Few tips on getting a messy and unorganised house back in shape?

[phoenixflower]

Have just, finally finished my diss and degree so can now go back to all my housewifely duties full time!

The house had got into quite a state since jan and all needs sorting, tidying,cleaning etc. And I am talking every room being a huge mess, stuff thrown in cupboards etc. I can't remember the last time I washed the floors, it's just embarassing.

Any tips on how to do it or where to start? Have tried Flylady but wasn't my thing... what have you done that's worked well?

Thanks

First thing you do is get off Mumsnet!

Congratulations on finishing your degree .
In theory I would say to tackle each room one at a time maybe starting with a room you spend most time in maybe lounge or kitchen.
Start by ruthlessly decluttering.
Only when you've done this can you start cleaning. Of course I say 'in theory' because it's something I should be doing at the moment but finding it hard to get motivated!
I will watch this thread to see if anyone comes up with any bright ideas.

Do the rooms visitors see first. Kitchen first, then living room. Once you get started it won't be so bad!

Get yourself a load of big boxes and, one room at a time, put everything that shouldn't be in that room in one of the big boxes then you can clean that room from top to bottom- tidying, dusting, wiping, shining, polishing, hoovering, mopping, you get the idea. Then look in the box that put all the things that weren't supposed to be in that room and decide what you want to keep(then put it away), what you need and what you can either bin, donate or sell.

Move onto next room and repeat.

I would get a few boxes, actually, because once you've thrown stuff in a big box it's going to be so so so annoying to have to go through the box again.

So, get three boxes. Bin, Keep, Sell/Donate/Giveaway. Empty a room as Ballpoint suggests and then clean it. I think you're probably looking at a day per room, aren't you? Do you have a partner or children who can pitch in?

I'd do it room by room and start off by decluttering each room very thoroughly and then giving it a good clean. I would say one day to declutter/tidy and the next day to clean - these jobs are backbreaking if you do them day in day out.