Organised housework mum who is cleaning up online
Gemma was even invited onto Good Morning Britain to talk about it.
Each day has its own focus room, and these never change.
The pattern goes: Monday - living room Tuesday - bedrooms Wednesday - hallway and stairs Thurs - kitchen Fridays - focusing on a different area each week in an eight-week cycle
Now a mum-of-three, Gemma said: “I started the method 12 years ago after my eldest child was born. I was struggling to keep on top of everything in the house and look after a newborn, so I created the method which enabled me to get everything done but still have lots of time leftover to enjoy my new baby.
“I sat at my kitchen table and drew it up on a piece of paper and stuck in to my fridge and I have followed it ever since.
“Essentially TOMM is an efficient way to keep on top of everything at home. We work in 30 minute chunks daily Mon to Friday. Weekends are kept housework free so you can enjoy your time off without having to do a mammoth clean at the weekend.”
The Friday Focus room alternates each week, and gets a deep clean - the idea being that it eliminates the need for spring cleans and ‘makes sure your house just keeps on getting cleaner.’
Now living in Kent, Gemma is originally from Altrincham where she attended Altrincham Girls’ Grammar and worked in her family’s fish and chip shops, Admirals in Hale Barns and shops in Stockport, Stretford and Cheadle Hulme.
Before having children she owned chip shops herself, in Suffolk, and it was while still working 12-hour days there that she first started TOMM - doing 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes at night.
It’s taken off so much that recently it became her job - with revenue from sponsorship and collaborations with brands so that she can keep the method free for people to download.
She said: “I never really expected it to take off, in fact I followed TOMM privately for years and it was only a couple of years ago, one New Year’s Eve, when my kids dared me to start an Instagram page all about it. I took them up on their dare.
“It really struck a chord and people started to share the method and it really gained traction quickly. I first noticed it was starting to make some waves last Christmas when I was asked to go on Good Morning Britain to talk about it.”
Gemma, married to Mike, 41, and mum to Tom, 12, Jonny, nine, and threeyear-old Ben, puts part of the success down to the team spirit that comes with TOMM.