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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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Original poster

My house is in a state

23 replies

Bobbybee · 09/12/2009 10:09

I could really do with some help at the moment. My house is slowly resembling a pig sty and I can't get on top of it

I have so much paperwork to sort out.

we're going away for Xmas next week and I've bought no presents yet for the people we're going to see (I need 3). I've sill not finalised everything either (car hire, on-line visa waiver)

Everywhere is messy. My kitchen cupboards are really bad and need clearing out. I'm sure I have loads of out of date stuff. They are so full that I can't fit anything else in there. Ditto with the kids wardrobe. There room is messy because I have no space to put all there stuff.
The beds need changing

My car is disgusting. Its so messy in there and has recently got a bit damp because of the rain and is starting to get mouldy. The boot is full of stuff.

I have so much paperwork to sort out.

we're going away for Xmas next week and I've bought no presents yet for the people we're going to see (I need 3). I've sill not finalised everything either (car hire, on-line visa waiver)

Well writing it all down has helped but I'm so overwhelmed with everything I need to do. And I need to start packing too.

(I have a 2 yr old at home, an older child at school, I work pt and dh works very long hrs)

OP posts:

Original poster

Bobbybee · 09/12/2009 10:10

Sorry for repeating a paragraph. I meant to cut it out.

OP posts:

JamesAndTheGiantBanana · 09/12/2009 10:23

Make a priority list, what's most important? the paperwork?

I would spend 15 mins on each task (except the paperwork) In an hour you could:

Go out and spend 15 mins on the car - chuck out all the rubbish, dump out the other stuff, leave it to dry out/be dealt with afterwards. Then all you need to do is air out the car and/or febreze it.

Spend 15 minutes on the food cupboards. Big plastic bag, chuck out everything you see which you know is old or dodgy, without checking the dates. This won't take you long. Then quickly check everything you aren't sure about. Push everything to the back and you've made room.

Quickly change the kids bedding. Then take 15 minutes to briefly tackle the worst areas in their bedrooms, tidy and hoover. There's a difference between clutter and dirt - when you're hard pressed for time try not to worry about piles of clean clothes etc.

Go easy on yourself over the presents - you can always go to the corner shop and buy booze/chocolates. I know it isn't terribly original but it's not every year.

Then start on the paperwork, and leave yourself a decent bit of time to pack in. You'll do it! Don't panic!

Simply · 09/12/2009 11:02

I second JamesAndTheGiantBanana. I hope it goes well and come and join us on the daily FLY thread on the Good Housekeeping topic if you'd like some new friends who also don't find keeping house terribly motivating or easy.

swanriver · 09/12/2009 11:52

My car is like yours..and it needs a MOT before Xmas..and is full of rubbish to take to skip..don't despair.

swanriver · 09/12/2009 11:58

I would buy presents first.
Then pack.
Then deal with car
Then pile mess in corners of rooms and hoover middle
Then paperwork
and if time, do CLEANING and CUPBOARD ClEARING which can wait till you get back if you run out of time.
Or decide to spend just 5mins every eve on cupboards chucking but don't spend daylight time on it.

Original poster

Bobbybee · 09/12/2009 12:16

You all make it sound so easy
I suppose it is, if I take it step by step.

I'm going to do the car first as ds2 has gone down for a nap.

Then do beds and tidy kids room.

I like the idea of only spending a few mins in the eve on the kitchen cupboards so I'll spend 15mins tonight on that and 15mins on paperwork every eve.

I'm going to go shopping tomorrow and sort out the kids wardrobe. I'm going to buy the gifts and some storage items and take all the old clothes to the Oxfam bin.
Then I'm going to thoroughly clean the bathroom.

I'll start packing on Friday.

Of course, this is all on top of the general day to day stuff of laundry, cooking, hoovering etc. It just seems never ending.

OP posts:

Jajas · 09/12/2009 12:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

itshappenedagain · 09/12/2009 14:27

bobbybee i agree with jajas, housework is neverending.

im currently in the process of clearing 1 room at a time, so that i can have it all sorted for christmas, i have 2 room perfect so far and is much easier to maintain once done. my prob is laundry...it seesm to snowball somehow. then i do it all and i cant fit it into our wardrobes...so i passed on 8 binbags of my DS's clothes and 4 of mine...now have space to buy new stuff!
take everything a little at a time...i just do a couple of hours of small busrsts when Ds is at nursery in the afternnon then, bag all paperwork and sit of a night when he is in bed and file it all away!

Original poster

Bobbybee · 09/12/2009 15:31

I've cleared my car but it needs proper cleaning so I'm going to do like you Jajas and pay for some cleaning while I do my shopping tomorrow. I know they have a valeting service there.

So far I've just managed to do that and some general stuff (supermarket, cleaning living room, laundry)
I don't think I'll get much more done now til the kids go to bed.

OP posts:

Original poster

Bobbybee · 09/12/2009 15:45

I'm really impressed with 12 bin bags of clothes!

OP posts:

Jajas · 09/12/2009 21:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Bobbybee · 10/12/2009 14:09

I know what you mean about the tiredness. My 2 yr old is still a bad sleeper and always seems to wake up at 2.

Doing something for 15mins is really working for me.

I did a kitchen cupborad yesterday. I chose the worst one and chucked out 2 carrier bags full of stuff . There were things in there (tins and spice mixes moslty) that were dated 2007! Its amazingly clean and organised now.

I'm doing another cupboard tonight.

OP posts:

peachygirl · 10/12/2009 14:18

This could be me too. My car has mould on the mats. A valet is in order.

My cupboards are pretty bad especially the one with all the papers in it in the living room. Stuff gets left for what seems like weeks til someone (me) puts it away.

I have paperwork too. I've been trying to fill in a friends adoption referee form for 2 weeks now and finally got some answers typed up yesterday.

I have done the christmas present shopping though.

I have been trying to keep on top of room tidiness by doing the 15 minute tidy. One episode of 'Show me Show me' followed by 'I can cook' is enough time for me to get things reasonable

mummyclaus · 10/12/2009 15:06

I completely agree with jamesandthegiantbanana - 15 minutes per job is a great way to see quick progress.
You (all) would be very welcome on the fledgling flyers thread where we all struggle to get somewhere but are really good at encouraging each other along the way.

allthatglisters · 10/12/2009 17:19

My tip for paperwork is to keep everything in one big file in date order - saves looking for the right folder, or putting things to one side before you file them. You can go through the file to take action, or discard as necessary. When that file is full, date it and start the next one.

StAnne · 10/12/2009 17:34

Bobbybee Come over to a fly thread. You know those cult threads that don't make sense to everyone else. You will have to give you first born to 'the God of the dust cloth' and sell your soul to the devil that is called 'Proctor & Gamble' but we are a friendly bunch, pick any thread.
Oh! I see mummyclaus is already trying to recruit you Te! He!
I've linked a taster here and the main site.
Flylady missions
Home
It's all a bit American but aren't all the best cults

Original poster

Bobbybee · 10/12/2009 18:28

Thanks for the flylady invites
I'll definitely join a thread in the new year, after my trip away. I definitely need it for mine and my family's sanity.

I just want to get as much done as I can before we go away. Its lovely to come back home to a clean house

I've got big plans for tomorrow as I didn't get much done today due to not feeling too well.

OP posts:

peachygirl · 11/12/2009 17:40

I got the car done today. It looks amazing!!

I think I will also join a thread in the new year in pereparation to going back to work at Easter

Original poster

Bobbybee · 11/12/2009 22:48

Well done peachygirl
I got mine done too! I'm so happy! It looks and smells amazing.
I did another kitchen cupboard yesterday and got all the beds sorted today. I bought the presents today too.

I'm feeling much better since the start of the thread.

Tomorrow I'm going to sort out all the paperwork and the kids room. Dh is doing the bathroom.

OP posts:

Jajas · 12/12/2009 23:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sammie123 · 14/12/2009 22:37

Just had my MOT done at Champ Cars in Bicester (Buckingham road, I think!?)..they were so friendly and quick..unlike some I've dealt with in the past..used to have "ladies day" promotions or something like that.Reasonable though..when u can get a booking!!

Sammie123 · 14/12/2009 22:40

p.s Re Champ Cars, they valet yr car after an MOT too when they can..no extra cost..and they even picked my car up and dropped it off as I couldnt get in as poorly baby..nice service..extra touch!

SleightiesChick · 14/12/2009 22:51

I'm so relieved it's not only me with a mouldy horrible car. Mine has bits of bread in the front footwell (and I honestly don't know how they even got there ) as well as loads of other crap. House likewise. OP, I feel your pain. Need to get ready to host my parents and in laws for Christmas. Will aim to get car valeted tomorrow. Also will look for a fly thread to jump on.

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