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My house absolutely stinks- help me!

5 replies

WiseFinch · 29/07/2025 21:58

Inspired by another thread. Backstory- live in a farmhouse, we are surrounded by farmers fields, have large dogs who live in the house, and keep horses. 4 adults (myself, DPs, DB) but it’s me and DM who do all of the cleaning. I have time off work and want to get this house clean. I’ve accepted my entire life that I simply live in a dirty house- DM thinks most cleaning products and bleach are a load of rubbish and uses soapy water for almost everything.

Rooms include

  • utility/boot room. Hideous tile floor which is uneven and always looks dirty as I believe the tiles are porous.
  • large open plan kitchen. Karndean flooring. Kitchen constantly full of flies despite looking superficially clean- never any food left out, surfaces kept clean. Gloss cabinets which are a nightmare.
  • snug which is full of dog hair
  • 4 upstairs bedrooms. Ancient flat-type carpets (ie no pile, cheap crap) which I can’t get rid of obviously.
  • upstairs bathroom. Never stays clean due to the men who are filthy. However would love to know how to deep clean this so I can keep on top of it.

House smells so strongly of dog and feels dusty. I hoover probably once a week (can’t do this daily as WFH people get disturbed) but hard floors swept daily and mopped once a week.

what am I doing wrong?! Why is my house still constantly dirty?!!!!!

OP posts:
lightningatmidnight · 29/07/2025 22:12

You have animals inside, mucky men and don’t use proper cleaning products with any regularity - there’s nothing more to it than that. Unless you get rid of the dogs and men and start cleaning properly, a light clean every day/deep clean once a week or fortnight, this won’t change! You have my sympathy; I grew up in a very similar home and had very different levels of hygiene to my parents. Now, as an adult, my environment reflects my state of mind and genuinely affects my mental health. I feel so much more stressed when the house is due a clean. I think my house is now completely normal, clean but not Mrs Hinch level, but when my family come they always exclaim ‘it’s so clean here!’ A direct result of feeling powerless to live in a constantly grubby home growing up!

MiloMinderbinder925 · 29/07/2025 22:14

I'd declutter mercilessly. Get three bags, rubbish, recycling and charity and clear out each room. Organise a charity collection (try the British Heart Foundation) and get rid off surplus furniture as well.

Wash curtains, nets, rugs, cushion covers, throws. Get a few kg of soda crystals and clean everything with hot water: doors, window frames, bannister, skirting boards, floors, walls, on top of cupboards etc

Hire a carpet cleaner and clean all the carpets. For any particularly musty areas try a bowl or two of bicarbonate of soda. You can get large washable rugs to cover ratty carpets.

The bathroom, sink, tiles, toilet and bath/shower can be cleaned with citric acid. It's great for lime scale and disinfects. Throw away as many unused products as you can and invest in decent storage solutions. Shelves and cupboards can be cleaned with soda crystals and hot water.

In order to tackle dog hair, regularly wash things they come in contact with and invest in a miele pet hoover.

ETA regarding the flies, you can get fly screen nets like this:
https://www.diy.com/departments/pack-of-3-mesh-net-window-screen-fly-mosquito-moth-bug-netting-repellent-screen/5056368040238_BQ.prd

Cinnabonswirl · 29/07/2025 22:15

If you’ve got a hairy dog, and men who piss everywhere then your house is always going to smell unfortunately and I don’t think a once a week hoover is enough for 4 people and a dog personally.

some things you could do this week though
a deep clean, dusting, disinfecting, wiping down the main rooms. In the bathroom you can clean and scrub the bath sink and toilet, clean the floor, soak things in limescale remover, clean the drains

Wash all soft furnishings - cushions, curtains, bedding, air out mattresses if you can and even steam if you have one

open windows for at least 20 minutes each day

shampoo all carpets and rugs

are people tracking mud into the mud room daily? If not could you put a washable rug down to cover the tiles you hate? Are there smelly old boots and coats in there?

dog bedding needs washing once a week realistically to not smell terribly and the dog needs washing regularly to, though you can get perfumed sprays for them I’m not sure how great this is for the dog.

buy an enzyme spray (for dogs) and spray it in around your toilet in between bathroom cleans

tell the men to stop being so disgusting

you need to get the flies out the kitchen, get a fly net, and then figure out if they are laying eggs somewhere or if they’re just coming in from outside.
are your bins clean? And behind them and behind the fridge?

can you carve out a section of the house that is super clean and tidy and lovely smelling that is your own?

HollyGolightly4 · 29/07/2025 22:18

Could you have a look at team tomm? ( The organised mum method, but you don't have to be a parent). She has a bootcamp you can use to kickstart your journey- I'm a fan!

Comedycook · 29/07/2025 22:18

How old are you op? Can you move out?

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