To think people with pristine houses are weird

[JJ17]

I try, the house is OKish, my rules being "would social services take my kids away". But there are certain sticky bits on the carpet.

The loo seat doesn't fit right and most of the wallpaper is scribbled on.

Am I alone in this?

I watch reality TV and most peoples' houses are more decorated than mine.

I can afford to do 1 or 2 rooms a year therefore the rest are for shit most of the time.

Are we talking about decoration or tidying up?
Our living room is fairly presentable in terms of furnishings (although it's long-overdue a re-paint), likewise the kitchen).

We bought a huge dining table recently and - guess what? - now there's even more room to dump stuff.

Every few days I clear it off but the clutter soon comes back, and as Yama says, I feel like a slight constantly putting other people's stuff away so it stays there longer than it should.

The living room can be made presentable quickly, but in our house the dumping ground is unfortunatelymy bedroom as we don't have a spare.

Currently sporting plackie bags full of presents, wrapping paper in the corners, piles of stuff waiting to go to charity, all the books DH has read over the last month piled by his side of the bed - need I go on?

I'd quite like to move at some point as I don't feel this is our 'house for life,' but I don't think you could sell it easily and I'd be embarrassed to have anyone shown around.

Might make that my NY resolution; get the house presentable for selling, then even if we don't, at least it'll be a civilised place to live.

'Feel like a skivvy' not a slight.

I used to live in a pristine house. It was a beautifully decorated new build. Because we had the house on the market I felt it had to be immaculate at all times. I had a weekly cleaner, and I used to put the kids in the car when we were going out, then dash back in and and tidy again. I didn't work, and all I did was clean and tidy.

Was the most miserable year of my life.

And since DH started working abroad about 18 months ago, and is now home only at weekends, it has gradually, ever so gradually, got a little bit less cluttered . He can't stop me throwing tat away if he's not here

I think people that don't live in tidy houses are weird.

Do people really decorate a couple of rooms every year?!!

I have better things to do with my time. The dining room needs redoing, but I will wait until DD goes back to school after Christmas. I decorated every room when we first moved in because everyting was magnolia. I only redecorate marks. I can't be bothered with wallpaper.

My house is usually pretty clean, but not always tidy. It is a family home not a showhouse, although I am a farily tidy person and I loathe clutter, so I usually do some tidying every day anyway.

My DH also has a problem with me throwing stuff away.

He still hasn't got over the fact I got rid of DS1's Buzz and Woody years ago, and we 'had to' replace them for DS2 when Toy Story rose again. Of course, they sit on the shelf untouched just as their pre-decessors did.

It also rankles with him that I chucked out all his crappy airport books (which he's since replaced three times over), and any old kit like ski jackets or wetsuits that cost a bit of money, he hates me giving away.

We're clearly not skint as we can afford to go on bloody ski-ing and sailing holidays, but he seems to find it a personal affront that I'd contemplate giving things away that he's worked hard to buy.
So the loft is stuffed to the gunnels and there's no room to store away seasonal clothes, hence the wardrobes are stuffed and spilling out.
Hey ho.

DH keeps travel tickets (in date order) and has at least 10 shirts that are completely unwearable due to fraying but they are OK for gardening . I won't mentioned the statistical information about the 1979 election campaign that must be available on the net by now. But he keeps it all very tidily.

We have better things to do with our time too Bunbaker, but xxxx the painter doesn't

Oh, don't start me on the decorating clothes! DH has an extensive wardrobe of old conference t-shirts, holey jeans, disgusting shoes - in fact, almost every old piece of item he's ever owned (that I haven't been able to slip into a bin liner).

In fact, he's just ordered a new moleskin jacket but is planning to keep the old one 'for second best.'

Why would it be weird to have a pristine house ? There's a lot of that attitude in our area. It's from middle class types who are implying that housework/DIY is for lower middle/working class women who don't have more important things to do. Come on, nice houses look nice. It's that simple. If you are not organised or energetic enough to manage it fine. But there's no need to look down your noses at people who do. It's a bit like people who say that big is beautiful. Be honest, you'd rather be slim wouldn't you ? It's all a bit complicated. Just pull your finger out.

I aspire to pristiness, but with an old character property, where bits fall off it regularly and every room is big with a high ceiling ,it's impossible to keep it immaculate and groomed....

however, i was utterly delighted and charmed when I had my friends DC round for the evening and his tutor came round to give him his lesson, he walked in and went WOW, what a wonderful house, it has such FEELING ! ..

so i am happy to have the sort of house where people feel its warmth and character i can carry on kicking the rubbish under every table and sofa !

DD aged almost 5 has never scribbled on a wall.

Maybe once I can understand but why would you let them repeatedly do that?

House was newly decorated when we moved in in 2002. Over the last few years i've done a room a time - just painting, to keep on top of things. Just a couple of room to go. Will be doing one over xmas as I have a week off work.

My problem is too much stuff - looks ok but when you open a cupboard omg.

doesn't take much effort to paint the house now and again you lazy moo

my house is spotless btw

I think it's weird to take pride in living like a pig..that's not pointed at the OP as she clearly doesn't say that. But I've read many a MN post where women seem to want a pat on the back for living in filth.

Another one that can't relax if it's untidy, but then I don't have DC's so that makes it easier

That said there's an empty cardboard box in the middle of the lounge that DCat2 has chewed chunks out of, so I'd say my house was hardly pristine.

I like clean and tidy.....it makes me feel relaxed. And I like to be relaxed because generally, I do not relax easily

I'd love my house to be immaculate. Unfortunatly I am a lazy cow!
It is clean but as for tidy. Nope!

YABU They are not weird , they lucky.

(or at least very good at tidying and cleaning and being organised)

really nancy , I don;t really recall seeing anything like taht..

My house is so messy that it DH thought we'd been burgled when he got in yesterday.

I have only read the heading and have found solace and comfort therein

My house is a f*cking tip!!!!! Cannot wait for tomorrow (not working) so I can don the marigolds and get stuck in.

Now: back to reading OP's replies.......

I am like LeQUeen.
VIsiting my mil's is difficult for many reasons, not least because of the state of the toilet.
I would never allow dcs to scribble on walls. No respect.
I hate clutter-the dcs rooms I shut the door on.

Behind every immaculate house lies a very boring person.