Well, I’m still working on becoming 5 minutes from ready. I thought I was only 30 minutes from ready and a good couple of hours cleaning & organizing would fix that, only the more cleaning and organizing I did, the more I realized I’d put things in odd places, dusting had been more neglected than I thought, the vacuum broke and floors were in desperate need of a wash, not just a sweep!
I’ve probably spent about 6 hours doing a deep clean and probably have another hour to go. On top of that, I’ve decided to declutter and get rid of a lot of paperwork taking up space, which is my next challenge. I have to say, I felt overwhelmed when I first began and I feel positively radiant now. Having a clean home most definitely improves my general mood and inspires me to keep it clean, it also seems to have motivated me to get things done that I’ve been putting off! A win win all around! And now, I’m also highly enthusiastic about keeping it this way, I’m already finding it means I only need to spend 10 minutes a day doing a quick blitz, rather than what often seems like a whole day over the weekend! Honestly, weekends are simply too important to be spent cleaning!
Anyone else had any success? It really is a great way to reject stress!
wow, you are making me feel really guilty. Fancy coming around and cleaning my house?
I am being desperatley unfair, it is so much better than when I moved in and I think this is one of those times when I have to remember not to compare my circumstances with other peoples!
Jen
By: darkpurplemoon on October 6, 2009
at 12:20 pm
That’s great that you have made so much progress, and you are right in that a messy house can pull my mood down quicker than just about anything. I am slowly working on decluttering which is helping with the staying tidy.
By: Jennifer on October 6, 2009
at 2:34 pm
Have you ever looked at flylady.net?
By: Carolyn on October 6, 2009
at 4:04 pm
I’ve taken it to a whole new level: after moving 3 (!) times in 6 months i got fed up with the amount of “stuff” i had.
I had a ruthless cleanout of stuff: bags full of stuff were turfed, i sold unnecessary furniture on ebay, got myself a brand new fridge (energy efficient too) and a few key items from ikea and i’m set.
I too am quite lazy and I find i am happiest when my home is clean and tidy. For me I just had to put my foot down and say enough is enough!
That being said: it’s the maintenence that creeps up on me: washing dishes, vacuuming, filing etc.
By: K on October 6, 2009
at 10:58 pm
I often forget what a nice feeling a clean house gives me too! It’s something I usually have to tell myself when I really don’t want to pick up something or do that last load of dishes!
By: Molly on October 7, 2009
at 8:22 am
Yes, yesterday and this mornig I cleaned out two closests. I also went through all of my clothing and my husband’s clothing and gave 2 1/2 large sacks of clothes to the GoodWill. It makes me feel so much better. I also organized my clothes, pants with pants, skirts with skirts etc. Everything had gotten so out of order with my clothes.
By: nichole3 on October 8, 2009
at 10:46 pm
I’m in the middle of a fall cleaning my self here. We are recent empty nesters & I’m cleaning out all that the flock left behind! Goodwill loves me now! Only half way through but is so freeing. I do things in spirts ..it did not get this way over night and I’mnot going to try and clear years of clutter in a day. It is very freeing to clear it out and the house feels “lighter”
By: Katie on October 10, 2009
at 2:35 pm
It sounds like you’ve got a lot done! I try to spend 10 to 20 minutes a day on housework so I don’t have to give over a whole evening (and certainly not a whole day!) to cleaning. Life is too short and cleaning is too dull!
By: shoestringalley on October 10, 2009
at 5:27 pm
In response to a post a little while back (in case you haven’t already researched it), to renew your passport you need a passport form from the post office and a suitable passport photograph. (I daresay you need to write a cheque too but I’m still stuck at the photo stage.) Hope that is of some use.
By: Jane on October 12, 2009
at 2:38 pm
Sorry I haven’t stopped by lately. Kind of taking a kick back in the blogging world to regroup with the physical man kind. LOL. The time to regroup has been nice.
Speaking of, I like your “5 minutes from ready” phrase. One could cheat here…at least in the living room. If you have an open ottoman or coffee table cubby. You throw everything, like magazines and the throw, in there when guest are coming. Hides the mess. lol.
Actually, the daughter and I cleaned out her bedroom and rearranged it (looks lovely now). Hubby and I cleaned out the kitchen cupboards (I really like to get rid of more clutter but he can find reason to use it once more – lol). I cleaned out the pantry and fridge. Cleaned my son’s room and my room. Deweeded the garden. It’s all looking good in time for company to come around.
Now, who could I find to come over for a nice dinner?
By: Money Funk on October 12, 2009
at 10:15 pm
Very inspiring but I hope it hasn’t taken over your life. I read your blog frequently and am concerned to find you have not posted for quite a while now. Are you OK?
By: eliane on October 17, 2009
at 10:08 am
Hi Frugal T hope you are alright and that nasty flu hasn’t dragged you right down. The housework will wait, be kind to yourself.
All the best Grandmaibb.
By: Pippa on October 18, 2009
at 4:13 pm
[...] walked all along Exeter Quay! Suffocation over For those that asked, no I wasn’t too busy cleaning to blog, however I’m still 5 minutes from ready and it feels absolutely wonderful! I highly recommend [...]
By: Reclaiming Simple Sundays « Notes From The Frugal Trenches – A Downshifting Journey on October 18, 2009
at 7:38 pm
[...] a mess in the kitchen after a meal. Frugal Trenches, one of my favorite bloggers, keeps her house 5 minutes from ready. We have a toddler, so I’m shooting for 15 minutes from ready – still a big [...]
By: Frugal Babe » Blog Archive » Frugal, Simple, Clean. Three Of My Favorite Words. on October 29, 2009
at 9:58 pm