The Organised Mum Method

[SylvanasWindrunner]

Is anyone doing this/just started?

We just started this week and oh my goodness, our house is clean! Someone could turn up unexpectedly and I could let them in and not die of shame!

Even toddler DD came downstairs today and said 'Oh, it's clean here!'

DespairingHomeowner Yay! Bloody horrendous at the time though, isn't it?! I felt like crying at a couple of points while I was wobbling around on the step ladder and wanted to stop because it was a stupid thing to start. But then I could see where I'd cleaned so kept going.

I used a degreaser spray on pretty much everything in the kitchen because it melts through most grub/grime then washed down with hot soapy water and dried off with tea towels/kitchen roll.

@Furries: you might need one of these for the spiders (£1.50 from Dunelm, am going to follow my own advice & get a second one to live upstairs)

www.dunelm.com/product/extendable-duster-1000166545

Another thing I think is great to have is a mini step stool (so 1 step, I think they are about £6 from supermarkets , fold up & v sturdy)

I think making it easier to reach higher up so you can get tops of cupboards/window frames etc really helps keep the ‘deep cleaned’ feeling going. Also stops kids dragging chairs around to stand on :)

@HemanOrSheRa: it’s vile, I’m never letting it get that bad again … AND I’d had a cleaner on a few weeks ago (more proof it’s better to do your own house)

I’ve cracked & put the hood filters in dishwasher, and found oven cleaner to do the oven bases … I just want it over with now! That should be last thing for today … thank goodness / %#%

I bought myself an apron with a big pocket to stick my bottles and cloths in. The cloths all go in a laundry bag hanging in the back lobby, along with teatowels and mop cloths, and they all go in a hot wash on a saturday morning because there's no cleaning that day

I eufy our bedrooms twice a week each; two are carpet and one is laminate. I don't know how it manages to find so much dust, it fills up really fast! It's definitely doing a better job than I would, plus it does under the furniture so we're not harbouring herds of dust bunnies under the beds any more.

I've ticked off Friday Focus and L1 jobs and now trying to catch up on some of the smaller tasks that I missed this week.

I'm too anxious to put the dishwasher on overnight - someone I know did this and their house burned down!! It's a major cause of fire.

I put ours on after dinner as it's unlikely we'll use anything that needs to go in after that. I just don't unload it till morning!

Is everyone sticking to no laundry at the weekends? I've done two loads today. If I stick to that 'rule' I'd be like widow Twanky come Monday! Can't be doing with that!

I do laundry at weekends - I think you're still meant to do the level 1 stuff (or at least it suggests you do so I think), so we do laundry, quick hoover downstairs and a bathroom wipe and that's it. I think laundry every day is one of the cornerstones of keeping on top of things if there are more than two of you - the minute you get behind and the pile starts to build, the jig is up!

I generally do 3 loads on a Saturday! None on Sunday though.

I did 3 loads - sheets, towels, all my filthy cleaning cloths

I think having a break a few days a week is sensible, but for me that will be my longest office days vs weekend … but makes sense to keep on top of laundry (and a lot of people do the ironing on Sunday night)

Happy living room day (or whatever day you're doing)!

DD is just off to nursery and I was going to get it all done after she left with DH but I have somehow ended up back in bed with a cuppa

Sounds lovely, SylvanasWindrunner, enjoy!

Office and dining room for me today. Not too taxing. And a load of washing, obvously!

I'm going to make some soup as well, I found a giant courgette in the garden that I had somehow overlooked for a couple of days and now it's the size of a small bungalow. I'm going to torture it into submission in the instant pot.

First time I've cleaned the windows before the school run...
Level 1s all done and most of the 2s. Dh will vacuum later as he's got the morning off with ds, who is in school afternoons this week.

Morning all. Like the idea if a robot vaccume cleaner. I was reading you have to out barriers up? How do they not fall down stairs? Do they have an app to control them? Do they damage furniture? Any recommendations. Sitting room day here so an easy day.....

Hi hello - I have been v pleasantly surprised with how simple my robo vac (eufy 30c) is to use

I took it out of the box & was hoovering 1 min later - didn’t even need the app (it has a remote control like the Tv)

This one: does not fall down stairs (they can tell there is an edge). They have a rubber bumper so they don’t damage furniture

You CAN lay down strips to stop them going into certain areas (eg if you have wires or little toys on the floor): those come in the box. I’ve just tied up my wires so not needed that

I’m not really a tech person but this is simple to use - I had all the same worries, glad I bought it. You can get this model for about £150

This one also works with google home & Alexa - took no time at all for me to link it to Alexa, but not talked to it yet

I was just reading old threads on MN last night about the robot hoovers and I will definitely get one soon I think it could make a real difference to the general state of my downstairs.

I’d just keep the big hoover upstairs and bring it down maybe once a month for a deep going oveez

I started TOMM last year but didn't stick with it. Inspired by this thread I've given it another go and am now on week 3 - the longest I've stuck with any cleaning routine before! The house is looking great although as I'm paying more attention there's lots I want to tackle - but I know I'll get there with this.

@Furries brilliant idea for the bathrooms, I've been randomly doing bits, I need a routine!

I struggle a bit with the kitchen as I just can't get all the jobs done in half an hour. I'm hoping though that the regular weekly cleaning will gradually make it quicker.

@Winecheesesleep: I honestly don’t think that it’s enough time for the kitchen, for me it’s the most labour intensive room

I think taking your time to deep clean the kitchen to start with would make it feasible, or devoting a few more of the Friday focus slots to the kitchen would make it work

Thanks for comments re robo hoovers. Will put one on my wish list! Does it make men more likely to vacuum being a gadget?

I've added kitchen to the 'room of your choice' Friday Focus so it comes around twice in 8 weeks. It's the most used room in our house so I think it needs more attention.

I might shift the days around now we've found our feet. Thinking maybe I'll add kitchen to hall day and just do some of the quicker stuff. Hall day we can probably do in 15 mins at a weekend when we are both here actually so maybe I'll just move it there.

I was looking at robot vacs last night so might take the plunge!

I think the trick with the kitchen is to do bits as a sort of level 1 when you're in there - I'm constantly loading the dishwasher, doing wipe downs, even emptying the toaster whilst making dinner. Although I'm in the kitchen a fair bit with my bad in the high chair etc so have more opportunities! I can see it would be harder working full time not from home etc.

The other thing we have had here is a professional to clean the oven - it cost £50 and was totally worth it. He came in and takes the thing part and soaks all the shelves in super strength cleaning stuff (must be strong as I think he does this bit outside!) and it just looks brand new. Maybe save for when your ovens are in dire need!

My baby* - although my bad might be a Freudian slip today

@SylvanasWindrunner: I agree re Kitchen

I think the point of TOMM is that it was organised for gemma’s house & needs (she was cleaning too much): so adapting it to your own home & habits will make it work for you