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Mess how much can you tolerate?

(91 Posts)
Sallywally1 Tue 08-Sep-20 12:24:05

I think I am somewhere in the middle, I don’t like mess and clutter, but am sometimes too lazy to clear it up. I also work three days a week. Today I have hoovered, cleaned bathroom and did a bit of light polishing. This afternoon I am off out, enough is enough! I also do all the shopping and most of the cooking. OH is retired and is better than I am at clearing up. (My job makes me feel exhausted even the three days I do now).

My late MIL was a ferocious housekeeper and her house was like a showroom. On the other end of the spectrum I know someone who was evicted because the dirt and mess in the house had got out of control it was horrible.

How do others feel about mess vs pristine?

TwiceAsNice Tue 08-Sep-20 17:08:12

I give the flat a big clean every Friday, changing bed, comprehensive bathroom/kitchen clean, floors mopped etc. Other days floors get swept/vacuumed as needed, and I tidy things away every day. It’s not pristine but it is clean and mostly tidy. I can stand a bit of untidiness but not dirt.

Fennel Tue 08-Sep-20 17:11:08

I'm another one who hates clutter. I try to put everything back in it's place before moving on to the next task. When I was working I was the only person in our office who always had a clear desk. I suppose I'm neurotic about it, can't think if my mind is cluttered.
Hate cleaning though, husband used to do the cleaning, now we have help.

sodapop Tue 08-Sep-20 17:27:26

My work desk was always cluttered, used to drive my colleague mad when she took over from me.
I don't mind a bit of mess around me whilst I am relaxing,books, magazines, tablet, chocolate etc. I always tidy things away before I go to bed.

Cabbie21 Tue 08-Sep-20 18:24:39

Kitchen and bathroom are clean enough, and I put the Shark round the floors Regularly, but I don’t dust very often. It means moving so much stuff.
I like the place to be tidy but lived in. As nobody is coming into my house at the moment I don’t worry too much about the state of it.

V3ra Tue 08-Sep-20 21:10:14

My husband is an untidy person, I'm not.
Many years ago in a fit of temper I scooped up all the papers and clutter he'd accumulated in the lounge and threw it away.
Some time later I needed to apply for a passport in my married name. Could not find our marriage certificate anywhere.
Eventually we remembered he'd last had it out to nominate me for his death in service benefits at work.
Ooops...
I had to order a replacement copy to get my passport. My, how he laughed ?
From then on I've put all his clutter in a box for sorting, not in the bin ?

Curlywhirly Tue 08-Sep-20 21:44:44

Quite houseproud, so I clean and tidy daily. Don't mind the grandchildren making a mess, happy to leave it until they go home. We have a dog and I am forever cleaning up after her, and I clean my son's house too (he's single). Good job I quite enjoy housework!

Esspee Tue 08-Sep-20 21:50:56

diygran. Love your charity shop motto.?

Oopsminty Tue 08-Sep-20 21:56:22

I'm very messy

Bosses at work used to despair at the state of my desk. But I genuinely couldn't work with everything neat and tidy

Einstein possibly said this

If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?

Chewbacca Tue 08-Sep-20 22:09:36

How much mess can I tolerate ? Any amount if made by my grandchildren

Exactly the same as Lucca!
The only exception is: the bed must be made before I leave the house in the morning can't bear an unmade bed and the bathroom and kitchen has to be immaculately clean. Other than that, I'm a slut!

Luckygirl Tue 08-Sep-20 22:33:24

Mess! - what mess!? grin

Yellowmellow Wed 09-Sep-20 10:16:17

My mum always used to say 'housework will be here long after lm gone. Housework never stopped her going out and her house was pristine. I like a clean and tidy house but not in any routine. It is cleaned thoroughly every week and bacterial wipes the rest of the week. Who invented them??? Genius and saves so much time ??

Furret Wed 09-Sep-20 10:16:48

Can’t stand mess and clutter!

Craftycat Wed 09-Sep-20 10:17:47

Having had DH home since March I am actually getting immune to mess. The house is a tip & the drive is like Steptoe's yard.
Oh please let him go back to work soon!!!

Chimaera Wed 09-Sep-20 10:18:15

I follow The Organised Mum Method - or try to - for the housework. Basically a rota for different rooms on different days, different levels of cleaning. It's made me less tolerant of mess and untidiness! I used to be quite relaxed about it but at least now I can lay my hands on documents etc!

win Wed 09-Sep-20 10:20:22

I like tidy including all cupboards, even the "messy" drawer in the kitchen that everyone has, must be tidy. I clean weekly, and do not worry about a bit of dust, but hoover daily. I live alone but have a partner visiting daily. I cannot stand a mess or untidiness at all, slightly OCD they tell me, handles have to face the same way, tins with names forward facing and son on. I love OCD people in my home.

PipandFinn Wed 09-Sep-20 10:42:48

? I was just saying to my dp that my personality is to be a minimalist BUT I have too many 'things'.... I clean my bathrooms every other day but only because it saves so much more time. I hate deep cleaning...I'm going to tackle my dressing room today (hopefully) and see if I can throw a lot of stuff (rubbish) out....!!!! hmm

Brigidsdaughter Wed 09-Sep-20 10:48:43

boodymum67 that's very hard to live with. It's a very flippant response to be told 'not to look at...' when it's something that matters to you ♥️⚘⚘⚘

Rosina Wed 09-Sep-20 10:51:16

I can tolerate a lot of mess as long as it is tidied away at the end of the day; my pet hate is coming downstairs to find yesterday's chaos waiting for attention - it seems to start the day off in the wrong way.

Gwenisgreat1 Wed 09-Sep-20 10:52:37

It really depends on the definition of 'tidy'! (according to DH). He leaves piles all over the place. If I put a piece of paper down ( for a few minutes) I'll never find it again 'cause DH has decided that is a good place for another pile. I find it extremely frustrating! He's also a hoarder, but thinks all his bits are pristine!!

Jillybird Wed 09-Sep-20 11:25:01

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nipsmum Wed 09-Sep-20 11:30:32

I got good advice from a friend before I got married. Keep your home clean enough to be healthy and tidy enough to be happy. I am not a fan off housework, and have followed this advice for over 50 years, with no ill effects.

grandtanteJE65 Wed 09-Sep-20 11:31:58

I am fussy about the state of the kitchen and bathroom, but don't worry so much about the rest of the house.

I have a cleaning routine washing floors once a month, dusting the bedroom weekly when I change the bed, hovering the sitting-room at need.

Cabbie21 Wed 09-Sep-20 11:50:43

I bit the bullet and dusted the living room and hall today.
So much brown furniture shows the dust, but the black TV stand is even worse. We have five small oak bookcases, a revolving one and a Canterbury, all covered in stuff, also a piano, sideboard and bureau.
I had to pick up over 75 items: including 9 lamps, 3 clocks, countless ornaments and collectibles.collectibles. Also dusted 16 pictures, though not the tops if I couldn’t reach them.

This is why I don’t dust very often.

Candelle Wed 09-Sep-20 12:01:18

boodymum67 I completely understand your comments.

Although I am not permanently in a wheelchair, when I have been unwell or incapacitated for a time and the dust piles up (husband just don't see what we do - sexist I know but true!) it is very depressing.

I would hate to be as some women were in the 1950's, hoovering around their husband's feet every five minutes, the older I become the more I prefer having a tidy house. Must be age-related.... By the time I am 90 my house will be immaculate.....

lovebeigecardigans1955 Wed 09-Sep-20 12:06:12

My late mother was a bit untidy but not dirty, we called it her 'open filing system.' Being super tidy would have been hard to attain as she simply didn't have enough storage space.

Late MIL was a bit tidier - her knitting was kept in a box which was hidden behind the sofa. She was lucky enough to have quite a few cupboards.

I guess I'm somewhere in the middle.