I reckon neat freakiness is either in your DNA or it isn't. Unfortunately my DNA contains large doses of it and so does DH's (thankfully not to the point of obsessiveness!). It may be in DS1's DNA too cos he lurves the vacuum cleaner, broom and mop - he has to have a go if they're out and throws a pink fit if you put them away without letting him have them too. One can only hope he continues this fascination into his teens!
But, even though I like to have a clean, tidy house ... I have days where I couldn't be bothered too and I find some great diversions (whaddya think I'm doing on BB). So while it's a bit anal retentive (and I promise I'm not always anal!) I will write a list of what needs to be done and cross it off as I go. Sorry, that's my only tip!
Oh, the other thing that gets me motivated is seeing an icky bathroom handbasin and/or a grotty stove ... rare that they get this way, but if I have managed to put off the housework for up to a week then these two things generally tip me over the edge!
Hmmm, guess I'd better go throw that load of washing in the machine and tackle the ironing. Sigh ....
I've transformed over the past 2.5 months from a lazy hoarder to a neat freak. I've tried for years to be a neat freak but for me it was an emotional thing and it wasn't enough to just say "I want to be neat" I finally got to the point where I was truely miserable at my disordered life and home and the decision was made from the heart rather than in my head like so many times before.
It's a constant decision, like deciding that rather than just sitting down to watch TV or go on the computer, deciding that you wont do those things until you've cleaned the kitchen, or just deciding that before you go to bed each day that you'll put away the things that are in the living room that don't belong there. Never ever leave a room empty handed, take a hand full of things with you and put them where they belong.
Pick one room each day and tidy it up, just spend 10-20 minutes on it and then stop. Even if you focus only on the public areas to start with so that if someone drops by unannounced you're ready.
... rare that they get this way, but if I have managed to put off the housework for up to a week then these two things generally tip me over the edge!
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