When your house is a total mess where is the best place to start. It seem like when I work in one spot I have all this stuff that I don't know what to do with and I put it in another spot and things just get shifted around. I have had major medical problems the last 3 years of my life and my house is a mess. Can't find anything. Toys are a big problem also. I am finally feeling better and want to begin but where?
[This message was edited by nursey63 on 07-10-02 at 12:40 AM.] *********************************************************** 07-10-02, 01:27 AM samantha Well, now my mom would say she does one room at a time. She may start with the kitchen and stay with that room until all of it is finally done then on to the others. She gets boxes and packs things away none of us are using and then starts her general cleaning. I don't know if this helps much but may be a start.
07-10-02, 01:43 AM babthrower The first thing to do is get rid of as much stuff as you can. If your house is messy and there's no place to put stuff, the first step is GET RID.
The second thing is decide what categories the troublesome stuff belongs to. Typical categories: (1) magazines and books. If you've read 'em, get rid. Doctor's offices is a great place for magazines. Most libraries accept donations of books, or if there is a drop-in center for elderly, they would love 'em. (2) Clothing If you haven't worn it in a year, you won't. Let someone else. Get rid of old baby clothes. Someone needs it NOW. You can get more if you need it. (3) Decorative but useless objects. People have given you pictures, vases, statues, all sorts of things. If you drop all the ornaments at the thrift store and put all the pictures in a cardboard box, you will instantly notice a big difference. (4) Duplicated items. You probably have 4 soup ladels, 2 or more pots of each size, a couple of wine-corkpullers, etc. Keep only the best, and only one of each type. Give the rest away. The hardest duplicate items to tear oneself away from are things like a second set of 'good' dishes. If you have adequate storage, keep them. Otherwise, purge your 'everyday' dishes and use the good ones. Yes you can. Yes you can.
Okay, now you've vastly simplified your task. Now, what do you do with the rest?
You have to make a list of problem items: E.G. (1) Personal letters, photos, newspaper clippings, and documents you need to refer to. If you can afford a good filing cabinet, get one, and the necessary blank folders and hangers. If not, pick up good cardboard boxes e.g. liquor store boxes, wallpaper 'em, label 'em, and start putting these things in storage in your home. (2) Occasionally-used items such as hobby and craft supplies, camping gear, etc. Again, provide yourself with storage containers and label these things and put them away. (3) Books. Will you read it again, or refer to it? Build a bookcase. Otherwise, give them away.
You must be ruthless if you want peace of mind.
07-10-02, 03:50 AM DIXIEGIRL26 An empty landry basket is a great help for me when I clean house. I just go room to room picking up what ever I find that is out of place in that room then move on to the next room, take out whatever belongs in that room put in whatever doesn't, etc. Saves you alot of walking back and forth. If you have kids, make a game out of them helping you. It keeps them out from underfoot while you clean and you might be surprised at how well they do. For my youngest(3) I'll give her a damp cleaning rag and ask her if she can get all the sticky spots off the floor. For my oldest(7), I have a race with her saying that I bet I can clean this room faster than you can clean that one. Then after we are done I take them to the park or out for ice cream to reward them for their help.
07-10-02, 08:03 AM clarebear I clean 1/4 of the room at a time. Seeing half of the room clean gives me incentive to finish it. I set little goals for myself. Try not to do everything at once or nothing will get done. If your whole house is a mess then pick a room a day until its done. Lets start with the kitchen.. First, clean all the garbage out of the room. The little plastic top from the milk. Are you really using it? Then throw it away. Any napkins, garbage, food wrappers, empty bottles etc.. Throw it out. Then, put all the stuff that doesn't belong in the kitchen in piles for the other rooms. (nail file, electric bill, pens, medicine newspapers, kids toys etc.. Now go put the stuff in the rooms that they belong in. Put the salt away, the toaster and that bag of pretzels. Throw out the little plastic bags. Now that all the garbage is gone all you have left in the dishes, the counters and the floor. If its too overwhelming just set a goal to do a little bit each day. Another thing.. I always open my windows and let the light shine in. I play my favorite music. Light some candles before you start cleaning.Imagine how great you'll feel once its done. If all else fails imagine someone coming over and you will clean better than you could ever imagine. Faster too! winkAs for the toys,the best investment I ever purchased was a big toybox. You just throw all the toys in it. Your kids will have to dig for what they want but they don't care. It also is easy for them to cleanup. Toyboxes are great! They really take care of the clutter. smile
07-10-02, 10:47 AM LVLF When my kids were little and I was working full time nights and my husband full time days and there were only 24 hours in a day it was it was easy to ignore what a sty the house was. But, of course, there come a day when you realize there is no fairy that comes in the middle of the night to do the grunt work. I was the grunt worker! The first thing I'd do is NOT turn the T.V. on. I'd put the radio on, then make some coffee. As far as cleaning, I'd start in the boys rooms, put all the clothing type items in the hallway, and all the toys on the beds. and do the same in the rest of the rooms. Uncluttered floors looked workable and I could concentrate on the task at hand. I'd start some laundry ( laundry is kind of like "The thing that wouldn't die" ) Then, I'd do the bathrooms. Once they were done, I'd go back to the boys rooms and start sorting- Once the bathrooms and the boys rooms were done the rest seemed to be a snap. I could see light at the end of the tunnel. As far as what to keep and what to toss, I never was sure if I wanted to toss or keep, so I put the items into a box or bag and I'd think about it for a week or two. Anyway, once the house seemed to be in control, I would, the following week, go thru drawers and closets, sorting, etc. I'd start in our rooms, then move on to kitchen, etc. It took some time, but when it was done, it felt great, and it didn't seem so overwhelming to keep it up. wink
07-10-02, 01:00 PM Margaret Dust I would start in the room you enjoy the most. How my mother taught me about kids in housework, Was to get up and before doing anything go put a load of laundry in the tub, then change the kids diapers and feed them, then tackle the kitchen and pull out meat for dinner and put it in the oven(Roast,Turkey,Chicken)then tackle the dishes, then pick up the house and floors and sweep and mop the floors.Then tackle the bathroom and then the bedrooms and in between put a load of laundry in the tub and dry one load. This has helped me out alot, and if you have kids, your house is never spotless. So my Mom said to enjoy your children and don't sweat the small stuff. Also make sure you eat and drink as well because this will make you sick and you don't need to be sick. Good Luck
07-10-02, 11:21 PM LVLF After reading all of the answers I find myself AMAZED at how women are not recognized for our incredible ability to manage huge tasks on a daily basis, AND hold jobs. If you listen closely you can hear me patting myself, and all of us on the back! big grin wink P.s. I hope you really are feeling better, Nursey63, and remember, in a hundred years from now no one will give a hoot if your house isn't perfect. Don't knock yourself out over cleaning your house. When your kids are in school and there are less distractions you will find you have time AND energy. You can always ask a friend or family member to help out, whether it's taking the kids for a few hours or helping to clean.
[This message was edited by LVLF on 07-10-02 at 11:32 PM.]
07-12-02, 01:43 AM nursey63 I think you all for your advice and I will try it all and see what happens. I have started in the kitchen and will just go through everything. Thanks for you in put.
07-14-02, 01:06 AM mahal I always start with the clutter to build confidence. Whatever has the best chance of giving me a feeling of accomplishment the fastest. I find that I actually work better and faster that way.
07-14-02, 02:49 PM clarebear Just had to reread this again. Quick! My brother is coming over today and I haven't cleaned since answerpool started. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Come to think of it I don't think I've done anything since answerpool started. LOL! I gotta go. frown
quote: If all else fails imagine someone coming over and you will clean better than you could ever imagine. Faster too!
Guess I better take my own advice! eek eek
07-14-02, 03:59 PM cattywampus My answer to housework? I won't do it until I absolutely have to, so I invite people over a lot. razz razz razz
07-14-02, 11:18 PM jejelale About twice a year, when I can no longer stand the expolding toy boxes and stuff I am no longer sure if I want, I just box and have a yard sale. It works great because my kids gladly part with their toys with the promise that they get a portion of the yard sale money to buy a new toy.(1 new toy sure beats 20.)I can live without my clutter and have a few dollars to spend on something I always wanted. Leftover items are always dropped off at the Salvation Army. Just an idea!
08-23-02, 07:44 AM Shawn first make a walk through of the house with your laundry basket and "zone" the rooms for items that don't belong in there. Take the basket to the first room you are going to clean (I start in the back of the house and work my way up). and start top to bottom. Vaccume ceiling fans, dust furniture and blinds. Make a quick vacumme with the hose around exposed base boards. Then clean any picture glass or other galss then as you are leaving look through your basket and put back any items that belong in that room. and finally vaccume the floor as you leave the room.
I leave the kitchen for last since it takes me the longest. Again top to bottom, cabinets, counters, appliances then the floors.
Bathrooms start at the back and clean your way out.
When cleaning out your clutter, you can take old magazines with you to the doctors offices you visit and leave them there. Old toys, clean up and take with you next time you go to your GYN or the pediatrician. Or take to a local hospital. a nearby daycare or last result the good will.
When cleaning out your closet get rid of any garment you haven't worn in the past year. Including shoes, handbags, belts, ties etc.
Best to clean out the garage or attic in the winter time so you don't die of heat exhaustion. Just ask your self why you are saving it and if you don't have a good answer- its gone. Better yet if you are a real garage sale type person then you could wait till spring time and gather all the old stuff together for a rumage sale. Anything left over should be tossed or taken to salvation army or goodwill type stores.
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