Messy apartment?

Question

My apartment is a disaster. I work nearly 70 hours a week and it just keeps getting messier and messier. I can barely walk through my livingroom, I always have dishes dirty, and I still haven't decorated. I've lived here for a year now. I have very little time and i just cannot get motivated. Any ideas?

Answer 1

I know that you must have at least one day a week off. What I do is this.. During the week, I take a laundry basket and set it in the room where the biggest clutter is. As you walk through that room, try picturing that room from another person's eyes.. ie. what they see when they walk into the room. and everything that does not go in that room goes into the basket. You can set the basket into any corner of the room. On your day off yo should not have a big clutter to clean just a basket filled with things that go in other rooms of your apartment. Take your basket, and walk from room to room, and put away the offending objects that ended up in your main room.

As far as dishes go. after each meal or snack that you eat, rinse off the plates and silverware, that way on your day off, basically all you have to do is really just a light wash on them. And there is no foul in leaving the clean dishes in the dish drainer, use those dishes first when cooking meals for the next week.

Answer 2

It can often be hard to keep a place clean when you only sleep and eat there and not much time for much else.

First of all start with the basics. Get yourself to clean up right away after every meal. Use paper plates and cups if it is easier.
Make a list of the things that need to be done each week, Laundry, cleaning the bathroom, cleaning out the fridge, etc. Figure out which days you want to do what.

Mail is often a big source of clutter. Sort it right away into Trash,
Things that need to be addressed and things to file.

Can you afford to have someone come in every other week to do the cleaning? If so consider it money well spent.

Get in the habit of cleaning up after yourself right away and as you go about your time at home. That alone will help keep you from adding to the mess daily. Then you can start to get at the other things. Eventually you will get it done.

Then you can think about decorating. Sometimes after decorating you are more willing to keep it clean as it feels more like home.

Answer 3

I like every ones answers. if you are going to do it yourself. pick one room and tackle it. Use the other persons idea of the basket and toss inside anything that doesn't belong there until that ONE room is done. Then have go to a friends house and reward yourself for accomplishing something. If you still have time, start working on another room as time allows. With the first basket... you know what you put in there... Put everything in the room it belongs.. then start over with the next room.
Soon enough you will be done, and I like the idea of a housekeeper every other week. Then you won't get in this fix again. My mother in law has no kids at home... just a cat... and she still got a cleaner because she had her husband worked. They do dusting and vacuuming and all the little things that are more than just keeping it clutter free.

Answer 4

Well, if you can afford it, I would hire a maids service to come in one a week. You may need to pay a bit more up front to get the initial cleaning, but after that it may be a more manageable fee. If you don't want to pay someone, and don't feel too embarrassed about the whole situation, get some friends together and have a cleaning party. Get some pizza and beer (or whatever you and your friends like) as "payment" for their help. Once you get the initial clean done, it will probably be easier for you to keep it up. Right now, it's a big task you don't want to tackle, but if it's a much smaller and more manageable task, you may feel more motivated to deal with it.

Answer 5

There are professional organizers.They will help you see a vision for your home and unclutter everything. It will probably be easier with someone helping you who knows what to do.

After that , hire a maid to clean up every week or so.

Lastly you can talk to a decorator or a Friend who has this natural talent.
Your place should be in better shape soon.It just takes time.

Answer 6

Make a schedule out and have one small area everyday that you clean. I can empathize with you on the lack of time thing, but I just try to tackle it in small bits. For instance, tonight my goal is to clean my bathroom sink and toilet. This is a task that should only take 15 minutes, and I can do it while I'm whitening my teeth or conditioning my hair or something. Just set small goals, not even a whole room, maybe just a corner. Or don't say you're going to do all your laundry in one night, set one night for separating, one night for whites, one for colors. Just keep it small and simple.

Answer 7

Yes, call out sick on a Friday and use the weekend to clean it. Pay someone to clean it. I would invest in alot of paper goods this way you don't have to wash dishes. (any local .99 cent store has loads). Bring your laundry to a laundry mat that will do it for you. Last but not least throw out alot of stuff. You probably have way to much in your apartment.

Answer 8

Find someone who does this kind of thing for you .If you look in your area you may find someone affordable to help you . I would do it but im stuck here !

Answer 9

start simple, throw out everything you can live without..then spend some time and get organized

Answer 10

replace clutter by clear spaces... study feng shui and your dept will look better and you will feel another energy. Investigate about bagua zones...