Does anyone else feel like their house has gradually turned into a shit tip over the last year?

[ItsAllComingBackToMeNow]

I really hope I’m not alone in feeling like this.

Before the first lockdown, I had a vague cleaning routine which generally saw every room getting a clean and dust each week and I tidied up, swept and hoovered each evening, or DH did. Over lockdown I lowered my standards, no chance of visitors and my priorities, like most people I would imagine, we’re keeping the kids happy, getting their schoolwork done and getting my job done.

Things have gone on for so long that now everything needs a real deep clean, reorganised, stuff chucked out but charity shops aren’t open. We are waiting for new carpets to be fitted when that can finally happen and we need to choose a new sofa but I can’t imagine actually getting into the shops to see them. The paintwork needs touched up in every room.

I’m really struggling to get back on track! I thought I’d crack on this week after my work on Monday and Tuesday as this is the first week of no home school for me (Scotland) but the toddler and middle child have both come down with a virus (not covid) and I’m feeling under the weather too. Even if this wasn’t the case, I can’t put the toddler anywhere to get a good run at things and feel bad for her anyway as she’s pretty bored a lot of the time so abandoning her for hours to clean and sort feels bad. She’s lovely but very nosey and quite destructive (she’s why we need new sofas and carpets) so having her clean with me makes everything take forever.

Please tell me I’m not the only one who feels they have accidentally destroyed their house?

Oh god yes. Not helped by lockdown cats who’ve proven to be unexpectedly destructive.

Yes it’s a shit pit. 5 of us (including a toddler and 2 primary aged kids) and a dog. All here practically 24/7 for 3 months. 2 of us trying to work and homeschool at the same time.
I’m actually considering just putting it on the market. Fucking hate the place after spending so long in it with no break.

We have so much clutter to get rid of. Can't wait for charity shops to re-open, as it is all nice stuff and far too good to chuck.

Going gradually round the bend with it all.

Same here. Loads of stuff for charity shop (but which may go to the tip as I can barely stand it), and clear wear and tear from a year of everyone at home.

I was very fortunate to to have a cleaner before lockdown and this week is the first week she's come back. It was amazing.

My staff are furloughed so I'm working 7 days a week, 5 in my shop, 2 at home, and the housework has slipped way down the priority list. I bake for a living so my kitchen is kept clean, and the bathrooms are clean, but there just seems to be stuff everywhere! Once my staff are back I'm going to put everything away and pay for a whole house clean!

I'm a bit stuck on decluttering as it's impossible to donate and we no longer have electricals recycling nearby.

Constant eating at home creates more mess too.

I took a deep breath and made a start today. Trying to focus on one room at a time. Today was DS2 (5). So much crap and so much dust. I've ignored it since January for all the reasons PP have said. I feel a bit better. Next week DS1's room....

Op thank you for starting this thread . Sorry you are feeling stressed about your house but at the same time, I'm very relieved to hear it's not just me! I had visions of everyone bottoming out their homes during lockdown and living in shiny, minimalist palaces.

I used to have a cleaner two mornings a week. That all stopped last March so it's been down to me since then. But everyone has been home continually doing Zoom calls on the ground floor. It's impossible to hoover or even put the kettle on sometimes. No one but me seems to put anything away so there are shoes, papers, cables, coats everywhere. Continual courier packages arriving, dogs barking at the door bell. DH making continual business calls with headphones on so he can't hear how loud he is. Stroppy teens. Everyone expecting gourmet food each might but won't empty the jeffing dishwasher (apart from DH). I dream of having an entire week alone when I can sort it all out and relax in my own suiting room in peace.

I think Magicstar1 has hit the nail on the head. There's no contrast to the day if are not WOH, it's really hard to get motivated when you are in the same place all day.

We managed to get a car boot load of stuff to the charity shop and a car boot load of stuff to the tip last summer. We also put out two small cupboards, some pallets and plant pots for people to take on the drive and they all went within 1 or 2 hours. Lots of people have been putting out items for people to take near where I live.

Oh yes, visitors always prompted an extra clean through and new towels etc.

No one outside our bubble has stepped foot inside my house in 13 months.....

It's getting rather dusty now.

Ours is and it’s a brand new house that we only moved into in June 😭. It’s clean and tidy to be fair but all the walls are getting scruffy and you can’t wipe the walls because it’s that awful cheap new build paint. We’re gonna have to repaint the whole house when we’re finally allowed out 😭. As much as anything though, I’m just sick to death of going round and round in circles cleaning though.

I know the feeling my house is like a tip at the mo,
I just haven't got the motibatuon ,I know I need to feng shui it pretty soon.x

Its reassuring in strange way I am not the only one who has been struggling to keep on top of housework

Thank goodness it’s not just here!

We literally have stuff everywhere! Our five year old sofa was always pretty clean, but now looks disgusting. We have gained piles of stuff on the dining table, landing, bedrooms......

I have just been writing a plan for tackling some of it, but there is so much declutter if and deep cleaning needed!

Before we moved and after I had a big declutter. I refused to have our lovely apartment full of stuff. I've given stuff away on facebook and discovered clothing banks that go to charity!