keep my house tidy

I am sitting in it right now. Imagine a cave full of fabric, old toys, sewing and knitting supplies, books and broken items and you will get the general idea. I would like to transform it into a craft room with a place for my sewing machine and prettily decorated shabby chic style. I am decluttering 15 mins a day but it doesn’t seem to be getting anywhere (I personally believe the stuff is breeding). I feel a lot of guilt for the toys (especially the teddies of which there are about 100). I had got it somewhat tidy when my parents brought a load of boxes from the attic. I don’t blame them – why should they store my crap? This is a big hurdle for me and I am struggling with it.

I am upstairs now – edging nearer the cupboard above the stairs. (It is above, not below for some reason in our house). I am enjoying being able to walk accross the floor in all the rooms (apart from the spare room) without crunching something and wondering whether it was valuable. It is also a lot more tranquil living in a tidy house than a messy one. I am converted.

Am really proud of myself for this one. Before we went away on holiday I tidied the whole house, finished all the laundry, changed the bed and washed and dried the covers so it would all be nice for when we came back (I was lucky it was a sunny day). I emptied the car, and took all the mail to the post box and cleared out the fridge. I know most people do this before they go on holiday but I never have before. I am normally struggling to pack my bag and find my passport and sit on the plane thinking – Did I turn the oven off?

So when we came back it was all nice and the laundry basket was empty and we could unpack (and fill up the laundry basket) in a nice tidy house. When I say tidy I mean cluttered but with floor space, tables clear and basically clean. The spare room is still awful but you can kind of walk in there now. I will get to it it will just take time. Am doing Kelly’s missions from Flylady.net and do the house blessing on the weekend. When i have decluttered I will do the detailed cleaning.

Got rid of two boxes of my brothers stuff on the weekend that my parents had given me by mistake. They tried to claim it was mine but the Happy Birthday Dear Nephew cards gave them away. I am not going to count it on my weight of decluttering though as they brought me a table and two chairs for the garden which probably weigh the same amount. (But are much more useful)

Did part of the house blessing yesterday – did dusting, mopping, purging of magazines and polishing of mirrors and glass but didn’t finish it as my parents turned up and I had to serve dinner. Was great to see them though.

Have been using flylady to do this one. I am amazed how successful it has been but I need to make sure I keep at it.
Am still on the decluttering stage and doing Kelly’s Missions and one load of laundry a day. Oh and making my bed and the sunday bless your home thingy.

Have got rid of 3 stone in weight of clutter and am going to have a party when I reach my own body weight. I started decluttering in the hallway and have got as far as the kitchen. (Have done hall and living room so far). I am now looking at the living room and seeing more clutter I could have got rid of. I think it is going to have to come off in layers so will have to start at the begining again when I have done the whole house.