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The Organised Mum Method: Transform your home in 30 minutes a day

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THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERThe Organised Mum Method is THE housekeeping bible that will completely revolutionise your home.Say goodbye to mess, clutter and weekends spent tidying and cleaning! Gemma Bray (a.k.a The Organised Mum) is a firm believer that there is more to life than housework, and over the last decade she has perfected The Organised Mum Method (TOMM).* The Organised Mum Method is a structured, manageable and ultra-efficient cleaning routine that ensures all areas of the home are taken care of. It's easy to follow, effective and ensures that everything gets done in just 30 minutes a day, Monday to Friday ... and you get weekends off!Perfect for existing fans of TOMM or anyone looking for ways to fit cleaning around a busy lifestyle, The Organised Mum Method includes life-changing tips, tricks, cleaning schedules, shopping lists, meal plans and quick recipes that will help you get your housework done fast.*Don't worry dads -- it works for you too.

233 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 5, 2019

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Gemma Bray

11 books6 followers

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5 stars
465 (40%)
4 stars
418 (36%)
3 stars
204 (17%)
2 stars
36 (3%)
1 star
12 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
Profile Image for Biblio Bushra.
45 reviews22 followers
September 24, 2019
Housework is a chore, it’s a headache and it’s downright boring. So imagine my surprise when I discovered The Organised Mum last year on Instagram with 2 children running circles around me, piles of laundry and a house screaming for some TLC. I immediately fell in love with her approach to housework. A year later, I am writing this from the comfort of my clean and organised home. Her approach works and I’m not surprised why.
Gemma has written a gem (pun intended!) of a book! Her personality shines through and you can almost literally hear her voice as you read through the pages on how she developed TOMM with two young children in tow. It’s so well-written and for a book about housework, it’s ironically quite fun and almost relaxing to read.
Having already put the method into practice for nearly a year now, I needed some clarifications on the miniscule details around TOMM without constantly bugging Gemma on Instagram and that’s where the book really came in handy – a lot of my queries were answered. What I really love is her practical approach; she sees housework as a part of life and it can’t be avoided.
It’s really helpful that the book is laid out in appropriate sections for me to dip in and out of. The recipes sound delicious (I’m considering a slow cooker now!) and the last section about the Organised Christmas is a great breakdown.
Having followed TOMM for a year, the book is an absolute necessity for me and, as Gemma specifies, for any grown adult managing their own home or entering a living arrangement with another adult.
Profile Image for Gina.
128 reviews6 followers
February 7, 2021
I am not a good housekeeper and I like structure/schedules/systems so I thought this might help. My main issue with it is that so-called “level 1 jobs” which are meant to be done daily and take only 15 mins in total, probably take at least an hour for me. She includes a load of laundry, making beds, cleaning the bathroom and sweeping floors. That’s excluding stuff that *I* do daily, like basic kitchen cleaning, and tidying up after 2 toddlers. So by the time all that is done, if I then add on her 30 min rotating daily cleaning jobs, I’m spending ~2 hours per day cleaning, in addition to feeding 4 people 3 meals per day. So it wasn’t really “30 mins per day to a perpetually clean home” solution that’s advertised.

Also, she meanders into parenting advice and more general life scheduling/organisation, and it just seemed like an ill assorted collection of thoughts and ideas on how to run a home.

There were some tips that I will adopt but overall, I didn’t learn much from this book.
Profile Image for Brb_busyreading.
334 reviews5 followers
October 29, 2019
This book is AMAZING! You obviously don't need to be a mum to read it but it has so many useful hints and tips and even routines for you to follow. This will work in everyone's life. I've read it cover to cover and will now go back over it again and highlight what I should be doing 😁 this will help my life so much and I'm so glad a came across it thanks to the organised mum for creating this method
Profile Image for Emily Fordham.
71 reviews12 followers
October 24, 2019
Following Gemma’s simple and structured routine for 30 minutes of cleaning a day has, and this is no exaggeration, changed my life. I am not a natural cleaner by any stretch- My husband will vouch for that- and I used to spend whole days ‘catch up cleaning’: frantically decluttering, hoovering, dusting etc until the house was mostly sparkly clean only to have all my work be undone again literally within an hour (life with kids eh?!).
Since TOMM (The Organised Mum Method) has come into my life I have felt calmer and more in control and friends and family have actually commented on how clean and tidy the house is... And they want to know the secret of course! The method very much has a cumulative effect and rather quickly a little cleaning goes a long way.
You don’t need the book to follow the method as Gemma puts it all up on her blog for free but because I like books (duh!) I wanted to get my hands on this one anyway. And I’m really glad I did. It has something for everyone- those that have been TOMMing for years as well as complete newbies. For me it had loads of added cleaning tips, tricks and hacks to speed up the running of a home- from how to make beds quickly to keeping your windows streak free. And it’s all explained in Gem’s friendly and supportive tone.
I waited a while to post this review because I wanted to try out some of the recipes which make up a fair portion of the book before giving my overall thoughts. Over the past two weeks I have managed a real selection of them and they certainly get the thumbs up from me- quick, easy and tasty family meals (many budget friendly too). The lentil and potato korma was my favourite for sure and my hubby raved about the cowboy baked beans.
So overall I’m super pleased to have this book (and TOMM) in my house. It sits proudly on my kitchen work-surface ready to be referred to again and again. And if you’ve been struggling with cleaning and other household jobs I would say it’s time to give this book a place in your home too! (Then reap the rewards by using all your spare time to read more books 😆)
192 reviews3 followers
June 4, 2020
I have been a member of the team Tomm group for a while and thought I’d treat myself to the book about the method so I actually get my home organised and knowing where to start.

This book began fantastically! I was really motivated and looking forward to getting started but then... instead of detail on boot camp and cleaning tips I was expecting, I got recipes and Christmas planning?!

Around half the book was focussed on cooking and Christmas.

As the group is centred around having a clean tidy home I was expecting the book to have the Team TOMM schedules and boot camp information that I was looking for- in detail, cleaning tips and ways to maintain a happy home in 30mins a day.

I understand cooking is part of the daily chores but it’s not a main feature of the FB group so I found that quite misleading and disappointing to have taken up such a vast portion of the book (pun intended ;)).

All that being said, I really enjoyed the first section of the book where its focus was on a clean and tidy home. I just hoped it would have continued to be the main feature of this book.
Profile Image for Vinka Maharani.
147 reviews7 followers
October 13, 2024
Gemma Bray’s The Organised Mum Method offers a straightforward and practical approach to managing household tasks without feeling overwhelmed. The method focuses on setting up a manageable cleaning routine that only takes 30 minutes daily, five days a week, with weekends off. This book stands out because of its simplicity—clear steps, realistic expectations, and encouragement to let go of perfectionism.

Reading this felt heart-warming because Bray writes from the perspective of a mum with three kids, fully understanding the heavy burden domestic work puts on mothers. She thoughtfully includes specific plans for key life moments, like maternity leave and Christmas prep, which shows her deep empathy for those juggling multiple responsibilities.

However, some sections felt repetitive. A more concise edit could have strengthened the content, but overall, it’s a helpful guide for reducing the mental load of housework and creating a more organized, stress-free home environment. Perfect for parents and those who want to bring more order into their daily routine.

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Profile Image for India.
174 reviews
March 12, 2022
Absolutely love this concept and will be following the method to a T. It was good reading it back to back with the Mrs Hinch book because I reckon a hybrid of the two would be ideal: Mrs Hinch is all about enjoying cleaning and making a cosy and beautiful home, whereas TOMM works on the assumption that we all hate cleaning and want to get it out of the way as quickly as possible. So TOMM works better for my time poverty, but I’d like to inject some Hinchian enthusiasm into the process.
4 stars because a big chunk of it – the recipes and the Christmas section – was irrelevant to me as a vegetarian who will never be hosting a big family Christmas in my tiny one-bedroom apartment.
186 reviews15 followers
June 10, 2020
Loved it. It is full of good ideas and weekly schedules - right up my street! Now to put it into practice.
Profile Image for Joanna.
119 reviews12 followers
June 28, 2020
Full disclaimer before I start. I didn't read the whole book, but I wouldn't call it a DNF either. No, I simply skipped large chunks as I'm not a Mum (and honestly have no plans to become one). Certain aspects, for example how to nail the school run just weren't worth me reading.
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But that doesn't mean I don't want a clean home. I struggle to keep on top of my cleaning. I've got MS and a constant challenge for me is cleaning. I really really find it hard. Between that and cooking, they sap my energy to zero. But 30 minutes of cleaning a day - no more and no less is something I feel that I can get behind.
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I can't remember how I came across The Organised Mum Method (TOMM) - probably social media but I knew I needed to learn more, so a few months back I bought the book. It sat there on the shelf as I've stuck my head in the sand (yes I'm an Ostrich). My house is clean on a superficial level but when you're home more coz lockdown so you're home to see the sun shine through, and show you the layer of dust on the TV, it's embarrassing. It's time to get cracking.
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Anyway - despite the lack of relevance of some parts, this method is definitely going to work for me. I start my bootcamp tomorrow.
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With WFH looking permanent for the foreseeable for me I have the gift of time to be able to follow this method (especially as my commute took at least 1.5 hours out my day!)
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I can't justify giving this book the full five stars simply because it wasn't completely relevant to me (and I didn't realise how much I would skip due to lack of relevance.) .
However I still give it ⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
Profile Image for Bev.
2 reviews
June 2, 2020
Not 30 minutes!

Bought this as just 30 minutes a day?! Yes please! BUT it doesn't initially you it's 3 x 30 minutes - and only applies if you live in four rooms - including the hall and kitchen, so basically a one bed flat. 5 days a week: 30 minute dash round of basic tidying, dishwasher and beds etc. 30 minutes of cleaning one room on a Rota for 4 days and the fifth giving one of these rooms an extra bottoming with Windows and skirting etc. Plus 30 minutes to sort, wash, dry, iron and put away a daily laundry load. Nothing any decent housekeeper doesn't know. And seems to be aimed solely at the `woman' of the house. Very disappointing. And I still have the extra unaccounted rooms in my house to clean!
Profile Image for Novelle Novels.
1,652 reviews52 followers
September 17, 2019
5 out of 5 stars
This is Gemma’s first book and it’s about her amazing plan that has changed so many people’s way of life. To me it was literally a life saver and I will be forever grateful. She started this at home when she had a newborn and it’s grown from there. In this book she doesn’t only tell you the plan she explains how she created it and gives helpful extra tips which even for someone who has been doing this for over a year it’s great. The extra recipes are so great that I think she could even make a cookbook. This isn’t just a book to be read once it’s one that will be used over and over again. Love, love, love it 🥰
Profile Image for Christine Dunn.
22 reviews
March 1, 2020
Wish I had discovered this a long time ago. My house has never looked so clean and organised! I would definitely recommend this method. The only reason it gets 4 stars as opposed to 5 is that the 30 minutes is a bit deceiving! It definitely takes longer plus there are the extra 'level one tasks' that are not included in that time. All in all though, it is taking much less time and getting easier each week.
Profile Image for Beki.
293 reviews
March 29, 2020
Really enjoyed reading this! Some things seem obvious but good reminder.
Love the checklists! Highly recommend this book if you want to feel less stressed or like a "bad mum" when everything seems out of your control an dyoy not succeeding with housework. Author is down to earth and funny, not a chore to read, will probably re-read it, especially bit about Christmas planning!
1 review
November 14, 2020
Unrealistic

The book is not badly written and well structured. There's a whole section on kids which wasn't relevant for me.
Basically, the book provides daily jobs for you to complete in 30 minutes, when not completed they rollover to the following week. The author promises you get faster each week. Whilst I have followed her regime for two weeks, things are better but I'm spending more time on housework, not less, which defeats the whole purpose of the book! I don't believe it's possible to complete all the jobs in the the time, which is why I say this is unrealistic. Expect weeks of investing some time first, decluttering , meal planning and following a daily regime. There is an app, which I have found helpful (costs another fiver, so don't buy the book, you'll find everything on there) and a Facebook page. Don't join it, within days, I was dragged down by other people's woes. However, it made me thankful I no longer have toddlers!
18 reviews1 follower
November 10, 2019
Great approach.

A good common sense approach to home care organisation. Very similar to the approach I was already taking but I liked the feeling of being part of a team, all of us juggling whilst trying to stay sane. The reminder to set a time limit whilst simple has been very effective for me.
I am on the organised Christmas countdown now, although it feels early when you begin in September the first tasks are not too festive. My freezer has been defrosted, we are booked to go to a Christmas show & panto, my delivery slot is reserved! This means that I should have energy for the unavoidable stressy moments that happen when despite your best Christmas elf impression things don't go to plan. Hopefully any curve balls won't completely derail the Christmas train ☺. Thanks Gemma.
1 review
March 6, 2023
Relatable and realistic

I actually read Gemma's books backwards- I got The Organised Time Technique from the library, enjoyed the concepts and her writing style and was intruiged about TOMM. As with most good things, the methodology is incredibly simple.
Housework can be overwhelming. Trying to summon up the energy to deal with the chaos, having a binge cleaning day only for hard work to be obliterated by crazy toddler is all very disheartening. This method is realistic and helps stop the stressing and obsessing. Ideal for people who suffer from procrastination &/or perfectionism. My only critique is that doing dishes isn't included in the level 1 tasks but I'm trying to get better on doing them as and when. Right, off to do my 30 mins now!
Profile Image for Ingrid.
368 reviews12 followers
July 4, 2020
If you are someone who likes a system and does not yet have one for keeping the house tidy then this is a nice starting point. You get the gist of it in the first third of the book, the rest covers all sorts of specific situations (Christmases, school runs, newborns in the house).
It reads as if you were eavesdropping on a conversation between some neighbours sharing house-keeping tips and can get a bit repetitive (lots of spanners thrown into the works on those pages) but maybe the friendly and compassionate tone is what you need when the house looks like a mess.
4 reviews
April 13, 2023
Although I think the level 1 jobs are unrealistic at times I think the idea Gemma puts forward is a great one. Yes she does suggest some simple obvious things but sometimes that’s what you need - someone to take you back to basics and give you a plan. I don’t follow it religiously but it’s helped me clear my head and get back on top of a house with a 1 year old, 2 year old, a dog, a cat (and a husband). It was an easy read and that little push and motivation I needed to get started and stop feeling overwhelmed.
Profile Image for Amy Baxter.
6 reviews
July 9, 2020
Good concept, but largely recipes

The concept is very good, and we are now trying to adopt it in our home - so far so good! I have only given it 3 stars though, as a large portion of the book is recipes which aren't suitable for us because of allergies. For us personally, we might got just as much from looking at her website and reading a summary of the concept. That said, for others it may well be worth getting the book version for the recipes too.
Profile Image for Ria.
126 reviews2 followers
March 25, 2021
I am already a follower of The Organised Mum Method (TOMM) & bought this on my kindle after I saw Gemma promoting it.

It’s a nice book but I didn’t think it had anything in it that I hadn’t already seen on her blog or from following on Instagram over the past few years.

The recipes are nice & this is a perfect introduction to TOMM if you’ve never heard of it or don’t enjoy blogs or social media.
Profile Image for Paula.
42 reviews
August 27, 2022
2.5. I’m glad I didn’t pay full price! TOMM itself is a great system but I’m not sure the book adds a lot to the info already available on the website & Facebook. I skipped through a lot of the book as it wasn’t applicable to my life (eg cleaning while pregnant). I also wasn’t keen on having the recipes at the end- I didn’t intend to buy a recipe book! But, the friendly tone of the book is quite nice & the method itself is really handy.
Profile Image for Sarah.
277 reviews
October 4, 2022
My house is now cleaner than when we had a cleaner! Plus our home feels so much calmer and I have no stress around getting things done anymore as I know it’ll all happen if I just follow the strategy! Gemma’s method is incredible. It’s so simple and yet it all gets done. I felt like I was barely keeping on top of the bare minimum before and now using this method things that have been ignored forever are now getting attention. Honestly. Just get the book. It’s life changing.
Profile Image for Vikki Herrett.
100 reviews
November 27, 2023
Any newbies starting point.

This is a great book for any one starting out .I got in a rut and didn't know where to start after reading this with all its helpful tips and tricks ,downloading the free printable from the website and then getting going my home is well on its way to being clean .even with 2-6dogs running around the place . The Christmas prep wasn't needed for myself but it's ok still worth a read . Highly recommended for anyone .
2 reviews
August 7, 2020
This book is crazy practical but speaks to you like it's a friend giving you the down-low on how to best clean and care for your home (and yourself... and your belly - excellent recipes) I keep this book out in my kitchen all the time for when I need reminders and as a cookbook. And don't knock the Christmas planning in September. Works a dream!
Profile Image for Nan.
4 reviews
July 10, 2024
My home is consistently clean

I came across the Organised Mum Method quite by chance a few years ago. It’s been a game changer.

When I fully engage in the method my home is clean and well organised, and I am not frazzled from being over worked.

Everything you need to know to do TOMM can be found within this book.
Profile Image for Amanda Youngs.
271 reviews
August 15, 2019
Very good. Sensible system, well thought out. Can't wait to transform my home using a proper system, and try some of the recipes - they look like they will taste unbelievable and so little effort!
And the audio book is a pleasure to listen to.
Profile Image for Nikki.
10 reviews
January 5, 2020
Excellent

Clear and concise, this explained the method in great detail. Loved the recipes too. Can't wait to try some of the meal but most importantly the main section on cleaning gives me hope.
Profile Image for Starry-Eyed Sophie.
18 reviews
February 17, 2020
Incredible

This will help me so much! I have fibromyalgia and have always struggled to do my whole house in one day and would leave me in pain for several days after. This will be so much more manageable. Thanks Gemma.
1 review
March 28, 2020
Wow

This book is absolutely amazing. It's making me look forward to xmas and I'm in the middle of messy bootcamp but also keeping up with the daily jobs. It's making my life so much easier with 2 kids aged 6 and 4 working 4 days and studying too. Thank you so much xx
57 reviews1 follower
March 29, 2020
Life changing

Excellent book. One of the best on housework management and family catering I have read. Truly inspiring. How to keep your home clean and tidy in the most efficient way. Lots of inspiring recipes using a slow cooker.


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