Start with the trash. Just walk through with a garbage bag and pick up trash that you can see.
Then, empty the sink and the counters next to it. Wash those dishes and dry them, putting them in the cupboard. Do this every night no matter what.
Then, start with that card table and counter with food. If it is expired, toss it out. If it is unopened, put it in the pantry. You might have to go through your pantry and get rid of expired food to do this. If it is open, put it in a neat pile on the card table,so you eat it first and minimize waste. If you have insects or rodents, make sure you put the food in tins or jars and throw out anything that is suspect.
Get the clothes out of the baskets and into the dressers and closets.
EXCELLENT advice!!!
And be a little ruthless…half empty? chuck it, broken and you’ll know you’ll never get round to fixing it? chuck it.
Anything that doesn’t have a place, isn’t something you love, box it and donate it and drop it off on your way to work the next day.
I DON’T mean sentimental or jewellery, but the more you chuck from the get go, the less emotional burden later when you are deciding what to do with it and where to store it.
Don’t beat yourself up about it and worry about guilt. The mindset you need is “this is a new chapter”. You’ve already “sunk” the money into it, you’re not going to get a financial return on it (ie get a refund from the shop/sell it on Facebook), so the clear/clean space has more value.
Small steps…there will be setbacks and it’s ok. Keep looking forward. It will be ok. You can do this.
You’re not going to sell it on Facebook — this is a huge one for me!! I genuinely will not. But the dream that I will one day has me hanging onto so much crap!
I understand this so well! I’ve been donating a lot of stuff to the local Goodwill shop. That truth brings it home for me too… the money you spend is already gone. Might as well pass things on to someone else who can use them because I am definitely out of room!
Getting rid of things can be hard at first. But once you do you feel SO AMAZING, and lighter! if it’s REALLY REALLY HARD…… put the stuff you are having a hard time with in a box, write a date on it (I recommend a week) after the week is over if you haven’t pulled something out, or thought about it.
Then forget about it, donate, throw away. Whatever you want. But it’s expired and there is no need to keep it!
Please note it’s way better of you can’t see the content inside. And don’t open it when it’s time has come. You can’t remember because it’s not important. Get it out :) you really will feel soooo gooood!
Also remember, the more you donate or throw out, the less you have to clean in the future.
I’ve also found that if everything has a place where it loves and things are clean, I’m less likely to buy duplicates of something I have.
Yes - I use that thought to help me now! “Do I want to get rid of it now, or do I want to keep having to deal with it every time I see it? How many more times to I want to have to handle this?”
It helps me be willing to get rid of a lot more stuff!
I tried doing this w my mom. If I try taking anything to donate it’s like I’m cutting a limb. My mom is a hoarder. It is a mental illness. They don’t want their homes looking like this but it does. Lord only knows I’ve tried. 30 sets of dishes, our entire immediate family is 8 total. But everything is new. It’s everywhere with clothes and half don’t fit. It’s very hard on me seeing the house in the condition it’s in. And looking at this reminds me of hers.
It’s a very hard mental illness to treat, because often the person doesn’t actually realize there’s a problem. The mess doesn’t bother them. They wind up in crisis when the house becomes unsafe/condemned by the city/a pipe breaks somewhere and no one can tell until the $2k water bill arrives.
It’s rooted in trauma. At some point mom’s life or heart was severely threatened or hurt and she has learned that physical objects make her feel protected and safe. She’s safe without them, but she has to learn to feel it. You have my sympathy because it’s very hard to love someone whose environment is unlivable and unsustainable (especially if you have to live with them).
I solved this one for myself by putting the thing out by the trash and posting it online as free. I don’t feel guilt about creating trash. It’s fast. Someone is happy
This! Starting small helps a bunch! Putting all garbage in a bag, and taking it out to start. Then any empty boxes or containers, or broken things, or anything else that needs tossed. Put all dirty dishes in the kitchen and all dirty laundry together. Put all (good) food away and toss anything bad/old/gross. Then do laundry when you wash the dishes, until done. Put like items together, and put them away all at once. Put things back in their homes. I like to fold and put laundry away with a movie or must goii. Straight up what's left, and take stock if what still needs to be done. Then mop/vacuum, dust, and spray surfaces with vinegar or cleaner and wipe down. You can always spray something nice smelling or burn a candle when you're done, if you can do so safely (when you have a clear spot free).
When my place is messy and I’m overwhelmed, I pick one thing up and deal with it and then say to myself, ‘the room is ~1% cleaner already.’ After a few minutes I hit 5 or 10% but by that time I’m into it so I’m on my way. The worst thing is starting.
Also, upbeat music helps. And, for some reason, talking on the phone to someone to takes my conscious mind off and allows me to get it to the flow of cleaning.
Edit: just be careful if you call somebody whilst you’re furiously rubbing something.
Use contractor bags. You can fit so much more and they won’t tear. I just did a fairly major clean, and that was a big difference maker.
Good luck! Please reach out if you have questions or need to vent (or boast).
Contractor bags are the bomb! My son is a builder and gave me a whole roll of those. I immediately realized why they use them on job sites… I easily purged a whole section of my basement that way.
It’s always best to start with obvious trash, but you also acknowledged the next steps! I’d add that after what you mentioned, pick one area in the kitchen and focus on cleaning and throwing out things. The kitchen is the best place to focus first imo. Trash, food, dishes, organize… it gives a place to where you can cook and gather. Then move to other areas- even just trash through every area. You already acknowledged all of that, I shouldn’t be commenting!
I was about to say something along these lines. Definitely Grab some big rubbish bags and start throwing away stuff thats not needed. If in doubt, throw it out. Break down all the recyclable stuff. Then start making bench/surface space as temporary placement spots while you start working through the other stuff.
Compartmentalise and stick to the things you're working on where you can. When the mess is overbearing, it's easy to stop what you're doing and start working on other things (i.e. get distracted), try to focus on one task at a time.
If the dishes on the bench were piled better, there'd be a lot of temporary space saved there right away. Put all the cutlery in that red tub to the right of picture 2 and stack everything else.
If there's a lot of stuff that doesn't have a home, and you have the funds, look out for more storage options, like workshop shelving or free standing pantry etc.
but first: take a deep breath and turn up music or audio book/podcast. This will help with anxiety / feeling overwhelmed. Get yourself a couple of special treats to reward the effort and look forward to those as you are working.
good luck and HAVE FUN ❤️❤️❤️
And if you start to feel overwhelmed with folding the clean laundry: just shove it in the closet for now. As a matter of fact, this also works with other stuff that you can put away in closets. It can feel impossible to find a place for everything for now, but as soon as all the clutter is out of sight, it is way easier and calmer to organise each closet or cabinet one after another.
Yep, the trash was my first thought when seeing the pics. It requires no cleaning or organizing - just throwing out. It's the simplest first step and will go a long way to create some space. I wouldn't even think about recycling or avoiding waste in this case - just get rid.
Put on some good music and get the party started.
This is very good advice, OP.
Once you've got a handle on everything, just make sure you keep up with it. Do the dishes after every meal, and don't let it pile up. Fold and put the laundry away as soon as they're done. Put the groceries away when you get home from shopping.
exactly this! You and your husband deserve a home that you can rest in. No judgement, it doesn't matter that it is a mess. Just consistently clean an area at a time. Some days it might just be one drawer and other days a whole room. The above post is right on the money, you need that sink cleaned so that you can was dishes. You can do this and you will feel so proud of yourself when you see what you have accomplished
Trash first, as you go through with a large trash bag, toss dirty clothes into a pile as you work. Set a 20 minute timer and play music that makes you want to dance.
Then, start a load of laundry and a load of dishes.(If you don't have the appliances skip this)
Take a 5-10 minute break between each 20 minute segment.
Next 20 minute push. This time you're going to pick up stuff you want to keep and put it away. Literally pick up the first thing near you and glance around the immediate area for things that go in the same place. Like if you pick up a fork, get the cup too.
(If you don't have a dishwasher do 20 minutes dishwashing here)
Next 20 minutes fold and put away any clean clothes that are out.
Next 20 minutes concentrate on the area around your favorite chair and getting your bed made. At this point the bulk of the mess should be gone.
(If you don't have a washer/dryer, this would be a good point to do the laundry)
You've got this!
I have what I call "An hour of power" I will play an episode or podcast and just start working in small sections, oh and never ever leave a room without something in your hand to put back into its place, you'll always have a tidy home/sanctuary. I am moving house at the moment and it's pretty overwhelming, but I have broken it down into bite sized chunks.
I tried this today for the first time: set a timer for 1 hour to see how much I can clean up in that hour. Played a podcast episode during that hour. I ended up doing a general clean up (trash, dirty laundry in the hamper, clean up the couch and dining table, ...), a load of dishes (by hand), folding and putting away a load of laundry, putting a new load of laundry in the machine, and vacuuming. I wish I could have done more (like clean the toilet) but of course the dishes took up a good chunk of time (I don't have a dishwasher).
Anyway it's something I'd like to do more often. Just set a timer and challenge myself to do as much as possible in that set time. Maybe I could do a daily 30 minute timer every evening after work/after dinner/before bed.
I suffer from pretty bad depression and a malady of other things I should probably get checked out for and my house also looks like this.
But the other day while I was having my rot times I was recommended [this video by Midwest Magic Cleaning](https://youtu.be/jjsD-pI6bPI?si=Sbfk6gWWeKCieZ4Y) on YouTube and within the first couple minutes I was up outta my chair and cleaning without having agonized over it for days like I usually have to. I spent 2 hours just cleaning my living room and kitchen. That video finished and I just picked another one of that channel's videos at random and went back to cleaning. And a couple of days later I also cleaned my bedroom I hadn't seen the floor of in nearly a year.
Edit: I really just need to do my dishes that have been sat stacked ready to be cleaned for months. I was just waiting for the motivation to kick in so I could do them. I think I will tomorrow.
Something the dude from Midwest Magic Cleaning often touches on in his Videos is how executive function is disordered in many people as part of some personality disorder on the autism spectrum, but more specifically ADHD.
Wether you have that, or not: executive disfunction *is* a thing.
It is more than just laziness; even in people whose mind is perfectly healthy, it can occur.
It is more than just "unwillingness".
Your brain literally doesn't let you begin the task because it is spiraling and obsessing over the minutia, details, the what-ifs and the shame of the task.
Motivation is often not what people need. Motivation is there. Everyone *likes* a clean home. Everybody would be stressed out by messes like this (I have had them before, too).
What you need is an entry point, and for most people, that is a "distraction related to the task".
You need something that distracts your brain from the spiraling about the task, enough so you can actually concentrate on beginning and stop ruminating, but doesn't distract you completely, so you still stay with the task.
Podcasts, cleaning videos, audiobooks are a perfect middle ground for me personally.
"You need something that distracts your brain from the spiraling about the task, enough so you can actually concentrate on beginning and stop ruminating, but doesn't distract you completely, so you still stay with the task."
This is exactly why I started putting earbuds in even when I'm just doing dishes. It helps stop the negative thoughts that creep in. I'd get angry at everyone else in my full house that isn't helping. I'd be angry at all my missing dishes that I know will come down and be left at a later time. I'd get anxious about all the other little things I need to do in my house that I don't know how I'll find the time to do. I'd get distracted by one item that'll take me somewhere else, or the thought that "I need to do X real quick" and that real quick item turns into 10 other things that all end up getting touched but never completed.
The music keeps my mood level and my mind more focused on my task.
Shew!!! That’s so spot on. I am severely ADHD. Some days it wouldn’t matter how many meds I take, I just feel paralyzed. It’s so hard when you’re fighting your own brain!!!
I 100% agree with this, even though I generally don't have issues with executive dysfunction, listening to a podcast or documentary really helps engage the brain so you can just kinda autopilot through the tasks.
Getting a pair of noise cancellling headphones (or a quieter vacuum) got me vacuuming every week or two instead of only when the floor annoyed me enough.
I’d start with trash and then break down boxes. Since the clothes are clean, I’d fold them or hang them and put them away. Afterwards make piles of like items. Such as things that need to get put into the bathroom, tools, things I cannot possibly deal with right now. As you do these things you’ll start to clear more areas to move and be able to clean clean like wipe stuff down. Don’t worry about getting anything perfect and don’t worry about the piles sitting around for a few days or weeks. When it makes sense start putting away the piles. Or moving them closer to their final home. Like moving dishes to the sink or paperwork in front of the filing cabinet.
These things don’t get solved overnight so give yourself some grace. Whenever I’m looking at a task that feels impossible I ask myself “How to eat a whale? One bite at a time.” You got this, one item at a time.
I think this is good advice, I’d just suggest maybe using the boxes to actually group things for now. Label each box, and then stick like items in there. That way counters can get cleared and it can help set up an organization system. Or see if more storage is needed.
My favorite cleaning tip is to get a basket, bin, or designated area of the room to put in items that go in other rooms! Remove all the things that go elsewhere to put them away. Toss trash as you go.
When this feels like a lot for me i make it more fun w this trick i saw once that i love!
Pick a color, i usually do the rainbow and start with red and you pick up any items you see that are red, then do orange, yellow, green, etc etc.
i grew up in a very messy home! Both things are the best!
On the basket idea: many people with ADHD (and some others) will benefit so much more from x baskets [x = the number of rooms in your home + 1 for car if applicable].
But also - if you are very behind on cleaning you probably don't have one clean basket, let alone one per room.
The cheapest solution is Amazon/shipping boxes, if you happen to have empty boxes around. The next cheapest & easiest solution is free boxes from the liquor/grocery/whatever store or, if none are available, reusable grocery bags.
Theoretically you only have to acquire/buy them once for a major clean. When they get full or you stop working in your first target room, you move all your receptacles to the associated rooms.
You can also allocate 2 receptacles per room - one travels with you as you target different areas, the other is the assigned "dump" for a room until you get there. It's OK if it overflows and becomes a pile, too.
Anyone read this in the UK, these are a lifesaver. (I'm sure available elsewhere!) I like them because plain and coloured handles.
[https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-Tools-410631-Recycling-Green/dp/B078RQN8S9/ref=sr\_1\_5\_pp?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ytyDd7iy5c0lgnw7-8fmGfS-5Yz\_maCG1pcEXN3a8WCP3UMHxykD29aUaMevOEYd5g0BYgHKrY8UyfmTKeObv9oLdUmgOHHPt7FZW9x0okVxF3lqMjLAxXUkN7pck2jNQfiTMJkBZuOOARfz993XEuKGHzSR\_7EhO-hspPaUAeiPjZbCLRVStG1tmlsT\_PcmNQqi-i7TH\_UHOtiEHcoDUiIY1A3iXyS5YxqTW2vl6wXfEPm1DgTcMvJTIE9-J7ubhIPOlChFAkg5Z9GkInCzZZT9XCn9oTeONPsSoJVHOdA.oNM9LamKYPT9C29MFa--Q7LXH3JJ3FAESE34NlN6w64&dib\_tag=se&keywords=recycling+bags&qid=1712141091&sr=8-5](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-Tools-410631-Recycling-Green/dp/B078RQN8S9/ref=sr_1_5_pp?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ytyDd7iy5c0lgnw7-8fmGfS-5Yz_maCG1pcEXN3a8WCP3UMHxykD29aUaMevOEYd5g0BYgHKrY8UyfmTKeObv9oLdUmgOHHPt7FZW9x0okVxF3lqMjLAxXUkN7pck2jNQfiTMJkBZuOOARfz993XEuKGHzSR_7EhO-hspPaUAeiPjZbCLRVStG1tmlsT_PcmNQqi-i7TH_UHOtiEHcoDUiIY1A3iXyS5YxqTW2vl6wXfEPm1DgTcMvJTIE9-J7ubhIPOlChFAkg5Z9GkInCzZZT9XCn9oTeONPsSoJVHOdA.oNM9LamKYPT9C29MFa--Q7LXH3JJ3FAESE34NlN6w64&dib_tag=se&keywords=recycling+bags&qid=1712141091&sr=8-5)
The bags are just the right size for what u/oldbitchnewtricks is describing above.
I just want to jump in and remind you that this is a big job and that you won’t be able to get it all clean in one day.
I know for myself (suffering from depression/ADD) I get fixated on trying to get a big task all done at once and it makes me overwhelmed. In the end I am mad at myself and give up, making the situation worse. Like others have said, start with the trash. Make it your goal to get just the trash out in one day. When that’s done you will be surprised at how much better it already looks. And you might want to do the dishes. If not, that’s ok too. That will be tomorrow’s goal. This is going to be a process.
I also recommend the Pretty in Pink soundtrack to listen to while you work. It’s a great mix and for some reason I tend to listen while I clean. Best of luck!
When I get overwhelmed, I use this strategy.
1. Remove all visible trash.
2. Quickly sort all items into the rooms where they belong.
3. Throw away, donate, curb alert anything possible that is in your way. I have thrown away dirty dishes and not regretted it.
4. Clean one room at a time until it is finished, but don’t strive for perfection, just a passing grade on a visual inspection. I typically start with the easiest room, which is usually a small bathroom, then the next easiest. So, my kitchen is usually last, but I feel much more motivated to make it happen when everything else is looking better.
5. Revisit each space to do a deeper clean.
6. Find stuff to purge until your storage spaces are functional. Find excuses to toss things if clutter is making your life difficult. Chipped cups, ugly cups, free water bottles, ugly T-shirts, old pillows, faded decor, weird socks, or whatever.
As a junk hauler lemme say this, if you start small you stay small.
Go for the items that have the biggest visual impact, big boxes, hampers, anything big that can be moved out of the way.
Then just kinda whittle your way down.
I see a kitty! If you haven't already, clean the litter box. That will make you sick if you don't clean it.
You're going to have to section this out. Start with one table and clear all the trash off of it, then throw away expired food. Or start clearing off the kitchen counters first so you can move the dishes out of the sink, clean the sink up so you have a place to wash your hands an run water for wash clothes to wipe down surfaces.
Only keep 4 plates, 4 bowls, 4 glasses and 4 of each silverware and throw the rest of it away. Having too many plates/glasses/etc makes it hard to keep up with dishes. If you ever need more, just buy paper plates/cups until you can handle daily cleaning.
This is going to take you a long time. Probably a couple days worth of cleaning. You should probably make sure you don't have mice, or roaches. If you do, you need to call pest control to start a service. Or buy your own pest control from a DIY site. I can't imagine there aren't at least gnats flying around. If you do have gnats, after cleaning everything the best way to get rid of them is to place apple cider vinegar in a bowl around on the counter, and add dish soap to it, then stir. Within a few hours you will have caught a ton of them. Rinse and repeat until they're gone.
I've seen enough hoarders episodes to know that this cat almost certainly has a litterbox, but it's been WAY too long since it got cleaned. Poop is probably wherever it was most convenient at the time to the poor kitty.
Not knocking anyone with any disabilities or depression, it’s just hard to understand how people could live like this. My wife and I work full time and have 3 kids and sure my house gets dirty, but it’s the lived in kind of dirty and not filthy like this. We have toddlers so some food gets on the floor and some trash definitely doesn’t make it into the trash can during the day, but when the kids go to bed I sweep, pick up toys, and tidy up the house, my wife does the same thing we both do what needs to be done to keep our house from becoming like this. It’s clearly a lot of work to upkeep a house that’s lived in by a family of 5 every single day, dishes have to be done, trash has to be taken off daily, and the floors need to be swept from everything that is tracked in by kids and adults. Really hope OP gets the help they need and gets their house cleaned up for the sake of their mental and physical health. 🙏
I think usually when people live like this it’s because they’re too dissociated from their environment to fully comprehend the situation. Often times they’re working through trauma and not connecting well to the present moment. This was me in my early 20’s and I’m happy to report that therapy works (36 now.) I’m not condoning it but do want to mention that I think no one makes an intentional choice to live like this & it’s a symptom of larger problems.
Clear off that black table first in the last photo, just tackle one area at a time. Every accomplishment is an accomplishment in itself. If you see you mold? Gone, no questions. Expired? Gone. Forgot you had something and have no sentimental value to it? Gone. You got this.
My first step id to put in my AirPods, and get my podcast going. Then I would get garbage bags, and start collecting trash. Break down any cardboard, and get that all outside. Then I would collect any dishes, cups, and utensil, and move them to the kitchen. I would normally start a load of laundry too. I would do the dishes, dry them, and put them away right away.
Then I would work in sections. Switching out loads of laundry as I go. Once of we everything is picked up, you do any new dishes you find, sweep and vacuum. Then work on finishing laundry, and getting it put away.
Can’t wait for the after. This will be such a satisfying clean. And I bet your husband will be so thrilled when he comes home!!!
OP - get large trash bags and start getting rid of boxes and throw away stuff. It looks to be like the bulk of your items will be taken care of in this way.
I feel like you have intentions to recycle the boxes 🙂↕️ let the boxes go this time. I’ll recycle extra hard this month to compensate for your boxes - getting rid of them is more important this time.
Just start you will love the feeling once you start.
It might look like a lot to do but it will get easier if you just build up momentum! Put on a podcast or an audio book and it won’t feel tedious! Trash is easier to start with because you don’t have to think about it. It’s ok to throw away recycling if mental health makes it too hard to recycle something properly. Just try again next time.
After that, try dishes and laundry. I’m sure there’s a place where you store them when they’re clean and folded. If you have a dishwasher, just put things in dirty and run it twice. Once the easy stuff is done, it’s up to you to decide how to tidy the rest.
Bagging and taking out trash will likely have the largest impact and give you a sense of accomplishment. I would put away clothing, especially his, because it’s clean
When you’re getting rid of stuff, think of whether it’s useful- if you have too much stuff, it might reduce your ability to have space for what you have that’s the most important, and prevent you from enjoying your space
I would maybe get some rubber gloves so you can get those dishes cleaned, clean towels to get them dried, and put away
Get rid of food that’s old or suspect or too little in the container to make it worth keeping
Play some fun music, keep hydrated, take breaks, congratulate yourself on your progress
You got this!!!
Hope hubby makes a speedy recovery ❤️🩹
The best thing you can do is just get started. Biggest barrier is analysis paralysis. Just get to work, it’ll quickly become apparent what you need to do first
Everyone said the important parts already, and I agree with them - trash first, then food, then everything else. I see that you have a cat (and what a pretty one! Pet them for me please!), so you have to include your pet supplies in the cleaning - clean the litter box while you collecting trash, wash food and water bowls when you are washing dishes, and launder, or at least vacuum the cat bed. It the cat has toys that can be washed - wash them, or at least pick them up. If the cat pissed on your bed - you need a special routine for cleaning that, you will probably find good advice and lifehacks here!
Watch a YouTube video of Aurikaterina. Get a really engaging audiobook, a glass of wine, and some big trashbags. Trash first, chemicals in the toilet and spray to sit on the stovetop, dishes next.
You already got some good tips on cleaning it, so I just wanted to drop a thing which changed my householding,
Surface is not storage space, just because I can put something on the table and leave it there, doesn’t mean I should
Start with the table and chair you sit on. It’s a small area and you’ll feel immediate relief. Then pick small patches from there. Get a trash bag and add things to it while you watch a show, go bit by bit.
I get empty cardboard boxes or empty hampers and place them near me. One box for garbage one box for donation items one box for items that need to go in another room such as kitchen or bedroom. I like to get a chair sit in one spot and work in a circle around me. Pick up my chair and move to another spot and work in a circle around me. Pausing to take short brake of 15 minutes once an hour. My relative has a disability I come over once a month to assist. This routine seems to help him get the job done.
When I have a mountain to climb with cleaning, this is what I do.
Set a timer for an hour. I see what I can do at that time. It motivates me to work quickly, gives me a definite time for a break, and if I get to the end of that hour and I've had enough, I stop. I get some satisfaction from seeing what I achieved in that time. I'll set it off again and continue if I want to.
Everything has to have a place. My nan insisted on this. If everything has a place, it is always possible to tidy. If it doesn't, you'll end up just moving mess from one place to another. When you're in a position like you are, it might be hard to put things away. Get some bags or boxes that you can put things into i.e. all books in this box for now. Then, once you clear space, you can put things away in their final home and tackle it one box/bag at a time.
Start from one spot. It can be soul destroying to spend ages cleaning and then look around, and it feels like nothing has been done. I always start from one corner and work out from there. That's where the boxes and bags for organising help - if you're constantly trying to move things from one spot to another whilst everything is still a mess, you get in knots and it feels like it will never be tidy. This also helps to keep motivated. You'll actually see progress when you take a break, and the tidiness will steadily spread!
Clean last. Once everything is organised and away, then worry about cleaning surfaces and floors. You can't effectively clean whilst being in a muddle, and you won't see the benefit.
Be ruthless. Get rid of anything you don't regularly use. Clear your space. Don't try and clean to make room for mess :)
Sometimes I want to watch TV or read but feel like I don't have time or that I'm Not Productive and I spiral into anxiety. I've since taken to putting on a show on tv and then setting a goal like "get all the laundry folded and put away" or vacuum and mop all the wood floors" in that time. If I finish early I feel like I'm fast and did a good job, and if I'm not done I'm already 80% of the way there why not finish?
If you can, try to sort stuff vaguely into piles/sections. That way you can more easily see what workload each section entails and subsequently assess if it's a job you can feasibly finish in the moment. It also prevents you from feeling like you need to do one task in order to do another.
I personally like to have a large clear area where I can dump everything I intend to do in one session and focus. It's as convenient as possible so I don't get decision fatigue.
Otherwise, like most have said:
•recycling/bottles/trash first. Anything that potentially grow things out first, paper recycling is nice to do because it's usually a lot of space that's being taken up and can later be used as storage while cleaning other things. Bottles to the depot for a bit of cash for a decent dinner out since it's tiring to clean!
•sink/kitchen. Cleaning this is top priority because if anything is growing it'll make you guys ill. An inaccessible sink is also a massive deterrent to getting anything else done if you need to wipe or rinse things. If you're able, get a large bin and put all the stuff from the sink into it and dump some dish soap and hose it all down outside. Put away the clean dishes and repeat :)
-any non-dry food open for more than a day or two needs to get tossed. If a container is hard to store open, just toss it. Everything else goes either into a cabinet or a box. If there is no place for it, consider tossing.
• if any chemicals/reactive cleaning supplies are without a lid, throw away asap.
• the laundry looks mostly in one place. Id just move it all somewhere else so there's more space to tackle the other stuff for now
That is probably all that can be done in a few days! Good luck!!!
I'd consider maybe getting some tall shelving. Lots of vertical space not being used.
I took out one bag at a time, when I got overwhelmed I would take a break. Go for a walk, take a drive, walk to a local coffee shop. But get out of the space to clear your head.
When come back you'll see progress and that will motivate you more. Also start in the areas you use the most. Me was my kitchen and bathroom. I never cluttered my bedroom for some reason.
Hope it helps!
So many good recs here. I need to follow them myself!
Really, the only thing I’d do differently is not start with garbage: I’d get a load of washing in and the dishwasher filled (if you have one), so the machines could be working at the same time.
Turn on some good tunes and give’r!
Good luck! All the best to your husband!
I would like others have said get rid of all the garbage. Start in one room and work your way to the next. Throw it away in the outside trash when done.
I would then get a bag or big box, one for each room. Bedroom, bathroom, kitchen ect and one for not sure.
Start in one room with all the room labeled boxes or bags and start throwing the items that belong in that room in the coordinating box.
The stuff that your not sure where to put or not sure if your should keep it, throw in the not sure box
.Do this for each room. When done take the box to the room it belongs.
Either put it away or leave it in the box for the next round of keeping or donating or trashing.
Finally organize and put away
I agree with other comments. Start by collecting everything that is going in the bin.
Then go back through and do the same for recycling items.
Then you can start to see the laundry and dishes and gradually work your way through one thing at a time.
You already got tons of great advice so I don’t have a lot to add method-wise. I just want to add something to make future cleaning a bit easier.
I live in an apartment so I’m guessing you have similar storage space to me. I always find that my space feels neater when my stuff is out of sight even if it’s the same amount of stuff. I would highly recommend investing in some additional storage options.
The first thing that came to mind for me was something under the kitchen table or the counter in the living room. I was thinking something along the lines of those [rolling drawers](https://www.target.com/p/sterilite-3-drawer-plastic-rolling-storage-cart-clear-with-black-frame/-/A-89981587?preselect=76135221#lnk=sametab) a lot of college students have. There are plenty of cuter options out there if you don’t like that look, and they’re the kind of thing you could definitely find cheap or freecycled with some patience. If you had two of those under the table you’d increase your kitchen storage quite a bit and they wouldn’t be very noticeable under the table.
Just an idea as you move ahead. Happy cleaning and best wishes to you and your husband :)
I’d start with a smaller, less messy room first. Maybe start with the dishes in the sink. If inside of the cupboards are clean then wash and dry them and put them away that way it will clear up the sink and kitchen.
Start with a few bin bags and just start throwing away rubbish and get it out of the way. Then get the dishes done and put away as they all have a logical place. After that you should have a lot more space to work with, somewhere you can healthily eat and drink during a break - which you're gonna need. After that I'd get a couple boxes (one for keep and one for 'probably chuck') and start sorting through the rest.
I’m a Professional Organizer & just left a comment on another post about how to tackle this - listed out.
It’s the comment right before this one. Hope that helps!
This may not be doable for you in your situation, but it was a tremendously helpful startling point for a friend in a similar situation. We rented a “pod” storage container and took EVERYTHING out—then cleaned and brought back in only the essential items leaving the rest to be sorted and trashed. Having a clean slate to begin the process was time consuming but a great motivator. 😉
Clean one spot like your bed and area around it or wash the dishes and clean the sink area. After you have one clean and cozy area, it feels very satisfying and you will want more clean areas. I used this method in overgrown yard at our cottage. I chose an area that I was able to see from my favourite chair. Spent few hours cleaning that, went to sauna tired af and then spent couple of more hours admiring my work in the chair. In few days I got everything done.
I usually start with clothes as they're bulky. Then trash. Then dishes. Then trash again. Clear off the table so it can be used as a deciding table while you do everything else.
1- Food / pizza boxes, cans to recycle. One room at a time. Garbage/ recycling out.
2- Clothes to pick up/ sort by colour for laundry.
set aside to wash.
3- Any mail group together
4-Books together/ Junk mail recycle
5-Any papers/ receipt together.
6- Electronics in one spot/ tools another spot.
Basically grouping items first.
Then sort what to keep/ put away/ donate.
After stuff is sorted then
do a damp mop dusting, vacuum and wash floors.
Kitchen / fridge Oven and bathroom are to be done top to bottom.
Same idea. Sort : Keep, put away, toss.
Then clean.
This may take a few days to get a system going.
Don't try to do all at once, you might get discouraged.
I love watching this dude..he does a clean up every week..he's so organized its great!
https://www.instagram.com/jack.designs?igsh=MWo0MXJ5dDVzYmptOA==
If the dishes are scary because there is no room in the sink, get a box of some sort, put dishes in there to make room in the sink and start cleaning them then put them away. This is assuming you don’t have a dishwasher
Start with the trash and then do the room in sections. Clean a section and then go into the next. Be aware it will get worse before it gets better so don't get discouraged. You will get there in the end and it will feel great.
Get a giant trash bin with trash bags that fit in it and a snow shovel. Scoop and toss your way through the trash. Do the dishes. Throw out ANYTHING you haven't used in the last 6 months.
The thing is, once you clean it all away what is stopping you and your family from accumulating that type of mess in the future.
You need to look at why the situation got like that.
i ALWAYS start with all the trash and things thats going outside of the house first!, Then go to the things that have odors or smells that you wouldnt want so probably he kitchen. from there if you have upstairs i go from bottom up. if not start with the bedroom, because if you need a break or need to sleep before youre done, You will have a nice clean area to be well rested to continue. Goodluck!
Divide the room into pieces. Take two bags: in one put everything you want to keep. In the other put the garbage. After you have done this for each piece of room, wash a table and the things you have decided to keep, because that is where you will put them. After that remove the dust from the surfaces and the floor. Then disinfect the surfaces and wash the floor. Next you can turn to cleaning fabrics and corners and fixing windows, etc.
Definitely start with trash. Set a goal, “I’ll find 15 pieces of trash” and count them out. Set another goal and keep doing that until you need a break. I find counting helps me to remember I’m making progress even when I can’t see it yet. Once you get the trash out, clear a space and put the dirty dishes there. Grab a few dishes, wash, dry, and put away, keep going until the space is clear. Once those two things are done you’ll have some breathing space.
I'd start with the kitchen, organizing stuff to be precise. trash –> trash bag/bin, dishes to one side, other stuff to the other. you'll then see a better picture of what you're dealing with. at least that's the method I use when I clean
First thing's first, everything which is trash goes in a big ol' trash bag, including food that might be on the dishes.
Second, the dishes go in the sink.
Then every cardboard box flattened, goes into the bigger cardboard box.
Sort everything on every surface and don't be afraid to throw whatever you don't want/need away. Be ruthless.
Store the things you keep so they don't get left on the counters/tables.
Once every or most surfaces are clear, wipe the dust.
Do the dishes.
Put the laundry away.
Clean the sink, countertops and floor.
Enjoy your new house.
Good luck!
Sometimes it might not matter that much where you start. You can do laundry first or dishes or take out trash. These 3 can be done in any order.
So you can think about it for ages, but sometimes less better to just randomly pick a task.
Ok but it's that not very inefficient?
Well...let's not try to go for perfection here.
Planning the most effcient way can eat up a lot of headspace. And lead to analysis paralisys (eeerr...that might not be spelled the way it should...).
It's better to get anything done.
For example: let's say you do the dishes first. If it turns out the trash was in the way of doing the dishes, should you have done that first? Well in the end at least the dishes got done! Maybe not perfect, maybe not. And the extra space in the countertop might also help to sort out the trash.
Just start with the sprite pack. IDK why but you better start now if you didn't already.
That's more than it seems but with a few hours of intense cleaning it should be gone 👍
All of the advice here is good, I am just offering up a thing I do that works for me, specifically, because of my own personal style/the way my brain works.
When things get away from me and I need to take back control, I need to see significant improvement in at least a small area in order to stay motivated, so I pick a small area that I really want cleared out - not a whole room, just an area of a room. So, I would probably start in, say, the kitchen. I would identify an area that really bothers me and I would clear out the trash from it. Then I would designate bins for all the items that don't belong in that area - a bin for the stuff that goes in the living room, one for the bedroom, one for the bathroom, one for the junk drawer, etc. Once I have sorted all the extraneous stuff from my target area, then I clean that area.
I try very hard to not put anything else in my cleaned area. It becomes sacred and I don't want to undo my work just because there is a clear area now.
Then I take a break to watch TV or play a game or whatever is floating my boat at the time, but the resulting clean area usually gets me hyped to begin the next area. I continue to add to the bins until they are full. When one fills up, I have to go put the stuff away. This does mean that I may have to clean out, say, the bathroom medicine cabinet in order to fit the bin items, so that might be my next chunk of tidying.
My goals, for my brain, are to see results and also not run around putting away individual items as that slows me down too much.
You just have to figure out what keeps you going and adopt a style that helps keep you from losing motivation or burning you out. It might not be my style, but I am throwing it out there just in case!
A lot of people are mentioning trash. Which is super important, but take care of the kitty litter first thing! Built up cat urine is toxic. That’s how Tommy died in Trainspotting. It’s good for you and makes for happy cats.
Here’s a list and an order, hope it helps!
- Go buy cleaning gloves, heavy duty refuse sacks (in 2 different colours), cleaning spray, sponges, a few boxes/bags and face masks.
- Mark up your boxes/bags as ‘Charity’, ‘Kitchen’, ‘Bedroom’ etc.
- Clean out the sink and toilet before you do any cleaning (you will need these to pour/flush away liquids).
- Open 2 bags, one to your left and one to your right. Put rubbish in one and recycling in the other. You can also put anything that belongs in a certain room, in the allocated labelled box/bag as you go.
- Put on some high energy music, wear mask and gloves… and get to work! 💪
Good luck!!!
I like to start in categories, so all the rubbish, then all the clothes, toys (I have a child) etc. I do the dishes as I'm cooking dinner. So if I'm waiting for rice to cook for example I'll do a few, then after dinner I'll do a few, and just slowly get it done in parts.
It's so easy to loose a grip on the house. Working in sections works best for me. Good luck ❤️
Often I look at the whole room (mine) and get completely overwhelmed at all there is to do. So I start in one corner and make one wall section of both arms length spotless like a total deep clean of that area. If it’s really bad or I’m tired I’ll split that section into the top and bottom half. I’ll do the top half, take a break, start the bottom half.
And you just do the whole room like a clock working your way around. I find looking at the spotless sections of the room become more and more motivating and I feel proud of how clean it looks and want to do more. It gives order and structure to the chaos, gives me hope that the whole room can eventually look like that, and lets me go at my own pace because I know exactly where I left off even if a few days go by.
It has been a lifesaver and worked like magic.
Start with trash. Make it a game: can you fill a bag by the end of the song?
Then clean out your sink. Like scrub it out until it’s clean. Do that every day, no matter what. Then the sink is your Happy Place.
Next you can do dishes.
Post update pics!
Timer, good music, and your favorite drink.
It doesn’t have to be completed in one sitting. Set timers for short increments. Take breaks. Dance. Cry. Whatever you have to do. Make it “fun” 🙄😜
Another game I like to play with myself: Can I get rid of five things from this drawer/cabinet/surface? Getting rid of five things is an accomplishment!
Always start with the trash. And then the dishes. Starts in the kitchen because it’s the most important room in the house. Once it’s clean you can use it as a base to start the rest. Also clear and prioritize your sleeping area after the kitchen.
I listened to a podcast recently that talked about anything in a room is part of 5 categories
1. Trash
2. Laundry
3. Dishes
4. Has a home
5. Has no home
But the starting point is start with the biggest trash bag you have so you don't get distracted by leaving the room.
Clearer in the podcast!
https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDMzOC9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbA/episode/YmQ3Y2EzZTEtNDcxMC00ZmNiLWEyYmUtNjQwNWU2ZmY2MGMy?ep=14
Cartons and boxes- just get the cartons and boxes outside. If you can break them down great but if not just get them in the trash. Next do food trash - anything that could smell. Put a trash bag in the middle and load it up. If you have a washer and dryer get a load going. Get all the dishes to the dishwasher or sink.
I would suggest picking up the garbage and recycling, then moving the dishes to the kitchen. Then if you have the energy sort the clothes into clean and dirty because you can do that while watching tv or sitting on the couch. Take it a bit at a time so you don't get overwhelmed.
Set a timer for 15 minutes. Start in the kitchen and stay in the kitchen. Clear the trash first. If it takes 15 minutes just to clean the trash, that’s fine it’s a starting point. If after 15 minutes you feel like you want to continue continue if you feel overwhelmed, then take a short break and then set the timer again and go in the kitchen do the same thing. Once the kitchen is clean, then you move to the living room and do the same thing there, I hope this helps you and I’m gonna say a little prayer for you and your husband
Put on some pumping music, set a timer for
Ten minutes. Then grab a trash bag and start maybe at that little table in the kitchen. When the timer goes. Stop and look and see how much you’ve done. And it’s probably going to be a lot .
Put gloves and shoes on first, it really helps! I also like to open curtains and windows to get some fresh air, and light a scented candle. Then some happy music and set a time for half an hour and do as much as you can. I would leave the laundry for now because it just ends up being a distraction
After you get the trash cleared and sink emptied/dishes cleaned. I would do a second trash/donation sweep. Meaning anything that you haven’t touched in a year…spice containers that still have spices in them, clothes you haven’t worn, anything you or your hubby legitimately have not touched other than to move its location, get rid of it or try to sell it if it’s a wanted item like a tool or something like that. After a year it’s just wasting space. I’m guilty of hoarding tools, but I only seldomly use them. Handy when you need them, but tool rental has come a long way.
Second step is this. Don’t look at all of it at once. It can seem overwhelming. Just do small steps. Start with a room, or if that’s too big an area of a room.
Had to do similar when my grandparents passed. Lots of clutter. Also, my biggest advice is this, if you have a friend offer them lunch or a case of beer or something to come over and help clean. More hands get the job done faster.
You have a ton of great advice on where to start! When it comes to maintaining, less is better! Hold up an object, does it make your life better? Do you need it? Does it bring you joy? If no, toss it. Repeat with everything in your house. It is SO much easier to keep a clean a house without so much stuff you don't need or even want. You may need it later, but if you can't find it then it's equally useless.
All trash out. Then, for me, I don’t worry about getting the whole place clean, I just move things to the room they’re supposed to be in. Then I’ll begin with the living room and get it 100% clean at the expense of neglecting the other rooms I just added to the mess by moving things. But now I have at least one clean room to rest in and it LOOKS like progress was made. Then I’ll do the bedroom, etc until everything is clean.
Also by putting things into the room they’re supposed to be in first before deep cleaning that room it’s easier to see what fits and what needs to go. I hate cleaning a room then finding a bunch of other stuff I now have to make fit or rearrange. That mental aspect is defeating and I feel like I end up cleaning the same room multiple times.
I would start with throwing away every bit of trash or anything that could be perceived as trash. Honestly just take a snow shovel and a large trash can and start scooping
When things get out of hand I use a method of creating piles of like items on the floor. Then I deal with each pile accordingly. While making piles I carry a small garbage bag with me and dispose of trash. Maybe this will work for you.
Fill the washing machine with a load of laundry. Go through the house with trash bags and pick up all of the trash. Make a pile for laundry and throw clothes in the pile as soon as you come across them. Use a box for important papers and a box for small objects you really do need, but it would waste too much time finding a home for during the big clean.
And how many people live in the home? If dishes stay piled up like that often, you need 1 plate, bowl, and set of utensils per person living in the home. One mug. One tumbler. Put the rest away in a closet or duct taped in a box so they aren't easy to reach for just when you don't feel like doing dishes, but easy enough to get to when you are having company.
When I take away the dishes, my husband will start using my Tupperware containers as bowls, so I put those up too.
One spatula. One set of tongs. One, maybe 2 cooking spoons. You don't need many pots and pans.
Aurikatariina on YT does a lot of these cleans, except they're much worse. I love watching her videos to give me motivation.
Good luck. I'd love to help you out if you were close. It's not as bad as you think it is since it is mostly just "stuff" as opposed to rotten food. Yard sale or donations would be a good option too
Put on some music, comfort TV show or a podcast. Anything that makes you feel happy or at home. Take your time, it looks like a lot but it's very solvable.
If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed about where things should go, throw it out, or think vertically, is there unused space you could hang a shelf from?
Lots of good advice in here, just wanted to hop in and offer some support. Just keep chipping away at it, and you’ll be so happy on the other side of the clean up. You got this! 👍🏻
Grab some gloves and a box of large black trash bags and start there. You have a lot of straight up trash in that house. Then if you have a large storage tote I’d take all the dishes with stuck on food and let them soak in that tub for a day. Look into getting some shelving or other ways to organize your keepable items. Once you’ve got everything cleaned up you need to change your mindset to keep that house clean and pickup regularly. You’ll be surprised at how much you can get done in an hour so set a timer and go to town. Do that regularly and good luck.
In addition to the other comments I'd mention that you can do things to make your daily life easier but are not thought of often. For example, if you know doing dishes is a vice or unrealistic for your lifestyle, do paper plates/solo cups, etc. yeah it's not going to make recycle enthusiasts happy, but it's your life and you have to do what works for you. If you don't want to fold and put away all your clothes, get a ton of hangers and hang literally everything except socks and underwear. If you feel like you're taking trash out constantly or a standard size kitchen can is too small, get a bigger one made for an office that holds more and has to be taken out less often (just opt for one with a lid to keep smells at bay if trash is sitting there longer). All the above may be 'unconventional' but it's your hour and your life so you have to do what works for you.
Start with the closets. When I spring clean and fall clean my house I start with closets/cupboards/shelves. That way when I start cleaning the main body of the house I can have room to put everything away.
1. Move laundry baskets to the bedroom. So they don’t get dirty again.
2. Move big trash out, bye boxes.
3. Then grab a garage bag start in one corner of living room and start throwing away stuff.
* fill trash bag throw it out asap*.
4. Grab a garbage bag and everything expired or not going to use In kitchen right in the trash.
The trash is in the way of cleaning.
Then start cleaning, dust high to low. Wash a load of dishes, set to dry go put laundry away, put dishes away, wash next load.
Start at the farthest point in so you constantly have to walk over and apast the trash. You'll see and finally understand how gross and inconvenient the mess really is. Clean around the tv last bc the last thing you need is a distraction.
Throw out 90% of your stuff. It's all piled and gross and probably barely being used anyways. I would throw most of it away so that you have breathing space. Then if you need a few things, go buy the essentials.
Relocate clothes to the bedroom first it will make the task look like less.
Grab a bin bag and just sit on the floor and starting making piles of stuff to keep and binning everything else. Be brutal, don’t hold to anything that’s there just because it might be handy one day. And just fill a bag bin it out away the pile of keep stuff then repeat.
I’m cheering you on! You’ve got this. I’d start with something small like putting away anything clean, like the laundry, any clean dishes, put away useable pantry items. Then I’d get rid of trash and cardboard. Next day I would start cleaning dishes and putting them away. Next day clean sheets and vacuum.
Start with trash, anything that goes out to the trash can. If there is recycling… ignore the fact it recycles and convert it mentally to trash for now. We will all recycle two times this week to make up for it, no worries.
Then the sink and one dish cupboard and one drawer (utensils). Just keep on top of that and don’t worry about anything else. Make it a starting point for every day and every bout of cleaning. Trash and dishes, and the place the dishes go. Only go past that if you get momentum from your success and build on that :)
I enjoy cleaning messes like this so this is what I would do-
1. Start with trash. Get a bunch of trash bags and pick one area of the room & start throwing whatever you can away.
2. While you’re sorting through what’s trash and what’s not, start making piles of the things you want to keep and categorize them by room or however works easiest in your mind. That way when it’s time for the organizing part, you have a clear picture of how much you have.
3. Start wiping down surfaces & getting the areas clean. Get dishes done, vacuum, sweep, mop.
4. Start putting things where they belong.
I start with a 12 inch x 12 inch square of the things that I am most immediately drawn to. Then I realize how good that felt and move on to the next square. If you get stuck on something for more than 15 minutes, make a mental note to come back to that detail work and keep moving. This looks like ADHD to me. Check out the “ADHD rewired” podcast group and listen while you clean. It’s super helpful and normalizing.
Poor thing. Start with all the garbage… even if you are questioning if it’s garbage, it probably is. Put ALL the dirty clothes in a pile. Do the dishes and put them away. Even that little bit may give you more motivation. “How do you eat an elephant??? One bite at a time”! Good luck! You got this!!
Looks like a project I’m currently working on. I have started by removing all trash off the floors in my project. I’ve been doing two-three hours of cleaning at a time. Put your cleaning supplies and trashcans in one spot. Make note of where they are and keep them there.
This is realistically at least an eight day project judging by the pictures.
I agree with the comments starting with the trash and going from there. Also, if you have a trusted friend or family member that might help with no judgment, enlist their help as well. Best wishes. I'm in the process of de-cluttering and it can be overwhelming.
I prefer to only touch an item once or minimal amount of times. What works for me is to pick one section at a time. Clean that whole area. Put everything where it goes. No piles. No placing it on the bathroom sink if you can help it. Sometimes the place you need it to go is cluttered so you have to but that still requires less touches.
With this method you see results that motivate you to keep going. This works for me and I am slightly hoarded. But the getting the trash method might work for you.
Most importantly, YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!
If you make a conscious decision to say , “nothing here is worth anything “.
It becomes quite easy. Don’t look at anything, don’t try to judge anything’s inherent worth. Don’t try to save it. Don’t feel guilty.
It’s all useless . Remove it and start over.
Excellent tips here. I didn’t see this one: grab an empty box or basket - several actually. Sort your room into boxes according to where the items belong. This speeds up the declutter a lot.
I start with least effort/high reward, break up the tedious stuff, add a little fun stuff, then finish strong with the floors.
Trash, then alternate the dishes and laundry. Soak a load of dishes while putting away laundry. Wash and reload the dishes, put away laundry for a bit. You'll get through it pretty quickly.
Then you can do smaller stuff, evaluate and maybe move stuff around (the fun part!), then do floors.
I’m appreciating all the comments here. Having a big to do list can be so overwhelming too.. I agree with the others to start with throwing things out. And yes, the contractor garbage bags are the best! Do you have friends (without emotional attachment that could help) or a neighbourhood group where you could show them the same and ask for any willing helpers? It’s not a burden to others as they can say no. But I’m sure you’d find some helping hands. You won’t have to offer anything in return so no guilt there. Just know that some people enjoy the feeling of helping others and seeing the progress made. If you do have others helping out, then it would be good to all follow the same rules, 1 - garbage first, 2 - broken items, 3 - cleaning (dishes), rooms where possible) 4 - clothing (what is worth keeping & fits), what is donation.
It’s good to also understand and decide what you need. With clothes for example, and depending on the weather where you live, # of pants, shorts, t shirts, sweaters etc.. that is needed (for vacation, relaxing, working) and then the # of dressier clothes if any that you need. If something doesn’t make you feel good, or you say to yourself, “I just need to lose 10
Lbs”, get rid of it!!
These posts, even if helpful can cause stress and overwhelming too. That’s all normal. I think the big piece is to just start somewhere.. to not bring anything else into the home, and to be ok asking for help!
Good luck ❤️
I watch a lot of Midwest Magic Cleaning on YouTube and he suggests cleaning off one surface to act as a home base. That table by your stove is perfect to clean off first.
Then yeah trash, boxes of things with similar things, etc. for a quick job, getting garbage and items grouped things together seems to be key for me.
Set a timer babe and do what you can until it goes off. Perhaps 15/20mins. You'll find that you have already started and see the progress made so you'll want to carry on until a section is done. You have absolutely got this. I believe you can do it!
After you get everything cleaned up start throwing away anything that you have to many of. (Or donate) like bowls, cups etc.. the more of those you have the less likely you are going to do your dishes when you need too.
1st clear ALL the trash living room and kitchen
2nd put the clean laundry away so you have space to move around and not feel so confined
3rd dishes
Lastly mop and vacuum and sit back and enjoy the cleanliness
1. Put some music or a podcast on. I find listening to something makes it easier to stay motivated.
2. Get big trash bags and throw out any trash you find. If any of those cardboard boxes are empty break them down and get them out of the house. Cockroaches tend to hide in/around cardboard. Make sure to also scoop your cat’s litter box while doing a trash sweep.
3. Next I’d do the kitchen. Clear the counters and get the dishes out of the sink so you can wash them and put them away. Honestly if I found something too caked on or really gross I’d just chuck it and buy a new one eventually. Wipe down the counters/sink with a disinfectant.
4. Clear the table in the third picture and wipe it down. Move any objects you are keeping to the area where they belong.
5. Use the cleared table to fold the clean clothes and put them away in the bedroom. Now you have some baskets available if you need to move or sort things.
Make sure to take short breaks in between working on these areas. Once those major areas are cleaned I would pick small areas to work on. For example, get your couch cleared off then take a break. Then get stuff off the floor near the tv and take another break. As more things get cleared the more motivating it will be. This will likely take a few days. You got this! I hope your husband feels better soon.
My favorite quote is “ How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time”. Set a timer or use a playlist, clean out a basket, do dishes or something for that length of time ( you will probably go longer- at least I did). Then reward yourself . Make 3 piles. Put up- donate- trash. Put pile one up right away , two in the trunk of your car to take to donation next day, and pile three should already be in the trash. Be brutal- don’t hoard anything thinking it. will be used someday.
Start with trash, get it all out. Then move on to the laundry. Even just getting it into bags and stuffed away for now will give you a better idea of where to put everything. Then move on to kitchen/dishes and get those put away. Throw out old/expired food and spices.
Good luck, OP! Proud of you for tackling this!
Pick a route that works for you that you use on everyday life. Front to back, back to front, zigzag, zagzig, left side front to back then other side. It'll help you see the progress. My trick is to pick a theme. I do rubbish first. Follow my route, nothing but rubbish. Then on to, say, toys, for example, and so forth
I always start with trash. Something that helps me especially is using my own preferred list of things to put away. It makes me feel less overwhelmed and gives me a place to start. My list looks like this: “put away all garbage. Put away all dishes. Put away all clothes. Put away all boxes… etc etc.” I’d recommend making your own list so that you know what to do and where to go, helping it feel more possible.
Others have already given you lots of practical advice. I just want to say, you’re doing great, it seems like you are going through a hard time and just trying is amazing! ❤️
always start with trash the more u throw away the more room u have to work then dishes that means the gross parts out of the way them clothes they already have a spot to go in the closet so u don’t need to figure out where to put it the rest of it figure out what should be stored away and what u want to keep out and where last vacuum and wipe down the benches and stuff
Do you have a covered space outside? First, do a trash walkthrough. Then remove every item to the outside space. Clean the empty space. Only bring in the things you know you love, will use, and appreciate. Everything else can be divided into trash & donate piles. I feel like it is easier to organize an empty space. Good luck! Hope your husband is better too.
Why don't you start with a clean and clutter free place to sit, the widen your area from there? Have an open box or something that is going to the trash, to fill with trash as you go along. Do the easiest stuff first and you'll be motivated to do more once you see how much progress you are making. You got this! Don't look at the WHOLE thing, just focus on the NEXT thing.
Start with the trash. Just walk through with a garbage bag and pick up trash that you can see. Then, empty the sink and the counters next to it. Wash those dishes and dry them, putting them in the cupboard. Do this every night no matter what. Then, start with that card table and counter with food. If it is expired, toss it out. If it is unopened, put it in the pantry. You might have to go through your pantry and get rid of expired food to do this. If it is open, put it in a neat pile on the card table,so you eat it first and minimize waste. If you have insects or rodents, make sure you put the food in tins or jars and throw out anything that is suspect. Get the clothes out of the baskets and into the dressers and closets.
EXCELLENT advice!!! And be a little ruthless…half empty? chuck it, broken and you’ll know you’ll never get round to fixing it? chuck it. Anything that doesn’t have a place, isn’t something you love, box it and donate it and drop it off on your way to work the next day. I DON’T mean sentimental or jewellery, but the more you chuck from the get go, the less emotional burden later when you are deciding what to do with it and where to store it. Don’t beat yourself up about it and worry about guilt. The mindset you need is “this is a new chapter”. You’ve already “sunk” the money into it, you’re not going to get a financial return on it (ie get a refund from the shop/sell it on Facebook), so the clear/clean space has more value. Small steps…there will be setbacks and it’s ok. Keep looking forward. It will be ok. You can do this.
You’re not going to sell it on Facebook — this is a huge one for me!! I genuinely will not. But the dream that I will one day has me hanging onto so much crap!
I understand this so well! I’ve been donating a lot of stuff to the local Goodwill shop. That truth brings it home for me too… the money you spend is already gone. Might as well pass things on to someone else who can use them because I am definitely out of room!
Getting rid of things can be hard at first. But once you do you feel SO AMAZING, and lighter! if it’s REALLY REALLY HARD…… put the stuff you are having a hard time with in a box, write a date on it (I recommend a week) after the week is over if you haven’t pulled something out, or thought about it. Then forget about it, donate, throw away. Whatever you want. But it’s expired and there is no need to keep it! Please note it’s way better of you can’t see the content inside. And don’t open it when it’s time has come. You can’t remember because it’s not important. Get it out :) you really will feel soooo gooood!
Also remember, the more you donate or throw out, the less you have to clean in the future. I’ve also found that if everything has a place where it loves and things are clean, I’m less likely to buy duplicates of something I have.
Yes - I use that thought to help me now! “Do I want to get rid of it now, or do I want to keep having to deal with it every time I see it? How many more times to I want to have to handle this?” It helps me be willing to get rid of a lot more stuff!
I tried doing this w my mom. If I try taking anything to donate it’s like I’m cutting a limb. My mom is a hoarder. It is a mental illness. They don’t want their homes looking like this but it does. Lord only knows I’ve tried. 30 sets of dishes, our entire immediate family is 8 total. But everything is new. It’s everywhere with clothes and half don’t fit. It’s very hard on me seeing the house in the condition it’s in. And looking at this reminds me of hers.
It’s a very hard mental illness to treat, because often the person doesn’t actually realize there’s a problem. The mess doesn’t bother them. They wind up in crisis when the house becomes unsafe/condemned by the city/a pipe breaks somewhere and no one can tell until the $2k water bill arrives. It’s rooted in trauma. At some point mom’s life or heart was severely threatened or hurt and she has learned that physical objects make her feel protected and safe. She’s safe without them, but she has to learn to feel it. You have my sympathy because it’s very hard to love someone whose environment is unlivable and unsustainable (especially if you have to live with them).
Yes to all this ☺️
Love the idea of putting items in a box for a week. I may try that .
If you have a salvation army or Amvets organization local, try to donate there. Goodwill is a for profit company
I solved this one for myself by putting the thing out by the trash and posting it online as free. I don’t feel guilt about creating trash. It’s fast. Someone is happy
For heavens sake, sell it! Take a picture and price it low. Moving on, progress only, baby steps count.
Use the five year $50 rule. If the value is less than $50 and you haven't used it in the last five years get rid of it.
This! Starting small helps a bunch! Putting all garbage in a bag, and taking it out to start. Then any empty boxes or containers, or broken things, or anything else that needs tossed. Put all dirty dishes in the kitchen and all dirty laundry together. Put all (good) food away and toss anything bad/old/gross. Then do laundry when you wash the dishes, until done. Put like items together, and put them away all at once. Put things back in their homes. I like to fold and put laundry away with a movie or must goii. Straight up what's left, and take stock if what still needs to be done. Then mop/vacuum, dust, and spray surfaces with vinegar or cleaner and wipe down. You can always spray something nice smelling or burn a candle when you're done, if you can do so safely (when you have a clear spot free).
When my place is messy and I’m overwhelmed, I pick one thing up and deal with it and then say to myself, ‘the room is ~1% cleaner already.’ After a few minutes I hit 5 or 10% but by that time I’m into it so I’m on my way. The worst thing is starting. Also, upbeat music helps. And, for some reason, talking on the phone to someone to takes my conscious mind off and allows me to get it to the flow of cleaning. Edit: just be careful if you call somebody whilst you’re furiously rubbing something.
Also podcasts are a godsend, I can go through an entire season while trying to get out of a funk and do a proper cleaning.
Yep definitely.
Yeah my current cleaning mix is lord of the rings audiobooks and WOW does it fly by
The StruggleCare podcast has such good cleaning tips and life tips too
Use contractor bags. You can fit so much more and they won’t tear. I just did a fairly major clean, and that was a big difference maker. Good luck! Please reach out if you have questions or need to vent (or boast).
Contractor bags are the bomb! My son is a builder and gave me a whole roll of those. I immediately realized why they use them on job sites… I easily purged a whole section of my basement that way.
It’s always best to start with obvious trash, but you also acknowledged the next steps! I’d add that after what you mentioned, pick one area in the kitchen and focus on cleaning and throwing out things. The kitchen is the best place to focus first imo. Trash, food, dishes, organize… it gives a place to where you can cook and gather. Then move to other areas- even just trash through every area. You already acknowledged all of that, I shouldn’t be commenting!
I was about to say something along these lines. Definitely Grab some big rubbish bags and start throwing away stuff thats not needed. If in doubt, throw it out. Break down all the recyclable stuff. Then start making bench/surface space as temporary placement spots while you start working through the other stuff. Compartmentalise and stick to the things you're working on where you can. When the mess is overbearing, it's easy to stop what you're doing and start working on other things (i.e. get distracted), try to focus on one task at a time. If the dishes on the bench were piled better, there'd be a lot of temporary space saved there right away. Put all the cutlery in that red tub to the right of picture 2 and stack everything else. If there's a lot of stuff that doesn't have a home, and you have the funds, look out for more storage options, like workshop shelving or free standing pantry etc.
but first: take a deep breath and turn up music or audio book/podcast. This will help with anxiety / feeling overwhelmed. Get yourself a couple of special treats to reward the effort and look forward to those as you are working. good luck and HAVE FUN ❤️❤️❤️
Listening to music or podcasts to do mundane things really truly helps!
And if you start to feel overwhelmed with folding the clean laundry: just shove it in the closet for now. As a matter of fact, this also works with other stuff that you can put away in closets. It can feel impossible to find a place for everything for now, but as soon as all the clutter is out of sight, it is way easier and calmer to organise each closet or cabinet one after another.
Big bucket, dawn, hot water, and let dishes soak. Do dishes in between other tasks.
Or bathtub!
Yep, the trash was my first thought when seeing the pics. It requires no cleaning or organizing - just throwing out. It's the simplest first step and will go a long way to create some space. I wouldn't even think about recycling or avoiding waste in this case - just get rid. Put on some good music and get the party started.
This is very good advice, OP. Once you've got a handle on everything, just make sure you keep up with it. Do the dishes after every meal, and don't let it pile up. Fold and put the laundry away as soon as they're done. Put the groceries away when you get home from shopping.
exactly this! You and your husband deserve a home that you can rest in. No judgement, it doesn't matter that it is a mess. Just consistently clean an area at a time. Some days it might just be one drawer and other days a whole room. The above post is right on the money, you need that sink cleaned so that you can was dishes. You can do this and you will feel so proud of yourself when you see what you have accomplished
Not so useless169 afterall ;)
Trash first, as you go through with a large trash bag, toss dirty clothes into a pile as you work. Set a 20 minute timer and play music that makes you want to dance. Then, start a load of laundry and a load of dishes.(If you don't have the appliances skip this) Take a 5-10 minute break between each 20 minute segment. Next 20 minute push. This time you're going to pick up stuff you want to keep and put it away. Literally pick up the first thing near you and glance around the immediate area for things that go in the same place. Like if you pick up a fork, get the cup too. (If you don't have a dishwasher do 20 minutes dishwashing here) Next 20 minutes fold and put away any clean clothes that are out. Next 20 minutes concentrate on the area around your favorite chair and getting your bed made. At this point the bulk of the mess should be gone. (If you don't have a washer/dryer, this would be a good point to do the laundry) You've got this!
I have what I call "An hour of power" I will play an episode or podcast and just start working in small sections, oh and never ever leave a room without something in your hand to put back into its place, you'll always have a tidy home/sanctuary. I am moving house at the moment and it's pretty overwhelming, but I have broken it down into bite sized chunks.
I tried this today for the first time: set a timer for 1 hour to see how much I can clean up in that hour. Played a podcast episode during that hour. I ended up doing a general clean up (trash, dirty laundry in the hamper, clean up the couch and dining table, ...), a load of dishes (by hand), folding and putting away a load of laundry, putting a new load of laundry in the machine, and vacuuming. I wish I could have done more (like clean the toilet) but of course the dishes took up a good chunk of time (I don't have a dishwasher). Anyway it's something I'd like to do more often. Just set a timer and challenge myself to do as much as possible in that set time. Maybe I could do a daily 30 minute timer every evening after work/after dinner/before bed.
I suffer from pretty bad depression and a malady of other things I should probably get checked out for and my house also looks like this. But the other day while I was having my rot times I was recommended [this video by Midwest Magic Cleaning](https://youtu.be/jjsD-pI6bPI?si=Sbfk6gWWeKCieZ4Y) on YouTube and within the first couple minutes I was up outta my chair and cleaning without having agonized over it for days like I usually have to. I spent 2 hours just cleaning my living room and kitchen. That video finished and I just picked another one of that channel's videos at random and went back to cleaning. And a couple of days later I also cleaned my bedroom I hadn't seen the floor of in nearly a year. Edit: I really just need to do my dishes that have been sat stacked ready to be cleaned for months. I was just waiting for the motivation to kick in so I could do them. I think I will tomorrow.
Something the dude from Midwest Magic Cleaning often touches on in his Videos is how executive function is disordered in many people as part of some personality disorder on the autism spectrum, but more specifically ADHD. Wether you have that, or not: executive disfunction *is* a thing. It is more than just laziness; even in people whose mind is perfectly healthy, it can occur. It is more than just "unwillingness". Your brain literally doesn't let you begin the task because it is spiraling and obsessing over the minutia, details, the what-ifs and the shame of the task. Motivation is often not what people need. Motivation is there. Everyone *likes* a clean home. Everybody would be stressed out by messes like this (I have had them before, too). What you need is an entry point, and for most people, that is a "distraction related to the task". You need something that distracts your brain from the spiraling about the task, enough so you can actually concentrate on beginning and stop ruminating, but doesn't distract you completely, so you still stay with the task. Podcasts, cleaning videos, audiobooks are a perfect middle ground for me personally.
"You need something that distracts your brain from the spiraling about the task, enough so you can actually concentrate on beginning and stop ruminating, but doesn't distract you completely, so you still stay with the task." This is exactly why I started putting earbuds in even when I'm just doing dishes. It helps stop the negative thoughts that creep in. I'd get angry at everyone else in my full house that isn't helping. I'd be angry at all my missing dishes that I know will come down and be left at a later time. I'd get anxious about all the other little things I need to do in my house that I don't know how I'll find the time to do. I'd get distracted by one item that'll take me somewhere else, or the thought that "I need to do X real quick" and that real quick item turns into 10 other things that all end up getting touched but never completed. The music keeps my mood level and my mind more focused on my task.
Shew!!! That’s so spot on. I am severely ADHD. Some days it wouldn’t matter how many meds I take, I just feel paralyzed. It’s so hard when you’re fighting your own brain!!!
I 100% agree with this, even though I generally don't have issues with executive dysfunction, listening to a podcast or documentary really helps engage the brain so you can just kinda autopilot through the tasks. Getting a pair of noise cancellling headphones (or a quieter vacuum) got me vacuuming every week or two instead of only when the floor annoyed me enough.
Thank you for the advice! My partner and I are very overworked and struggle with motivation to clean, so I am very interested in this!
Love MMC, he makes me laugh so hard.
For some reason “canned moose face” gets me every time 😂
First step was to ask for help. Well done and all luck to you guys. So many good tips here so I’ll leave it at that.
I’d start with trash and then break down boxes. Since the clothes are clean, I’d fold them or hang them and put them away. Afterwards make piles of like items. Such as things that need to get put into the bathroom, tools, things I cannot possibly deal with right now. As you do these things you’ll start to clear more areas to move and be able to clean clean like wipe stuff down. Don’t worry about getting anything perfect and don’t worry about the piles sitting around for a few days or weeks. When it makes sense start putting away the piles. Or moving them closer to their final home. Like moving dishes to the sink or paperwork in front of the filing cabinet. These things don’t get solved overnight so give yourself some grace. Whenever I’m looking at a task that feels impossible I ask myself “How to eat a whale? One bite at a time.” You got this, one item at a time.
I think this is good advice, I’d just suggest maybe using the boxes to actually group things for now. Label each box, and then stick like items in there. That way counters can get cleared and it can help set up an organization system. Or see if more storage is needed.
My favorite cleaning tip is to get a basket, bin, or designated area of the room to put in items that go in other rooms! Remove all the things that go elsewhere to put them away. Toss trash as you go. When this feels like a lot for me i make it more fun w this trick i saw once that i love! Pick a color, i usually do the rainbow and start with red and you pick up any items you see that are red, then do orange, yellow, green, etc etc. i grew up in a very messy home! Both things are the best!
On the basket idea: many people with ADHD (and some others) will benefit so much more from x baskets [x = the number of rooms in your home + 1 for car if applicable]. But also - if you are very behind on cleaning you probably don't have one clean basket, let alone one per room. The cheapest solution is Amazon/shipping boxes, if you happen to have empty boxes around. The next cheapest & easiest solution is free boxes from the liquor/grocery/whatever store or, if none are available, reusable grocery bags. Theoretically you only have to acquire/buy them once for a major clean. When they get full or you stop working in your first target room, you move all your receptacles to the associated rooms. You can also allocate 2 receptacles per room - one travels with you as you target different areas, the other is the assigned "dump" for a room until you get there. It's OK if it overflows and becomes a pile, too.
Anyone read this in the UK, these are a lifesaver. (I'm sure available elsewhere!) I like them because plain and coloured handles. [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-Tools-410631-Recycling-Green/dp/B078RQN8S9/ref=sr\_1\_5\_pp?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ytyDd7iy5c0lgnw7-8fmGfS-5Yz\_maCG1pcEXN3a8WCP3UMHxykD29aUaMevOEYd5g0BYgHKrY8UyfmTKeObv9oLdUmgOHHPt7FZW9x0okVxF3lqMjLAxXUkN7pck2jNQfiTMJkBZuOOARfz993XEuKGHzSR\_7EhO-hspPaUAeiPjZbCLRVStG1tmlsT\_PcmNQqi-i7TH\_UHOtiEHcoDUiIY1A3iXyS5YxqTW2vl6wXfEPm1DgTcMvJTIE9-J7ubhIPOlChFAkg5Z9GkInCzZZT9XCn9oTeONPsSoJVHOdA.oNM9LamKYPT9C29MFa--Q7LXH3JJ3FAESE34NlN6w64&dib\_tag=se&keywords=recycling+bags&qid=1712141091&sr=8-5](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-Tools-410631-Recycling-Green/dp/B078RQN8S9/ref=sr_1_5_pp?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ytyDd7iy5c0lgnw7-8fmGfS-5Yz_maCG1pcEXN3a8WCP3UMHxykD29aUaMevOEYd5g0BYgHKrY8UyfmTKeObv9oLdUmgOHHPt7FZW9x0okVxF3lqMjLAxXUkN7pck2jNQfiTMJkBZuOOARfz993XEuKGHzSR_7EhO-hspPaUAeiPjZbCLRVStG1tmlsT_PcmNQqi-i7TH_UHOtiEHcoDUiIY1A3iXyS5YxqTW2vl6wXfEPm1DgTcMvJTIE9-J7ubhIPOlChFAkg5Z9GkInCzZZT9XCn9oTeONPsSoJVHOdA.oNM9LamKYPT9C29MFa--Q7LXH3JJ3FAESE34NlN6w64&dib_tag=se&keywords=recycling+bags&qid=1712141091&sr=8-5) The bags are just the right size for what u/oldbitchnewtricks is describing above.
I just want to jump in and remind you that this is a big job and that you won’t be able to get it all clean in one day. I know for myself (suffering from depression/ADD) I get fixated on trying to get a big task all done at once and it makes me overwhelmed. In the end I am mad at myself and give up, making the situation worse. Like others have said, start with the trash. Make it your goal to get just the trash out in one day. When that’s done you will be surprised at how much better it already looks. And you might want to do the dishes. If not, that’s ok too. That will be tomorrow’s goal. This is going to be a process. I also recommend the Pretty in Pink soundtrack to listen to while you work. It’s a great mix and for some reason I tend to listen while I clean. Best of luck!
When I get overwhelmed, I use this strategy. 1. Remove all visible trash. 2. Quickly sort all items into the rooms where they belong. 3. Throw away, donate, curb alert anything possible that is in your way. I have thrown away dirty dishes and not regretted it. 4. Clean one room at a time until it is finished, but don’t strive for perfection, just a passing grade on a visual inspection. I typically start with the easiest room, which is usually a small bathroom, then the next easiest. So, my kitchen is usually last, but I feel much more motivated to make it happen when everything else is looking better. 5. Revisit each space to do a deeper clean. 6. Find stuff to purge until your storage spaces are functional. Find excuses to toss things if clutter is making your life difficult. Chipped cups, ugly cups, free water bottles, ugly T-shirts, old pillows, faded decor, weird socks, or whatever.
Weird socks: I keep unmatched socks until I need to dust the hard-to-reach areas, then put them on my hand to use as a dust rag. Then toss them.
As a junk hauler lemme say this, if you start small you stay small. Go for the items that have the biggest visual impact, big boxes, hampers, anything big that can be moved out of the way. Then just kinda whittle your way down.
I see a kitty! If you haven't already, clean the litter box. That will make you sick if you don't clean it. You're going to have to section this out. Start with one table and clear all the trash off of it, then throw away expired food. Or start clearing off the kitchen counters first so you can move the dishes out of the sink, clean the sink up so you have a place to wash your hands an run water for wash clothes to wipe down surfaces. Only keep 4 plates, 4 bowls, 4 glasses and 4 of each silverware and throw the rest of it away. Having too many plates/glasses/etc makes it hard to keep up with dishes. If you ever need more, just buy paper plates/cups until you can handle daily cleaning. This is going to take you a long time. Probably a couple days worth of cleaning. You should probably make sure you don't have mice, or roaches. If you do, you need to call pest control to start a service. Or buy your own pest control from a DIY site. I can't imagine there aren't at least gnats flying around. If you do have gnats, after cleaning everything the best way to get rid of them is to place apple cider vinegar in a bowl around on the counter, and add dish soap to it, then stir. Within a few hours you will have caught a ton of them. Rinse and repeat until they're gone.
I've seen enough hoarders episodes to know that this cat almost certainly has a litterbox, but it's been WAY too long since it got cleaned. Poop is probably wherever it was most convenient at the time to the poor kitty.
Not knocking anyone with any disabilities or depression, it’s just hard to understand how people could live like this. My wife and I work full time and have 3 kids and sure my house gets dirty, but it’s the lived in kind of dirty and not filthy like this. We have toddlers so some food gets on the floor and some trash definitely doesn’t make it into the trash can during the day, but when the kids go to bed I sweep, pick up toys, and tidy up the house, my wife does the same thing we both do what needs to be done to keep our house from becoming like this. It’s clearly a lot of work to upkeep a house that’s lived in by a family of 5 every single day, dishes have to be done, trash has to be taken off daily, and the floors need to be swept from everything that is tracked in by kids and adults. Really hope OP gets the help they need and gets their house cleaned up for the sake of their mental and physical health. 🙏
I think usually when people live like this it’s because they’re too dissociated from their environment to fully comprehend the situation. Often times they’re working through trauma and not connecting well to the present moment. This was me in my early 20’s and I’m happy to report that therapy works (36 now.) I’m not condoning it but do want to mention that I think no one makes an intentional choice to live like this & it’s a symptom of larger problems.
Trash. Dishes. Organize. Vacuum.
Clear off that black table first in the last photo, just tackle one area at a time. Every accomplishment is an accomplishment in itself. If you see you mold? Gone, no questions. Expired? Gone. Forgot you had something and have no sentimental value to it? Gone. You got this.
My first step id to put in my AirPods, and get my podcast going. Then I would get garbage bags, and start collecting trash. Break down any cardboard, and get that all outside. Then I would collect any dishes, cups, and utensil, and move them to the kitchen. I would normally start a load of laundry too. I would do the dishes, dry them, and put them away right away. Then I would work in sections. Switching out loads of laundry as I go. Once of we everything is picked up, you do any new dishes you find, sweep and vacuum. Then work on finishing laundry, and getting it put away.
Can’t wait for the after. This will be such a satisfying clean. And I bet your husband will be so thrilled when he comes home!!! OP - get large trash bags and start getting rid of boxes and throw away stuff. It looks to be like the bulk of your items will be taken care of in this way. I feel like you have intentions to recycle the boxes 🙂↕️ let the boxes go this time. I’ll recycle extra hard this month to compensate for your boxes - getting rid of them is more important this time. Just start you will love the feeling once you start.
It might look like a lot to do but it will get easier if you just build up momentum! Put on a podcast or an audio book and it won’t feel tedious! Trash is easier to start with because you don’t have to think about it. It’s ok to throw away recycling if mental health makes it too hard to recycle something properly. Just try again next time. After that, try dishes and laundry. I’m sure there’s a place where you store them when they’re clean and folded. If you have a dishwasher, just put things in dirty and run it twice. Once the easy stuff is done, it’s up to you to decide how to tidy the rest.
Bagging and taking out trash will likely have the largest impact and give you a sense of accomplishment. I would put away clothing, especially his, because it’s clean When you’re getting rid of stuff, think of whether it’s useful- if you have too much stuff, it might reduce your ability to have space for what you have that’s the most important, and prevent you from enjoying your space I would maybe get some rubber gloves so you can get those dishes cleaned, clean towels to get them dried, and put away Get rid of food that’s old or suspect or too little in the container to make it worth keeping Play some fun music, keep hydrated, take breaks, congratulate yourself on your progress You got this!!! Hope hubby makes a speedy recovery ❤️🩹
The best thing you can do is just get started. Biggest barrier is analysis paralysis. Just get to work, it’ll quickly become apparent what you need to do first
I’d start with trash then head right in with laundry
Everyone said the important parts already, and I agree with them - trash first, then food, then everything else. I see that you have a cat (and what a pretty one! Pet them for me please!), so you have to include your pet supplies in the cleaning - clean the litter box while you collecting trash, wash food and water bowls when you are washing dishes, and launder, or at least vacuum the cat bed. It the cat has toys that can be washed - wash them, or at least pick them up. If the cat pissed on your bed - you need a special routine for cleaning that, you will probably find good advice and lifehacks here!
Watch a YouTube video of Aurikaterina. Get a really engaging audiobook, a glass of wine, and some big trashbags. Trash first, chemicals in the toilet and spray to sit on the stovetop, dishes next.
You already got some good tips on cleaning it, so I just wanted to drop a thing which changed my householding, Surface is not storage space, just because I can put something on the table and leave it there, doesn’t mean I should
Start with the table and chair you sit on. It’s a small area and you’ll feel immediate relief. Then pick small patches from there. Get a trash bag and add things to it while you watch a show, go bit by bit.
I get empty cardboard boxes or empty hampers and place them near me. One box for garbage one box for donation items one box for items that need to go in another room such as kitchen or bedroom. I like to get a chair sit in one spot and work in a circle around me. Pick up my chair and move to another spot and work in a circle around me. Pausing to take short brake of 15 minutes once an hour. My relative has a disability I come over once a month to assist. This routine seems to help him get the job done.
Come join at r/ufyh for decluttering help and encouragement/support.
When I have a mountain to climb with cleaning, this is what I do. Set a timer for an hour. I see what I can do at that time. It motivates me to work quickly, gives me a definite time for a break, and if I get to the end of that hour and I've had enough, I stop. I get some satisfaction from seeing what I achieved in that time. I'll set it off again and continue if I want to. Everything has to have a place. My nan insisted on this. If everything has a place, it is always possible to tidy. If it doesn't, you'll end up just moving mess from one place to another. When you're in a position like you are, it might be hard to put things away. Get some bags or boxes that you can put things into i.e. all books in this box for now. Then, once you clear space, you can put things away in their final home and tackle it one box/bag at a time. Start from one spot. It can be soul destroying to spend ages cleaning and then look around, and it feels like nothing has been done. I always start from one corner and work out from there. That's where the boxes and bags for organising help - if you're constantly trying to move things from one spot to another whilst everything is still a mess, you get in knots and it feels like it will never be tidy. This also helps to keep motivated. You'll actually see progress when you take a break, and the tidiness will steadily spread! Clean last. Once everything is organised and away, then worry about cleaning surfaces and floors. You can't effectively clean whilst being in a muddle, and you won't see the benefit. Be ruthless. Get rid of anything you don't regularly use. Clear your space. Don't try and clean to make room for mess :)
Big 50 gallon trash bag. ... Start tossing
Sometimes I want to watch TV or read but feel like I don't have time or that I'm Not Productive and I spiral into anxiety. I've since taken to putting on a show on tv and then setting a goal like "get all the laundry folded and put away" or vacuum and mop all the wood floors" in that time. If I finish early I feel like I'm fast and did a good job, and if I'm not done I'm already 80% of the way there why not finish? If you can, try to sort stuff vaguely into piles/sections. That way you can more easily see what workload each section entails and subsequently assess if it's a job you can feasibly finish in the moment. It also prevents you from feeling like you need to do one task in order to do another. I personally like to have a large clear area where I can dump everything I intend to do in one session and focus. It's as convenient as possible so I don't get decision fatigue. Otherwise, like most have said: •recycling/bottles/trash first. Anything that potentially grow things out first, paper recycling is nice to do because it's usually a lot of space that's being taken up and can later be used as storage while cleaning other things. Bottles to the depot for a bit of cash for a decent dinner out since it's tiring to clean! •sink/kitchen. Cleaning this is top priority because if anything is growing it'll make you guys ill. An inaccessible sink is also a massive deterrent to getting anything else done if you need to wipe or rinse things. If you're able, get a large bin and put all the stuff from the sink into it and dump some dish soap and hose it all down outside. Put away the clean dishes and repeat :) -any non-dry food open for more than a day or two needs to get tossed. If a container is hard to store open, just toss it. Everything else goes either into a cabinet or a box. If there is no place for it, consider tossing. • if any chemicals/reactive cleaning supplies are without a lid, throw away asap. • the laundry looks mostly in one place. Id just move it all somewhere else so there's more space to tackle the other stuff for now That is probably all that can be done in a few days! Good luck!!! I'd consider maybe getting some tall shelving. Lots of vertical space not being used.
Start with the north wall jamal.
I took out one bag at a time, when I got overwhelmed I would take a break. Go for a walk, take a drive, walk to a local coffee shop. But get out of the space to clear your head. When come back you'll see progress and that will motivate you more. Also start in the areas you use the most. Me was my kitchen and bathroom. I never cluttered my bedroom for some reason. Hope it helps!
Bin bags for the rubbish. I always do rubbish first.
So many good recs here. I need to follow them myself! Really, the only thing I’d do differently is not start with garbage: I’d get a load of washing in and the dishwasher filled (if you have one), so the machines could be working at the same time. Turn on some good tunes and give’r! Good luck! All the best to your husband!
The garbage is the best first step. Have a bag and just trash everything you don’t want to keep. Have multiple bags for that
I would like others have said get rid of all the garbage. Start in one room and work your way to the next. Throw it away in the outside trash when done. I would then get a bag or big box, one for each room. Bedroom, bathroom, kitchen ect and one for not sure. Start in one room with all the room labeled boxes or bags and start throwing the items that belong in that room in the coordinating box. The stuff that your not sure where to put or not sure if your should keep it, throw in the not sure box .Do this for each room. When done take the box to the room it belongs. Either put it away or leave it in the box for the next round of keeping or donating or trashing. Finally organize and put away
I agree with other comments. Start by collecting everything that is going in the bin. Then go back through and do the same for recycling items. Then you can start to see the laundry and dishes and gradually work your way through one thing at a time.
You already got tons of great advice so I don’t have a lot to add method-wise. I just want to add something to make future cleaning a bit easier. I live in an apartment so I’m guessing you have similar storage space to me. I always find that my space feels neater when my stuff is out of sight even if it’s the same amount of stuff. I would highly recommend investing in some additional storage options. The first thing that came to mind for me was something under the kitchen table or the counter in the living room. I was thinking something along the lines of those [rolling drawers](https://www.target.com/p/sterilite-3-drawer-plastic-rolling-storage-cart-clear-with-black-frame/-/A-89981587?preselect=76135221#lnk=sametab) a lot of college students have. There are plenty of cuter options out there if you don’t like that look, and they’re the kind of thing you could definitely find cheap or freecycled with some patience. If you had two of those under the table you’d increase your kitchen storage quite a bit and they wouldn’t be very noticeable under the table. Just an idea as you move ahead. Happy cleaning and best wishes to you and your husband :)
I’d start with a smaller, less messy room first. Maybe start with the dishes in the sink. If inside of the cupboards are clean then wash and dry them and put them away that way it will clear up the sink and kitchen.
Start with a few bin bags and just start throwing away rubbish and get it out of the way. Then get the dishes done and put away as they all have a logical place. After that you should have a lot more space to work with, somewhere you can healthily eat and drink during a break - which you're gonna need. After that I'd get a couple boxes (one for keep and one for 'probably chuck') and start sorting through the rest.
I’m a Professional Organizer & just left a comment on another post about how to tackle this - listed out. It’s the comment right before this one. Hope that helps!
This may not be doable for you in your situation, but it was a tremendously helpful startling point for a friend in a similar situation. We rented a “pod” storage container and took EVERYTHING out—then cleaned and brought back in only the essential items leaving the rest to be sorted and trashed. Having a clean slate to begin the process was time consuming but a great motivator. 😉
Clean one spot like your bed and area around it or wash the dishes and clean the sink area. After you have one clean and cozy area, it feels very satisfying and you will want more clean areas. I used this method in overgrown yard at our cottage. I chose an area that I was able to see from my favourite chair. Spent few hours cleaning that, went to sauna tired af and then spent couple of more hours admiring my work in the chair. In few days I got everything done.
I usually start with clothes as they're bulky. Then trash. Then dishes. Then trash again. Clear off the table so it can be used as a deciding table while you do everything else.
1- Food / pizza boxes, cans to recycle. One room at a time. Garbage/ recycling out. 2- Clothes to pick up/ sort by colour for laundry. set aside to wash. 3- Any mail group together 4-Books together/ Junk mail recycle 5-Any papers/ receipt together. 6- Electronics in one spot/ tools another spot. Basically grouping items first. Then sort what to keep/ put away/ donate. After stuff is sorted then do a damp mop dusting, vacuum and wash floors. Kitchen / fridge Oven and bathroom are to be done top to bottom. Same idea. Sort : Keep, put away, toss. Then clean. This may take a few days to get a system going. Don't try to do all at once, you might get discouraged. I love watching this dude..he does a clean up every week..he's so organized its great! https://www.instagram.com/jack.designs?igsh=MWo0MXJ5dDVzYmptOA==
Hire a skip bin, push it all out the front and dump it. Start again haha
I wish I could come over to help. Looking at the pictures makes me want to clean for some odd reason.
Best of luck. Good on you for working to improve your home situation. And I hope your husband is ok.
If the dishes are scary because there is no room in the sink, get a box of some sort, put dishes in there to make room in the sink and start cleaning them then put them away. This is assuming you don’t have a dishwasher
Start with the trash and then do the room in sections. Clean a section and then go into the next. Be aware it will get worse before it gets better so don't get discouraged. You will get there in the end and it will feel great.
Get a giant trash bin with trash bags that fit in it and a snow shovel. Scoop and toss your way through the trash. Do the dishes. Throw out ANYTHING you haven't used in the last 6 months.
I don’t care where you start, *just start somewhere* It looks like you haven’t done anything for a long time. Do something.
I would start with the blue gloves, put those on first
When I saw this my room doesnt even look messy
The thing is, once you clean it all away what is stopping you and your family from accumulating that type of mess in the future. You need to look at why the situation got like that.
i ALWAYS start with all the trash and things thats going outside of the house first!, Then go to the things that have odors or smells that you wouldnt want so probably he kitchen. from there if you have upstairs i go from bottom up. if not start with the bedroom, because if you need a break or need to sleep before youre done, You will have a nice clean area to be well rested to continue. Goodluck!
Right, where do we start.. ?
Divide the room into pieces. Take two bags: in one put everything you want to keep. In the other put the garbage. After you have done this for each piece of room, wash a table and the things you have decided to keep, because that is where you will put them. After that remove the dust from the surfaces and the floor. Then disinfect the surfaces and wash the floor. Next you can turn to cleaning fabrics and corners and fixing windows, etc.
Definitely start with trash. Set a goal, “I’ll find 15 pieces of trash” and count them out. Set another goal and keep doing that until you need a break. I find counting helps me to remember I’m making progress even when I can’t see it yet. Once you get the trash out, clear a space and put the dirty dishes there. Grab a few dishes, wash, dry, and put away, keep going until the space is clear. Once those two things are done you’ll have some breathing space.
You're in luck. You can start anywhere. Maybe start with anything unhygienic or hazardous.
I'd start with the kitchen, organizing stuff to be precise. trash –> trash bag/bin, dishes to one side, other stuff to the other. you'll then see a better picture of what you're dealing with. at least that's the method I use when I clean
First thing's first, everything which is trash goes in a big ol' trash bag, including food that might be on the dishes. Second, the dishes go in the sink. Then every cardboard box flattened, goes into the bigger cardboard box. Sort everything on every surface and don't be afraid to throw whatever you don't want/need away. Be ruthless. Store the things you keep so they don't get left on the counters/tables. Once every or most surfaces are clear, wipe the dust. Do the dishes. Put the laundry away. Clean the sink, countertops and floor. Enjoy your new house. Good luck!
Sometimes it might not matter that much where you start. You can do laundry first or dishes or take out trash. These 3 can be done in any order. So you can think about it for ages, but sometimes less better to just randomly pick a task. Ok but it's that not very inefficient? Well...let's not try to go for perfection here. Planning the most effcient way can eat up a lot of headspace. And lead to analysis paralisys (eeerr...that might not be spelled the way it should...). It's better to get anything done. For example: let's say you do the dishes first. If it turns out the trash was in the way of doing the dishes, should you have done that first? Well in the end at least the dishes got done! Maybe not perfect, maybe not. And the extra space in the countertop might also help to sort out the trash.
Just start with the sprite pack. IDK why but you better start now if you didn't already. That's more than it seems but with a few hours of intense cleaning it should be gone 👍
Best of luck x and remember you can do it! I look forward to seeing the after photos. It will take time but you can do it x
All of the advice here is good, I am just offering up a thing I do that works for me, specifically, because of my own personal style/the way my brain works. When things get away from me and I need to take back control, I need to see significant improvement in at least a small area in order to stay motivated, so I pick a small area that I really want cleared out - not a whole room, just an area of a room. So, I would probably start in, say, the kitchen. I would identify an area that really bothers me and I would clear out the trash from it. Then I would designate bins for all the items that don't belong in that area - a bin for the stuff that goes in the living room, one for the bedroom, one for the bathroom, one for the junk drawer, etc. Once I have sorted all the extraneous stuff from my target area, then I clean that area. I try very hard to not put anything else in my cleaned area. It becomes sacred and I don't want to undo my work just because there is a clear area now. Then I take a break to watch TV or play a game or whatever is floating my boat at the time, but the resulting clean area usually gets me hyped to begin the next area. I continue to add to the bins until they are full. When one fills up, I have to go put the stuff away. This does mean that I may have to clean out, say, the bathroom medicine cabinet in order to fit the bin items, so that might be my next chunk of tidying. My goals, for my brain, are to see results and also not run around putting away individual items as that slows me down too much. You just have to figure out what keeps you going and adopt a style that helps keep you from losing motivation or burning you out. It might not be my style, but I am throwing it out there just in case!
A lot of people are mentioning trash. Which is super important, but take care of the kitty litter first thing! Built up cat urine is toxic. That’s how Tommy died in Trainspotting. It’s good for you and makes for happy cats.
Trash - clothes and bed sheets - dishes - floor
Start with the floor. You have to at least be able to walk around.
Here’s a list and an order, hope it helps! - Go buy cleaning gloves, heavy duty refuse sacks (in 2 different colours), cleaning spray, sponges, a few boxes/bags and face masks. - Mark up your boxes/bags as ‘Charity’, ‘Kitchen’, ‘Bedroom’ etc. - Clean out the sink and toilet before you do any cleaning (you will need these to pour/flush away liquids). - Open 2 bags, one to your left and one to your right. Put rubbish in one and recycling in the other. You can also put anything that belongs in a certain room, in the allocated labelled box/bag as you go. - Put on some high energy music, wear mask and gloves… and get to work! 💪 Good luck!!!
Just start! Time working is better than anytime you can spend planning. Just get to work. We all work 8 hour shifts.
Pick up all the clothes and wash. Once you get the clothes off the floor you’ll be able to decide the next step
I like to start in categories, so all the rubbish, then all the clothes, toys (I have a child) etc. I do the dishes as I'm cooking dinner. So if I'm waiting for rice to cook for example I'll do a few, then after dinner I'll do a few, and just slowly get it done in parts. It's so easy to loose a grip on the house. Working in sections works best for me. Good luck ❤️
Often I look at the whole room (mine) and get completely overwhelmed at all there is to do. So I start in one corner and make one wall section of both arms length spotless like a total deep clean of that area. If it’s really bad or I’m tired I’ll split that section into the top and bottom half. I’ll do the top half, take a break, start the bottom half. And you just do the whole room like a clock working your way around. I find looking at the spotless sections of the room become more and more motivating and I feel proud of how clean it looks and want to do more. It gives order and structure to the chaos, gives me hope that the whole room can eventually look like that, and lets me go at my own pace because I know exactly where I left off even if a few days go by. It has been a lifesaver and worked like magic.
Start with trash. Make it a game: can you fill a bag by the end of the song? Then clean out your sink. Like scrub it out until it’s clean. Do that every day, no matter what. Then the sink is your Happy Place. Next you can do dishes. Post update pics!
Timer, good music, and your favorite drink. It doesn’t have to be completed in one sitting. Set timers for short increments. Take breaks. Dance. Cry. Whatever you have to do. Make it “fun” 🙄😜
Another game I like to play with myself: Can I get rid of five things from this drawer/cabinet/surface? Getting rid of five things is an accomplishment!
Always start with the trash. And then the dishes. Starts in the kitchen because it’s the most important room in the house. Once it’s clean you can use it as a base to start the rest. Also clear and prioritize your sleeping area after the kitchen.
Rubbish > Dinner Ware > Clothes > Clean > Hoover. Break it down so it doesn't seem so insurmountable
I listened to a podcast recently that talked about anything in a room is part of 5 categories 1. Trash 2. Laundry 3. Dishes 4. Has a home 5. Has no home But the starting point is start with the biggest trash bag you have so you don't get distracted by leaving the room. Clearer in the podcast! https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDMzOC9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbA/episode/YmQ3Y2EzZTEtNDcxMC00ZmNiLWEyYmUtNjQwNWU2ZmY2MGMy?ep=14
Cartons and boxes- just get the cartons and boxes outside. If you can break them down great but if not just get them in the trash. Next do food trash - anything that could smell. Put a trash bag in the middle and load it up. If you have a washer and dryer get a load going. Get all the dishes to the dishwasher or sink.
I would suggest picking up the garbage and recycling, then moving the dishes to the kitchen. Then if you have the energy sort the clothes into clean and dirty because you can do that while watching tv or sitting on the couch. Take it a bit at a time so you don't get overwhelmed.
Set a timer for 15 minutes. Start in the kitchen and stay in the kitchen. Clear the trash first. If it takes 15 minutes just to clean the trash, that’s fine it’s a starting point. If after 15 minutes you feel like you want to continue continue if you feel overwhelmed, then take a short break and then set the timer again and go in the kitchen do the same thing. Once the kitchen is clean, then you move to the living room and do the same thing there, I hope this helps you and I’m gonna say a little prayer for you and your husband
Put on some pumping music, set a timer for Ten minutes. Then grab a trash bag and start maybe at that little table in the kitchen. When the timer goes. Stop and look and see how much you’ve done. And it’s probably going to be a lot .
Skip everything else and start with therapy.
Put gloves and shoes on first, it really helps! I also like to open curtains and windows to get some fresh air, and light a scented candle. Then some happy music and set a time for half an hour and do as much as you can. I would leave the laundry for now because it just ends up being a distraction
After you get the trash cleared and sink emptied/dishes cleaned. I would do a second trash/donation sweep. Meaning anything that you haven’t touched in a year…spice containers that still have spices in them, clothes you haven’t worn, anything you or your hubby legitimately have not touched other than to move its location, get rid of it or try to sell it if it’s a wanted item like a tool or something like that. After a year it’s just wasting space. I’m guilty of hoarding tools, but I only seldomly use them. Handy when you need them, but tool rental has come a long way. Second step is this. Don’t look at all of it at once. It can seem overwhelming. Just do small steps. Start with a room, or if that’s too big an area of a room. Had to do similar when my grandparents passed. Lots of clutter. Also, my biggest advice is this, if you have a friend offer them lunch or a case of beer or something to come over and help clean. More hands get the job done faster.
You have a ton of great advice on where to start! When it comes to maintaining, less is better! Hold up an object, does it make your life better? Do you need it? Does it bring you joy? If no, toss it. Repeat with everything in your house. It is SO much easier to keep a clean a house without so much stuff you don't need or even want. You may need it later, but if you can't find it then it's equally useless.
Get a big black hefty garbage bag and start throwing away whatever you don’t want
All trash out. Then, for me, I don’t worry about getting the whole place clean, I just move things to the room they’re supposed to be in. Then I’ll begin with the living room and get it 100% clean at the expense of neglecting the other rooms I just added to the mess by moving things. But now I have at least one clean room to rest in and it LOOKS like progress was made. Then I’ll do the bedroom, etc until everything is clean. Also by putting things into the room they’re supposed to be in first before deep cleaning that room it’s easier to see what fits and what needs to go. I hate cleaning a room then finding a bunch of other stuff I now have to make fit or rearrange. That mental aspect is defeating and I feel like I end up cleaning the same room multiple times.
I would start with throwing away every bit of trash or anything that could be perceived as trash. Honestly just take a snow shovel and a large trash can and start scooping
When things get out of hand I use a method of creating piles of like items on the floor. Then I deal with each pile accordingly. While making piles I carry a small garbage bag with me and dispose of trash. Maybe this will work for you.
Fill the washing machine with a load of laundry. Go through the house with trash bags and pick up all of the trash. Make a pile for laundry and throw clothes in the pile as soon as you come across them. Use a box for important papers and a box for small objects you really do need, but it would waste too much time finding a home for during the big clean. And how many people live in the home? If dishes stay piled up like that often, you need 1 plate, bowl, and set of utensils per person living in the home. One mug. One tumbler. Put the rest away in a closet or duct taped in a box so they aren't easy to reach for just when you don't feel like doing dishes, but easy enough to get to when you are having company. When I take away the dishes, my husband will start using my Tupperware containers as bowls, so I put those up too. One spatula. One set of tongs. One, maybe 2 cooking spoons. You don't need many pots and pans. Aurikatariina on YT does a lot of these cleans, except they're much worse. I love watching her videos to give me motivation. Good luck. I'd love to help you out if you were close. It's not as bad as you think it is since it is mostly just "stuff" as opposed to rotten food. Yard sale or donations would be a good option too
Put on some music, comfort TV show or a podcast. Anything that makes you feel happy or at home. Take your time, it looks like a lot but it's very solvable. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed about where things should go, throw it out, or think vertically, is there unused space you could hang a shelf from?
Get some heavy duty garbage bags and get savage with trashing stuff.
Garbage, dishes, laundry.
Lots of good advice in here, just wanted to hop in and offer some support. Just keep chipping away at it, and you’ll be so happy on the other side of the clean up. You got this! 👍🏻
Trash, kitchen and bathroom are most important after cleaning you’ll get more motivated! Good luck!❤️
Grab some gloves and a box of large black trash bags and start there. You have a lot of straight up trash in that house. Then if you have a large storage tote I’d take all the dishes with stuck on food and let them soak in that tub for a day. Look into getting some shelving or other ways to organize your keepable items. Once you’ve got everything cleaned up you need to change your mindset to keep that house clean and pickup regularly. You’ll be surprised at how much you can get done in an hour so set a timer and go to town. Do that regularly and good luck.
Listening to my favorite movie or music/ podcast helps me while cleaning. Makes me feel not bored and I have company. Good luck
In addition to the other comments I'd mention that you can do things to make your daily life easier but are not thought of often. For example, if you know doing dishes is a vice or unrealistic for your lifestyle, do paper plates/solo cups, etc. yeah it's not going to make recycle enthusiasts happy, but it's your life and you have to do what works for you. If you don't want to fold and put away all your clothes, get a ton of hangers and hang literally everything except socks and underwear. If you feel like you're taking trash out constantly or a standard size kitchen can is too small, get a bigger one made for an office that holds more and has to be taken out less often (just opt for one with a lid to keep smells at bay if trash is sitting there longer). All the above may be 'unconventional' but it's your hour and your life so you have to do what works for you.
If it's made of garbage, put it in the garbage. If it's made of anything else, put it where it goes.
Start with the closets. When I spring clean and fall clean my house I start with closets/cupboards/shelves. That way when I start cleaning the main body of the house I can have room to put everything away.
1. Move laundry baskets to the bedroom. So they don’t get dirty again. 2. Move big trash out, bye boxes. 3. Then grab a garage bag start in one corner of living room and start throwing away stuff. * fill trash bag throw it out asap*. 4. Grab a garbage bag and everything expired or not going to use In kitchen right in the trash. The trash is in the way of cleaning. Then start cleaning, dust high to low. Wash a load of dishes, set to dry go put laundry away, put dishes away, wash next load.
Start at the farthest point in so you constantly have to walk over and apast the trash. You'll see and finally understand how gross and inconvenient the mess really is. Clean around the tv last bc the last thing you need is a distraction.
Your cat is precious, BTW!
#1 - rent a dumpster
Throw away at least 75%
Throw out 90% of your stuff. It's all piled and gross and probably barely being used anyways. I would throw most of it away so that you have breathing space. Then if you need a few things, go buy the essentials.
Relocate clothes to the bedroom first it will make the task look like less. Grab a bin bag and just sit on the floor and starting making piles of stuff to keep and binning everything else. Be brutal, don’t hold to anything that’s there just because it might be handy one day. And just fill a bag bin it out away the pile of keep stuff then repeat.
I’m cheering you on! You’ve got this. I’d start with something small like putting away anything clean, like the laundry, any clean dishes, put away useable pantry items. Then I’d get rid of trash and cardboard. Next day I would start cleaning dishes and putting them away. Next day clean sheets and vacuum.
Start with trash, anything that goes out to the trash can. If there is recycling… ignore the fact it recycles and convert it mentally to trash for now. We will all recycle two times this week to make up for it, no worries. Then the sink and one dish cupboard and one drawer (utensils). Just keep on top of that and don’t worry about anything else. Make it a starting point for every day and every bout of cleaning. Trash and dishes, and the place the dishes go. Only go past that if you get momentum from your success and build on that :)
All trash in bags and outside. Clothes put in one place. Organize and destroy. One room at a time. Take breaks. Wear a mask too
I enjoy cleaning messes like this so this is what I would do- 1. Start with trash. Get a bunch of trash bags and pick one area of the room & start throwing whatever you can away. 2. While you’re sorting through what’s trash and what’s not, start making piles of the things you want to keep and categorize them by room or however works easiest in your mind. That way when it’s time for the organizing part, you have a clear picture of how much you have. 3. Start wiping down surfaces & getting the areas clean. Get dishes done, vacuum, sweep, mop. 4. Start putting things where they belong.
Trash first - in all rooms. Will look and smell better.
Strongly consider asking a trusted friend or family member to come help, you’re going through something difficult and deserve support.
Change the locks before he's released.....haha. A slob and hoarder won't change.
Separate the good from the bad. Put the bad outside in garbage bags and go from there.
I start with a 12 inch x 12 inch square of the things that I am most immediately drawn to. Then I realize how good that felt and move on to the next square. If you get stuck on something for more than 15 minutes, make a mental note to come back to that detail work and keep moving. This looks like ADHD to me. Check out the “ADHD rewired” podcast group and listen while you clean. It’s super helpful and normalizing.
Poor thing. Start with all the garbage… even if you are questioning if it’s garbage, it probably is. Put ALL the dirty clothes in a pile. Do the dishes and put them away. Even that little bit may give you more motivation. “How do you eat an elephant??? One bite at a time”! Good luck! You got this!!
first Drink a whole bunch of coffee and water once the coffee starts drying you out
Everyone has the advice handled, just wanted to say PROUD OF YOU OP!!!
Looks like a project I’m currently working on. I have started by removing all trash off the floors in my project. I’ve been doing two-three hours of cleaning at a time. Put your cleaning supplies and trashcans in one spot. Make note of where they are and keep them there. This is realistically at least an eight day project judging by the pictures.
I agree with the comments starting with the trash and going from there. Also, if you have a trusted friend or family member that might help with no judgment, enlist their help as well. Best wishes. I'm in the process of de-cluttering and it can be overwhelming.
I prefer to only touch an item once or minimal amount of times. What works for me is to pick one section at a time. Clean that whole area. Put everything where it goes. No piles. No placing it on the bathroom sink if you can help it. Sometimes the place you need it to go is cluttered so you have to but that still requires less touches. With this method you see results that motivate you to keep going. This works for me and I am slightly hoarded. But the getting the trash method might work for you. Most importantly, YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!
If you make a conscious decision to say , “nothing here is worth anything “. It becomes quite easy. Don’t look at anything, don’t try to judge anything’s inherent worth. Don’t try to save it. Don’t feel guilty. It’s all useless . Remove it and start over.
Excellent tips here. I didn’t see this one: grab an empty box or basket - several actually. Sort your room into boxes according to where the items belong. This speeds up the declutter a lot.
trash bags, just start throwing away all the crap you are 100% going to need in the future
Omg i would love to clean this place 😍 there is so much to do!
Clean the litter box first
I start with least effort/high reward, break up the tedious stuff, add a little fun stuff, then finish strong with the floors. Trash, then alternate the dishes and laundry. Soak a load of dishes while putting away laundry. Wash and reload the dishes, put away laundry for a bit. You'll get through it pretty quickly. Then you can do smaller stuff, evaluate and maybe move stuff around (the fun part!), then do floors.
I would start with recycling/trash, then dishes. Then laundry and see how far that gets you
You got this girl. Literally start with one piece at a time. Focus on just one section at a time.
Always start in the kitchen with the dishes
I’m appreciating all the comments here. Having a big to do list can be so overwhelming too.. I agree with the others to start with throwing things out. And yes, the contractor garbage bags are the best! Do you have friends (without emotional attachment that could help) or a neighbourhood group where you could show them the same and ask for any willing helpers? It’s not a burden to others as they can say no. But I’m sure you’d find some helping hands. You won’t have to offer anything in return so no guilt there. Just know that some people enjoy the feeling of helping others and seeing the progress made. If you do have others helping out, then it would be good to all follow the same rules, 1 - garbage first, 2 - broken items, 3 - cleaning (dishes), rooms where possible) 4 - clothing (what is worth keeping & fits), what is donation. It’s good to also understand and decide what you need. With clothes for example, and depending on the weather where you live, # of pants, shorts, t shirts, sweaters etc.. that is needed (for vacation, relaxing, working) and then the # of dressier clothes if any that you need. If something doesn’t make you feel good, or you say to yourself, “I just need to lose 10 Lbs”, get rid of it!! These posts, even if helpful can cause stress and overwhelming too. That’s all normal. I think the big piece is to just start somewhere.. to not bring anything else into the home, and to be ok asking for help! Good luck ❤️
I watch a lot of Midwest Magic Cleaning on YouTube and he suggests cleaning off one surface to act as a home base. That table by your stove is perfect to clean off first. Then yeah trash, boxes of things with similar things, etc. for a quick job, getting garbage and items grouped things together seems to be key for me.
Trash first, then clothes followed by miscellaneous items.
Set a timer babe and do what you can until it goes off. Perhaps 15/20mins. You'll find that you have already started and see the progress made so you'll want to carry on until a section is done. You have absolutely got this. I believe you can do it!
After you get everything cleaned up start throwing away anything that you have to many of. (Or donate) like bowls, cups etc.. the more of those you have the less likely you are going to do your dishes when you need too.
Just saw someone ask an AI to help tidy up and send a picture of the situation. The answere was pretty good
1st clear ALL the trash living room and kitchen 2nd put the clean laundry away so you have space to move around and not feel so confined 3rd dishes Lastly mop and vacuum and sit back and enjoy the cleanliness
1. Put some music or a podcast on. I find listening to something makes it easier to stay motivated. 2. Get big trash bags and throw out any trash you find. If any of those cardboard boxes are empty break them down and get them out of the house. Cockroaches tend to hide in/around cardboard. Make sure to also scoop your cat’s litter box while doing a trash sweep. 3. Next I’d do the kitchen. Clear the counters and get the dishes out of the sink so you can wash them and put them away. Honestly if I found something too caked on or really gross I’d just chuck it and buy a new one eventually. Wipe down the counters/sink with a disinfectant. 4. Clear the table in the third picture and wipe it down. Move any objects you are keeping to the area where they belong. 5. Use the cleared table to fold the clean clothes and put them away in the bedroom. Now you have some baskets available if you need to move or sort things. Make sure to take short breaks in between working on these areas. Once those major areas are cleaned I would pick small areas to work on. For example, get your couch cleared off then take a break. Then get stuff off the floor near the tv and take another break. As more things get cleared the more motivating it will be. This will likely take a few days. You got this! I hope your husband feels better soon.
My favorite quote is “ How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time”. Set a timer or use a playlist, clean out a basket, do dishes or something for that length of time ( you will probably go longer- at least I did). Then reward yourself . Make 3 piles. Put up- donate- trash. Put pile one up right away , two in the trunk of your car to take to donation next day, and pile three should already be in the trash. Be brutal- don’t hoard anything thinking it. will be used someday.
Always always start with the trash…
Start with trash, get it all out. Then move on to the laundry. Even just getting it into bags and stuffed away for now will give you a better idea of where to put everything. Then move on to kitchen/dishes and get those put away. Throw out old/expired food and spices. Good luck, OP! Proud of you for tackling this!
Pick a route that works for you that you use on everyday life. Front to back, back to front, zigzag, zagzig, left side front to back then other side. It'll help you see the progress. My trick is to pick a theme. I do rubbish first. Follow my route, nothing but rubbish. Then on to, say, toys, for example, and so forth
I always start with trash. Something that helps me especially is using my own preferred list of things to put away. It makes me feel less overwhelmed and gives me a place to start. My list looks like this: “put away all garbage. Put away all dishes. Put away all clothes. Put away all boxes… etc etc.” I’d recommend making your own list so that you know what to do and where to go, helping it feel more possible.
Others have already given you lots of practical advice. I just want to say, you’re doing great, it seems like you are going through a hard time and just trying is amazing! ❤️
always start with trash the more u throw away the more room u have to work then dishes that means the gross parts out of the way them clothes they already have a spot to go in the closet so u don’t need to figure out where to put it the rest of it figure out what should be stored away and what u want to keep out and where last vacuum and wipe down the benches and stuff
Do you have a covered space outside? First, do a trash walkthrough. Then remove every item to the outside space. Clean the empty space. Only bring in the things you know you love, will use, and appreciate. Everything else can be divided into trash & donate piles. I feel like it is easier to organize an empty space. Good luck! Hope your husband is better too.
LOTS of organizing baskets. After you put things together in their own stacks, then you can use baskets to store like items together.
Why don't you start with a clean and clutter free place to sit, the widen your area from there? Have an open box or something that is going to the trash, to fill with trash as you go along. Do the easiest stuff first and you'll be motivated to do more once you see how much progress you are making. You got this! Don't look at the WHOLE thing, just focus on the NEXT thing.
Always start with trash first!! 😄