Tidy up shithole house weekend pics included

[Shamefullhouse]

I have been posting for a while now about my house being a shithole and trying to get on top of it,

Me and my family have been through alot. That has lasted years there's practically been no rest from it one thing after another. Its been absolutely hell. To the extent i could not even bath/shower on a regular basis. I had no support and was coping with everything alone its been awful. It gos pretty deep .

But things are getting better. But because its been so long my mind /emotions find it hard to believe. So I'm trying to get myself into a better mindset.

One of them things is to get my house clean and tidy and for it to feel nice to be in. I have done alot. But I also keep slipping backwards. So although it's better than one I first started I'm stuck because I keep slipping back.

I add shame photos because it pushes me to get it done and that's how I feel just now because I have basicly fucked up since Christmas and I'm angry for slipping backwards.

The picture of the really bad small room is a spare room . It's crap from my children's bedroom when I decorated it. I dumped crap in the spare room .

To be honest I don't think it's that bad, just a bit messy. I think you need to be kinder to yourself. I am sure other MNetters will have better housekeeping advice, but my suggestion would be tackle a room at a time, as and when you have time and energy. If a room is too much, then just concentrate on one area in the room, eg getting everything off the floor.

Look how far you have come already.
Break it down, smaller than room by room. Do corner by corner or my colour.

Agree. The bedroom really just needs clothes put away/laundry bin and airer. Put the packaging in recycling or bin. A good hoover will immediately make it all look fresher.

It’s tough when you’ve been through a lot, and I totally understand what you mean about finding it hard to get your head around things getting better.

I'm having a ‘de-shit the house’ session tomorrow. I try and think of it as self care…put some tunes on or an audiobook and will reward myself with a takeaway for dinner!

Well done for getting started op, why don’t you post some photos after an hours work. I think the only really bad bit is the small room so I would start with hall and landing just so I have a nice entrance.

You've got a lovely big kitchen! I've definitely seen worse. Do one room at a time, and BE RUTHLESS. If you don't need / love something, or it's broken, bin it. Don't keep junk. Don't keep anything that doesn't have a "place".

It doesn’t look that bad. Apart from the spare room you could do the rest in under an hour-putting things away, hoover and quick wipe over.
if you set a timer I bet you’ll be surprised how quickly you can do it

You've been amazing in such a short time!!

Ignore the spare room this week. Everywhere else is just a picking-up-stuff job. You've done it SO well so far! You've got this!!

If you're who I think you are, do you have children who don't help much/at all, but expect or need a lot of support from you?

I would start by taking a bin bag and picking up all the rubbish, from each room, then take that out to the bins. You’ll have completed a job!

Then you’ll know that everything which is left needs to be tidied away. I’d make that easier by first putting away everything you already know has a home. Once those things are back where they came from, you’ll be left with less to deal with.

Next aim to clear the floors so you can hoover, which will make an enormous difference.

You’re doing really well. It won’t take long to sort what’s there if you’re methodical. Keep us updated!

Yes all the stuff in that room is litterly for the bin. Its old broken toys, boxes , stuff from decorating. It's just its on the 3rd floor and I get out of breath. But I will get it done this weekend as it looks proper tramp.

One full bin a week to be collected.

It will be done by end of February.

One trip up to spare room a day.

If it's at the top of the house use most of your energy for living spaces and just bring too flor down bit by bit.

The majority of houses are trashed after Christmas do not think you are slipping backwards. You are just entering "normal".

Pick up a load of dark or whites laundry and fill the clothes dryer.

Have the remaining ready in washing machine, dry but dirty ready to just be switched on once first load is dry.

Whilst second load is washing you have to empty and put dried clothes away. But the in between bits you can forget about laundry as there is nothing you can do.

I always film the machine with the "next" load as I go along no idea why but it just works.

Thank you. Yes it sounds odd. But im so used to life being shit. It's really hard getting into a positive mind set . Because I'm just waiting for it to mess up. It only takes a small negative thing that does not even become anything bit I still shit it. I hope your OK abd things are OK for you.

Yes 2 younger ones are at their dad's. So that helps a bit. I'm going to try and do the kitchen and hall tonight. And put a wash on. I'm going to eat first though because I feel a bit sick so need to eat.

Yeah that's what I'm doing . I want to make sure only kitchen things go in the kitchen . I have emptied 2 drawers. I Need to siet the actual cupboards they are quite messy

Yes I'm hoping to do the kitchen and hall this evening . I will post pics that's what motivates me to do it

Finally I've found 'my people' on here! How refreshing to know that everyone doesn't live in a show home!

I would do the hall first as it would be lovely and help motivate you if you walk into a lovely clear hall when you get home. Do you drive? If you do just put all rubbish in your car and just drive to the dump. Then kitchen next, declutter, bin rubbish, clean floors and benches.

No I Need to sort the spare room otherwise it gives permission to dump .I don't want it to be worse. It's been like it for just over 2 weeks .

Tonight I'm hoping to do the kitchen so it's reasonable. I will do the hall . But probably slap dash it. Because I'm going to be dragging stuff down the stairs to the bins etc. So no point in doing it until that's all sorted.

An hour and that'd be blitzed

It's really not that bad

Can I just say OP that I enjoy your threads (if that’s the right word!) because I relate so much and when I see your posts it inspires me if I am struggling. So thank you and well done!

Yeah I'm trying to think that way. I have seen a few people say they have struggled getting the house back to normal after Xmas . Just before I go to bed tonight I might get some of the bags, take them to the 1st floor then at least they are heading in the right direction. Then take them to the bins tomorrow

This is what I do

Set a timer for 5mins. See what you can do in a room in that time. It depends what room you're in, but these are some ideas.

1. Have a bin liner ready and chuck any rubbish in it.
2. Gather up dirty laundry and start piles (colours, whites, delicates etc)
3. Load/unload the dishwasher or hand wash what you can.
4. Do something with everything you pick up. Don't just move stuff around.
5. Straighten bed covers/cushions/throws.
6. If a room is done in 5mins, no item goes back in unless it has a home.

I do this in every room initially. You'll be surprised at how much you can do. It motivates me as then I have a rough idea about how long the rest will take.

There are some things I allow to be left for later eg letters to post or open, items that need repaired, anything that's to be sold etc but there has to be a good reason to leave it for now. I put these things somewhere inconvenient, like at the front door so I'm not temped to pretend they don't exist 😁

Hope this helps.

💐 thank you. I hope things are OK for you though. If it helps that's all good . It's pretty repetitive to be honest. But it just kicks my butt a bit.

Hello OP, pleased to see you have changed your username 😃
I mean this kindly but I honestly do think you are your own worst enemy!
My first reaction to your photos was it’s really not that bad. A lot of the stuff just needs to be taken out of the house and into the bins. I can see you’ve already got one box ready to go.
Pace yourself and do what you can, but don’t be afraid to ask your older children to help, even if it is only to take out those boxes to the bin.

You need to stop putting yourself down because I hope you realise you’re quite an inspiration to others on here, especially after your amazing colour wall!

Looking forward to your updated photos later, because I know you will do it!