Are you a tidy person? And what were your parents like?

[Beki]

I've come to the conclusion that it's my parents' fault that i'm an untidy person

I know lots of people whose mums/dads were lazy pigs and rarely tidied or cleaned. But their kids (my peers) who are now adults keep their houses absolutely spotless! I wonder if it's because they remember how untidy it was at home when they were youger and now they want the exact opposite now they have some control over it.

I'm the opposite though. When i was growing up, my mum and dad both worked full time but managed between them, to keep the house absolutely spotless. They even gave me and my sister the spare room and made it into a playroom so toys weren't scattered all over the house.

We were pretty spoiled, and we had a LOT done for us.

But i've realised that has done me no favours really. Whilst i had an idyllic childhood really, not having chores etc has made me lazy!

My house is a tip most of the time. Usually with mud/horse crap/chicken poop traipsed in aswell!

If it wasn't for alan (the OH), my house would look like something out of 'a life of grime' lol

Just wondering if there's a pattern between the way your parents kept their house, and how you keep yours?

Seems to me that the kids do the opposite of what the parents did. So in effect i'm setting a good example to my children - they'll end up with immaculate houses lol

[jackie j]

I'm definitely not a tidy person but my Mum was when she was younger, not easy as she was on her own and didn't have me till she was 42 and i am the youngest of three girls.
I would rather be outdoors than in and at the mo its hard for me to do much as i have a frozen shoulder and i have a mountain of Ironing but hey ho it will still be there the next day and the day after etc etc.
When my eldest son left home I was surprised at how particular he was and still is as his bedroom used to be a mess.
If my daughter wants friends round she tidies up cos she is embarrassed. Its not that bad.

[lozza_9]

My parents are not tidy at all. My house is not spotless and we have loads of things hanging around ( lived in and not a show home) but its not dirty, if you know what I mean. and I think because of my parents I try not to be like them.

If someone came around I would maybe need maybe one hour to tidy a few things away but nothing major.

Loz

[Seahorse]

I am not at all tidy by nature. I have lots of 'stuff' and there's always something better to be doing than tidying up! I do make an effort now I've got kids (because otherwise it really would be a pig sty!) but I think most people would still consider my house a bit chaotic My Mum is quite organised but she does have a lot of clutter too, so it can't totally be a reaction against my upbringing!

[vicky]

I'd say I'm the opposite of my parents too. They never had things lying around and it was never untidy, but no one did things like the dusting! So it was on the dirty side, although they both worked VERY hard and my mum would often work all night! Self employed...
My house in clean but always has toys and 'stuff' left around during the day...
I hate it when people come round unannounced as it always looks a state!

[piskieinboots]

my cutlery draw has all the items lined up - need I say more

[areia]

the tidiest (obviously cleanest)place in my house is the bathroom but then its a shoe box you leave anything on the floor and the door wont open, kitchen, living room dining room, utter chaos,im very clean, working in kitchens for 8 years has drilled a few habits, just the rest of the place is messy, what i would call orgainised chaos as i know if i tidied it all up, i would have a clue where i put half the stuff.
my mum was very clean and tidy when i was growing up but now ive left the nest she averted to "i will just put it somewhere safe " and for a horder its a nightmare she rings me up to ask me where she has put her stuff,
ironing noooooooooo dont know what that is, my said said once women can not iron a mans shirt hey i was not one to agrue im allergic to ironing , i iron my sons school stuff and thats it, unless i happen to be somwhere important.
i'm in agreement with vicky though i like warning if people are coming round,

[Becca]

I'm just like my mum, in that I try and be clean.. but I'm rarely tidy.. they seem to be seperate things to me some how.. quite good at keeping the kitchen and bathroom hygienic, but i hate hoovering so much that my (non-cohabiting as yet) boyfriend has promised to do it if i can keep the place tidy so he has space to hoover.. I like this deal my grandparents were very clean and tidy so maybe my mum inherited that opposite effect.. and my brother seems to be a bastion of tidiness so he's opposite to mum, but unfortunatly I just seem to have inherited her ability not to see the mess until someone's visiting then i have to have a manic tidy.. wish I could just be tidy all the time so i didn't have to worry about unexpected guests.. but have too much stuff and too many projects on the go (house restoration on the go as well as propagating an allotments worth on plants on the dining rom table )

[everdream78]

As my fridge magnet from my best mate says - Gardening Forever, Housework Whenever

I'm not dirty but I'm certainly not tidy

[areia]

after 3 years the dust doesnt get any thicker,
or cleaning after kids is like shoveling show while its snowing
are the two magnets i have on my fridge

[Headfry]

Piskie, my cutlery draw is just the same, and certainly no crud in the corners of the divider thingy!! lol
My greenhouse and plot shed are just the same too.
The cats shed fur and it drives me mad when I see that fluff stuff on the polished wooden floors I cant rest till it's dealt with. That said, if I come in to make tea wearing muddy boots, they say on and I clean the floor later.....it is my home not a show house! and It scrubs up just fine ;-)

[Beki]

LOL i like it they are SO true! lol

[HeyWayne]

I used to think LadyWayne was a little obsessive about cleanliness, but I have to say over the years it seems to have rubbed off. I go round my parents house and wonder how I lived like they do (not dirty by any means, but not spotless).

I myself get a little uncomfortable around clutter - after a while I have to have a complete clearout and I get quite ruthless. (My shed's due a manic minute)

I'm all for having a homely home, but if you do a little housework often, it's not that bad.

LadyWayne is very similar to her Ma when it comes to cleaning.

[yoanbob]

Well my Parents were spotless when I grew up and as they both worked full time a lot of the housework was my "job" every room got a once over everyday!
now though they are a lot more relaxed about it.
I am not tidy but I am clean, everyroom gets cleaned once a week, the kitchen gets done daily but I have piles of stuff I move around to clean under.
I certainly dont iron the bedding like my mum does, only ironing that gets done are work shirts. tops of cupbords and draws and stuff get done once a year.

[kirsty b]

My bedroom as a teen was diabolical, couldn't see the floor. I now have a daughter who is much the same, it has just taken me 2 days to sort out her room (needed to put new bed up, needed to clear space to do it!!) She says its cosy when its mucky.

As an adult I am much tidier, but my home is by no means a show home. 'Clean enough to be healthy and dirty enough to be happy' I try to be organised about household jobs so it gives me more time in the garden or lottie.
Occasionally in protest at the lack of help I get from OH, daughter and stepson#1 I will do NOTHING (and I don't just mean the housework!) for a week. Usually galvanises them.