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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

need some advice

18 replies

messycow · 16/04/2008 10:04

hiya, Ive been dealing with bad PND and my flat has become a complete mess, I have no idea where to start.

I need some help, it just all seems so overwhelming.

I have tried fly lady but didnt work for me.

Things i need to do -

washing up - seriously there is almost nothing clean
clean toilet
clean bath
mop bathroom floor
sweep kitchen floor
mop bathroom floor
hoover
tidy up so much stuff
dust
do washings
clean windows
clean kitchens work tops

dont know where to start it all just seems too much.

sorry

OP posts:
SquonkTheBeerGuru · 16/04/2008 10:05

why don't you print out your post, and tackle them in that order?

As soon as you start to tick them off the list, you will start to feel better, and you will soon find you whizzing through it.

And... if you've been struggling with PND, don't beat yourself up about it, take it one step at a time and just do what you feel up to. And don't worry about what you haven't done.

cazboldy · 16/04/2008 10:06

Is there anyone who could come and help you?

Just try to take it one job at a time.

Maybe put on a load of washing, and do some washing up, then have a cuppa and a bit of a break......

Try to do one room at a time

hth

hope you feel better about things soon x

Prufrock · 16/04/2008 10:11

Right -first thing to do is go round the whole flat and put everything in the right room. Don't try to put it awy, just dump stuff in the right room. So clothes to go away - into your room, kids toys, into their room, washing up, inokitchen. Then start with the room that has least to do and dust and put stuff away. Leave floors/windows for last.

Once you've got one room done, the rest won't seem nearly as bad

nervousal · 16/04/2008 10:19

I'd put the washing on first - that way you've actually ticked something off your list without too much hassle! Then I'd wash the dishes - makes such a difference. Then I'd have a cup of tea. Then I'd do as suggested - start on one room and get it finished before even thinking about the rest.

LaidbackinEngland · 16/04/2008 10:23

Get some music on. Tell yourself you are going to do the washing up for two songs and then have a break. Repeat until the whole house is tidy. Choose something upbeat that will lift your mood. Big task ..small chunks. Shut doors on rooms you haven't tackled yet Also (turn off computer ).

messycow · 16/04/2008 10:25

Thank you all for not shouting at me and calling me a bad mum. I will go and put the washing on now, and then put things away. x

OP posts:
themildmanneredjanitor · 16/04/2008 10:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cheesesarnie · 16/04/2008 10:27

id do washing on first so thats started,then id probably do bathroom as i actually dont mind doing bathroom-i think of how nice itll be later to chill after the dc are in bed in nice clean bathroom.then i might start kitchen.if i feel like it i might do elsewhere but i might not depending on my mood!i hate feeling i have to do it all now.

bobsyouruncle · 16/04/2008 10:28

I'd wash up and do the washing first, they are the priorities. Then I'd tackle the tidying a room at a time and forget about cleaning until the tidying is done. It's much easier to clean when the place is tidy/decluttered. Give yourself lots of time (weeks!?) to do all this. Poor you, you sound overwhelmed by it all. Good luck!

cheesesarnie · 16/04/2008 10:29

why would it make you a bad mum?my house is a pigsty alot of the time so i must be awful!i started a thread on here a while ago asking for daily routines-i found one that suits me and now i hardly know im doing it!although i do notice when i havent done it for a few days.even my 2 year old is tidyer than me!

2GIRLS · 16/04/2008 12:10

Make a list, like you've done on here and do one thing. I personally would put the washing on first and then wash the dishes.

When you've done that one thing, tick it off and then make yourself a cup of tea/coffee and celebrate your achievement!

This is what I do and then I don't feel so bogged down with all the millions of things that need to be done.

So what if you don't get it all done in a day or even a week, just doing a few bits makes you feel more in control.

luvaduck · 16/04/2008 12:29

what routine worked for you cheesesarnie? please share...

cheesesarnie · 16/04/2008 12:44

here

cheesesarnie · 16/04/2008 12:44

sorry its by-octavia on Sun 23-Mar-08 21:45:57 scroll down

messycow · 16/04/2008 23:00

I did a load of washing. Bath, sink and toilet - as someone said its instantly a whole room

Also did some dishes.

Thanks will attempt some more tomorrow. x

OP posts:
R2G · 17/04/2008 00:20

Hi

When I am feeling hugely demotivated I set the kitchen timer for 10 minutes and do 10 minutes only in each room. Count the hall, stairs and landing as a room too as this is usually the worst area! As things pop in my head I write them all down on a piece of paper and then I do 10 minutes 'admin' ie call British Gas, house insurers, write and address a birthday card etc. In between this I will put loads of washing in and hang up.

If I drift off, for example find a magazine in the bedroom and start looking at it, and the timer goes off I still leave the room I don't reset the timer.

When I have done a whole house of 10 minutes I go out, take kids to the park or something. When I come back in I will do 10 minute cycle again if I have the energy.

I dont do this every day but when I am avoiding a particular room or pile of washing to put away or phone calls to make if I go like this for a week the house gets back to itself. Also, if you get interrupted or the kids are playing up it is only ten minutes you don't feel so resentful.

Another thing that helps me is I have an agreement with my husband to do ten minutes housework a day no more no less (yes I set the timer). Each night he comes in he will ask me what to do (eg sweep the kitchen, clean the oven, take the recycling out, change the bed sheets) The advantage is I can just tell him what to do what I want doing that will make me feel better. He doesn't question it or say why me, not now, later etc... like he used to as it is just ten minutes and that is it. The resentment is gone from both sides.

Good luck I know how it feels- don't forget to get outdoors you dont have to do it all in a day. or do it all everyday x

PS I also find if you wipe down the bathroom while kids are in bath and then ask hubby just to do the bath that really keeps on top of it.

laura032004 · 17/04/2008 07:27

Messycow - I know exactly where you are coming from. I had the same problem. But a tidier house helps you to feel better, so it is really worth getting it sorted. Have you seen your GP or HV about the PND? I take AD's now, and they have helped enormously.

Anyway,

Kitchen - pile up all the dishes in order - plates, bowls, glasses. Put all the cutlery in a big jug with hot water and washing up liquid to soak. Then just tackle it a pile at a time. Wipe the sides down while loads are drying.

Washing - get all the washing from everywhere, and sort into loads of darks, whites, lights, colours etc. Then put each pile into a bin liner and wash in order. Just work your way through it. Tumble anything you can if you've got a drier. Put heavy things on the line (towels) if it's sunny. You can even put your airer outside if it's not too windy.

Mess - go round with a bin liner, and pick up all the rubbish. Then go round with another one, and throw everything into it. Then you can at least hoover. A clear clean floor feels a lot better.

Dust - as much as possible with hoover. Then wipe sides with a baby wipe.

Mopping - hoover first, then brush, then mop. Do everywhere in one go, so you're not spending ages getting all the equipment out for one room.

Could you afford to get a cleaner at all? Perhaps knowing somebody was coming in once a week would motivate you to tidy up so they could clean? Perhaps a friend could suggest somebody, or you could contact an agency. Even if it's just short term for a month or two, it might help you get back on track. It's easier to walk a flat path than climb a mountain.

cheesesarnie · 17/04/2008 14:25

messycow-how you feeling today?well done for yesterday

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