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Top Tips for a clean tidy home

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  • There's lots of ideas over on the OldStyle board - the hoarding thread (with links to part one and two) started by Jojo is a lovely supportive place. Another approach is in the KonMarie thread. Not sure what might suit you better - I jump about between them.

    For cleaning routines and solidarity there is the Flylady thread too, again lovely people and you can take what seems useful :)

    For me, Flylady doesn't work well due to health issues. The hoarding and KonMarie threads have been very helpful in helping me process living with a hoarder and preventing myself being overwhelmed with stuff. Recently, I've been able to thin down my possessions so it's easy to keep on top of things being tidy and cleaned (semi) regularly.

    Ps. New arrivals to all these threads are very welcome, we try to be a friendly bunch :)
    :AStarting again on my own this time!! - Defective flylady! :A
  • Gingernutty
    Gingernutty Posts: 3,769 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Don't put something down if you can put it away.

    If you realise halfway down the stairs, that you've forgotten something, go back up to do it/get it - you'll forget about it later.

    Likewise, if you realise halfway up a flight of stairs that you've forgotten to do/get something then go back down and get/do it - you'll forget about it later.

    Never leave a room empty handed - there's always a newspaper to go to recycling, a plate/mug or cutlery to go to the sink, a coat or scarf to be hung up or shopping to be put away.

    If there's something you've put at the bottom of the stairs to go up when you next go, then take it as soon as you next go up. Don't leave it "for later".
    :huh: Don't know what I'm doing, but doing it anyway... :huh:
  • Just do things with fun...
  • Mr_Toad
    Mr_Toad Posts: 2,462 Forumite
    You've got to want to live in a tidy home, and I mean really want to, rather than just think it would be nice.

    I live alone and nobody, but me and perhaps the girlfriend at the time, would care if I lived like a slob but I never leave anything out.

    If I use something I put it away afterwards, I don't put it down and think I'll move it later. It becomes second nature and I like things to be tidy.

    I have a cleaner who comes and does the vacuuming, general cleaning and laundry etc. but she never has to tidy up.

    I think it's a state of mind, I don't even think about it, I just put things away. I don't think it's difficult or hard work and as a bonus everything is exactly where it should be when you want it. I can't remember the last time I lost or even misplaced anything.

    I did have a tough time when the current girlfriend reorganised my kitchen. Apparently everything was in the wrong place, cups nowhere near the kettle, kettle nowhere near the fridge, store cupboard nowhere near the cooker etc.

    I was banished outside to play with the chainsaw while the transformation took place. It took me ages to get used to the new layout but she was right. Life is easier with everything more logically placed :cool:

    She also introduced some sofa parasites to jolly the place up but that's another story......:(
    One by one the penguins are slowly stealing my sanity.
  • Maysie
    Maysie Posts: 2,379 Forumite
    I am gearing up enthusiasm to pick up toys that will be all over the floor again soon. Its looking a bit crummy though and I| need to dust and hoover so its got to be done. We keep saying we should sell some kids toys but never get round to it.

    I actually have a cleaning job and I get praised on my attention to detail. My husband things its hysterical as our house is pretty messy.

    Right here goes.....
  • selement
    selement Posts: 518 Forumite
    Might try some of those threads if I remember :) to the poster that mentioned dishwashers I say if only! We live in a rented house with no space and lacking the plumbing for a dishwasher. It is a top priority for our eventual future bought house though! It does make the washing up become a mess that gets left though for us
    Trying to lose weight (13.5lb to go)
  • pollypenny
    pollypenny Posts: 29,432 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I hate that Flylady thread, it makes me feel inadequate.

    However, my house is fairly tidy. The dining table can become a dumping ground, but I've just put things away. There are some things on my chest of drawers in the bedroom which need a home, so I'll think about that.

    Nothing to beat myself up about, though.
    Member #14 of SKI-ers club

    Words, words, they're all we have to go by!.

    (Pity they are mangled by this autocorrect!)
  • cagsy
    cagsy Posts: 72 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    I live on my own so I'm responsible for my own clutter. I do try and keep on top of it but sometimes I have no motivation to do so.

    I do however keep my kitchen and bathroom scrupulously clean. The living room and bedrooms are a different matter though.

    I usually can't be bothered putting things away after a gruelling day at work, I just want to slob out in front of the TV in my jim jams.

    My dining table and chairs end up as dumping grounds. So does my staircase, for things that need to go upstairs, although I'll sometimes step over them.
    My weekends are for socialising, not cleaning and I spend far too much time on the computer, usually entering competitions.

    When the untidyness gets out of hand and annoys me, I'll tackle it.

    My solution is to invite friends round for a coffee or a meal. Nothing motivates me more than the shame of an untidy house.

    I'll run round like a woman possessed with a duster, can of furniture polish, microfibre cloth and the vacuum cleaner, chucking items into boxes and shoving the boxes into a cupboard.

    Every couple of months I'll go through the boxes and chuck out what I don't need. If several months have gone by, I'll just chuck the box straight into the bin, after a quick rummage to see if there's anything valuable.
  • I struggle with tidiness. OH is a tidy fiend so I try my best. Best thing for me is to find something I want to listen to on radio 4 or 4 extra on i player while I tidy or sort. Also get rid of clutter; regular trips to charity shops. I do draw the line at hoovering though, just the noise of it makes me angry.
    Don't get into I'll wait and let OH do it it, eventually they'll get sick of the mess. If you're the tidier one you'll crack first.
  • Primrose
    Primrose Posts: 10,701 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper I've been Money Tipped!
    Declutter ruthlessly and don't allow stuff to spread out on floors and surfaces so that you have a clear run for dusting and vacuuming.
    And pit everything away as soon as you have used it, and that inckudes putting clothes back in drawers and wardrobes rsther than dumping them on beds and bedroom chairs. Keep a big bag for newspapers and magazines and put them in the bag for recycling
    at the end of every day. This applies particularly to weekend papers with all their supplements.
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