To think people are getting scruffier?

Maybe there is depression ... having to sell and not wanting to buy forced to.
Domestic violence too by the sounds of things.
My ex husband tore all our doors off including kitchen and fridge door and ripped out electricity and phone cabels. Threw an iron at the tv and smashed sauce bottles up the walls of the kitchen.
Then we finally got him out and he was happy to leave the children living like that. It took me ages and help from a charity to get it to a reasonable state to market it but it looked terrible in my opinion still.

I think this is also true. COVID has really hit some people hard with the self isolation. You also didn't need to present yourself to the outside world as much. Lots of depressed adults, with less money, greater stress and a decline in public services to support them. Heating water now costs a lot more than it did two years ago.

For those who are not having financial troubles, could it be that working from home has made people think that they don’t need to wash as often?
My head of dept reeks and I am sure it’s nothing to do with money. I think he just thinks showering (and teeth brushing 🤮 for that matter) doesn’t need to be done every day. He seems to be able to do both for client meetings, so maybe we’re just not deemed worthy of the effort.

People also dress sloppily nowadays thanks to fast fashion.
Im always fascinated looking at old photos taken in public places (Ie high street) and people look put together and polished.

It used to be that the man would go to work and the women would either only work PT or not work at all and would have time to cook and clean all day.

Someones home who has an adult at home all day is going to be a lot tidier than one with both adults working or a single parents.

I think we have a lot more stuff now too.

We also have lots more other activities - phones, internet, Netflix etc which means that people are less bored.

I think this must be a factor as it is for me. I have to choose between having a tidy home, laundry, having well groomed, well cared for kids or taking care of myself and I can't do it all so the self care goes out the window. I generally look and must smell worse than I'd like because of this. I wouldn't call it life, I'd call it survival.

I think the reasons have already been given

Mental health issues, lack of time in a fast paced world, COL

There also used to be a bit more community in the past that you don't see these days, where you might care how well turned out you were.

Oh don't be so picky

I wonder if a lot of people have some degree of depression that impacts their self care. The last few years have been really tough, so it wouldn't be a surprise.

It sounds very sad, if your self respect is based on demonstrating cleanliness to others. The performative aspect turns it from reasonable (keeping your home in the state you like) to annoying and judgemental.

I want to keep my home healthy and practical for me. I don't give a damn about ticking someone else's boxes.

I would understand if the OP complained about major disrepair, but plates in the sink and crumbs on the worktops, really?

Why so dramatic?

If anyone’s attacking anyone, it’s you attacking me.

Get a grip. And yes, you’re another one who doesn’t have to buy 10p or 30p soap I bet but happy to spout off on how plebs can afford it.

There are definitely more people around who smell bad. I’ve noticed it’s often people in uniform. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that long, hard shifts wearing polyester that you then put back on and do the same in the next day is going to have that result. I wonder if employers don’t provide as many sets per worker as they used to in a crappy attempt to cut costs, or if they make staff pay for them, so they try to buy as few as possible.

I thought this was going to be about lowering aesthetic standards and people going to the supermarket in pyjamas or living in gym wear.

I’m absolutely feral about presentation, but I always start and end the day clean (I encounter a lot of mud at work!). What the OP is describing is next level grim.

Yes, when someone’s says it’s like 10p and it’s actually 30p it’s totally worth attacking them.

About the lack of personal ckeanliness - as a child, I grew up in real poverty. No bathroom or indoor toilet, no heating or washing machine. My parents made sure that we were all (4 kids) clean and tidy, our shoes polished, clothes ironed (I probably had 5 outfits to wear)

I really don’t think it was worth you policing thread.

And yes, it is pertinent when an item is 200% more expensive than someone says it is.

I really don’t think that was worth having a go over. The poster was simply making a point.

No, they’re no, it’s 30p a bar.

I get your point but this demonstrates you don’t know what you’re talking about as you don’t have to buy these cheaper items yourself.

Yes if it was in relation to my comment then that is exactly what I meant. Not that renters generally are more untidy than homeowners, just that if you are a person who is not generally the tidiest person you are not likely to go to a huge effort to tidy the place to benefit the landlord selling. Apologies if I offended anyone !

I disagree with this totally. Our homes should be our sanctuaries, and living in a dirty messy house seldom enhances anyone’s mental health. For me, it’s important.

The op described more than a few plates in the sink, she said piled up, the worksurfaces covered in crumbs and loos that smell and are stained.

it’s the same with our own personal grooming, showered or washed, clean clothes, brushed teeth, are Important to our mental health and self esteem. When we stop caring about our homes, or our personal grooming then it’s a sign the individual has much deeper issues going on.

yes someone might not be able to afford to fill a basin with warm water and wash, or launder their clothes, but that’s unlikely to be the main issue here for the majority that are living or presenting in this condition.

I might have misread but I took it more to mean that renters being evicted might not make a major effort to clear the crumbs off the sideboard ( probably too busy trying to find somewhere to move to!)

YANBU
Public transport has become an ordeal
And
Last weekend I went to a hair salon and the hairdresser had BO🙀. I couldn't help but look at her clothing and they looked scruffy, old and stained (from food she ate maybe the day before). Unfortunately I could not up and leave mid way but will never go back even though I really loved the results.

Yep my house is not clean and pretty untidy and has been for 6 months

And that's because since the COL really bit I have to work ridiculous hours to pay my doubled mortgaged costs

I hate grey tracksuits so much. I saw a picture of my city in the sixties and people looked smart. Now the half of them wear grey tracksuits. It's so slobby and ugly.