Keeping the house tidy

rach

I do think some people are naturally more tidy or messy than others, DH and I are both naturally relatively, though not anally, tidy! But we do both leave stuff sitting around so I find 5 mins in each room putting it away helps. And i know that when there are 3 of us it will be much harder to keep on top of!

Flylady definitely helps, though I'm not up to speed with it at the moment, but we find that at least hoovering through weekly, and doing the bathroom and kitchen keeps it passable, if not how I'd really like it!

I'd also agree get rid of as much carp as possible, the less you have the less there is to make a mess. We have also cut down massively on the amount of post we get, almost everything is now online - this is easier too as post tends to sit in the kitchen here!

irenee

One simple answer is 'boxes' !!

I have a pretty box and lid at the bottom of the stairs - anything from upstairs is put in it - similarily there is a box at the top of the stairs (funny it is never as full!) - taken up and down at least once a day - it hides the clutter and looks good

In the kitchen I wash up once a day (saves water and heating costs! LOL) but don't pile the dishes up beside the sink - I have a large wash-up bowl in the undersink cupboard where everything gets put until washing-up time

Bathrooms are easy IMHO
- laundry bags with covers - look neat
- boxes for each person's shampoo, bath/shower stuff, shaving kit, hair removal, etc - all have a shelf in a cupboard

Kids' toys are limited - if your playing with THAT - then THIS can be put away - not far, a big basket hidden by the settee

Mum/Dad's belongings also have boxes with lids - in my house set on the lower level of the bookshelves

His papers, half-built models, TV programmes in one - my work-in-progress knitting and quilting in another - the kids drawings, lego constructions in their boxes (they MUST have one each)

Now what do I do with the masses of cushions, beanbags, cuddle wraps that adorn every single chair ??

bella*donna

I actually like housework and am always trying to find more to do! I am ashamed to say, I have spent 20 mins so far today polishing the toilet pedestal!

sassyblue

bella*donna wrote: »

I actually like housework and am always trying to find more to do! I am ashamed to say, I have spent 20 mins so far today polishing the toilet pedestal!

I can believe it bella-donna, we've got tiled floors in the bathroom and the toilet pedestal gets so dusty :mad:

I'm in a better routine these days (although it's early days) my little one has started school so we're up earlier and l'm working everyday school hours so home earlier (l used to do three full days).

I love housework, l could quite happily be home all day cleaning, cooking. The need to work is a pesky neccessity! :cool:

savingmummy

I have had OCD for many years and have to have things uncluttered and clean.
I have got better and not so bad since having the children and having counselling but still stick to a strict routine now, i love cleaning and tidying.

Little and often, a room a day is a good trick to follow.

I mainly do all my main cleaning when the children go to bed, mopping floors, dusting and general washing doors down etc.
During the day (sahm) i do the washing, drying and ironing. I hoover every room and mop all floors while children play outside or do activities.
The children put toys away, i am very lucky that they have done this from approx 18mths old. Me and my siblings were the same even as tennagers we were tidy - i`m dreading the messy teens as i know i wont be that lucky LMAO
We have tidy up times before each meal, snack - toys out delay in meal/snack they soon tidy up!! Thats one less job to do and they enjoy it! I only have to say lunch time and they both shout `tidy up time` LOL!.

I have a limited amount of toys out at a time, i bring a small box for each and they choose what they want to play with that way i dont have a whole toy box out all at once not being played with.

I wash up after every meal then i`m not faced with a bowl full, lunch is sometimes picnic style in the lounge on a plastic tablecloth - t much washing up
My kitchen work surfaces are practically empty - storage is a huge must, give everything a home and when it is out of its home return it.

I do a monthly blitz where i go from room to room with a black bag and recycling bag - it amazes me how much goes each month!!

Toomuchdebt

bella*donna wrote: »

I actually like housework and am always trying to find more to do! I am ashamed to say, I have spent 20 mins so far today polishing the toilet pedestal!

Please come round to my house-you'll be kept busy for a YEAR!!

brighthair

Toomuchdebt wrote: »

Please come round to my house-you'll be kept busy for a YEAR!!

and mine! Horses stables are immaculate, my house is not. I contemplate cleaning and then decided I would rather ride and muck out than hoover :rotfl:

Spendless

irenee wrote: »

One simple answer is 'boxes' !!

I have a pretty box and lid at the bottom of the stairs - anything from upstairs is put in it - similarily there is a box at the top of the stairs (funny it is never as full!) - taken up and down at least once a day - it hides the clutter and looks good

In the kitchen I wash up once a day (saves water and heating costs! LOL) but don't pile the dishes up beside the sink - I have a large wash-up bowl in the undersink cupboard where everything gets put until washing-up time

Bathrooms are easy IMHO
- laundry bags with covers - look neat
- boxes for each person's shampoo, bath/shower stuff, shaving kit, hair removal, etc - all have a shelf in a cupboard

Kids' toys are limited - if your playing with THAT - then THIS can be put away - not far, a big basket hidden by the settee

Mum/Dad's belongings also have boxes with lids - in my house set on the lower level of the bookshelves

His papers, half-built models, TV programmes in one - my work-in-progress knitting and quilting in another - the kids drawings, lego constructions in their boxes (they MUST have one each)

Now what do I do with the masses of cushions, beanbags, cuddle wraps that adorn every single chair ??

I'm interested in this answer, cos I am forever tidying up 'bits' left about by my family. De-cluttering isn't the answer as I did it over a several year period...tho parts will always be on-going eg I need to get rid of kids summer wardrobe and fetch in their winter one at minute.

I wanted to ask, where do you get your boxes from? Also do you have a big lounge cos I can see mine being 'over-filled- with boxs instead, what size are your boxes?

Thanks.

globetraveller

The best tip I got from flylady was to clear your hotspots every day- the areas where you tend to dump stuff and leave to build up. For me, its the hall table(junk mail etc), the top of my bedroom chest of drawers and by the back door. I've got into the routine so quickly that I find I never leave anything at my hotspots now. If I catch myself about to dump something I remind myself it will take less than a minute to just deal with it.
Its amazing what a difference that small step has made.

globetraveller

PS
have yet to clear my dining room which is never used as anything but a dumping ground. Just psyching myself up for 5 minutes a day so I don't enter it and cry at the prospect:rotfl: