She lives in extreme filth, needs advice on cleaning?

Question

My bestfriend's cousin has been going through some health problems lately, and has been suffering serious depression. She has let her home go to the extreme extent, and I know it bothers her. She has tried to clean and organize many times, and it somehow piles up on her again.

She takes in stray cats, and has an indoor dog. The cats have made such a mess of her home. Some use the litter box and other go ALL over the floor, on the couch, kitchen counter, even the stove! :*( She loves the cats and will not get rid of them.

Her floor is so soiled, the beige carpet is now med-dark brown with filth. The cats walk on this, get it on there paws and walk all over the counters and leave nasty paw prints, everywhere. Her dog gets into the trash and spreads it all over. Her cats urinate and poo all over her place, on bags and boxes. She is in a rut, and can't seem to keep everything clean.

Any advice, how to you clean this extreme filth?

No, I could never call animal control on her, she takes very good care of the cats! Keeping the place clean has been a battle, but she is getting better about it. We are planning to take out a weekend to help her reach her "clean home" goal. Was only asking to get cleaning tips. Thanks for all your answers!

Answer 1

First off I would try to get her to see a doctor, they have medications for depression, it sounds as though she may need some help. If you need to get rid of the cats I would call the humane society, let her keep one that she really likes and is clean. It may be tough and this person may hate you but someone needs to step in. There are cleaning services you can hire to help with something like this or else it's time to roll your sleeves up and take a weekend to do some cleaning. There are carpet cleaners you can rent. The only way the house is going to stay clean is if you can get this person out of the rut they are in.
Good luck, I hope everything works out for the best.

Answer 2

Without her knowing it(DON'T TELL HER CALL THE HUMANE SOCIETY)!!!!!!! This is inhumane not only to her but to the animals! Next call the local mental provider, there are communities ones that will treat someone for free or on a sliding scale. Your cousin needs help. Confine the animals if the Humane society hasn't come yet. Next to clean the house. Take nearly everything out of the house. Sorry the carpet can't be fixed. Rip it up. Get a big screwdriver and start at one end of the room, pull it loose from the floor and roll it up and pitch it out. Mix up a big bucket of bleach and water. Get a shovel with a flat bottom not a pointed end--square or rectangle on the bottom of the shovel. Use the shovel to scrape the **** off the floor, throw the **** in a trash bag. Use the bleach water on everything. Pour it over the floor and keep scarping the floor until it is all gone. Then sort threw the junk that was in the house. Throw away whatever is ruined and start a fresh. This needs to be done for your cousins health and the animals! Do what is right! Don't listen to any sob stories from your cousin! Your cousin is not thinking right! You know that so you have to take charge! Best wishes for you and your cousin! If you have to call the police! Later your cousin will thank you!

Answer 3

Well, first she should really deal with her depression. It will be difficult for her to make any long term improvement without dealing with those issues. She may need an anti-depressant to get out of her rut. She should also have her thryroid checked; this is a common cause of depression problems, and may be secondary to the health problems she already has.

Flylady.com is a great website for getting a cleaning routine started. It approaches cleaning in very small steps, so she won't get overhwhelmed.

You could help her by trying to find homes for the cats. You way want to refrain from calling a shelter just yet; if they see the conditions those cats are living in, they may press charges.

Answer 4

If you belong to a church group, can you make it a project to help her out for a few months on a weekly basis. Then possibly it will turn into a check up only and maybe for just a few minutes to help. I hate to say this, but once the animals have left droppings and urinated in areas it is next to impossible to stop them. Is there anyway you can manage to get it down to 1 cat and 1 dog so she can manage it herself? I don't know what her finances are but possibly there is a city or county program that would help with the cleaning. If her income is low she probably can get help. The odor has to be terrible as well and it will be extremely difficult to completely get rid of that. She definitely is needing ongoing help, not just a one time cleaning. She also needs to get into the Dr. for help to get her regulated with her depression. How lucky she is to have a cousin like she has with a good girlfriend who's willing to help!

Answer 5

Instead of just cleaning you may want to consider other options considering her health issues. REMOVE ALL CARPET. Try to install a flooring that is hard and that will allow for easier cleaning, such as wood floors, or ceramic tiles. If the furniture is white in color you can use a solution of bleach water to help remove stains. Make a custom liter box, extra long, or have a number of small ones put in. Make a seperate area, or turn a bedroom into a pets room until they are liter trained. To help protect the furniture from 'animal accidents' try covering them with vinly backed table cloths which are washing machine safe. Plain white vinegar is great for stain removeal and odor removing. But instead of just cleaning this one time, consider ways to clean easier in the future. And if you love your friend, please get her some help for her depression.

Answer 6

Ugh. That's sad. I have a couple of suggestions. Get a group of people together and all go in at once with masks and rubber gloves. It's easier when a group can clean up.

Or you could call human services or the animal shelter. They will get legally involved. That's not much of a solution, but you'd better do something before one of the neighbors makes a call first.

Answer 7

I sounds like your friend has a psychological problem called herding....(collecting) when they take in strays and then can't take care of them properly or let them potty everywhere but the litter pan. That is not taking care of them, it's not doing them any favors and the filth can actually make her more depressed and sick. In many states it is illegal to collect animals or strays. She needs more than your coming in and helping her clean. Although that is a wonder gesture. She needs counseling and to reduce the number of animals to a minimum she can handle and that will use the litter box.

Answer 8

Get the cats and dog out before she gets herself in some real trouble. Charges could be pressed on her and her sanity questioned if she stays in those conditions. Have her seek professional help for the depression. to clean anything she hasnt used in the last year throw out, anything with poo on it throw out shampoo the floor yourself first then seek a professional the carpet may have to go. Her conditons are human and animal cruelty get her out fast.

Answer 9

Oh my goodness! Call animal control on her! This will save her animal's life and hers! Then hire a specialized service company that deals with homes that have people who have OCD issues with animals to clean after the animals have been removed....ask the animal control people for numbers in your area. God bless you for looking out for your best friend's cousin.

Answer 10

You should call the Dr. Phil show, seriously. I have seen stories just like this on his show and he helps people get help with the depression and sometimes pays to have a cleaning company come in.