I Have 2 Days To Get Organised....

*zippy*

Gilly if you can get someone who enjoys cleaning to give you a hand, my Mum came to tackle mine and we got through the whole house in one day because she wouldn't let me procrastinate or have endless tea breaks Otherwise join one of the cleaning task threads on here, or start a new thread asking if anyone wants to join you for a cleaning blitz weekend, I'm sure you will have a few interested and having some cyber company and posting your list makes a big difference.

I would start with the room that will give you the biggest kick to keep going and the baby clothes you don't want to part with I would keep to cut up to make memory quilts for the boys

Hope you have a great weekend and have some fun as well getting lots done

auntymabel

I would start by bagging/boxing up anything you can get rid of easily and putting it outside. Second I would bag/box the toys and clothes you don't need but don't want to get of and get them up to the loft. You can think about doing something else with them later when you feel stronger. This should make things clearer and you'll have less stuff to move around.

Then I would go to room 1 and take out anything that doesn't belong in there and dump in the right room. Then put away what's left in room 1. Go on to each room in turn and repeat.

Put all the paperwork in one place (in black sacks will do) to deal with later and the same with the ironing. Now it should be easier to do the cleaning. Hope this or others' suggestions are of some help.

gillypkk

Triker wrote: »

Re this...

then i think ill start on the boys room but same with their clothes, outgrown or worn through knees so need put in the loft (i cannot throw away or sell my kids clothes. 90%of DS2 clothes are like brand new and they were DS1 clothes) same with their toys. i cannot throw them away too many memories and not emotionally strong enough just now.


Why not turn this around into a plan to make new, happy memories by selling the bits and pieces to get some 'fun, family' money together and have a day trip or two to make some fun, happy memories as a Mum with her sons.

Its days like these that make the rest of the hard drudge of being a parent bearable.

Btw, how are you doing so far, we can be cheering you on as you post your successes, its a great motivator.:D

i am not strong enough to do this yet. i will one day soon but right now it almost bringing me to tears to think about seeing the stuff so its going in the loft for the forseeable.

kelpie35 wrote: »

have you maybe got a very good friend who might give you a hand?

Sometimes it helps if there is someone, who is a well organized person, who can just keep you on track.

Good luck with all this work and remember to keep calm and look after yourself.x

nope i dont have any friends that can help me out. they all work and tbh they are not that great friends for things like this plus it makes me feel like a failure to have to have someone helping me out. my mum offered to help and she took all my ironing away to do for me :T

the bathroom and kitchen are the best places in the house at the moment. when the kids are in the bath i clean the rest of the bathroom. its the only time i get to clean the toilet without the 2 year old trying to "help" :rotfl:and the other day when he was a nursery i managed to get the cooker moved and cleaned behind that and my eldest helped me mop the floors lol.

i think ill start with my bedroom. then the boys room. that makes most sense i think that way after day 1 i can do to bed in a clean tidy room.

kids go away wednesday so ill post then when i start with my coffee to give me the boost i need to start and keep you all updated.

if the weather is good i need to get outside to cut the grass too but i enjoy doing that so thats my treat after i finish the first room lol. good job i like it my garden is massive and ive 4 separate areas of grass!

ubamother

My advice would be that if you have a camera/camera phone, take a photo of a messy bit, and only tidy the bit in the picture - then take a second picture of it all tidy - mad I know, but this works really well for me - I can do picture-sized bits at a time, which is much more satisfying than seeing it as a tiny bit of a whole room, and you have before and after proof to see what you've done. I think half the problem when a huge clean and tidy-up is needed is that it is very hard to see results during much of the work, which is often when people get sick of it and give up - pictures are proof! It also helps with details - coffee rings, dusty telly etc. I find doing a massive clean tends to leave these details as not as important as others, so when you've finished it doesn't actually look that finished. Knowing I'm taking a photo helps me concentrate on making that particular area look completely finished. Very satisfying indeed!

ikati5

I am a housekeeper by trade and often get in a mess at home, because like builders, I have had enough all day...

I have found that ironing in the garden is incredibly relaxing and a lot less of a chore, I have just bought a gazebo so i can do it in the rain!!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

1. Go into your room, equipped with a roll of bin bags, every spare hanger from your wardrobe and a huge mug of tea.

2. Sit down on a firm chair (dining room?) with your tea beside you.

3. Place ironing stuff with the rest.

4. Pick up the first bit from ironing pile. Check it fits/isn't stained/torn/too big. If it fits and is perfect, put it in the wardrobe. If it doesn't, put it in either a) the bin bag or b) the charity shop bag - which is optional.

5. Pick up the second item. Repeat as above.

6. Ensure that the first time you touch an item of clothing is when you deal with it. No putting bits aside, folding, refolding, dropping, refolding, umming and arring, make a decision and deal with it first time.

7. Repeat until the ironing pile is empty. You may wish to have a supermarket carrier hooked over your chair for odd socks. If you do, they will match up many pairs soon enough.

8. Go downstairs, stretch your back, take the first bin bag out, tie it up and put it outside for the binmen.

9. Have a snack and then return for the next 20 mins, this time starting on the bit of stuff on the floor right at your feet.


10. At your lunchtime break, strip your bedlinen off, bring it down and stick it in the washing machine on a hot wash. There are going to be a lot of dustmites in an unloved room, so you need to do this.

11. Return to the clothes pile for your allocated time.

12. At your next break, make your bed.

13. When the clothes are done, reward yourself with chocolate or something that you enjoy. Even if you stop now, you have achieved a big job.

14. If you go back up there, vacuum. It'll get the worst of the dust out of your face (and you may need to wash because it's making you sneeze). You do not need to make your job double hard by pulling the furniture out today. Just finding the carpet is enough this week.

15. By this point, you may decide to stop, you may want to continue - but you have got all your clothes off the floor, the ironing isn't there anymore (do it later!!! when you don't have more important things to do), the room has been vacuumed and YOU HAVE A FRESHLY MADE BED TO FALL INTO TONIGHT.

16. Go and have a bath/shower and then get some sleep.


If at any point, you find bits of paper, squished makeup or anything else, don't deal with it later, put it straight into the binbag with the clothes. But do not go off on a tangent chasing after bits and pieces, concentrate on the clothes and anything that is caught up in them.



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The next day:

1. Start with a nice breakfast. Think how different it is to wake up in a room that feels clearer. You're going to give that feeling to your boys next.

2. Go in with a chair, tea and binbags as yesterday. Scoop up everything and put it in a toy bag, a bin bag or a clothes bag. Broken toys, ruined clothes into the bin. Everything else into their respective bags. Follow the same method as yesterday.

Pick out the ten things that the boys would call their favourites - they stay down whilst everything else goes up - if they need it, there is nothing stopping you getting it next week. And they will probably appreciate each toy more if they aren't tripping over them all.

They also only need a set of clothes for every day, as I am sure you use the washing machine more than once a week. If you need more socks, you can go up and get them, but at the moment, all you need to worry about is 7 sets of socks, pants, T shirts, etc.

3. Strip beds when you can see the floor, vacuum, etc.

4. Remake beds/build DS2's bed if you have everything there and it won't distract you from the task at hand. Get the cot out of there and up into the loft.

Windows and blinds can wait again when you have floors to clear.

5. DO NOT get caught up in looking back or getting emotional. The stuff is going into the loft so you can do that at a later date when you don't have so much to do.

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As your kitchen and bathroom is pretty much fine, and all you need to do downstairs is clean the sofas and look at paperwork when you have a chance to sit down (10 minutes a day and you'll be done soon enough), I think you have earned yourself a nice meal and another shower.

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If there is time, then you can think about moving 1 or 2 things or cleaning a window or two, which you may decide you have to do yours on the first night. Don't get sidetracked. The window will still be there next week.

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The birdie can wait until the boys are back, as they can help make his house clean (hose off the cage and then let them wipe it with soapy water - keeps them out of mischief and you can be in the garden at the same time)


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To recap:

Day 1 - all your clothes have been sorted, your bed has been made, the floor has been vacuumed and you MAY have done a window/wiped over surfaces. You get some sleep in a nicer room than it was last week.

Day 2 - all the kids' stuff is in the bin or in the loft, other than the bits you need immediately this week. DS2's bed is ready and the floor is vacuumed. You may have done the window, but it'll still be there tomorrow if you haven't.

You have the option of doing extra work, but 2 rooms is plenty to do in two days.

gillypkk

well the 2 rooms are now done and luckily enough coz im ill. just back from the out of hours doctors armed with antibiotics and instructions to rest up.

and my parents are still away this time with my niece and nephew so i can even get my mums help just now lol. the rest of the house isnt that bad and the ironing can defo wait coz ive enough clothes for the kids for the weekend and im going to be living in joggers for a couple of days. just gotta keep up with the basics. the kitchen and bathroom get done really regularly anyway and i just pulled the cooker out the other week and ive not used it much coz we have been out alot and round at family and friends so it really hasnt got dirty.

Aril

Just a few ideas [not have tos] Make sure you build is some small rewards for yourself so you are motivated. Maybe take a picture of before and after so that you chart your progress. When I had to completely muck out the small person's room prior to redecorating [he was helping me] I had a series of bags - one for recycling, one for charity, one for broken items etc. I also tackled one small area at a time and made sure I finished it- I find that way I get through it much better. Perhaps you can also put some sort of organisation in aswell eg specific box for Lego so it's not so bad to tackle next time. Listen to music or the radio whilst you do it. I d the ironing whilst watching a DVD so it seems less of a chore somehow. The only thing for me personally is that as a sufferer from anxiety depression I have to watch that I don't overtire myself- one of the signals is that I become quite frantic about tidying and cleaning if I've overdone it.
Aril

life_in_termoil

I find that if I make a list of everything that needs doing and post it on here it gives me the motivation to get it done. I set an egg timer for 15 minutes and get stuck in. Its surprising how much you can get done in that time. I then come back on here and cross it off my list, have a cuppa then its off to do another 15 minutes.
In 15 minute slots I can unload and reload the dishwasher, wipe down the kitchen sides and sweep the floor.
in 15 minutes I can clean both bathroom and downstairs loo including mopping the floor.
I can get the lounge ship shape in 15 mins.
I do this daily and I like to beat the clock and set a new time record for each room lol. (How sad am I)