)

OP posts:
DisasterHome · 21/12/2019 16:43

Update - it is now three of us.

OP posts:
MrsPotatoHeadsSheeWee · 22/12/2019 21:48

I've PM'd asking to join. 🤞

newmummalion · 22/12/2019 22:24

I'd like to join but I can't work out how to PM. 🤦🏼‍♀️

I was just thinking today, how does this house get in such a mess. Why can't I just keep on top of it, it can't be that hard!

MrsPotatoHeadsSheeWee · 23/12/2019 09:09

NewMumma, under Disaster's message there should be something like ' ... ' click on that and there'll be an option to send a PM.

newmummalion · 23/12/2019 20:19

thank you! Figured it out - I was on the app before and just realised maybe I needed to be on the website

MrsPotatoHeadsSheeWee · 25/12/2019 00:55

Anyone??

AnastasiaS · 25/12/2019 01:09

I would like to join please will PM you my details, thanks

DisasterHome · 26/12/2019 18:25

Hi,
Apologies for the delay but it’s been busy over the Christmas period.
I have also had quite a few people that have contacted me directly without posting here so I’ll start adding folks in order and respond directly to anyone over the ‘6-people mark’ as I might be able to put people in touch and have another group forming.

Thanks for your patience.
Bw,
Barbara

OP posts:
SoleBizzz · 26/12/2019 18:29

Yes please!

Northernsoullover · 26/12/2019 18:30

I'm interested if you get an overflow group

2020cominatcha · 28/12/2019 16:09

Same here Smile

thespellhasbeenbroken123 · 28/12/2019 17:16

I'm interested in another group

This is the year I am going to sort my shit out!!!!!!

SoleBizzz · 28/12/2019 18:20

Pm me people and I will start a watsapp group if I can figure it out.

2020cominatcha · 30/12/2019 09:39

Any luck @SoleBizzz and @DisasterHome?

DisasterHome · 30/12/2019 22:26

Hi everyone,
Yes, I did manage to fill up the group to full capacity, but there’s definitely enough interested people to make up another group. I see that one of the people posting has mentioned in the comments that they’d like to start the ‘overspill’ group so hopefully everyone still waiting to get into a group gets a chance to join it.

Hope you all manage to make this year a very successful one. Bw and happy new year!

OP posts:
NurseP · 31/12/2019 20:57

Can I join please? Who do I message? And what info do they need in message? X Xmas Grin

SoleBizzz · 01/01/2020 15:36

I have tried to add one number on WhatsApp and I am unable to.

Bitofnamechanging · 01/01/2020 18:19

I'd love to join an overflow group if anyone is coordinating? @SoleBizzz how can I help?

2020cominatcha · 01/01/2020 21:04

Yeah I've been looking into it @SoleBizzz and it seems there's a WhatsApp bug that sometimes doesn't let people add each other. It just won't recognise the numbers (www.reddit.com/r/whatsapp/comments/4zqsyf/i_cant_find_my_friend_on_whatsapp_even_though_i/ for example). It should be fine for other people.

I've tried everything to add you tonight, it's driven me mad! Grin

Northernsoullover · 01/01/2020 21:14

I'm still interested Smile

SoleBizzz · 01/01/2020 23:25

2020 I tried for ages too.. Adding you into phone contact and WatsApp contact list. I just don't know how to start a new group.

Bitof I'll send you my number and see if you can start a new group? I am on Watsapp

Todaythiscouldbe · 01/01/2020 23:29

Have you got room for one more?