Living Clean

All Blog Posts (81)

Feeling of real Progress

When I think of my 'cleaning journey' if that is the right word, I am reminded of the saying: 'The darkest hour comes before the dawn'. I have been cleaning away and felt there was no progress for ages. Then I felt really down about it - but now it feels as though there has been a big shift and everything is moving forward again.

It is as if you hit rock bottom before the shift comes.

The biggest thing that is improving this time is that the channel is there for the… Continue

Added by Louise Lotz on January 9, 2010 at 4:45am — No Comments

Getting a better flow

I am starting to get a better sense of flow - and have made great progress on the bedroom today - a large area of floor has now appeared. Some stuff has gone back there, but it looks a lot neater, at least it is in bags and tucked away.

Last week I cleared and sorted the drawers that hold most of my current clothing.

Today I have revisited these drawers and also the crazy piles of clothing.

I have sorted the coathangers and have hung up those things that need… Continue

Added by Louise Lotz on January 8, 2010 at 10:25am — No Comments

The NTL man cometh

Today there is a beneficial crisis that may take my housekeeping agenda forward.

The NTL man cometh and the box sitteth in my bedroom area.

This means I have to clear that area so he can reach it to fix the TV.

Yesterday I removed a large printer that was sitting in that area.

There is some linen there and this has gone onto the bed, but must go back in linen cupboard.

The excitement mounts as I have taken some junk out of there - including… Continue

Added by Louise Lotz on January 8, 2010 at 7:52am — No Comments

Today's big emergency clearing

I am now sorting the stuff that has come from the bedroom floor. Most of it will quickly slot into - washing paper or other category - so just doing a quick sort of this and allocating it all where it goes and then going back to vacuum the floor there. I will keep this ongoing post - recording as I clear. I am quite excited today and have renewed energy for this job.

I've hung the washing out - to make room for more - there is deep snow, but the sun is out and it might dry a bit or… Continue

Added by Louise Lotz on January 8, 2010 at 7:30am — No Comments

Start the New Year Out Right

This year I seem to be having a slow start in getting organized for the new year or doing my regular pass at decluttering projects. It's in a large part because of a project we're doing in the kitchen - putting on our new wood counter top.

What a process this has been - actually a year in the making since we had originally been going for granite or something for last Christmas.

This is a LOT cheaper and just as nice, if not nicer. More about that… Continue

Added by Jan Ferrante on January 3, 2010 at 7:48am — No Comments

Frustration of getting nowhere

Progress is very slow - but I need to take more photos and to keep reminding myself of tangible signs of progress.

Peter brought a load of stuff down from the loft - which was a complication as things were getting a lot tidier.

However, it was good to get some progress on the loft - which is supposed to be cleared by March.

I started to sort out my bedroom - which became badly cluttered again when I chucked a load of stuff in there for Peter's… Continue

Added by Louise Lotz on January 2, 2010 at 5:45pm — 1 Comment

Progress on Study / Office

This has been very slow going.

I have mentally divided it all into 'quadrants' or sections, and I am aiming to get right round in one month.

I am working on several levels though, rather than just working logically round.

I am aiming to tidy, clear and sweep or vacuum the floor every day as it gets very piled up with stuff.

I am aiming to organise part of the bookshelf system every day.

Aiming to keep my desk clear every day.

And… Continue

Added by Louise Lotz on December 30, 2009 at 6:39am — No Comments

Today I am starting on the study

So far, I have tidied the living room and the bathroom and kitchen.

Now I am onto 'maintain' with those.

I have adapted Jan's programme by identifying a 30 step plan for keeping the room tidy

So I do the room tidying in 2 different ways - one is I do the daily tidying - where you go round picking everything up and putting it where it should be and clean anything that needs to be cleaned.

The second circuit is the deep clean circuit. There is obviously an overlap between the… Continue

Added by Louise Lotz on December 29, 2009 at 2:23pm — No Comments

Christmas

Yesterday I put up the Christmas tree. I have a plastic tree because I think it is more environmentally friendly. So I had to get it down from the attic. While I was up there I got a few more things down as I need to clear the attic for the insulation people who are coming in the spring. They were coming in autumn, but I had to put them off as I had not done the clearance.

I have done quite a number of cleaning jobs and there are big improvements. However, my study area and the… Continue

Added by Louise Lotz on December 6, 2009 at 5:17am — No Comments

Bathroom cupboard declutter

I took up Jan's suggestsions and did a bit of decluttering in the bathroom. I like to do this and find some treats in there so I build up from the bathroom day to the pamper day.

I have done the bathroom declutter in a couple of sessions. the first thing I found was some hair colouring that I had got on a half price or less sale. They have been sitting there for about 3 years. So I did a quick colour session on my hair - which was really good and it took out the odd wisps of grey and… Continue

Added by Louise Lotz on November 30, 2009 at 8:12am — No Comments

Bedroom Clutter

I started on the bedroom clutter but realized I am just really shifting the stuff around the room. So I have decided to completely re-organise it. At the moment a huge amount of stuff is being stored in the bedroom. This happened as a result of having to open up the house so I could have lodgers here and the downstairs room where I am sleeping at the moment still has the bookshelves and things in it that it had when it was an ordinary downstairs room.

On top of these are boxes of… Continue

Added by Louise Lotz on November 14, 2009 at 5:35pm — No Comments

Paper clutter is better

I am very encouraged by the big improvement in the paper clutter.

I think tomorrow I need to empty that area and work out what files are current.

Maybe just move the remaining partially sorted stuff to the other side of the room, just to see how I want things to be here.

They work out what files I need in order to do all my current work.

That should be good.

Then work out how to get rid of the remaining piles of stuff that have been… Continue

Added by Louise Lotz on November 14, 2009 at 3:22pm — 2 Comments

Declutter report

I am doing some decluttering in my study. I am not sure this is on the list anywhere - but this is very overdue. I am doing a bit of general declutter everywhere. What I am doing is the give away, put away throw away that is in several books. I am concentrating on things that can actually go out of the front door tomorrow - I might even put them in the car meanwhile - ready to go in the morning.

First of all there are 2 teddies that can go for raffle prizes. I am going to take them… Continue

Added by Louise Lotz on November 14, 2009 at 2:31pm — 1 Comment

Starting Declutter

It is quite late today and I have had a few days of not completely doing the jobs. So I am trying to catch up a few today and catch up a few tomorrow. I think the main thing is to do today's job as far as possible and make the catch-ups optional.

Jan - thanks so much for all the comments - which are really helpful.

I am going to do the jobs now and come back and report.

Regards

Louise

Added by Louise Lotz on November 14, 2009 at 12:14pm — No Comments

Update

This has been a very busy week, so I have not had a lot of time to do this. I have kept up the 5 minute tasks, and now I am starting the 20 minute tasks for the spring cleaning challenge. I am also doing a diet challenge - somewhere else - and won't share about this here, but just so that you know there is something more I am doing for myself in another setting.

Part of the diet challenge is signing up for a new activity, so I am starting my activity tomorrow if I can. I need to go… Continue

Added by Louise Lotz on November 12, 2009 at 7:49am — 1 Comment

Car contents emergency

My car has just been for its annual service. This means I had to empty the car in a hurry, so everything is now in black bags in my living room. The only thing for it is that these bags get shifted to the bedroom which I have only just tidied.

But my car is so beautiful - it is shining. They have shined it up for me - that is great...

Now I am sorting these bags. I think they will sort very quickly - as it is either rubbish or has to go back in the car or be put… Continue

Added by Louise Lotz on November 4, 2009 at 4:08am — 4 Comments

Clockwise and anti-clockwise

I have been keeping up my tasks and will come and report back on them soon.

I want to share my tip for keeping the rest of the house clean in a hurry.

This is what I call clockwise and anti-clockwise.

When I am in a hurry I go round the room clockwise and put away everything I can see that looks as if it needs to be put away. When I have a bit more time, I go round the room anti-clockwise and spend more time clearing an area that needs more attention. I find… Continue

Added by Louise Lotz on November 4, 2009 at 4:04am — No Comments

Question and Answer

MY 5M INUTES BETTER POWER UP QUESTIONS:

WHAT WORKED ? WHAT DIDN’T WORK?

Right - what worked was it was a small easy task and so I have been able to complete it. There is nothing really that did not work. The only thing I was disappointed about was that was my favourite set of bedding, so I was sorry to take that off the bed and put some less favourite bedding on the bed, but at least it is lovely and clean. I added some other things to the linen - as it was all blue I had a load… Continue

Added by Louise Lotz on November 1, 2009 at 8:41am — 2 Comments

5 Minute Challenge

before photo

Hi everyone. I

This is one of the before photos. I am too shy to put them all up as they look a bit extreme.

I have done my first 2 days of 5 minute challenge. This is great and I especially like the idea that I can repeat the challenge. I am going to file these challenges with 3 by 5 cards, as I have a file with jobs that are weekly, monthly, daily and so on. These are monthly I guess, and I already have a… Continue

Added by Louise Lotz on November 1, 2009 at 8:16am — 1 Comment

Starting on the Bedroom

This has become a dumping ground where everything goes in a hurry when I tidy the house when someone is coming.

Today I made a start on it, getting out the laundry basket and bringing out loads of junk from there.

Louise

Added by Louise Lotz on October 29, 2009 at 8:43am — No Comments