Housework routine

sce37

When I am having a 'staged' tantrum  >:( with the girls over shoes, dvds, hair bands, clothes etc etc left lying around I go and get a black bin bag and just throw it all in there.  I put it by the front door and telll them it is all going out with the rubbish unless they empty the bag and put it away.  It usually works

Also read somewhere that to ensure you are decluttered whenever you buy something and bring it into the house you should always dispose of something out of it. In my case it only goes as far as my garage!! :-[

sce37

Before the girls did their own ironing I used to try and do 30 minutes of ironing in the morning before waking everyone up (usually 6-6.30). It did keep it down.

jaybee

I've done the bin bag thing. Trouble is I still a loft full of 30-something kids stuff in the loft. Although they've gotbtheir own homes now they still won't take it away. Help!!!!!

nearlyrich

I have just read this thread with interest as I am naturally untidy and I hate spending my time off doing housework. ::)

To help me do stuff as I go along I keep cleaning stuff in the areas where I use it ie bathrooms to save time moving it around. I also ignore my teenagers mess if it is inside their rooms unless there is a mass shortage of glasses or a nasty smell.


I had my dream kitchen installed in the spring so I like to see it looking good, the sink thing is great, I use bleach to keep it shiney.

I get the flylady emails but as there are so many I send the reminders into deleted items, same as kolc.

The one thing that Flylady knocked into my head is that you can't organise clutter and it is true.

I cut down on mugs, kitchen utensils etc and now have somewhere to put everything. In my old kitchen for example, I kept all my roasting tins in the oven which was a pain when we wanted to use the oven.

I also used to have a cupboard full of standby food tins & jars which had all but passed the sell by dates when I emptied the kitchen so I don't fall for the bogof deals on stuff we won't use.

I challenge the myth that we can be perfect executives, mothers, wives and homemakers. I have tried to be all four at once and usually fail at all of them, I now give myself a break and do the best I can in all areas and I only iron what is absolutley necessary!! As someone said grab it out of the dryer and fold or hang it and it's fine, especially when I live out of a suitcase most of the week!!

Even if you are at home all day with small children the time can just whizz by and trust me children will remember if mummy had time to play with them and read to them, I am sure they won't remember a bit of dust!

nearlyrich

I've done the bin bag thing. Trouble is I still a loft full of 30-something kids stuff in the loft. Although they've gotbtheir own homes now they still won't take it away. Help!!!!!

Everytime you visit them or they visit you give them a box or bag till it's all gone. I am one of six, and the only one who has taken everythig I own out of my mum's house, my brother still gets some post there and he has been married for over 20 years!!

Spendless

I've got the life laundry book.
One of the best tips in it for me was about bathroom toys.
Get large clear plastic storage container with lid. Put all bathroom toys in it (box has to be big enough to fit all toys).
When kids finished in bath put all toys in box ready for next time. Works in even smallest bathrooms cos you can keep box in bath itself, only takes seconds to move out if want bath yourself.

rach

i keep my laundry bin in the bath like this - hides behind the shower curtain and as bedroom is only small it gives me more space in there - took me a few days to get used to it once i'd moved it but second nature now!

16011996

wow, so many tips, so much to try.

got a lot done last night without the kids, put music on, cleaned up front room, is all lovely with uncluttered surfaces. and its going to be my project to keep it that way. also found old lidded wicker picnic basket type thing down the back of the sofa, and have put it by the front door with hats and scarves in ready for the cold weather, so coat rack is much more uncluttered too. have thrown out all the odd bits out of the linen cupboard too, all the odd pillowcases, and torn shets etc, and bedding is now in sets with the sheets round the outside so can just pull out that i need. also off today to buy some new towels and get rid of all old tatty ones that are ripped or just threadbare.

keep any more tips coming, i'll let you know how i get on.

macchicken

Both my partner and i work duing the day and he teaches two nights a week, i hate being on my own, like kk i have no enthuisasm to do house work so i use these little tricks:
* Music full blast, singing at the top of my voice as i go!
* Bribe youself, once the ironing is done im having two chocolate buscuits!!
* My partner bought me the SaTC dvds to watch while i do the ironing!
* Trade the jobs you dont like with each other, i dont mind ironing but i dont like puting it away, so i iron and he puts it away!
* If you really hate it get someone else to do it, there is quite often ad's in the local press for people who will do your ironing for you, or for cleaners!! I dont think they are that expensive, my granny had one for years and my grandad never knew!
* If u dont use it or need it dont throw it out for goodness sake put it on ebay! One persons trash is another persons tresure! Dont keep clutter!!
* Trade jobs with your friends or family! U might hate gardening so get a green fingered family members to do it and im retun you could take their kids out or do their ironong!
* Have all the gadgets you need, if u hate vaccuming get a dyson to cut you work in half! Get those fancy new dusters you see an the tv! Get a steamer to clean the bath room! If you worring about the cost of all this buy it with all the money you are going to make from selling all your clutter on ebay!

Hope these help a bit, the problem with having no enthuisasm is things get worse and you still have no energy, i know it doesnt help so say it but just make yourself do it, just remember to reward yourself.

8)

lisyloo

My routine is as follows:

Leave money out for cleaner.
Leave ironing out for cleaner.
Pick up knickers etc. from the floor.