I'm doing it

[danniellabella]

For years I've lived in a constant state of clutter and it never used to bother me.
I'm a hoarder, have been all my life. Lived in a house with a dad who was a hoarder and my mum just gave up trying to keep the house clean.

At the start of the year the mess started to really bother me. I cleared my workstation at work, threw out heaps of stuff and archived other stuff. Then I did the same thing in my bedroom at home, and to the study at home (which thanks to DH didn't last). Anyway, once I saw what I'd achieved at work and in my bedroom, I decided that if mess bothers me so much, all I have to do is change my priorities and do a little every day.

Well, I've had a clean house for a month. The sort of house I'm not afraid of having people come over.
I don't need to take a day off work just to detail clean my house anymore either. If I take the day off work, I get to relax and enjoy it.

Today I finally caught up on all my washing and I mean all of it! And it's only because I do 2-3 loads of clothes washing every day so this weekend I've been able to just focus on the backlog of sheets and towels.

My next job now that all the sheets and towels are clean is to reorganise the linen closet so they all fit!

Oh, and I want to add that I've had a really clean house every day and I work full-time and have a toddler. This may not be a big deal to some of you, but to me it's a huge deal!

[Fleur]

Oh, and I want to add that I've had a really clean house every day and I work full-time and have a toddler. This may not be a big deal to some of you, but to me it's a huge deal!

Yay!! well done I DO know how awesome that must feel. I have started trying to declutter here, too, but it's going to be a long slow road, lol...

[maz]

well done hon...now come and give me some mojo cause i need it to do the same

[CharlieBrownGirl]

congratulations! I'm almost at the point you're at. It doesn't happen overnight but it's slowly getting there.
Enjoy your clean, de-cluttered house

[danniellabella]

well done hon...now come and give me some mojo cause i need it to do the same

Don't know that you want it. I'm currently getting most of my energy from my overactive thyroid. I do hope that I still have enough energy to keep going once I'm better.

Seriously though, I've been on these cleaning kicks before - never for this long though and I worked out the difference this time and why it's kept going. All the other cleaning kicks have been head decisions but my heart wasn't really in it. This time as I mentioned, the mess really started to bother me. It was upsetting me and stressing me out like never before. This time it's a heart decision to do it. I'm less stressed now too because I can actually relax in my own home.

[Liviam]

AWESOME!!! I'm so jealous! I'v got mum coming over for the weekend to look after the kids so I can do a majr spring clean and then hopefully just keep it clean and do a spring clean twice a year. I'm managing to keep up with the day to day housework but can't find the time to do big cleans.
YOU ARE AWESOME!!! Well done darl and keep up the good work!!!

[indie24]

Well done. We need to declutter here too. Both DH and I are both hoarders

[jackrose]

Well done!! It feels soooooo good doesn't it!

We have just moved house and I have been bitten by the same bug. I have cleared years of accumulated clutter and the new space just feels so fresh and clear. I am finding it so easy to keep on top of now too as I get immediate benefits from clearing a surface, I don't turn around and see more 'stuff' everywhere.

While I was in the midst of it all I was also reading one of the books by declutter expert Peter Walsh (as seen on Oprah!). Most of it was all self explanatory but there was one thing in there that really helped and keep me motivated. He suggested to look at each item (with an image in your mind of what your perfect life and perfect house etc is) and ask "is this item enhancing my life?" If my answer was no, it was gone! Haven't missed anything yet!

Enjoy the process and the rewards!

[danniellabella]

Liviam: In just 1 month I've managed to get the house in a state where thanks to my routines I never need to spring clean. Sure, I might take a bit of extra time a couple of times a year to go through clothes and get rid of them, but I don't need to spring clean the house. I detail clean one room a day. It now only takes me about 15-20 minutes every day and I just do it at 7:30 at night just after DD goes to bed and before I sit down to watch my fave shows that come on at 8:30. I also do the normal day to day stuff during that hour as well as my detail clean in the room I'm working on that day.

[Turkish Delight]

well done babes. Now all you have to do is maintain it!!
You've done all the hard work, maintaining it is the easy bit, as long as you do it each day!

[fionas]

Oh well done!

I know what you mean, mess never bothered me too much before but now it drives me absolutely nuts. I think it's because I can't bend easily so it's really frustrating seeing stuff on the floor - reminds me of what I can't do.

Really looking forward to moving. We'll have a big shed - my first ever. So all the non-essential stuff can stay out there until I've worked out where it goes in the house.

Today I found DP packing a pepper grinder that doesn't work

I've thrown umpteen tanties this week because no sooner have I cleared one surface, DP puts a whole load more stuff on it.

[AnyDream]

BIG round of applause from me!! Where can I get some of that thyroid juice LOL (nah only kidding, I know it comes at a price ). You should seriously be proud of your efforts...I feel like I'm on the verge...keep telling us all about it!

Jackrose, when you find that bug, pop him in a matchbox and post him to me, won't you?

FionaS - you need a stick with a grabber claw & a hook on the end of it. DD1 had a bellydancing cane (with a hook on the end) that got put to good use as a multipurpose tool when I had SPD! BTW your shed will be handy but beware, like mine, it's become a new clutter zone. DH takes things out there - I think they're "gone" but they're still lurking in the shed!!!

[~Kim~]

You go girl!!!

Feels good doesn't it?

We've been pretty good but since we're moving interstate, I've been getting ruthless. Makes it heaps easier to a. put stuff away and b. keep it perfect incase buyers want to come through.

[~Kim~]

You go girl!!!

Feels good doesn't it?

We've been pretty good but since we're moving interstate, I've been getting ruthless. Makes it heaps easier to a. put stuff away and b. keep it perfect incase buyers want to come through.

[danniellabella]

well done babes. Now all you have to do is maintain it!!
You've done all the hard work, maintaining it is the easy bit, as long as you do it each day!

That's what I'm doing and it is sooooo easy! I only have to work a little bit hard a couple of times a week and that's to do the detailed cleaning. Doesn't take me long now so I have more time to relax and play.

[Liviam]

So share your secrets. How did you go about it? What did you do? What are you tips? I'm feeling all inspired

[Kazbah]

That's great news Danni, I know you've been working hard on getting into a routine. Well done

[danniellabella]

So share your secrets. How did you go about it? What did you do? What are you tips? I'm feeling all inspired

Firstly I joined flylady, but I don't follow her exact routine. I use it for motivation and established a system that works for me. That's the real trick I think, finding what works for you and your family. I don't think there is any one system that works for everyone or that's right or wrong.

I have a set evening & after work routine. I do have a morning routine but depending on whether I've slept in too much depends on if I get anything apart from getting ready for work done.
I make sure I tidy up the lounge, kitchen & dining room everyday - just tidy and wipe benches & table. I also wipe the bathroom vanity after each use. I keep a chux cloth in the bathroom just for this - it's a physical reminder to wipe the vanity. I run the toilet brush over the toilet everyday and keep the toilet cleaner in the toilet room and try to use that once or twice a week.
I pick one night during the week to detail clean my kitchen, another night to detail clean the bathroom & toilet and then on the weekend I dust, change sheets, vacuum all carpet, tidy bedrooms, clean mirrors and windows. I'm able to relax for about an hour every night and for most of the weekend knowing that I've got a clean house.
I also do 2-3 loads of washing (just clothes) every night which leaves the weekend to focus on sheets and towels.

To get to this I had to do some major decluttering and was ruthless with that. I went with the "if in doubt, throw it out" method and broke all emotional ties to "stuff" It sounds silly, but I used to honestly feel that my "stuff" had feelings and it would be upset if I ripped it up/threw it out. How dumb is that! I've got to the point that I realise stuff is just stuff, it's not important. I've established homes for stuff that I want/need. If an item does not have a home then it has no place in my home anymore.

It's so nice to leave work each day knowing that I'm coming home to a clean house that I actually now love being in. I'm not trying to make plans to go out all the time to escape my pigsty. My home has finally become a place I love.

Sorry for the ramble, but you asked.

Remember though: this is what works for me, you need to find something that works for you.

Oh, and I have all of my routines and daily chores written down in a folder which is my home manual.