Okay, house blitz - where shall I start???

MoneySavingSapphire_:D · 9 July 2006 at 9:37AM

My Mum has 5 children - of which, at 20, I am the eldest (still at home for another few months!). This = lots of washing, cleaning, tidying, and not much help from anyone. I am the only one who ever does anything to really help round, and I'll admit I could do a whole lot more (occassionally do spurts of cleaning - love cleaning!, but not often enough I think). Dad is just as bad - messiest of everyone and then he comes home from work and accuses my mum of not doing anything round house as by the time he comes back her work has been undone by the little-ies, which brother (18, nightmare) confirms by telling dad that mum does nothing but watch the tennis and news all day! :mad:
Anyway, long and short is that on Monday I want to do a whole house mad tidy up to help her - I'm going to get boxes labelled with each persons name and throw in all the stuff left around the house by them, as well as cleaning the kitchen, bathroom etc. The house is so big and messy that it sort of re-messes itself - we've never had a total clear out since we moved in nearly a decade ago, and I think being ruthless is what's needed. We're very bad at hoarding and rufusing to throw things away, the house is full of drawings that are covered in breakfast, toys that are broken/never played with/grown out of...
So, family politics aside, lol, where shall I start??? Shopping list involves boxes for family (will get big plastic ones from pound shop I think!), some Stardrops (dying to try this out!) and some cloths. The house is a huge old edwardian three-storied thing - lovely, lovely house but Mum hates living here as its so messy and so hard to keep nice.
Advice for things I may not have thought of appreciated, I hope I haven't rambled on too much!

homersimpson_3 · 9 July 2006 at 10:17AM

Anyway, long and short is that on Monday I want to do a whole house mad tidy up....- I'm going to get boxes labelled with each persons name.... I think being ruthless is what's needed. Advice for things I may not have thought of appreciated,

One day and one box per person is nowhere near enough. I've been doing flylady challenge (seemingly non stop) with friend for 2 weeks and still have tonnes to do- it's becoming a full-time job!!! Why not use black bags or cardboard boxes from supermarket to save money? what will happen to stuff in box? if people not prepared to sort it out you will end up just moving clutter. Ruthless is the key. Be organised- otherwise the house will end up as a worse tip!!! It made my friend's house even more cluttered because she started pulling everything out- one room at a time

Bossyboots · 9 July 2006 at 10:22AM

I would say label black bags and then give everyone x amount of days to put their stuff away or the bag will be tied up and put out with the rubbish.

Works for me every time.

Throw out what is obviously not worth keeping and yes, you are going to have to be ruthless. I also find not letting people seeing what I am throwing out is a big help because they then won't reclaim it.

I sometimes hide things to see if anyone notices they are missing and if they don't out with the rubbish or to the charity shop it goes.

oops_a_daisy · 9 July 2006 at 10:26AM

or why not try to get the others involved to do a car boot sale and make a bit of money on their old stuff

Kazonline · 9 July 2006 at 10:42AM

I certainly agree with the black bag/free box idea - in my experience plastic boxes just gives them something else to fill before it starts to pour over again.
Good on you for deciding to help your poor old mam out. I bet she's fed up with it all as she's been at it for at least 20 years!

Fill the black bags and if you want to avoid them spilling back over I'd confiscate them and allow younger peeps 'supervised access' - ie they get to look in them under supervision - and only get to take out something if they can show you where it is to be housed. After a month or so (you decide) anything that hasn't been rehomed is to go ebay/bootsale/charity shop. Personally I think any money raised should then go towards paying for a day of pampering for you and your mum

Your timing is perfect - with the hols fast approaching this would have got much worse. This also means lots of spare time for the littlies to put things away.
Good luck to you - and why not join in on the F/L challenge? I'm sure you'll get lots of encouragement and motivation there.
Kaz x

comping_cat · 9 July 2006 at 11:14AM

Can only echo whats been said, but wanted to add my well done to you, i hope your mum and your family will appriciate what you are going to do!!!!

Penny-Pincher!! · 9 July 2006 at 12:17PM

Just wanted to say Good Luck!!

Think I agree with what others have said.

Do one room at a time, and maybe start in one place and go around the room bit by bit. Boxes/Bags are a good idea. Sort a cleaning box too with your essentials in there-vinegar solution, star drops, duster to get in all the corners, damp micro fibre cloth and a dry one to dry or buff up.

HTH

PP
xx

MoneySavingSapphire_:D · 9 July 2006 at 4:10PM

Thanks all! Bin bags much better idea - as is the threat of throwing away and/or supervised visits!
Mm, one room a day sounds realistic, although tomorrow I'd like to get the kitchen/conservatory and breakfast room done... we'll see!
Went out in lunch hour today and bought cloths, bin bags, stardrops etc - but also bought white WINE vinegar instead of just white - doh!
I'll definately post on FL tomorrow I think - I'd been having a nose at that thread... feel very driven now! We WILL have a perfect house... :T
Now all I need to do is to get the boyfriend round to help :rotfl:! Maybe if he sees what a domestic goddess he has moving in with him in October...!

Josie64 · 9 July 2006 at 4:49PM

great idea! - one box per person but one week and then suggest as six weeks hols are nearly here that selling stuff will make money for days out = no bored kids! , you could make a game of it with the younger kids) perhaps include 18yr old as well!) to see who could fill their box first!

Kazonline · 9 July 2006 at 11:32PM

MoneySavingSapphire_:D wrote:

Maybe if he sees what a domestic goddess he has moving in with him in October...!

:rotfl: :rotfl:

I was having a browse on the flylady site and when I re read this page I thought it might help you out with your challenge.
http://www.flylady.net/pages/FlyingLessons_Declutter.asp

Good luck with your first day - looking forward to hearing how you get on!

Best wishes,
Kaz x

System · 10 July 2006 at 9:19AM

Not wishing to put you off but i want you to be aware, you will have oppostition from your siblings. They obviously cant be bothered about the state of the place and wont take kindly to you chucking stuff in black bags. I know, i blitz my own place from time to time and the moans i get from my kids are awful. Make sure you have your mothers backing on everything your going to do too because if you dont and your siblings moan its going to cause resentments.

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Okay, house blitz - where shall I start???

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