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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

I just found out how tidy people keep tidy!!!!!

524 replies

MrsBobDylan · 25/10/2021 20:37

I have not felt this excited since I discovered sanitary towels can prevent new boot blisters.

You had better sit down.

Tidy people have less stuff. That's how they stay tidy.

No one bothered to tell me this life changing information. Bastards.

We are downsizing to a flat from a four bed house with a garage. I reckon I have donated/taken to the tip, at least half of the contents of our house.

We didn't need all that shit. I don't think I liked most of it.

Turns out, two mixing bowls is fine, 3 pans, 10 mugs, one duvet cover/pillowcase for each bed, no spare bedding for guests since they can bring their own, 6 bath towels, one coat each, three pairs of shoes each...I could go on.

Since decanting half of my house, it is lovely and tidy. I move a few things from room to room each day and clear the kitchen at the end of day. All manageable. I even have time for a nap on the sofa fgs.

Now my cupboards are not filled to the brim, I can PUT THINGS IN THEM.

The easiest and most satisfying clear out, was the knick knack cull. Photo frame we got for our wedding? Gone. Glass vase from my Uncle Harry? Gone. Mini collection of ornamental owls? Get in there!

It is easier to clean a house with less stuff in it. Surfaces get a quick wipe, floors are mopped without have to slalom round tables, chairs and plant stands.

If you have a friend who feels overwhelmed by keeping house, please pass this on.

You're welcome

OP posts:
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Whatliesbeneath707 · 26/10/2021 08:43

I kept hearing about Marie Kondo & thought it sounded a bit daft. I read the book and was converted! I did the process when we were moving house & the man at the charity shop thought I was doing a house clearance! Had to confess I was just decluttering & there was still plenty of stuff in the house.
I’m off this week and I’m doing a sweep through of my dd craft stuff that she no longer uses. I can’t say MK has cured me but it certainly makes you think.
Good luck with the move @MrsBobDylan

maofteens · 26/10/2021 08:45

Not only do they have less stuff, but their motto is 'don't put it down, put it away'. Words I fail to live by daily.

WeRateSquirrels · 26/10/2021 08:51

@DifficultBloodyWoman

Dana K White (a slob comes clean) has a good suggestion about downsizing. Use a moving box calculator based on your new house, then whatever fits in those boxes is what you can take. Everything else needs to go.

Bloody hell! That’s genius! Also, incredibly obvious. Why have I not realised this before???

I know! We're not downsizing yet - but I will definitely remember this for when we do.

I love her container concept in general - designate a sensibly sized container for kitchen applicances/books/shoes etc and that is how many kitchen applicances/books/shoes you can have. Again, so obvious, but had never looked at it that way.

PoloMintPatty · 26/10/2021 08:54

@ducksalive

I have also just finished decluttering at the speed of life, *@weesmallhours* I listened to it on audio from the library a couple of times. "The size of the container is the size of the container " is something I have said a lot recently. I want to downsize next year because our large US house takes forever to clean and sort so I'm really focused on getting the stuff down to sensible levels. Also dc are teens now and keeping all their child stuff won't bring child dc back.
This last line has got me. You are so right.

I'm in tears but clutter is emotional.

Loving this thread.

MamsellMarie · 26/10/2021 08:56

How many biros did you keep? I probably have 62.

Peregrina · 26/10/2021 08:56

If I ever ended up living in a home without my husband I'll have as few possessions as possible. The man loves 'stuff'! We have shelves full of books, comics, dvds, cds, just loads and loads of stuff. Right at this moment I can see 3 floor to ceiling book shelves that I could just happily box up and send to the charity shop without even looking at the contents.

Is he my DH's lost twin? He sounds like it.

BrutusMcDogface · 26/10/2021 08:58

I have been reading about minimalism for a while now, but am yet to put it into practice; sometimes I wish I could just pack what I want to keep from each room, and then get rid of everything else. Problem is I suffer from landfill guilt too, and motivation to get my arse into gear.

Loving this thread, though! 😊

secretbookcase · 26/10/2021 09:03

@Bigbouncingbaby

I have a small house . When I lost the ex and his crap life was easier . I go to the tip at least once a month … constantly tidying and keep on top of crap . If I don’t use I loose . My under the stairs cuboard so empty that’s the dogs house / bed he loves it 🤣
I so so want to be like you and am not. I'm not a haorder at all. All stuff could go but I am a procrastinator and DH is a hoarder. Our house is shocking. We have guests at Christmas and I'm taking a week off work to declutter and deep clean. Getting excited about it now, on this thread.
secretbookcase · 26/10/2021 09:05

Dc moving out =less stuff..

I thought this would happen to us. It so hasn't. DC bought loads of new stuff for uni and then brought half of it home because they don't use it. So now we have extra cookware, bedding, lighting, but can't throw it away as they will want it when they eventually move out of uni flat shares into their own homes.

3luckystars · 26/10/2021 09:05

Saw this and thought of this thread Grin

I just found out how tidy people keep tidy!!!!!
NotMyCat · 26/10/2021 09:08

@NoSquirrels

9 billion sistema water bottles with no lids

If only there could be some sort of National Tupperware and plastic kitchenware shite amnesty, like the police organise for knives…

There should be a library swap system. Bring your lids/bottles/tubs and match up with the missing parts Grin
InvincibleInvisibility · 26/10/2021 09:14

I love books but disagree that they cant be untidy. You need enough shelves for them all to be neat. But rather than buy extra bookcases we pared down our books. I work in front of our huge bookcase and it is so much more restful on the eye now there aren't books stuffed in every cranny and piled on top of each other. We even have some half empty shelves!

LoislovesStewie · 26/10/2021 09:15

@Peregrina

If I ever ended up living in a home without my husband I'll have as few possessions as possible. The man loves 'stuff'! We have shelves full of books, comics, dvds, cds, just loads and loads of stuff. Right at this moment I can see 3 floor to ceiling book shelves that I could just happily box up and send to the charity shop without even looking at the contents.

Is he my DH's lost twin? He sounds like it.

NO! it's my DH's lost twin! I've realized that I could happily live with 90% of the 'stuff' out of the house. Why does he need 3 stereos?
WhatATimeToBeAlive · 26/10/2021 09:22

The DC have one set of school uniform that I wash on a quick wash every night.

Or just buy another couple of shirts and help save the environment. Hmm

Peregrina · 26/10/2021 09:33

Get a box. Microwave-sized or thereabouts. Into it put all electrical wiring, leads, connectors, old remote controls, bits and bobs, chargers, plugs, deceased mobile phones and whatever else is lying about unused in drawers.

Then get the box down and take it to the tip/recycling centre. If it's run like mine, the men will snatch the box out of your hand, get the pliers out and start stripping out the copper from the wires, before you have even had a chance to ask what to do with it.

Bottleofstout · 26/10/2021 09:38

Can I ask about deceased computers, phones and tablets please? How do you remove private information from them and make sure no one steals e-mails and passwords and photos etc?

Sorry if this is a really stupid question but I am old enough not to have grown up with tech.

Time40 · 26/10/2021 09:40

Get a box. Microwave-sized or thereabouts. Into it put all electrical wiring, leads, connectors, old remote controls, bits and bobs, chargers, plugs, deceased mobile phones and whatever else is lying about unused in drawers. Label the box: 
'Random Electrical Gadgetry'
and put it in the loft

Good idea, cuttlefishgame, but my DP's Random Electrical Gadgetry would fill about six boxes of that size. I like Stuff, but the REG collection is a bit much, even for me.

Sainsburys / argos were selling black Ravens one year and lots of MNetters bought one and posted pictures of them around their house - it's like a Christmas's version of that

My DS would love a raven HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime

@peachesarenom - this year, Wilco have got them! I'd got two already, and I've just got ... another one. (Sorry for attempting to get MNers to turn to the dark side ... )

peachesarenom · 26/10/2021 09:41

Ok, I'll just visit the penguin in John Lewis!

MilduraS · 26/10/2021 09:58

Could you tell this to my DH? I've tried and he's still accumulating stuff while insisting we need a bigger house.

Thetrainisinthestation · 26/10/2021 10:01

I don’t have much stuff.
Friend with lots of stuff wonders how my house is always tidy and quick to tidy when messy.
I remind her I have not much stuff

She has lots of stuff

I actually have no idea how I would start to tidy with that amount of stuff

The thought of all that waste for unnecessary things is not a nice thought

LoislovesStewie · 26/10/2021 10:01

Why do they ALWAYS feel that a bigger house would solve everything? It just leads to more clutter.

Skinnytan · 26/10/2021 10:09

DuvetDayIsEveryDay

Once every 2 years I get a skip and fill it.

It's fab.

No, no it’s really not ‘fab’, it’s shocking

Agree, it's absolutely appalling

Higgeldypiggeldy35 · 26/10/2021 10:17

@kloppsteeth octonauts stuff goes for a fortune on eBay!

Skinnytan · 26/10/2021 10:25

The DC have one set of school uniform that I wash on a quick wash every night.

Thats dreadful for the environment. Quick wash uses loads more electricity to get the water hot. Fgs just buy another set and pass on to another child when its outgrown.

Usecoooomonsnse · 26/10/2021 10:33

@3luckystars

I only found this out recently too. I’m 43. It’s going to change my life.

I’m reading a book called ‘decluttering at the speed of life’ and she is saying exactly what you are saying so I know it is true!

Thank you for this thread and
wishing you much happiness in your newly spacious container.

OMG @3luckystars thank you. Just downloaded a sample on Kindle. Resisted the urge to just buy the book. From what I have read she makes so much sense. I’m hoarding stuff because I will sell or donate to specific charity or someone in need or recycle ! I needed that book. I have wardrobes stuffed and holding on to stuff for no good reason 😞😕. One day at a time. 🙏