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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Anyone want to join a decluttering and cleaning thread?

231 replies

QwertyWitch · 26/07/2023 16:07

I want to get my house clean, decluttered and organised before school starts in September.
I started on the shelves in the living room today which are meant to be for some books and ornaments but have become filled with random paper and objects.
This seems to be the case everywhere I look!
Time to tackle it.

OP posts:
SunnieShine · 29/07/2023 07:41

Me, please.

My house was fairly clutter-free but its crept back! I want to get the house in order, including some DIY, ready for autumn.

It all has to be low-cost for me. 😀

BHRK · 29/07/2023 07:44

Me! I’m in a decluttering and cleaning mission, one room at a time

declutteringAgain · 29/07/2023 08:05

I’ve been decluttering and getting a carrier bag a day and next week I’m taking it all to the charity shop/tip so I’m carrying on with the bag a day . Hoping to get a bin bag full a day rather than a normal size bag

ScuttleMcButtle · 29/07/2023 08:55

Anyone found anywhere that wants old shoes - not good enough for charity but plenty of wear

WarriorN · 29/07/2023 09:17

Just make sure you've got your exit strategy - it really helps.

I was chuffed with what I managed yesterday. We (DS10 and I) only sorted things that would have to be binned, stored in a better way or books for a charity book pile, which I've made sure I've a big box for as there are many more to come. (Had cleared that box out of baby toys last week.)

And a ton of crafting stuff which I've organised in a better way.

Two big black bin liners filled :)

Joy74439 · 29/07/2023 09:51

Yes please!

The house looks tidy enough, but every drawer, shelf and cupboard is packed to the gills. Looking for things is a nightmare, as everything is stuffed out of sight in a random fashion.

I'm going to start with my clothes, which are currently spread across three different wardrobes, a large chest of drawers, two underbed drawers, three suitcases, the coat cupboard, and excess shoes under our bed and stuffed in carrier bags under the desk in the office.

Most of the stuff is shapeless tat, bought in desperation when I was two stone heavier. It's only good for recycling. There are some good items, never worn, smaller sizes that I fantasised about wearing if I ever got down to a size 8 (no chance of that), and they can go to the charity shop.

My aim is to put together a sort of capsule wardrobe, not minimalist, just so that most items work together, and I can free up some headspace from not worrying about what to wear day to day.

I'm hoping that will then free up enough space to organise things in a proper fashion, before moving on to books and stationery, craft stuff, toiletries, makeup, handbags and the like.

Good luck everyone. 😊

StationeryOffice · 29/07/2023 10:10

Where to start?!

The porch & front of house I think - we store all our shoes, dog stuff, shoe cleaning, coats in use, bags in there so plenty of clutter. I can think of a few things that will definitely go but also a few things I know I'm going to get stuck on. Like dog leads - we have six I think and one dog (used to have two) - I know the reality is that if we ever got another dog we would get them a new lead...

Very productive day @WarriorN - well done!

Not sure about the shoes @ScuttleMcButtle - our kerbside recycling used to take paired shoes but they've stopped now. I think I'm going to have the same issue. Our local tip/recycling centre is really helpful so I plan to take mine there and ask when I next do a tip run.

Redwinestillfine · 29/07/2023 10:11

Yes! I am tackling one or two rooms a week. Done kitchen and utility. Living room and master bedroom next week.

wrigglewriggles · 29/07/2023 10:28

I've been slowly working my way through the house this summer. Took it room/cupboard by cupboard. Several bags of clothes for charity and lots of paper (children's drawings!) for recycling. Even managed to empty the last of the moving boxes (we moved in 18 months ago!)

WarriorN · 29/07/2023 13:07

StationeryOffice I intend to do some of this last summer; it's taken another year 😆

Mercedesbenz2022 · 29/07/2023 13:10

Yes , I’ll join , currently sorting through clothes and making an effort not to buy more
sorting out magazines and books , replacing old pillows , flannels ,
a general spruce up , somehow summer seems to highlight any mess and tattiness

WarriorN · 29/07/2023 13:14

Looking for things is a nightmare, as everything is stuffed out of sight in a random fashion.

That is the absolute biggest issue.

I skimmed Mari Kondo's book when it came out and the threads here; my biggest takeaway was the toothbrush analogy.

You always know where you toothbrush is as you put it back within easy reach without digging behind other stuff.

Deep cupboards are not helpful as you just can't get to things. One thing I've did in the kitchen is layer some deeper cupboards with Xmas decorations at the back and the stuff we need daily at the front. Also extra cake tins and things I really don't use a huge amount.

Mimilamore · 29/07/2023 13:19

I have taken a bag to the charity shop today and try to do this every week... I have to leave the particularly good charity shop quickly though so I don't take anything home.. my house is clean and my stuff is organised but there is too much of it .

Mimilamore · 29/07/2023 13:22

For anybody wanting to get rid of usable by worn shoes, look out for the shoe bins in car parks..

PositivePenny · 29/07/2023 14:00

Today I have just gone room to room with a bin bag and binned anything I know we don’t want/need. I know there’s some things in the bags that could possibly be sold or donated but at this point I just need quick wins so I’m just going to load the car and take it to the tip because there’s 6 bin bags full already.

Once these have gone I will make a conscious effort to donate the things that are in very good condition.

LividHot · 29/07/2023 14:06

I’m allegedly moving soon (been exchanging today for a week….) and have been decluttering.

About £200 made on Vinted.

About £2000 of stuff (new price, baby clothes mostly) given to charity shop because I couldn’t sell it or cba.

Maybe ten bags to the tip.

Every bit gone has made me feel lighter and happier. There’s still twice as much to go, and I’m not really a hoarder. Just someone downsizing with a small child.

StationeryOffice · 29/07/2023 14:41

WarriorN · 29/07/2023 13:07

StationeryOffice I intend to do some of this last summer; it's taken another year 😆

Ha! You and me both. Definitely got a 'well here we go again feeling'.

I decided that it is best to clean and do the obvious decluttering in each area to a lower standard and then cycle through again. It was either that or not start. The porch is looking much better now and I've done a few other bits. My stamina isn't what it used to be though...having a break!

AlwaysFoldingWashing · 29/07/2023 14:56

This has come at just the right time! I am also in the midst of decluttering. Have sorted all the clothes, toys etc and the next job on my list is the dreaded tupperware and serving plates of which I have a ridiculous amount....

Biscuitandacuppa · 29/07/2023 15:05

I started properly yesterday and got one and a half bin bags of clothes out of my room. Most of it in really good condition but too small/don’t like it. I’ve put in weight since an accident 18months ago and have decided I can’t keep everything in the hope I lose 1.5 stone!

I was planning on doing more today but my Ddad got taken into hospital this morning and I’m waiting for news so I’m watching trash tv and cuddling the cat instead.
But tomorrow is another day and I’ll carry on then, once I know he is ok.

WeWereInParis · 29/07/2023 15:29

We really need to declutter. I'm gradually working through it. I put about 7 or 8 bigger things on gumtree or freecycle yesterday. Today we went to a national trust place with a second hand bookshop and we dropped off about 50 books (unfortunately this is only about 20% of our total books but I don't think we'll ever not have a lot of books).

SprinkleOfSunak · 29/07/2023 16:25

This is just the thread I need!

I feel completely overwhelmed by every room in my house, and have found it really daunting knowing where to start. All of the clutter and lack of organisation is really affecting my mental health.

I made a list before I started my holiday, complete with DIY tasks, and assigned my Husband and I jobs to do. As always, I’m the only one in my home who tries to do anything to improve it, (my Husband just moans about it and expects it clean and tidy and organised within an hour of my hard work, and our children unleash chaos all around).

I find it super difficult to focus on one thing at a time, and struggle to finish anything and always want to move onto the next thing all the time before things are completed. As a result, I sanded half my stairs the other afternoon, but was too excited about the prospect of decorating my hallway, so spent the next couple of days researching paint schemes and fannying around in B&Q. I have bought the paint though! I also bought paint so that I can paint a couple of drawer units that belonged to my Nan that I’ll give to my girls.

Yesterday, I hung up most of the clothes in my girls’ room, and managed to throw out 2 bags for life full of rubbish, and prepare 1 bag of the same size for charity. It’s still a complete mess in there though.

We don’t have any built in storage in our house, which adds to the chaos, as the space isn’t used properly.

I need to finish my girls’ room, but really need to paint the units first so they can be filled, but it won’t stop bloody raining for long enough to enable this! So now I’m sitting around in the garden on the internet because I just can’t sit in my house any longer with all the mess.

MallardsMoorhensAndLethe · 29/07/2023 17:23

I tackled the bathroom today. Decluttering and reorganising has lead to 6 empty storage boxes which can now be used to house other things. They're only small ones, but I'm pleased with my progress.

theinnergame · 29/07/2023 21:53

I'd like to join you all but will have to wait until next week as we are in holiday. I have just savoured unpacking in a lovely clear small home and it's delightful to look around and it's uncluttered. Would be so much more relaxing to manage this at home. So next week I will be in it with you!

Ceraunophile · 30/07/2023 08:07

I need this. I can’t start yet but will use you all as motivation until I can.

I did a big declutter last year and another in January but it seems never ending! I’ve got rid of most of the surface clutter but inside cupboards and drawers is another story!

I have 15 rooms to do so my plan is to spend three weeks doing just one room a day (weekdays only) giving them a proper sort out and deep clean. I’m hoping that most rooms won’t need more than an hour but that may be wildly optimistic. The kitchen will obviously take a lot more time to empty all the cupboards and clean them out so I might break that down further. I’m hoping that doing it this way will keep me motivated to do it properly.

Mercedesbenz2022 · 30/07/2023 08:16

Yesterday I bought new pillows , needed desperately. and some stick on hooks for inside wardrobe doors to hang a dressing gown out of sight

small win
in fixing those little things that annoy you but you never get round to

not decluttering , but fixing irritating easy fixes