That makes a lot of sense.

Omg, that is so true! Once it's dirty, it's automatically more work, it feels like!

Extremely well said.

This is what I struggle with. It feels like I'm wasting my own time when I'm cleaning something that's already clean. It's a big, weird mental block.

Exactly!

That’s actually really smart. Not having to look at lists and schedules is so much less stressful to me. Thanks. I’m gonna try this.

Oooo I like that!

That is brilliant!

I'm stealing this

@@michelemarino3579 yay!!! i also do some high traffic windows on wednesday--glass on front door, kitchen window & my bedroom windows

That's awesome! I'm 60 yrs old and started this road to declutter in January 2023. I have made visible progress and it feels great. Makes the house easier to keep clean and I know I'm not going to burden my kids with a lot of stuff when I depart this world. Decluttering has wonderful benefits. I've also discovered I can't handle a lot of visual stimulation. So I keep pictures on walls to a minimum and got rid of the knick knacks. I didn't know I don't like busy patterns. So I have simple curtains on windows. What a life changer decluttering has been for me. I love it! So glad to hear your Mom is doing great in this process. 💕

This is so encouraging! I look at my clutter and feel the impossible. Did your mom start with a drawer here, a room here? Or did she say “I’m going to go through all the receipts I have lying around?”

❤❤❤

Tell that to my mother. LOL

@@susannekoster511 LOL. Just say that to her: Cleanliness is morally neutral and see if it works?? lol If it is something you struggle with, look up KC Davis - I follow her on tiktok, she's amazing. She has a website and Facebook too. She focuses on making your house work for you, not you working for your house.

The moral overtones just make it More Work! Releasing the judgement takes the sexy element of revolution OUT and makes it just like brushing hair: something we do for ourselves because it's more efficient, attractive, and empowering!

@@mariekastler5391 It's a care task, for yourself. And it's morally neutral. You can do it, and hopefully you do, to treat yourself well - but if you can't do it, that's totally fine. It doesn't change who you are.

My place is a little messy, but I get so overwhelmed with everything. I just had my first baby in January and nearly all my attention has gone to him. My fiance is great with cleaning and moving things around. His Mom came over to help organize and whatnot and I felt so judged and it made me feel so horrible because she kept saying things here and there. She was very helpful but I still felt very judged. When I get to a point of getting used to having a baby, I'm sure I'll be able to work on being more organized, tidy and clean

Funny thing is, my home became a hoarders house the moment I became screen addicted, I bought things online that I didn't need at all, all because I saw hundreds of DIY's videos and advertisements popping up all the time, I always ignored it because I didn't see how bad it was getting until one day I stopped spending so much time on my screen and that's when it hit me😅 now I'm recovering my life, my home and my finances.

Honestly I left all social media platforms (unless you count KZfaq as social media) but I'm much more productive because I'm at home with time and have no guilt over not having the perfect life to post

I've taken to switching my phone off and putting it somewhere not easliy accessible. Only way I can stop looking at it constantly !

@TaJaliq Sariana What?

@TaJaliq Sariana Ah ok .. I suppose they're still not looking at their screens, since it was a month ago that you asked and you've gotten no replies .. Their homes must be super clean by now, yeah? 😆👍

A made bed is the bedroom's version of a clean and shiny sink haha. Once I made the bed, I want the rest of the room to match how nice it looks :-)

It starts the day with a win, and I feel great every time I go in my room. My mom did me a big favor growing up, because we always made our beds, and had daily routines. Growing up in a clean home was wonderful.

Yes - me too. Dress my bed in the first 2 mins of waking up. Then empty dishwasher while kettle is boiling. Once I got these two things down, your then ready to move on to the next few things! As per this video. Love flylady. Shine your sink, even if you’ve to pile your dirty dishes on a tray to the side. As you get satisfaction from that, you’ll naturally move to adding in more things to a routine!! It really works.

I make mine as well - always a pleasure to see it all dressed when I come into the room!

@@daisybuchanan5378 I grew up with a clean grandma - as I lived most of my childhood and youth with the grandparents. And while it was easy for me to maintain a certain level of cleanness there (at least when I was a little older) - I suck at doing so in my own much smaller flat. The declutter is something I have never learned, as my grandparents had strong hoarding instincts (both lived through WW II and the aftermath) - so what could be reused stayed. But they did not spend much money. Buying all that knick-knackery and the latest gadgets was not for them. Sadly I failed to learn THAT from them. But yes, making my bed is helpful. I have two cats - and when they get hairballs it is much easier when it is only the top blanket over the duvet I have wash.

Cool I'm 56 that sounds good! I need to start my each day with a smile!!

I love you. Thank you. I’m sold on decanting but the containers are so expensive. Do you have a tip for finding economical sets of clear containers?

Me, too and I’m 53. 😂

I’m 74 & have even more junk than I did in my 50’s. Don’t put off cuz it never gets easier.

I always forget people are grandmothers at 55!! That seems so young to me, although that could be because my parents had their first kid at 40.

That’s awesome!! My struggle is severe depression & makes me have no motivation!! I just want to feel normal🤦‍♀️ Hope everything worked out for you & your bf😊

I hear you!

I’m just like you! How did the challenge go?

@@hsin-yiwang5273 I need to try this again more fully. I really focused on the dishes the first time round and I'm still doing well most days. This may go against the over-entertainment part but I will watch a show on Netflix while doing the dishes after putting the kids to bed. I got some super soft dish cloths and a really nice scented dish soap to make it even more enjoyable. Afterwards I wipe down the counters, prep the coffee machine and make myself a cup of tea. It's a routine I really look forward to each day now :)

This is so true. Depression gets worse the less you do, and the more you do the more likely you are to pull yourself out of it

Same with me. I've struggled with depression since my husband died 11 years ago. He died quite suddenly, 4 months later his mom died (she was like a mom to me since my mom had dementia), my mom moved in with us, I was a single mom with a 3 year old child to raise and my dear mom to care for, and while I didn't mind, it was harder than I even realized at the time. Then a few years later my cousin, who was one of my very closest friends died. But my house has become the biggest depressing thing in my life, and these videos are very motivational and I believe I am going to pull out of this. WE CAN DO THIS!!!

Bless you!

My Mom gave us this gift too ! She was the original “Just do It !”

Much respect, we have 5 kids and it’s not easy getting them to take responsibility for their belongings and their own space.

@@raychlc5959 I also have 5 kiddos! Only my 12, 7 & 1yr old is at home now. The older 2 are in college! But the 12 & 7 yr old will not take responsibility for their things🤦‍♀️ We just recently moved into our home & we set strict guidelines for them like keeping their bathroom & rooms clean! No eating anything besides at the table or bar area. Well that lasted maybe a few weeks & now my 7yr old drags out all her toys & things out into our living room area & will not pick up anything! Her room was neatly organized several times by me & now it’s a mess! We set consequences for not following our rules & they do not care!! I’m at my breaking point with all of it. I already have so much on me plus caring for a 1yr old. I wish there was something (ex: challenge) to get them to be more responsible & do their part. I eventually get tired of looking at their messy rooms & just clean/organize again! BUT I know that’s not teaching them anything, but I can’t stand my house to be like that. Also have to say my 2 oldest that are in college right now were way worse!! Destroy their rooms, sneak food & drinks & hide the trash under their beds or wherever they could stick it thinking they were hiding it🤦‍♀️ Total nightmare! Now these 2 are trying to do the same thing as the oldest ones. I’m the strict parent, my husband is the one they run to when I get onto them about all the things. He’s a main source of the problem also! I just feel like throwing my hands up most days!! The struggle is REAL. If you have any tips or tricks to help me out, I would love to hear them 😊

​@@lynseycrittenden5789 My oldest son wouldn't take responsibility, either. After he tripped in his filthy room and got a fishing hook through his finger (before school - just the time you want a trip to the doctor), I took a shovel (literally) to his room and cleared it all out. Everything went except necessities. He still didn't care, because he doesn't become attached to inanimate objects whatsoever, so I periodically cleaned everything out in order to avoid more horrors. I kept this up until he moved out. He's much better now; of course he's 40 and a dad, too.

While taking care of my aunt's place while they were on vacation, my uncle implored me to squeegee after my shower and wipe the fixtures. I adopted it when I came home and it is a game changer! I'm now going to keep a surface cleaner in there with paper towels to adopt Kallie's sink, mirror, toilet seat strategy.

I steam cleaned my shower and then sprayed it with car wax. Wiped it down and now the water repels. We will see if this helps.

@@zipppyzipppy4795 does this make it slippery? Let us know how well it works.

Same!!! I'll go to bed knowing my sink is clean, and wake up to a knife with pb or mayo on it from husband making his lunch..a glass...a bowl of he had a snack . The dishwasher is RIGHT THERE!!!

I also do this before going out of town. Taking a few minutes to clear out the fridge before I leave makes for less work when I get home. Coming home to a clean fridge also makes grocery shopping easier, as I don’t have to cram things into the fridge to put them away.

Buy less to avoid all that.

@@justanotheranonymousaccoun6365 I only have to cram things into my fridge at Thanksgiving.

You do realize that the Sell By date is not the same as the Use By date, right? And if you’re throwing out stuff that looks and smells good post Sell By date is wasting food and money. WRT food staples (not fresh produce or meat/chicken/fish) manufacturers put an arbitrary date of several weeks up to a year, and this date means nothing at all, it is simply a ploy to sell more product.

@@cherylmcnutt9905 95% of the food in my fridge is fresh produce and, as I have had food poisoning more than once from eating food past it's Sell by date, I have learned to be conservative regarding saving food. Having said that, most weeks, I manage to eat everything in tumble down meals so there is only a bit of rocket or lettuce to dump out of the salad spinner. Also, like 25% of people, I have a high sensitivity to mould so need to be vigilant about keeping an eye out for food that has gone 'fuzzy'. Clearing the fridge used to be a chore but now it takes about 5 minutes as most of the food is gone by the time I'm making my Meal Plan for the following week.

I love the idea of a 'cleaning party'. It certainly puts a positive spin on that habit.

I feel your pain, lol

Are the two slobs family or roommates? I find if I were in this situation.. I’d just have them agree to not use a section that you have sectioned out as YOUR area that’s YOURS that they should NOT TOUCH, table or chairs etc.. or go into, or use 1/3 of the fridge, 1/3 or the kitchen, 1/3 living room, 1/3 bathroom, etc. maybe after seeing how your area is cleaned and theirs is a mess and dirty maybe it’ll help them change to be like that.

I think I would have to move before I lived in other peoples mess. I know sometimes that is impossible. I hope you find help in changing those around you if you do let us know!

I've found that the person who likes to have a neat and tidy home in the relationship/shared space ends up doing most of the work because the other people just don't care what it looks like. Maybe some negotiation to get some help... like others can pick specific chores they'll be responsible for. YOU didn't "let" the house get to a cluttered state..sounds to me like it's the two slobs that are responsible. Just saying.

I think moving and leaving the toxic unclean situation as last resort. Also sometimes I think it’s also the people may not feel they “own” the place or space.. like if I’m honest, I’ve noticed I’m more vested in cleaning my own place & keeping it spotless clean when I’m the person solely on the lease in my days after college or house title now than when I was in dorm college and had to live with a roommate.. And just keep to my side.. or when I’m at say my bf just because I don’t feel it’s my right or responsibility to clean it not does it benefits me much as I’m not living ft there per se.

I was doing it for quite awhile. However, I got sick and let parts of it slide for a couple of weeks. Now I have to start over.

@Claycat4 it will be easier because, you have seen success before.

can you explain “chore night”?

....it's a designated night that you do your chores.

@Stephanie Lopez it a chore you do nightly every night before going to sleep. You brush your teeth nightly chore, you wash your kitchen sink nightly.

Same! I'm so glad she mentioned her!

This is an urban legend but it is definitely advised to stay with your car while you’re pumping gas

@@gia5018 Then why are there warnings on the gas pumps?

Did you do the fly lady with the secret slob? I follow her.

When women say that Flylady was "too much," it always means (always) that they misunderstood it. Flylady is a 15 minute morning routine, a 15 minute evening routine, one 15 minute period cleaning in one zone of your home, and a one-hour Weekly Home Blessing that can be broken up into 10-minute periods. It is literally the shortest housekeeping routine in existence. The thing is, if you set your timer for a ten-minute task and you aren't "done," you stop anyway. You don't work beyond the time. You can always pick up tomorrow where you left off.

Elliot Homestead?

Ashley from “Til Vacuum Do Us Part”?

It's Mrs. Midwest & she's one of the best!

It’s Foodnanny

I love those girls too! Also Clutterbug, The Minimal Mom, & Diane in Denmark!

Just a simple question. Could u implement some kind of a "fine" for each person for each thing that they do to create more mess for u? Something specific to each person that would hopefully make them not want to "keep doing that"? Could b very simple but not mean.

Perhaps a commendation/reward for the help, especially your son and or husband. You can only do so much - don't exhaust yourself, you need to be able to breathe and enjoy life.

Don't lose hope. Just keep at it every day. Start with your stuff, your areas, your flat surfaces, etc. Once they see the progress and the "ahhhhh" factor in your home areas, they may start doing their own decluttering or maybe ask you to help.

Absolutely! I have seen messy, I have seen dirty, I have seen nasty, and girl I have seen just plain filthy!🤢....lol😂

Same! I can have a very tidy, dirty home and a very messy, clean home. It's rare that it's tidy AND clean for long... maybe after the kids are in bed.

I agree, I can easily keep my house clean, but toys everywhere when the kids are up makes it a fight against messy!

@Melissa Capriotti Make them a part of your 10 minute pickup (make it like a game with a healthy treat after) and that will get them in the habit of picking up after themselves. Even toddlers can get in on this activity.

@@kathya9522 oh I Do! It’s just constant 😂

A friend of mine told me if you switch on an extractor fan before you shower (or before you start cooking, if it's the one in the kitchen) that it works better. Just a tip.