i look around my living room....

[leoniebabey]

my living room is a mess! I totally lost it today after for the 3rd day running i went in the shower and return to more toys pulled out by my 4yo who should know better after being told. He still hasn't put them away and there still sat there as i feel poorly

 

[Bevziibubble]

Aww same here. We have so much clutter everywhere after Christmas!

 

[QueenMummyToBe]

I try to use the rule of if it hasn't been used or worn or read in a year (18 months at most) it won't be used or worn or read in the future!

I start the day by putting some washing on, get that dried as soon as it's finished and then straight away too. Things like that I can take my 3 year old and 1 year old with me to do.
When hubby is at home I try to grab time to do jobs whilst he spends time with the children.

When I go to bed I like to have the washing up all done, a new load of washing in the machine to put on it the morning, clean sides, all toys away and anything that doesn't belong downstairs I will put in a basket and take upstairs and that is then one of the tasks for the next day.

You could set yourself a routine with things you have to do each day and then an extra task that differs.. so one day it might be clean bathroom or hoover upstairs or dust or sort paperwork.
If you try and give yourself too much to do a day it will make you feel overwhelmed so start small.

Xxx

 

[catty]

Queenmummy that sounds really good.
so I sound stupid but iv just always lived in a messy home. I really am so used to clutter I dont even notice it.

what do you suggest for areas that have lots of things that dont have homes eg.
I have a corner sofa and the corner seat area is filled with homeless things I cant even remember whats there just 'things'
My dining table is always filled with clutter too. Random items, so im guessing actually after writing this down that I should just buy more storage.
it drives me so mad to the point imnot enjoying my time in the house anymore

 

[Lauraxamy]

I'm forever trying to keep my living room (and whole house tbh!) tidy but with toys being picked up, took from room to room and being dropped in random places I'm often just fighting a losing battle.

 

[leoniebabey]

my living room is a mess! I totally lost it today after for the 3rd day running i went in the shower and return to more toys pulled out by my 4yo who should know better after being told. He still hasn't put them away and there still sat there as i feel poorly

finally the living room is tidy after my meltdown
just the tree to go down tomorrow then hoover round where that was.

anyone else have loads of boxes and packaging left? i have far too much to fit in the bin!

 

[AnneD]

I find that as soon as I get a room tidy, someone messes it up.

 

[jd83]

We cleaned the living room and kitchen for a new years eve party, and end of new years days with kids home all day and it looks exactly as bad as it did before cleaning. Total wastedeffort.

 

[Kirsty3051]

My house is immaculate. Tidy, organised, disinfected, all the washing has been done, dried, ironed and put away. Then you open the cupboard near our back door and it reveals a whole other world out of sight, out of mind, right?

 

[QueenMummyToBe]

Queenmummy that sounds really good.
so I sound stupid but iv just always lived in a messy home. I really am so used to clutter I dont even notice it.

what do you suggest for areas that have lots of things that dont have homes eg.
I have a corner sofa and the corner seat area is filled with homeless things I cant even remember whats there just 'things'
My dining table is always filled with clutter too. Random items, so im guessing actually after writing this down that I should just buy more storage.
it drives me so mad to the point imnot enjoying my time in the house anymore

Definitely storage! Nearly everything in my house has a home otherwise it gets lost.. cannot cope with things being lost!
I have found my anxiety and stress levels go through the roof when the house isn't in order. I don't mind toys being out but clutter and piles of stuff drives me insane. Sadly my hubby doesn't seem to care so it's all down to me.

Xx

 

[Vicyi]

I had a complete meltdown on sunday about the state of my house so yesterday i sent all three kids to their bedroom to play and stripped the living room clean! Id already ordered a huuuge load of storage from ikea (should be delivered today) so i still have some piles, but the new storage will go in these spaces and the toys will go in there, i'd also given all the kids old clothes to the 'clothes for cash' place as i just give up trying to find time to sort/photograph/sell them all only to be let down by people on FB sales or EBay to take half the profit! I then did the kitchen (we have open plan) and hoovered and mopped it all.
After lunch i then got to work on our room, the bathrooms and the hallway, all of which were pretty easy to manage after the room id just done!
The living room is always the worst room in the house because they drag the toys out of their bedroom to play, therefore their bedroom is actually pretty tidy so once id finished everything i stuck all three kids in the bath and went to hoover/mop their room. I am SO glad its all finally done now though, even if i will have to do it all again in a few weeks

 

[DCS]

I envy people who can do the whole house in a day. My bedroom itself takes a whole day. I made a positive start the other day and started putting laundry away. I've started coming upstairs about a half hour before the kids bedtime while OH is with the kids and started doing little bits around upstairs. Just bits like getting laundry away and emptying bins. I think I need to have a meltdown and get everything done but I'm more likely to curl up in a ball and cry.

 

[tallybee]

Ahh so glad I'm not alone. I tidy and it's a shithole again within no time... 1 manchild, 2 kids, 5 cats and a dog will do that lol. I can't stand cleaning, but I also get really distressed at a shitty mess. Can't win!

 

[jd83]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who hates cleaning. I really loathe it. Even thinking about having to clean puts me in a bad mood, lol.

 

[buttons1]

Cleaning the house is like a never ending task. Try making a list and doing a job at the time I find it really satisfying crossing things off and seeing the list get shorter. Or doing room by room and working through the house

 

[Caite]

My house is always untidy. I desperately want a cleaner! I like a nice clean house but hate the tidying involved. Or, I put something down, say my post on the dining room table on my way out, and tell myself I'll sort it out later. Only the following day I do the same and the pile of junk mail just gets bigger and bigger.

I'm off today and tomorrow - I really think I need to get everything done.

 

[aimee-lou]

Another one here with a permanently messy house. I have discovered that it's not the kids who are to blame. It's hubby! lol It's a combination of the fact that he never picks up after himself.....ever!....and the fact that when he's here I don't like to tear myself away from family time to clean/tidy so things get left. When he's not here I try to keep on top. Before Christmas the house was the best it's been in a long time. 3 weeks of hubby being home and my god it's a mess. I've been trying to clean it/tidy it for 4 days now and I'm still nowhere near (although the living room and kitchen are ok now as they were the priority).

The kids of course do play a part. There's always toys, crumbd, bits of paper, items of discarded clothing etc. I do tidy up at least once a day, and vacuum etc but you know what kids do to a house lol.

Laundry is a whole other issue atm....my washer broke on NYD. We ordered another last weekend and it's coming tomorrow. Hubby will install is so i should have my washer back on Saturday. I've been doing washing in the sink by hand and drying it over the bath until it's no longer dripping, then only my airer as normal. I have managed to keep the washing down - the pile has got no bigger. I just haven't been able to change sheets or do towels so I will be glad to do that!