Has any one ever let their house or apartment get so messy and disgusting...?

Question

Have you ever let your house or apartment get so messy and disgusting that you became very embarrassed, depressed and overwhelmed? How did you overcome it and get it cleaned up and back in order again? Any success stories, hints or tips? I can't be the only one who has been in this situation. Where do I begin? Help!

Answer 1

You are for sure not the only one..there are success full tvshows about clogged and very dirty houses where they people get help cleaning it. Dr Phil also has made it the subject of his show. And its true...sometimes you are so deep in the mess you don't know where to begin to clean. But you just put the first most important step: you reached out for help, that means you want something to be done. And help is what you need for you cant do it alone. I know it shard but you have to ask people to help you. Call a good friend, a sister, an aunt, someone who knows how to deal with things. If you have the money there are also companies who can help you sort the mess out, tell you what to throw out and what to keep. help you clean, and most importantly, hep you with a system that will prevent this from happening again. It will be tough but in the end, you will be so happy and your life will feel so much more in order and back on track. All the best, you can do it!

Answer 2

I was widowed years ago and since then haven't had anyone to B**** at me to clean stuff up. ;-)

The more socially active I am the cleaner my place gets........but it gets pitiful when I become a hermit for a few months or a year.

I work a LOT and rarely spend time at home....so I can easily rationalize the mess away.

The first thing to do is to sit in the middle of the mess and get a piece of paper and a pen.........be relaxed and focused......start writing.

List all of the stuff you don't need.
List the stuff you do need.
Where should everything be?
Do you need to clean the walls and carpets, also?
What about the bathroom and kitchen? How bad?
Any painting to be done?
How much time can you commit each day....1 hour, 2 hours, more?

What about weekends....one day....two days....


OK........the bad news is sitting in front of you, kinda. You probably need MUCH less stuff than you think and you probably will NOT spend as much time as you wrote down....but, so what, it's just a list......so far.

The bathroom comes first.......gut it and clean it with a toothbrush, if necessary. Don't get overwhelmed by all of the chemical cleaners....but use them anyway. The reason you start here is because NO ONE SHOULD HELP YOU CLEAN YOUR OWN BATHROOM........FACT.

Once the bathroom is done you might get a bit of help from a friend or family member to clean some other rooms. But if they see a pitiful bathroom they WILL balk....and wonder about how serious you are about changing your bad habits. The reason I suggest asking for help is that it can humble you and release some of the pressure of embarrassment. Also, projects go MUCH faster with two people working hard.

The kitchen is the next room. You might get some help with this one... IF.... you throw away all of the garbage and toss everything out of the fridge first. Do a deep cleaning here, too, because only really close Friends will help you here and only if you do the slimy parts.

With the kitchen and the bathroom really clean.....you can probably get some friends to help you with the rest....or you are already on a good roll doing it yourself.

You can ask for some help.......but only after you've committed to the bathroom and most of the kitchen. Of course, it is embarrassing.....DUH.

BUT if you need help and inspiration then GET it, RIGHT???!!!

Once you are 75% through the project, you'll have a good idea how much work you have left and how much time it will take to finish.

Plan a party......that's right .... plan a party. Ask the people who helped you clean and organize to come for dinner and ask some friends over for after you've eaten. Show the place off and act a little contrite. Brag on the friends that helped you through it.

Ask people over at least once a month....including the people who helped you out. Be proud and stay that way.

You don't have to do the Martha Stewart treatment. You could throw EVERYTHING away and it would be the easiest way out, actually.

But if you change your buying habits and schedule your chores on paper......you should be fine in about 4 weeks.



Now......don't I have a few things to tidy up MYSELF ?????!!!!!

Answer 3

I am in that same predicment. I can honestly say that 90% of the stuff in here is in exactly the same place that it was in a year ago.. never touched, never used, and pretty much left the same messy way all of this time.

In order to deal with this, every day I make it a point to throw out at least 2 bags of trash every single day. I have read that in order to streamline your life you should get rid of anything that you have not used over the last 6 months. Granted some things are seasonal that you use only once a year but I have tons of stuff that I forgot that I had.

Its frustrating and disgusting and I have not had any guests in over 2 years because of it. I figure that if I just start throwing stuff away, I am not going to miss any of it. The items that I will lose will be a small price to pay for the peace and comfort of having a clean environment.

Answer 4

I still live at home with my parents and the only thing that ever really gets messy is my bedroom. I always start by making the bed. It helps because then I can pick stuff up off the floor and set it on a neat bed. For example I might throw all the dirty clothes in a pile in the corner. Then I keep the clean clothes on my bed and take everything out of my dresser drawers and put that stuff on my bed too. Then I start neatly folding clothes that go in the dresser. Whatever is left over gets hung up in the closet. Then I go around and throw stupid stuff away like old papers and stuff. Then I'll get to other stuff that's laying around (Cd's, make-up, etc), and put it where it goes. Then I dust and vacuum and everything. Sorry I don't have any advice for the rest of your house though.

Answer 5

i never have but ok im a guy and i keep my place pretty neat

anyhow, here's how i get things done in an orderly efficient manner

1. pick one room or one space at a time. if one room is going to take you more than a day, then pick just a small space in that room and clean that part up. if you think you can do a whole room, in one day or night after work, then commit to doing just that one room or space. the kitchen is usually the best place to start because its a room everyone sees and you do have to eat and cook there and besides food, trash and other stuff in the kitchen attracts bugs and vermin

2. remove all the trash from the room you are working in first, set up a garbage bag or something right outside the area you are working on, now go through your stuff, throw out anything you havent used in three months or that just needs to be thrown out

3. remove all knicknacks, photos, old food, toasters, appliances, whatever that is in the way of cleaning what needs to be cleaned, put it just outside the door or in another room for the time being

4. apply your cleaning products

5. now put all the stuff you took out back, but put it in an orderly fashion, keep things that you are going to use everyday in places that you can get to them easily, if you have stuff that you dont use everyday either throw it out, or put it in a place that is out of the way

6. do not get to over zealous, do one room per night max, this way, you'll see progress in one room at a time and it will make you feel good and if you only have to concentrate on the small area then the task looks more manageable than saying "oh i have to do the whole house at once"

7. once you get it all back into shape, set aside 2-3 hours a week to clean and reorganize things, you will have more time to yourself if you spend a little time organizing things and you can find them

8. turn on the radio while you are cleaning, have a beer or a glass of wine and it won't feel so much like work when you are doing it

Answer 6

Most books and websites I've read recommend this method:
1. Pick a room to begin with, and work from top to bottom, left to right. Turn off your cell phone, and messenger, and turn on the answering machine, to avoid distractions.
2. Get 5 containers: Trash, Storage, Sell/Give Away, Other Room, Laundry
3. Sort through everything, in 20-minute increments if need be, and put in the appropriate container. (Don't get up and take items back to their room, it's too easy to get distracted.)
4. After the room is done, then you can go back through with cleaning supplies and clean any dirty surfaces.

Answer 7

I was in my first apartment at 16 (I married young) - and learned just how quickly you can fall behind on the housework. I was depressed too, because I thought there was no way I would ever get control again. Eventually I realized I had to deal with what felt like an impossible task. So I had to focus on one thing at a time, otherwise I could not fool myself into thinking it could ever be done! Its not easy, you may think you'll start with laundry, but then realize you have to clear a path to the dresser - or clean off the bed to fold the laundry on...so it ends up becoming a chain of events, and as long as I did my best to focus on the little steps it wasn't to bad. Before you know it you can walk into a room and be proud of your progress, and like me you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. - Oh and don't get discouraged, "Rome wasn't built in a day" as the saying goes. :) Good luck to you!

Oh and this site may help to - it's helped me stay on top of things in my home! http://www.flylady.com/

Answer 8

Yes darm it. My wife and I are both poor housecleaners and it bothers me so much that I don't like to invite people into our home. I don't blame her by the way, because she cleans more than I do, but I should do more in the bathrooms and nooks & crannies, but continue to put off such distasteful jobs. I admire those who are so neat and clean that their homes look so presentable every day. I thought about hiring someone to come in, but I don't like dealing with an employee either. Why did you have to bring me out of the filth closet with you question?? Why did you have to lure me into public exposure for being a poor cleaner??? What did I ever do to you? I am now sad and dispondant and .... hungry, but don't want to wash the dish afterwards. I'll get back to it later and besides, it should soak awhile.

Answer 9

Hire Clean Sweep from TLC!!


Or just take a minute to relax, deep breath, and take it one mess at a time. It doesn't all have to be clean in one day! Take a few weeks and make your way through it. Try not to make other messes in the process though...

Answer 10

Girl!!!!

Start with a trashbag in hand.......and tackle one room at a time.
I'm gonna suggest the kitchen....

Clean it up completely. Anything that goes to another room...
(tho it means moving it twice) just take it to the room it goes to, and FINISH the kitchen....

Then to the living room --- if you get those two done... then onto your bathroom.....(or the order of your choice)......but clean !!!

You'll feel so much better -- and it's NOT HEALTHY living in filth!