My home is a mess

sparx_2

Hello! I lurk on here quite alot and have decided that maybe if I post I'll start to feel really inspired!

Although my house isn't that bad, it could really do with some of the rubbish being got rid of. (I say rubbish, most of it is stuff that I just HAD to have at the time)

I have a young daughter and husband who are not the tidiest people ever, but my little one is in training - she now knows how to make the washing machine 'go' at only 22 months, and she's getting some practice in with the hoover!

So, my good news was that I managed to sell one of my (6!) pushchairs on ebay last week (only one of them is really suitable, the others are all a bit pants for my needs) and netted myself £200 in the process. I was chuffed to pieces as they only usually sell for £100ish.

Just thought I'd share a couple of things I've learnt...
So my first and proven tip is this; if you are listing on ebay, do it properly! (especially for more expensive things anyway) I spent about an hour in total taking pictures and writing a concise but detailed description of all its features and whatnot and was chuffed with the result. Looking at other completed listings they literally had the name and make and that was about it, no surprises they only sold for about £50 then.

Also I used to have the problem of spending forever doing all the washing then just leaving it in piles (aka the pile of doom). Now I take it out of the washing machine, give it two minutes in the tumble dryer to get most the creases out, put it all on hangers then put it on the washing line to dry properly. Then at the end of the day when it's dry, I literally just have to put it in the wardrobe. Mum thinks it hilarious that I put my washing out on coat hangers, but I use decent ones so it doesn't stretch the fabric and I found it works for me!

So now I just need you lovely people to let me know how to contact the decluttering fairy...
What?! There isn't one? No one told me this!

Seriously, I love reading up on all the progress you all make, and hopefully I'll be joining the ranks from now on in. Wish me luck...

MessyMare

Didn't get anything done last night after all, had a row with OH and went to bed in a strop (oh I'm so grown up). Been at the dog show today and am absolutely knackered, really need to do something but really not sure what

Sagaris

Dog show? Ooooh sounds interesting - tell me more! Don't do anything - you won't enjoy it - have a rest if you are tired and enjoy Saturday night telly instead - tomorrow is another day!

Did the (knackering) 2 hour dog walk this morning, beagle was a good girl and didn't try to savage any of the ohter dogs - several other owners even commented on her good behaviour, what a shock! Not sure if it's to do with the change in her diet, or if she's realised that other dogs sniffing her does not constitute a death threat and she is allowed to reciprocate!

Went to Boots opticians, both of us had eye tests and ordered glasses and sunglasses each - the cost was slightly more than my last pair of varifocals - and Boots points too! Would have been cheaper but both of mine are varifocals - can't do without them now!

Still got the ironing to do, not sure whether to have a go now or leave it till tomorrow.......will see how I feel after dinner! :rotfl:At least I can say I've got 3 loads washed and dried today!

snookey

Hi all. Iv painted and decorated the fridge and freezer and put new knobs on the kitchen units. Oh goes into fits of laughter every time I say knobs, very grown up,not. Hoovered two livingrooms and cleaned the lovely jail birds cage.
Ohs father asked me when I was going to clean up the front livingrom whilst I was cleaning it?. Told in no uncertain terms to mind his own buissness . Cheeky so and so..Took daughters hockey table down as its not being used so can move inthe front room. More stuff to clear this weekend.

I tend to spend more time cleaning than decluttering. Will have to kick the family up the bum for more help. Maybe if I lose my temper once in a while they would help more.
Hope everyone is okay. Hugs.

MessyMare

Sagaris wrote: »

Dog show? Ooooh sounds interesting - tell me more! Don't do anything - you won't enjoy it - have a rest if you are tired and enjoy Saturday night telly instead - tomorrow is another day!

Did the (knackering) 2 hour dog walk this morning, beagle was a good girl and didn't try to savage any of the ohter dogs - several other owners even commented on her good behaviour, what a shock! Not sure if it's to do with the change in her diet, or if she's realised that other dogs sniffing her does not constitute a death threat and she is allowed to reciprocate!

Went to Boots opticians, both of us had eye tests and ordered glasses and sunglasses each - the cost was slightly more than my last pair of varifocals - and Boots points too! Would have been cheaper but both of mine are varifocals - can't do without them now!

Still got the ironing to do, not sure whether to have a go now or leave it till tomorrow.......will see how I feel after dinner! :rotfl:At least I can say I've got 3 loads washed and dried today!

Oh just a little village thing, I volunteer for the local retired greyhounds trust and I was allowed to take my dog there, who has been reserved for me but as I'm not in the new house yet, I can't have him. It's the first time he's been to anything like that, and he was so good with all the other dogs, even the little yappy ones that a lot of greys would be bothered by. He hated it though; while he was calm with the other dogs he stuck to me like glue, almost hiding in my leg if you see what I mean? I was gutted he didn't win anything, but it was a learning experience for me. Think the heat got to me a bit though.

Think I'll just sort some papers out, that's not too strenuous How long have you had your dog?

MummyEm

laurel7172 wrote: »

If you can only manage one thing, prioritise something that will create more work if you don't do it-like drying washing before it's left to go fetid in the machine. (Who? Me? )

When catching up, try to do first what will only need doing once. My kitchen floor will get cleaned next week anyway, but putting away my coursebooks and washing my daughter's prom dress would still be waiting for me if I hadn't done them this morning...

Just catching up on todays events on here but had to comment on this before I forget. I think this is great way of thinking about things. I often get overwhelmed when I've not managed to stay on top of things for a couple of days,so I will adopt this way of thinking. Thank you!!

MummyEm

Right then now i've caught up!

Seems everyone has been busy today. I have had a very nice day doing unmummy things which is pretty rare for me! I had my hair cut and coloured at hairdressers then a v. quick shopping trip with lil sister.
Bought 2 pairs of sandals but I have completely justified this spend as were both half price and also had a £10 gift card from a refund I got 18 months ago (due to expire soon so needed to be spent!!) total spend £18.80 :rotfl: Pretty please with that as have been decluttering my wardrobe recently via ebay so this spend is easily covered by bits I've sold. Plus DH is away on stag do for 2 nights spending lots of money so I think my spends pale into insignificance!!

Have also managed food shop to tied us over on fresh bits till my 'proper' shop next week. Now home, kids finally asleep, dinner eaten, glass of wine on the go.

Should really be doing some ironing but think I will put it off till tomorrow.

Rainy-Days

I can't really give anybody any advice because I'm a bit well houseproudish I suppose! Yes I am that freak oditity of nature that likes a bit of order. I am not perfect, don't get me wrong there are a few things that need attending to like the growing filing in the study and the fact that the car hasn't been cleaned for over three months - really bad I know! I hate dusting don't know why just don't like it even though it has to be done.

I do little things everyday, I vacuum nearly every single day, black labrador and a spaniel with cream carpets forces me. Once I have vacuumed then the rest is on top of. I check the laundry basket everyday and check on the weather for the following day and work my washing around the weather and getting it dry outside. If you vacuum up the main areas, your place looks better in quite a short space of time.

Even though I have a dishwasher I still need to wash the odd thing up by hand, so I make sure that the last things I wash up in the water are the dog bowls and that they are clean and ready for them to use the following day. I just keep a separate foam scourer for them. If you just get into the habit of not dumping stuff in the hallway or in the main living areas, putting things away, then you are pretty much on top of your housework.

The only thing I can say is that I make a list of things that I need to do and then I cross them off as I go along. This may never work for some people because they will look at it and think it is an endless list, but for me it works the opposite way. If you clean for two nights a week you still have five nights off thats the way I look at it! I just do these things as I am going along, I don;t really think too much about it to be honest I just add extra things to my cleaning, such as cleaning the blind slats once a month, windows cleaned, fridge cleaned out, but I suppose I just do them and cross them off my list. I don't have children though so therein maybe lies part of the answer!

Motivation -thats the word for it!

Sagaris

ColleenPamela wrote: »

Oh just a little village thing, I volunteer for the local retired greyhounds trust and I was allowed to take my dog there, who has been reserved for me but as I'm not in the new house yet, I can't have him. It's the first time he's been to anything like that, and he was so good with all the other dogs, even the little yappy ones that a lot of greys would be bothered by. He hated it though; while he was calm with the other dogs he stuck to me like glue, almost hiding in my leg if you see what I mean? I was gutted he didn't win anything, but it was a learning experience for me. Think the heat got to me a bit though.

Think I'll just sort some papers out, that's not too strenuous How long have you had your dog?

Sounds like a lovely show - and you have a rescue dog too! We've had had her just over a year, she's 6 now, typical beagle (greedy and eats anything and everything no matter how manky!) but very faithful and bonded to my husband like glue - I am tolerated! :rotfl: She won 5th place in a prettiest female dog contest at a show recently! It's good to take them out and about to different things, even if it's not what they are used to - ours does not like other dogs as she was not socialised as a pup, but we are persevering (hence the Saturday walks where we meet lots of other dogs). She is improving slowly, and several people (and the trainer!) commented on how calm and well behaved she was yesterday - just a bit of typical beagle gobby barking really.

Had a scare with her earlier in the year when a 'dental problem' turned out to be a tumour in her jaw :eek: which was removed, along with 1/3 of her upper jaw and teeth - you'd never know by her eating (same as usual), the only way you'd know is her top lip sometimes gets caught on the lower teeth, which looks a bit strange! She's still clear 3 months down the line so fingers crossed - vet says if it stays away for a year then we can count ourselves lucky.

Well I have ironing to do today, plus general tidying/cleaning, or an hours drive to meet some other beagle owners for a chat/long walk, not sure what to do.........where are my walking boots? :rotfl:

I will do what has to be done on our return! Have a good Sunday everyone.

Rummer

Well we have 48 hours before our visitor arrives! The whole house is riot apart from a small section of the hall that I tidied yesterday

So my plan of action today is to work until I drop :rotfl:. Currently though I am reading the internet and watching bad childrens TV with my DD and chewing over doing some knitting :rotfl:.

Realistically though I have put on some laundry and am just about to give the living room a quick tidy round before clearing space in the dining room. The bathroom is tidyish but in need of a good scrub.

The kitchen however is one horror I don't want to face :eek: might see if I can sweet talk my OH into "just doing the kitchen"