My house is disgusting

[garlicagain]

I'm ankle-deep in filth & chaos. It probably has fleas, too (I'm not allergic so this is a logical deduction rather than evidence-based.) I can't cope with it, due to illness both physical & mental, and have been somewhat resigned to being the strange woman who never asks anybody in.

But two things have changed: Despite the above, I maintain a minimum level of hygiene; I'm far from confident about that with the warm weather lasting so well, and I'm going to have a bit of money in a month's time, which I think I should use to get the place sorted out prior to either moving (it's rented) or passing a calmer, more organised winter here.

Do you think I should buy more cleaning equipment, like a carpet washer and a steam cleaner? Or should I hire someone to help - and how on earth do you find anyone you can trust to do an offputting mixture of heavy cleaning, sorting out other people's piles of stuff, and DIY?

Help me organise my ideas, please!

You will do no such thing Garlic.

You just keep going at your own pace, you'll get there. And when you're ready for a helping hand you give me a shout. I charge nothing but biscuits

or do I mean

It's a bit like New Years resolutions - when you say you going to lose weight, stop smoking, redecorate the house etc, its all too much and you lose hope and don't do anything. If you think I MUST sort out my entire house, all my finances, my entire life etc and all by next month, it's just too overwhelming. That's why the one shelf idea is good - it's a little thing but the results motivate you onto the next little thing.

You are braver than me, I have not dared venture into the world of eBay.

Hope this week goes well for you garlic.

Garlic for selling try local fb pages, lots quicker and no fees. :)

Thank you, Slattern! You, too :)

Ratbag, I could try FB instead ... but buyers would want to come to my house, wouldn't they

garlic are you better off leaving eBay for now while you're at such arty stages? I think ebay will only slow you down? Maybe it's best to concentrate of getting stuff out and to charity rather then spending time putting single items on eBay if that makes sense?

early not arty!

This blog is inspirational: unfuckyourhabitat.tumblr.com/

I needed that post, MM. I've been trying not to admit to myself that I'm using the ebay thing as an excuse to pretend I'm doing something constructive

Don't understand the blog at first glance, but am off to peruse it properly now (hey, it's a distraction ...)

garlic I think unless you have a really high ticket item, eBay is much better left for when you are actually sorted out. For now, don't feel guilty about what stuff cost, that money has been and gone, just get rid of stuff our of your house and down to charity. The room and the space you create will be priceless.

The blog just shows before and after shots of people sorting out very messy spaces, it's such an inspiration!

Out not our of course

....that twenty minutes spent listing one item could be time spent filling a box of rubbish/broken stuff etc etc

Keep going! You're doing great and you will get there garlic OK?

I don't normally frequent this board as I'm a slattern but I'm watching this thread with interest. I don't have anything physically stopping me from sorting/cleaning, I just hate doing it. :( Will start my own thread later but just wanted to let you know that I read a good way of destroying confidential paperwork if you don't have a shredder is to soak it all in a sink of water and then flake it apart/contort it/make it into statues of David Hasselhoff.

Yes, but everything I've ever bought I've collected on the door step, same when people come here, I have it ready and pass it over the threshold, I don't invite them in at all. :)

Ah! Thanks, ratbag! 💡

MM - there is a worrying farrago of feminist politics, self-criticism, feelings of 'undeserving', identity dissonance and all sorts of psychological beetles under this huge stone of unfinished tasks Added to which, I'm on a physical downturn atm (quite possibly due to the above,) and 15 mins is a bit more than I can manage ... argh.

Suffice to say, I feel your pain!!!

Garlic, I find selling some bits a huge boost. Makes me feel better having some dosh and you can really tell where the item was. It's fab. :)

Keep going, you're doing great. :)

Meerkat - I think it's fair to say a proportion of the housekeeping board are domestic gods/goddesses. And the rest are like me -aspirational domestic goddesses. I am a Slattern first and foremost, trying to wade my through the stuff to the nirvana that exists beyond, so I tell myself.

I have to agree with MM, I think it's more important to get rid than worry about selling. As someone much wiser than me said - look at the value you get for it in money compared to the value to you of being shot of it out of the house. For me it is more important that it is gone.

Keep going Garlic.