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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Cleaning overwhelmed

17 replies

strawberrycheeks · 22/11/2024 15:58

Tips to get stuff sorted and clean quick.
Products that work and cheap?
Washing hanging everywhere.
Like cosy homely feel not minimalist but just not keeping on top of it.
Need to sort fast as unexpected visitors coming.
Neighbours houses always look clean and nice-i can't afford to decorate so need tips to make things look good clean.
Help me to sort cleaning out asap

OP posts:
Lizzbear · 22/11/2024 16:04

Ex house-cleaner here.
Get a large bin bag and throw all rubbish out of the house.
Hoover floors in main areas.
Get some glass cleaner. Put a little on a clean microfibre cloth and go over all mirrors and main living room surfaces. Dry mop kitchen floor.
Job done!

strawberrycheeks · 22/11/2024 16:44

Lizzbear · 22/11/2024 16:04

Ex house-cleaner here.
Get a large bin bag and throw all rubbish out of the house.
Hoover floors in main areas.
Get some glass cleaner. Put a little on a clean microfibre cloth and go over all mirrors and main living room surfaces. Dry mop kitchen floor.
Job done!

Can you use glass cleaner on other stuff besides glass?

OP posts:
Lizzbear · 22/11/2024 16:55

Yes. If you just use a small spray of it on a dry cloth. It's clear so just leaves everything looking clean and shiny.
Plump up cushions in sofa too x

Lizzbear · 22/11/2024 16:56

Only hard surfaces. Like glass, metal and table and shelf tops

Lizzbear · 22/11/2024 16:57

Or Mr Sheen multi surface polish!

strawberrycheeks · 22/11/2024 16:58

Lizzbear · 22/11/2024 16:57

Or Mr Sheen multi surface polish!

Can you use on wood?

OP posts:
strawberrycheeks · 22/11/2024 17:00

What do you mean by dry mop?
You can tell I need help!

OP posts:
Lizzbear · 22/11/2024 17:07

Sorry
I should have been a bit clearer. I have a mop bucket which I fill with hot water and a little cleaning fluid (Flash floor cleaner or similar)
I put the mop head in and squeeze it really hard so the mop isn't b wet. After hoovering or sweeping the floor, I then mop it.
You can use a damp (nearly dry) cloth for dusting the wooden furniture. Or, if you have any wood polish, a tiny amount is good.
The important thing to quickly make a house look clean is to dust, polish and hoover. But you don't want soaking wet floors or surfaces.
So, keep everything quite dry

strawberrycheeks · 22/11/2024 17:14

Lizzbear · 22/11/2024 17:07

Sorry
I should have been a bit clearer. I have a mop bucket which I fill with hot water and a little cleaning fluid (Flash floor cleaner or similar)
I put the mop head in and squeeze it really hard so the mop isn't b wet. After hoovering or sweeping the floor, I then mop it.
You can use a damp (nearly dry) cloth for dusting the wooden furniture. Or, if you have any wood polish, a tiny amount is good.
The important thing to quickly make a house look clean is to dust, polish and hoover. But you don't want soaking wet floors or surfaces.
So, keep everything quite dry

Thankyou that's really helpful
I'm just feeling overwhelmed as had a bad few years and just not coping so well with things.

OP posts:
Lizzbear · 22/11/2024 17:18

I know how you must feel. I used to be like that, until I did the cleaning jobs, and learned the quick ways to make a house look now! Good luck x

strawberrycheeks · 22/11/2024 17:31

Lizzbear · 22/11/2024 17:18

I know how you must feel. I used to be like that, until I did the cleaning jobs, and learned the quick ways to make a house look now! Good luck x

Thankyou

OP posts:
MrsForgetalot · 22/11/2024 17:55

Hot water and a squirt of dish detergent cleans most things. Add a bit of bleach for disinfecting if needed, and use vinegar on mirrors and windows.

If you walk round a room and wipe everything, it gives stains a chance to lift and germs a chance to die and there’s no need for scrubbing. I wipe twice then dry. (But for living room, bedroom a dry ish wipe like @Lizzbear described is ample)

Clear floors and flat surfaces = tidy at a quick glance. A bunch of flowers will draw the eye, and is money better spent than most cleaning products. Although a static duster that dirt clings to is a good buy.

Focus on cleaning the kitchen (so people feel comfortable accepting food/drinks), and the bathroom (where you can’t distract them) and then speed tidy wherever they’ll spend most time.

In the long term, cosy homey is achieved by things having a place and being in that place and often a lot of decluttering is necessary. My big breakthrough was realising that if I had a pile of necessary, essentials sitting out in the way, that was a sign to get rid of something taking up cupboard/drawer/shelf space near by so I could give the daily/weekly things a home instead of prioritising cupboard space for storing things I rarely used.

now there’s a place for the laundry in progress, a place for the charity shop donation, a place for the paperwork that’s not quite done, a place for the school bags, etc. it’s definitely not minimalist here but it’s calm.

strawberrycheeks · 22/11/2024 18:03

MrsForgetalot · 22/11/2024 17:55

Hot water and a squirt of dish detergent cleans most things. Add a bit of bleach for disinfecting if needed, and use vinegar on mirrors and windows.

If you walk round a room and wipe everything, it gives stains a chance to lift and germs a chance to die and there’s no need for scrubbing. I wipe twice then dry. (But for living room, bedroom a dry ish wipe like @Lizzbear described is ample)

Clear floors and flat surfaces = tidy at a quick glance. A bunch of flowers will draw the eye, and is money better spent than most cleaning products. Although a static duster that dirt clings to is a good buy.

Focus on cleaning the kitchen (so people feel comfortable accepting food/drinks), and the bathroom (where you can’t distract them) and then speed tidy wherever they’ll spend most time.

In the long term, cosy homey is achieved by things having a place and being in that place and often a lot of decluttering is necessary. My big breakthrough was realising that if I had a pile of necessary, essentials sitting out in the way, that was a sign to get rid of something taking up cupboard/drawer/shelf space near by so I could give the daily/weekly things a home instead of prioritising cupboard space for storing things I rarely used.

now there’s a place for the laundry in progress, a place for the charity shop donation, a place for the paperwork that’s not quite done, a place for the school bags, etc. it’s definitely not minimalist here but it’s calm.

Thankyou too.

OP posts:
FeedMeBrunch · 22/11/2024 18:08

Make sure it smells nice - I always think a fresh (but not overpowering) smell makes me assume somewhere is clean

Gamells · 23/11/2024 01:25

I do a variation on this 2 hour plan: https://moneysavingmom.com/whip-your-house-into-shape-in-2-hours-plus-a-free-downloadable-checklist/

I don't include the laundry but do a more thorough kitchen tidy and clean instead. I find the timings quite realistic, even if your place is a mess. It helps me to just mindlessly go down the list, using a timer for each section to keep me on task.

Be kind to yourself, pace yourself with breaks if you need to and drink plenty! Sounds silly I know. I just leave rubbish bags by the front door as I go and then take them out last thing.

Geppili · 23/11/2024 01:40

Get rid of stuff. Clear clutter. Chuck broken things.

AshleyMiller · 29/05/2025 09:35

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