How to clean and organize?

[fracturedstory]

I'd start on one spot and maybe shift all that stuff into a box and organise it. I start on my table and I'll move all the stuff onto my computer chair while I clean the table (dust, wash, etc). Then I'll return the items and repeat same process with my computer desk. Just get the stuff out of the way while you clean those spots then organise it in a little corner then return.
Or you can decide what stays and what goes in storage.

Tip: turn it into a routine. Plan to clean every three weeks and on that date don't wait for another day - do it. Our problem is we procrastinate too much, and when I find I do that the task becomes even more difficult to complete.
Also, my mum yelled at me a lot.

So my advice is start on certain spots and soon you'll have a clean room. If it's a huge room then take breaks and come back to it throughout the day. But planning is important. If you don't set a specific date it probably won't get done.

It's not impossible to clean and organise when you have ADHD, just difficult. I have to be more organised because I got bed bugs. Eww. I lived in a right mess before and I didn't even think it was a mess.

[SquarePeg]

Where I live in Spain is very different to what I am used to, the people are so much more organised and I need to take a leaf from their book.

They love routine, and have set times and days to do household chores.

Like Monday would be cleaning windows and patio,
Tuesdays bathrooms etc
Wednesdays shopping blah blah

They plan their menus the same way, Monday Paella, Tuesday fish etc, wednesday chicken

Although the thought of it makes me want to poke my eyes out with a stick.

[Sandy4957]

Empty the room.

I mean all of it, furniture included.

Wipe everything down. Dust everywhere. Maybe re-paint, if it needs it.

Now comes the hard part.

Only put back what you want or need and couldn't recover (or substitute for) in a pinch. That pile of magazines? Recycle them, or if they seem valuable, take them to a store that will pick through what's worth keeping and sell the good ones.

Those files full of paper? Pull a few out. If they're more than 10 years old and they don't likely contain a will or something like that, toss them or shred them. Or hire a service to come pick them up to be shredded, if they have personal information. Put them all in boxes if they're less than 10 years old. Don't go through them. There's little point. Odds are you won't need them, so don't waste your energy. Just store them in boxes for now. Mark the outside of the boxes "Destroy in 2022." Then create file folders for checking accounts, car stuff, receipts and warranties, investment accounts, credit cards, utilities, your "house" file (for things like bids and receipts from workers who do repairs, etc.), and maybe a couple other folders. Beginning January 1, 2013, you will file every paper away in those files. And on January 1, 2014, you will pull all those files out, stick them in a box labeled "Destroy in 2023," and make a new set for 2014. Make that a ritual and you'll never have to "go through" papers in the future.

Books? Keep only the classics or your favorites. The ones that your in-laws give you at Christmas with Ole & Lena jokes go...

Pictures of your family? Put them in a box. Don't tell yourself that you'll make up an album, 'cause you likely won't. Leave that for your great grandkids.

Children's art projects? Put them in the neighbor's trash can so the kids don't see them. Unless they're good.

It is easier to put things back in mindfully than to remove them mindfully, if that makes sense. When they're already out of the room, it will be more obvious what doesn't need to return.

[Spacemaster]

I like to tackle things in very small chunks. I work on my "surfaces". Desk top, counter top, table top, etc.

I do one surface or drawer at a time, no more. I try very hard to not even look at anything else until that one place is done.

When you only have to deal with the items in a very small area, it's not so overwhelming. I just cleaned off my 1.5' x 3' dresser top. It's been messy for months, and I haven't dealt with it, but it only took 15 minutes. The whole room looks a lot nicer now.

When you are done with that ONE place, move on to another. It's surprising how much you can get done in an hour, by only tackling tiny places at a time.

[GuyFromPoland]

It is like polishing a diamant! First, you start with garbage, when this is done you can go to certain places like a desk or closet.

[crystal8080]

Marry someone who is organized


I do try to break things into projects. Something manageable. Cleaning the fruit bowl that somehow became a dump spot for clutter. My desk. Getting the kids to clean up after themselves. I survive by keeping a routine. Its the only way I can remember to do things. Its because one thing always follows another.

I live in a pretty big house, I cannot clean the whole thing in one shot. Yes, even when I'm hypomanic...I will get distracted before its done. I do one room, or a few rooms at a time depending on my time and how dirty it is. I need to have a clean home to have a uncluttered mind. So, its something I'm continually working on.

I usually start with garbage/recycling first. Get the dishes in the sink and wash them. Clean the counters. Sweep the floor. Then you have some space. By then I'm on a roll. Papers, toys put away. Vacuum. Get some laundry going. Bathrooms. If I can get that far I'm almost done. I may tackle the bedrooms upstairs, which are mostly clean but need vacuuming, dusting etc. I may have to stop somewhere in this sequence and pick it back up the next day.

[finallyfound10]

I have no clue! My solution in the future when I have enough money is to hire a cleaning lady to come 1x a week.

I know it the easy way out in many, many regards but I have years of proof that this isn't a strength of mine and am willing to give up other luxuries to simply be able to have friends over without needing days notice!!

[GuyFromPoland]

Originally Posted by finallyfound10

I have no clue! My solution in the future when I have enough money is to hire a cleaning lady to come 1x a week.

I know it the easy way out in many, many regards but I have years of proof that this isn't a strength of mine and am willing to give up other luxuries to simply be able to have friends over without needing days notice!!

Can someone help you cleaning maybe? A friend, good neighboor or member of family.

[Spacemaster]

Cleaning the fruit bowl that somehow became a dump spot for clutter.

I can't remember the last time my fruit bowl had just fruit in it!
It's usually filled with mail/or misc. crap, and I usually arrange the fruit on or around the mess.

[Goodword]

My only suggestion is to motivate you, but may not help with efficiency. I think of de littering as a form of treasure hunting