...but when I suggested hiring a professional house organizer, my Mom snapped at me and said it's insulting to her. She thinks that members of the family themselves should clean up the mess, primarily the mother. Thing is, half of our house (and we live in a three-storey house) is clutter! She never has the time to clean up her own closet, let alone the whole house! I have suggested throwing away old stuff to minimize junk but she wants to keep them for keepsake or because of sentimental reasons, whatever. I honestly do not want to live in a messy house (who does?) so how do I make our household more livable? I am going to move out soon, but I don't want them to live in that pile of junk of a house too. HELP!!!
2007-03-23 04:27:15 · 10 answers · asked by Tammy 4 in Family & Relationships ➔ Family
Right - start in your own room! Then when the rest of your family see how pleasant it is, hopefully they will follow suit. You can also do things like pick up newspapers/magazines and make sure they are thrown away - in the recycling box!
Next, start on the bathroom - throw away out of date medicines, etc etc.
It is your house too, and you are allowed to say that it is messy if you're willing to help clean it. Kids shouldn't have to live in a mess.
2007-03-23 04:37:47 · answer #1 · answered by True Blue Brit 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've got a house like that too. It's got crappy small closets and basically no basement storage. Take the things that you know you don't want and have a yard sale. Everyone can do that and keep the money they make from it - see if she will go for that idea.
I agree with your mom - a professional house organizer needs to be paid and in many cases, there is no solution because a house has little storage to begin with!
2007-03-30 09:00:31 · answer #2 · answered by kathyw 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Start with a room that everybody will notice right away like the kitchen. Mom will see the results right away the next time she cooks a meal. The rule of thumb we use in my house is the 6 month rule. If you have not used it or worn it in the last 6 months... out it goes to either the trash or the goodwill.
2007-03-23 07:39:25 · answer #3 · answered by cytopia1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would clean my own room first. If they want to live like that then it's really out of your control. Some people have a problem with being a pack rat. I would hope that you can have a talk and maybe everyone can pitch in. If not start marking the days on your calender till you move out.
2007-03-23 05:11:49 · answer #4 · answered by Kat G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree: start with your own room and then move to the bathrooms. Clean up the kitchen and then clean whatever else you can without "stepping on your mom's toes". If you have siblings, enroll them in this work; everyone will then benefit, in many ways.
As for when you move out, you'll have to let it go. Keep your own house neat and tidy, and, if you've been able to teach your siblings how to handle the mess, they'll step in and help.
Bottom line: it's your mother's space, and she'll keep it however she wishes. Just love her and keep on setting a great example; that's a great gift in and of itself.
2007-03-23 04:56:26 · answer #5 · answered by MomBear 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if u really wanna help then start with ur own closet. sowly and gradually start moving out of ur room towards other parts of ur house. you can put all the junk and sentimental things in one room, neatly. if u use every sunday or saturday for cleaning the house you will soon be done. and seeing how much junk u have ur mom might acctually decide to get rid of it.
2007-03-30 22:57:13 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I Feel ya!! My father is a pac rat and he will throw nothing away. It is a good thing I have my own house and it is clean. My dads house is so bad I cannot even go in there, because it upsets me. But, once a pac rat always a pac rat. Once you move out, you can live in your own clean environment, and if they want to be clutter bugs, let them!!
2007-03-29 14:48:41 · answer #7 · answered by whatever 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is what I did to clean out a full garage of things that could be useful but did not need. I hired a roll off company to bring a 30 yard box. And then I closed my eyes and began picking things up and tossing them into the bin. If you open your eyes you will not throw it out. The thing is... You will not miss it. So rid yourself of it. make room. Clean up. It is totally worth it.
2007-03-28 11:01:53 · answer #8 · answered by Strong but fair 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make Saturday a family clean up day. That works at my house and we even have time to do the yard. If my son raises hell, then he doesn't go anywhere until we are ALL done. It works really well.
2007-03-27 08:52:22 · answer #9 · answered by God Bless America 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course it's insulting to her! Imagine having a job you do your best on, and then having your boss say that he's handing the work to someone else.
Why don't you just do it yourself? If your mom sees you cleaning up, she'll want to help.
2007-03-30 19:44:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋