Arrrggghhh!!!!!!! help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Question

alright

I have a confession to make

I'm 33 years old and I don't know how to clean.

I just look at my house and I get some overwhelmed and I don't know where to start and I feel like I will never get finished and I just give up , and it's a vicious cycle. .suggestions, web links, anything

thank you

Answer 1

Well, it's best to have a daily routine and divide your home into workable "sections".  My guess is that you get "distracted" easily and then just give-up!   If that's the case take 15-30 minutes daily and clean one room in your home..... Then take a break and start again!  

You didn't state if you work outside the home or have a spouse or children but, if you do it can make the problem worse...

Anyway, first you'll want the proper cleaning supplies on hand...I store mine in the garage since I have children/pets.  If you have none of the two you can store cleaning supplies under the sink(s) in the kitchen/bathroom....

Things to have on hand:

Glass Cleaner- I like Windex

Multisurface cleaner- Formula 409, Fantastic etc..

Dust/Polish- Pledge

Bathroom cleaner/disenfectant- Lysol product/Clorox

Floor Cleaner- wood floors (murphy's oil soap, vinegar/water)

                      tile/laminate- Pine-sol or Lysol product

Microfiber cleaning cloths.. Cheaper than buying paper towels, multi-use- no lint or shredding

Heavy-duty trash bags... If you accumulate lots of paper/trash- get contractor 30 gal. trash bags to bag up clutter, debris etc..

Work gloves or dishgloves.... get a few pairs..

Buckets for soapy water/mop

Good mop-  I like LIBMAN WONDER MOP it's lightweight, easy to use and has replaceable mop heads that can be washed in the washer.. It's also CHEAP around $15

Broom/dustpan

Working vacuum with extra bags AND change of belt/filters if necessary... Great if the vacuum has attachments...

Small boxes- Bulk paperboxes work well as they are good for storage and have a nice lid.. They also stack and work well to carry donation items....

Small non-scratch sponges/toilet brush *rinse after every use!

Decorative boxes for storage of sentimental items...

Underbed storage containers, closet organizers, hanging shoe organizers.. GREAT for "hidden" storage!  

Start by first de-cluttering and getting rid of any old paperwork.... Junk  mail, catalouges, magazines.... Separate you paperwork put the things you need to file in a nice box or small file folder system...

If you "collect" items like books, magazines, cd's, dvd's, etc.. You may want to resell these items that you no longer use or donate them to a retirement home/hospital/church or other place...

If you are a clothes "horse" go through your closets, drawers, FLOOR etc! and get rid of anything that's ill-fitting, needs too much mending, out of date/season.... Have a friend/family member help with this task as you may want to KEEP something HORRIBLE!  Make piles... KEEP,DONATE, TOSS, etc... Once it's in the DONATE pile if there's a donation place nearby or a drop-off have friend load up car and drop off.... So, you don't keep the bag/bags...

Once you have the floors clean,,, Move on to SURFACES like desks, countertops, dressers, shelves and start the declutter process again... Dust knick knacks and maybe pack up the things you are no longer interested in... Keep moving around the room- until you have some order... Then you can dust from ceiling fo floor... Use a broom or vacuum attachement to get cob-webs... Dust furniture with a soft cloth sprayed with a little PLEDGE or similar product and vacuum ALL non-washable soft surfaces to remove dust/odors.....

Finally vacuum the floors or sweep/mop....

*This answer is very general.. Since you didn't state if you work ft/pt, If you have a spouse/children/pets.. Or how big of a home you have....

Good luck

Answer 2

You have to have a routine, say first do the dishes & the beds, then go around the house & pick up/ put away all that is out of place. This will include laundry which you pop in the machine when you take it to the laundry. Then you do vacuuming/floor washing etc & dust.You then hang the wash & iron it as it dries( you could have a separate ironing day).It is always best to do each major task on separate days, like washing, ironing, baking & vacuuming etc.I have one major day each week for a thorough clean up. Other jobs like cleaning cupboards & fridges which you don't do so often can be slotted in to any one of those days.

Answer 3

Some people have already given some good advice. And as someone has pointed out, you can find any number of websites (and books) that provide help and suggestions for cleaning and organizing.

However, it sound like it may be best for you to get a clean start. You should think about hiring a maid service to come in and do a one-time, thorough cleaning. Have them go from top to bottom and clean absolutely everything. Once that's done, it will be much easier keeping things clean.

Ask around in your neighborhood for suggestions on a maid/cleaning service, because the quality can be quite variable. For a first-time cleaning, ask for two people. Don't take off while they clean. Keep an eye on them while they clean to make sure they cover all your nooks and crannies (and maybe you'll also get some good ideas on how to do some of your cleaning).

Answer 4

I hear ya girl!!!  I use to call my mother in college to come clean my apartment!! It was horrible clothes every where shoes everywhere, i even had dishes that molded in my sink  BUT I have come a long way!!

Start little by little.  I started with my bedroom first; make a list on how you want to organize things.  

Make a yard sale pile somewhere in the mess. One of my issues was i had TONS of things i didn't need/use or have a place for.

Get basic cleaning products like dust stuff, windex, kitchen cleaner and bathroom cleaner and of course a sweeper.

Start small and slow ; if doing a whole room is too much do sections.

If i cant get a house clean and keep it clean i know anyone can!!

Answer 5

Set short tern goals. One room at a time. Make it fun. Turn some music on and the TV off. When you see what you've accomplished in 1 room, you should start feeling better about the situation. Good Luck!!

Answer 6

I too have a confession to make.

I'm older than you, I know how to clean, and I get overwhelmed.

I use the Flylady system. She designed her system for people who struggle, who are overwhelmed, who want a better life, but don't know how to get there. Her system is flexible and family-friendly. I have a plan for each day and each week. Here's a link:

http://www.flylady.net/index.asp

Don't get overwhelmed with her website or the system. Start slowly and do what you can. It does work and it does help. The more I use it, the better it works. Hope this helps. Good luck!