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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:
marthastew · 04/01/2020 18:35

Just to say that there are 3 people in our group if there any more takers.

soapysudd · 04/01/2020 20:40

I want to join but can't see any option to pm anyone?

2020cominatcha · 08/01/2020 18:37

@soapysudd scroll up to the top and click on 'My Mumsnet' in the right-hand corner. You can then click on 'Inbox' and send PMs.

We've got three spaces left in ours so feel free :)

2020cominatcha · 08/01/2020 18:38

Ditto @adhdme2019

Iwasonline · 30/12/2021 13:53

Zombie resurrection here.

Two years ago, I posted on this thread. We made a WhatsApp group - it wasn't the original group but an overflow. We were a merry band of six and it was a novelty.

We have just hit our two year anniversary. We have laughed, cried, supported eachother through bereavement, new jobs and relationship highs and lows. We have celebrated success and supported each other through the hard times. We have, together, survived a pandemic.

I treasure these ladies and there is a very special place in my heart for them. Today we are a close knit band of four and I am thankful for this thread in helping me find these beautiful ladies.

Iwasonline · 30/12/2021 13:57

I'd be really interested to see if any of the other groups are still going

WrappedInRed · 30/12/2021 14:57

What a lovely post @iwasonline It's crazy to think when you all started talking in the thread you had no idea about the pandemic!

katplva · 30/12/2021 15:06

Just to echo what @Iwasonline has said - the group has become so much more than accountability for a clean and tidy home (which I still have not achieved!) It is fabulous and I feel very fortunate indeed.

@WrappedInRed The word covid was not in our vocabulary at all and we had no idea how much life was about to change!

Iwasonline · 30/12/2021 21:11

@katplva and to think, we only have one preschooler left in the group now. Two years ago we had 5 preschoolers between all of us!!

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