family is slobs, i'm doing all the work?

Question

I am 18, and I would move out, but there is no way i can afford college simultaneously, so i live with my parents and sister. They toss stuff in the garbage until it is overflowing without at least changing out the bag, leave dirty dishes out and open containers of food all over the house. In the laundry room they spill detergent everywhere and normally dump clothes on the floor instead of the hampers or doing a load. My mom refuses to smoke outside, so everything smells like smoke. I am cleaning all of the time because I am embarrassed and don't like people see this so they can judge us. Clutter is everywhere because they have bought every stupid product under the sun, and she just leaves it around. I spend at least 70% of my free time cleaning not just my room/bathroom, but the rest of the house. No one else will do it. :/ What can I do?

Answer 1

Some of your options where already mentioned:

- Talk to your parents
- Stop the cleaning and see if they get annoyed by the mess and step up
- Move out – to another family member or friend.

But your family may actually have a disorder that is called compulsive hoarding. In that case they need counseling. Look up the website below, judge for yourself and then decide if you need to talk to your family doctor for further advice.

Answer 2

By picking up after them, you are just enabling them.
Stick to your studies and maybe get a part-time job to take you away from there.
Get a lock on your bedroom door and don't let them in.
Do your own laundry separately.
You will be out of there soon.

Answer 3

I was in the same situation many years ago, I had a family meeting and for about a week or so things were better...nothing got better until I moved out on my own.

If anything at all please do what you think is right, don't stress yourself out anymore. I'm sure your friends will understand.

Best of Luck!

Answer 4

Im going threw the same thing you are going threw. i have to be doing all the chours because they wont do them and is if i dont do it they say im lazy.Well what i can tell you is that if they keep on doing this to you its going to be there fault if you leave the house.Talk to your mom about it and if that doesnt work try to find a way that would help you pay for collage .

Answer 5

i wud sit em down n be likeeee
iv been doing A WHOLE LOT of cleaning after you guys
i go to colledge and i really need study time..so can u
please attempt to atleast clean up..after yourselffffff...

and if they dontttt then when sum1 comes over if ur personal space is cleann then u dont have anything to worry about..

what about dorm rooms?

im not really sure...y dont uuu just dont clean for a few days n see if they do anything about it

if nto move in w. a friend or sumthing lol =]

just sum suggestions im only 14 so idk =]

GOODLUCK!!!!!!

Answer 6

I agree with mj. Worry about yourself. Just tell your friends how it is and they shouldn't judge you on that..just your family.. You shouldn't have to clean up for them, so stop doing it. Clean up just enough so you can cook your own food, wash your clothes, etc. :)

Answer 7

try asking them why none of them clean.Or if they like living like pigs. Maybe they don't clean cause they know you will. Only clean your stuff for a week and see what happens.

Answer 8

Stop doing it ! when they run out of clean clothes and dishes someone will move off the couch.I would only keep my stuff done.

Answer 9

As long as you doing it all why change. Stop cleaning all but your area and the hell with the rest.

Answer 10

Have a family meeting, and be honest with them.