House is a disaster - where do you start?

**Astrid** · November 23rd, 2009, 10:02 AM

Just wondering, as I am sitting here in a disaster zone, how everyone else deals with bringing it back to some sense of order? Now I am not asking for advice, I did try asking this question a number if years ago and kept on getting told Fly Lady, that is not what I am after. I am talking about when you have been sick, the kids a lot of work, guests over, whatever. What do you do? What do you tackle first?

I am not always consistent in what I do, but I do tend to put on a load of washing first. For some reason just hearing the washing machine going makes me feel better, kind of like I am doing something. Of course if there is washing to be hung out I get that done. Then I start on the kitchen. Unload the dishwasher and start getting the next load on. Then I just tend to run around like a mad women, a little bit in this room, a bit in another, not that efficient really. Some times I am more organised and will dedicate a certain amount of time to each room, with going back to the kitchen and lounge room in between the other rooms. I tend to try and focus on the things that make the biggest impact to getting the place looking clean, to beds with be quickly made, chairs pushed in nicely etc.

**LimeSlice** · November 23rd, 2009, 10:06 AM

ALWAYS make the bed first and put on a load of washing! lol
The bed being made just just instantly makes the room feel cleaner I think. And yep the washing machine sound makes you feel like you are doing something and sparks a bit of inspiration hehehe

I think then for me it is dishes, picking up all the random crap all over the house and putting it away and vaccuuming the house.

**~clover~** · November 23rd, 2009, 10:06 AM

I'll usually chuck in some washing, tackle at least half the washing up & clean the kitchen, sit on fb for half hour (where I'm at now, lol) then finish the washing up, clean floors (clothes & toys everywhere), vacuum, sweep, maybe hang washing out....or in the dryer depending on Jesse's mood, then back to fb & bb, lol.

**skybie** · November 23rd, 2009, 10:08 AM

for me, a tidy kitchen makes me feel better.
so i do the dishes first then clean the kitchen up, then the lounge and then the dining table, chairs in nicely, all newspapers removed(DF) then i make my bed and put clothes away, then hit the kids rooms
Then i sit back and admire my work because i know as soon as DF gets home, its all going to turn to rubbish again!

**Visitor7** · November 23rd, 2009, 10:10 AM

Open the house up, get some fresh air in, put some candles on (if you like that). Make the bed, get the washing in the washing machine. Do one room at a time. Don't start on another room until that room is complete. Don't aim to get the whole house done in a day. Just do whatever you can. If you do room by room, you'll at least get a couple of rooms done.

**maz** · November 23rd, 2009, 10:11 AM

OH hon...I am with you BIG TIME!!!!

Ive started writing a list to put on the fridge so I can work through the house and cross off the things ive actually accomplished. It gives me a sense of completion and I work against my self to get the things on the list done. IFYKWIM

done for the day - stripped the boys beds - done dishes - put on 2 loads of washing - embroided some things - restacked the bookshelf.

3 stars for me already lol

**Pretty Butterfly** · November 23rd, 2009, 10:13 AM

This is the order I do my place in most mornings.....

Load of washing... I can do heaps while its washing.

Ad stacks dishwasher... Its his only permanent "job" , I hate it!!

Starting at the front of the house, make all beads and tidy all rooms as i go through the house....by now the house looks pretty good, even though no real cleaning has happened!!!

Go back to front of house with my cloths and vinegar/water bottle. Clean all mirrors, tele's etc. Go back through and do basins, benches etc. Go back through and do toilets and shower screens. It doesn't really take that long. Clean toilets last with bi-carb.

All thats left now are the floors. I vaccumn one day, and mop the next, and so on.

Washing goes on the line, and I'm done unless I have more washing, which I do most days. I put the next lot on, and it goes on the line when Harmony goes down at lunch.

Because I do this nearly every day, it only takes a wipe over, not a full -on clean. Most days its all done before the load of washing is done, unless the boys have made a mega mess somewhere!!

**YoYo** · November 23rd, 2009, 10:15 AM

I'm with Jodi....one room at a time keeps me more sane! If I go all over the place, I just feel like I'm not getting anywhere.

Washing on first as it takes care of itself, Kitchen, lounge/dining, making beds, then when DS is napping his toys get put away, floor swept, then I sit down, BB & FB and eat lunch!

**ladybird11** · November 23rd, 2009, 10:28 AM

I get the washing on first too - more of a time saving thing though, I can keep cleaning while it runs.

Then I do a general 'pick up' around the house, toys away, dishes in the sink etc. Clearing the clutter so to speak.

I really like clean floors - they make me feel much cleaner lol, so I vacumn and mop.

Dusting next, then dishes.

By then the washing should have finished (I speed clean for exercise lol) and I hang that out too.

Then open up the windows and let some fresh air breeze through the house.

Then once a week I change the sheets on all the beds, if I'm slack one a fortnight.

DH does the bathrooms / toilets for us...he seems to enjoy it lol.

**aussienic** · November 23rd, 2009, 10:33 AM

My house is such a mess at the moment.. I find if I clean the kitchen first it seems to set me in motion to do the rest of the house,.

Bathroom next as it is quick and easy.. Then loungeroom.. and if I can be bothered after that

I try and tackle the bedrooms.. (try)

I hate washing and folding. and it always piles up, thankfully I just had my mum here for the week and she loves loves loves washing so I have almost no dirty washing but I do have a massive pile to fold and put away..

**Mildez** · November 23rd, 2009, 10:34 AM

Astrid I am like you. Do a little bit of alot but nothing complete. I always start with the washing machine also.
I do like the sound of doing one room at a time and to be honest I started this a few days ago. My normal routine is do abit of this then start something else so nothing every seems complete. Now of late my dining room I have spring cleaned completely (washed windows, skirting boards, walls completely sparkling clean) everyday or several times aday the kids trash it again but as underneath its clean all I need to do is pick up the toys, papers, quickly mop up some dirt from the shoes, pick up shoes etc. Now that underneath the room is so clean it only takes me 5mins if that (if I am not distracted) to have it completely tidy again.
Today I did the same to DD's bedroom. Its now sparkling. I know its only a matter of hours before she pulls clothes out, messes the bed etc but as its so clean it wont take much to make the bed again and tidy the things she messes up. So thats two rooms done (we have a big house)
Today I aim to do another room. The kitchen is gross (got flowers on the benches that need planting but its too hot) DH brief case and all these other things that dont have homes. Although the kitchen would be lovely to be clean as its such a high traffic area I find it impossible to clean it and keep it clean (its also old style so doesn't help and not very big) I am more concentrating on the living rooms and bedrooms and the kitchen will have to stay the way it is for now.
The office is a pigsty another high traffic area (3 computer hogs in this house) and no one sees it so it can stay that way for now.
Even with guests if you have one or two really tidy rooms you can shut the doors with any luck to bedrooms, laundry, office etc (if the kids remember to keep them shut) so you can sit in there with your guests. I find if you have a few clean rooms it looks better then having half clean rooms all over the house then a few clean and few messy (and with any luck you can close the doors so its not so noticeable) I am no housewife as I remind my husband but so far (in the week I have been doing it) I am finding it nice to have one tidy room. Now I just need to slowly work on a few more.

**Turkish Delight** · November 23rd, 2009, 10:35 AM

Sitting Astrid?? How can one sit in a disaster house??

we have a very large open space area, so i first do all the tidying in the family room - toys etc.., then tackle the kitchen. Then move on to the rooms, then bathrooms and toilets. All one room at a time. Open windows and doors and get the fresh air (if it ain't hot!)

Can i help???

**Mildez** · November 23rd, 2009, 10:37 AM

aussienic I love washing too. If I am desperate I use the dryer but normally especially in this weather its out on the clothes line.
I hate getting the vacuume going. Its ok when I start but getting it up and running (its huge a dyson) is such a pain and then moving it to another room. I also hate mopping and ironing the very most which is why I only iron when I need to wear something.

**Pretty Butterfly** · November 23rd, 2009, 10:37 AM

Hehehe, I find I'm the opposite of Jodi and MM....

If I go from whole room to whole room, I am constantly going back and forwards to get what I need.....

For example, to start on my room..... go get sheets, change bed, go get spray and cloths and bicarb, clean bathroom and tiolet, go get vaccumn and do floor.
When I move on, I have to take the vacumn again, and go back and get the spray and cloths.. drives me batty, and it takes me twice as long as doing one whole task at a time!!

If I can do all my "spit and polish" all at once, I use it, put it away, all done. Going back to spray and wipe something after I've already had it out sends me a little bonkers, I think I be a little anal on the cleaning and may need help!!!

**jackrose** · November 23rd, 2009, 10:39 AM

Disaster zone is a good description here too!

I'm with you, a load of washing on straight away is a great way to start as the sound of the machine feels good, and it means I'm doing two things at once!!

I always take it in little steps so that I feel I can tackle it, I start in One room, and in One corner. I have a few baskets or buckets (one for each other room in the house) with me and start putting things back into their place, tossing things from other rooms into their dedicated bucket. Then at least one area is clear and I can move the bucket to its room and start there.

It saves me running around the house - too much energy wasted plus I tend to get distracted when I do that and feel as if I am not getting anything done. This way, even if the buckets stay un-emptied in their rooms, at least I can close the door on that and have the room I started with looking better!

**No.5** · November 23rd, 2009, 10:41 AM

Know how you feel

yesterday was a big clean day and today you couldn't even tell

I always throw laundry on and while thats going I start in the kitchen - a clean kitchen always makes me feel like the house is cleaner than is really is