I think that this is why I struggle to clean, because there is always so much to move out of the way first. I’ve also had a lot of work done around the house recently and there’s more being done before the end of the year so things are constantly being moved from room to room.

I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel though as I’m getting better at discarding. Once I can learn to live with less around me and then keep on top of it I think I’ll be ok.

I’m already starting to find certain areas easier and quicker to clean which is good. There’s nothing worse than walking into a room that needs cleaning where I’m faced with decisions that still need to be made about stuff. The space underneath the clutter just never gets cleaned as it’s such a waste of my time and effort moving it all first.

Routines help too

When I wrote about routines in Monday’s post, a couple of readers commented on how important it is to have them in place and they are so right. I have a few daily and weekly ones but nothing is set in stone. I can’t wait to get into a proper routine that I don’t need to think about instead of just doing things as and when and not doing some of it at all. Most of you have probably learnt the hard way that you can’t do without your cleaning routines.

One particular reader Vikki Thompson recommended The Organised Mum Method (TOMM) by Gemma Bray and it rang a bell with me. I looked back on audible and realised that I had downloaded that book over a year ago. Why didn’t I remember the content?

So, I’ve been listening to the book again over the last couple of days and low and behold there’s a chapter that’s all about clearing the clutter before attempting to clean. When I listened to it last year, I think I must have stopped there and parked the rest of the ideas in the book 😀. I’ve been paying attention to that chapter this time around, and I’m realising that I need to follow the ‘clutter buster’ method first and then move onto the ‘messy house bootcamp’. Only then does the book suggest implementing the other normal cleaning routines, although it probably wouldn’t hurt to start fitting in the quick 15 minute daily ones as a way of making a start. I’m a quick learner!

The routines in the book are downloadable and printable, and apparently there is an app where you can tick things off as you do them. First things first though, I’m going to continue listening to the book and follow the_organised_mum Instagram page and also the blog. I like the look of what I’ve seen so far. Thanks for bringing it to my attention again Vikki 😊.

A bit of painting

I spent my lunch break today adding the first coat of emulsion to the wooden panels and cupboard door that had been replaced on one wall in my daughter’s bedroom. I painted the area with wood primer a couple of weeks ago. These jobs don’t take long when you fit them in around other things in the day. I’m going to do another coat tomorrow. I’m leaving the tricky painting in the inside of the cupboard for another time as it did my neck in last time!

Things to do whilst waiting in the car

I picked my youngest daughter up from school today and we had a good chat in the car whilst my eldest was attending an after school lesson. As I knew we’d have around an hour’s wait, I brought my new Shark handheld vacuum cleaner with me (as you do) to see how good it was with cleaning the inside of the car.

I didn’t bring the right crevice tool along, but it does have a lot of suction so I managed to get some of the dirt up from the seats and the floor. I just need to go back and do the difficult to reach areas another day.

Again, this was another good use of my time today. I did a bit of admin in the car as well which got a few things ticked off my list.

I had to do some more work when I got home and then I made chilli con carne with rice which went down well.

I felt shattered this evening for some reason – probably the painting. I fell asleep on the settee in the study and really could have stayed there for the night, but needed to get up and get myself organised and ready for bed.

The kitchen has stayed pretty tidy since I cleaned it this morning so there wasn’t much to do in there this evening. Whilst cooking, I had emptied the dishwasher and there actually wasn’t anything to put in there for the first time ever. I must be getting this routine business right!

Until tomorrow…

Sandra