Getting on top of things getting on top of me.

[humblesims]

Just returned to my home after looking after elderly parent for a month and even though my DH and 2 DSs have tried to keep things together here, I have come to see my home with fresh eyes and realise its out of control.
I've never been great at keeping on top of cleaning and decluttering. I can make things look tidy but I know underneath that everything in my house is not very clean and I need to spend the rest of this lockdown getting on top of it.
I know I will need to start in one room and then do another but in the past when I've tried that I find that by the time I've done the last room is done, the first one needs doing again! God that sounds so pathetic. I'm 54 I should know by now that housework is never ending. Its depressing.
Anyway what I really wanted to know is ...whats that website that used to be popular about ten years ago where she talked you through each room and had a schedule etc etc (made you get dressed and put your bra on before starting). I cant remember the name.
Also...I wanted to know what cleaning products and gadgets and time savers that people recommend/swear by? I have been using the same products for years and feel a bit out of touch. Is there a magic thing that will clean everything yet?
I'll declutter as I go along. I know that will help.

Flylady? The one who was obsessed with shiny shinks?

Honestly, OP, you are probably tired if you've been living in and looking after an elderly parent for a month. Housework really isn't that important in the scheme of things -- why not take a break first?

Your title spoke to me! The website sounds intriguing - could it be Flylady or Unfuck Your Habitat?

I found this book great - actual practical method that addresses the exact problem you mention - one room getting untidy again while youve moved onto another. Very friendly and realistic tone:

Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Neverending Battle with Stuff (Dana K White). Good luck with it

Brilliant, Thank you both. It was Flylady. But unfuck your habitiat sounds great I'll check that out and also the book you mention horizon

I think the best way is to declutter a room at a time then when it finished with everything were it is suppose to be then give it a deep clean. Get on top of the washing and ironing, go through all the cloths one persons at a time, bet there is loads that can go.

Try and get the rest of the family to help!!

Dana White also has a blog, A Slob Comes Clean. Start with the oldest entries, a really entertaining read. Www.aslobcomesclean.com

As previous poster said A slob comes clean podcasts and audio books.

I found the Flylady site a bit too American and not great to follow. On Moneysavingexpert.com they have a weekly flylady thread in the forum and I've always found that much more manageable and helpful. There was a time where my house was really sparkling (I think it was a Wednesday about three years ago!). I really need to start doing it again.

The organised mum method is great. Start with the boot camp and then you can do the daily tasks which take very little time.

I loved Flylady when I was home FT with kids and it really helped me get things to a point where actually not much needs to be done on a regular basis.

Now I work FT I prefer Clean Mama (rubbish name though) as it uses tiny windows of time to keep on to of things.

Either way routine is everything for me.