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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

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:
Thread gallery
6
Dindundundundeeer · 25/10/2021 21:45

@maddiemookins16mum

I can beat the towel trick, if you wear court shoes with no tights, stockings, knee highs etc, put a pantyliner in as an insole, it stops your bare feet sliding around and your shoes getting smelly. Learnt this many years ago when working in hot countries as a holiday rep where he had to wear cheap court shoes.
Grin genius!!
Cissyandflora · 25/10/2021 21:47

I need this desperately. So much stuff.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 25/10/2021 21:47

@minniemoll

You want your guests to bring their own bedding????

I can't see you having many guests, somehow....

Two birds, one stone.
EveningOverRooftops · 25/10/2021 21:48

I used to be tidy. Then I had kids.

ElephantandGrasshopper · 25/10/2021 21:50

I agree, I can't stand clutter. Unfortunately the rest of the family disagree and so we have a house full of lego, cuddly toys and broken electronics. Hmm

mungoberry · 25/10/2021 21:50

Brilliant stuff.
I've been trying to do the same.
However, the key is really not to buy the crap in the first place.
I've got so much better at this.
I am now ruthless in asking myself if I really really need something. And could it be bought second hand.

I don't want to be filling landfill sites with rubbish that won't break down.
I hate consumerism

Original poster
MrsBobDylan · 25/10/2021 21:51

@FatCatThinCat we had the Bodlien Library in a suburban terrace and my dh was the curator.

When we talked about it, it turned out that the books were a sort of guilt thing. If he rated the book, he felt awful getting rid of it. If he didn't enjoy it, he'd keep it because he wanted to read it again and enjoy it this time (he never did).

We talked about it and how he wouldn't unlearn everything he had loved in his books just by giving them to Oxfam. In fact, he would give other people the chance to share the joy/pain he had got from them.

I don't know if that helps, but dh got rid of around 300 books that way.

OP posts:
speakout · 25/10/2021 21:51

It is also how untidy people keep tidy.
OH and I are naturally very untidy people- constantly leaving stuff around and making a mess.
However, come to our house and you would think we are super tidy-
Yes to keeping belongings to a minimum helps I dont have stores of stuff I don't use, Only a few sentimental items.
Second is having a place for everything. Socks in one drawer, gardening stuff all in the same box, home decoration on the same shelf. Stationary all kept together, bulbs, batteries all in the electrical area.
So putting things away is easy- no oe has to think too much!

Fourstronghocks · 25/10/2021 21:52

@HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime

I've spent the day emptying all of the kitchen cupboards and airing cupboard as having a new kitchen fitted next week. I've lived in my flat for 11 years and I've collected so much stuff. 9 billion sistema water bottles with no lids, Dds once treasured Minnie mouse and Jake and the Neverland Pirate glitter cups, 100s of plastic tubs with lids but who knows if they are matching. Dinosaur bedding, aristocrat bedding, character towels all things 12 Yr old Dd wouldn't be seen dead with nowadays, it's funny the emotions you attach to such random things.
A good tip for tupperware is to mark the tubs and matching lids with a Sharpie pen so you know which goes with which, eg A with A and B with B etc.
Original poster
MrsBobDylan · 25/10/2021 21:52

@maddiemookins16mum

I can beat the towel trick, if you wear court shoes with no tights, stockings, knee highs etc, put a pantyliner in as an insole, it stops your bare feet sliding around and your shoes getting smelly. Learnt this many years ago when working in hot countries as a holiday rep where he had to wear cheap court shoes.
Utter, unadulterated genius.
OP posts:
KissedintheDark · 25/10/2021 21:53

[quote Clariana]@MrsBobDylan

Just as an aside, I thought your sanitary towel and new boot tip was great, so I began to tell my DH. I got as far as the words "sanitary towel" and he shouted "I DON'T NEED TO KNOW", and hastily left the room.

His loss Smile[/quote]
Grin Grin Grin

FlowerArranger · 25/10/2021 21:53

I was with you up until one coat each, three pairs of shoes each... Shock

And what about sentimental stuff, aka memories? Photo albums, stuff the kids (and now grandkids) made, theatre programs......... Hobbies related stuff fills a room and then some - skiing, cycling, painting, sculptures....... I could go on...

Having said that, having a good and thorough clear out and then adopting a one-in-one-out policy is a reasonable compromise for me Wink

Peregrina · 25/10/2021 21:53

Sigh, I married a hoarder. He retired more than ten years ago but thinks nothing of keeping copies of work emails in triplicate or quadruplicate - things which didn't need to be printed off in the first place.

As for "Don't put it down, put it away" - no one taught him that either.

3luckystars · 25/10/2021 21:57

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.

KloppsTeeth · 25/10/2021 21:57

I need to get rid of boxes and boxes of toys. All small things, like Octonauts, Bob The Builder type characters. Lots of die cast cars. But charity shops don’t want them as they only sell for pennies. Where do people move their on to that isn’t landfill?
Then I would be tidier, as it would free up space.

scarecrow22 · 25/10/2021 21:58

I once saw a quote:

"If you are buying stuff to store your stuff in, you have too much stuff"

With apologies to IKEA, this has helped me a few times since.

Original poster
MrsBobDylan · 25/10/2021 21:58

@mungoberry

Brilliant stuff. I've been trying to do the same. However, the key is really not to buy the crap in the first place. I've got so much better at this. I am now ruthless in asking myself if I really really need something. And could it be bought second hand.

I don't want to be filling landfill sites with rubbish that won't break down.
I hate consumerism

I am now tackling this with myself. I felt ashamed today at the tip, chucking stuff into the non recyclables skip.

Buying less is key. When we move into our flat we are going to keep the ancient bathroom and get the bath re-enamelled, rather than replacing it with a new one. The kitchen is rotten but I am buying a secondhand one from eBay.

OP posts:
crispsinasandwich · 25/10/2021 22:00

@KloppsTeeth

I need to get rid of boxes and boxes of toys. All small things, like Octonauts, Bob The Builder type characters. Lots of die cast cars. But charity shops don’t want them as they only sell for pennies. Where do people move their on to that isn’t landfill? Then I would be tidier, as it would free up space.
Do you have a local Facebook page - another young child may love them
NoSquirrels · 25/10/2021 22:00

@maddiemookins16mum

I can beat the towel trick, if you wear court shoes with no tights, stockings, knee highs etc, put a pantyliner in as an insole, it stops your bare feet sliding around and your shoes getting smelly. Learnt this many years ago when working in hot countries as a holiday rep where he had to wear cheap court shoes.
This thread is the gift that keeps on giving.
thinkingaboutLangCleg · 25/10/2021 22:01

I reckon I have donated/taken to the tip, at least half of the contents of our house.

You're an inspiration! I am trying to do the same. Getting lots out of the house. But oh soo slooowly....

userxx · 25/10/2021 22:03

@KloppsTeeth

I need to get rid of boxes and boxes of toys. All small things, like Octonauts, Bob The Builder type characters. Lots of die cast cars. But charity shops don’t want them as they only sell for pennies. Where do people move their on to that isn’t landfill? Then I would be tidier, as it would free up space.

Our local tip/recycling centre now has a shop where you can donate all that kind of stuff, it's then sold on and the money goes to charity I think. Maybe your local place does something similar.

ducksalive · 25/10/2021 22:05

I started decluttering with a vengeance last month.
Then I discovered there are no tips in my bit of the USA.
I have two large mountains of bin bags I'm having to whittle away each bin day. My house has never looked worse!
They do have drive through donation shops so it isn't all bad.

iwishiwasafish · 25/10/2021 22:05

@KloppsTeeth

I need to get rid of boxes and boxes of toys. All small things, like Octonauts, Bob The Builder type characters. Lots of die cast cars. But charity shops don’t want them as they only sell for pennies. Where do people move their on to that isn’t landfill? Then I would be tidier, as it would free up space.
This is one of the things that slows me down … ensuring stuff stays out of landfill.

I find myself ebaying things, even if they sell for very little, because I can be reasonably sure that if someone has paid to take them then they won’t chuck them.

Time40 · 25/10/2021 22:09

I'm sure you're right, OP, but ... I'd find living like that a bit boring. And I'm fond of Stuff. I like having a lot of Stuff around.

I think you'll regret it when it comes to the ornamental owls. I'd be lost without mine

Definitely. I predict a serious case of Owl Regret. I'd be lost without my ravens (I've got one sitting on my desk at the moment. She's reading the screen, and nodding along in agreement ... )

FindingMeno · 25/10/2021 22:10

We don't need all this stuff in our lives.
I want my home to be calm and relaxing and not overflowing with crap.
I've got rid of so much shit over the last few years and it's made such a huge difference.