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Post by italianlady on Mar 20, 2015 5:36:23 GMT -5
I read through the thread quickly and have a couple of ideas for you.
For the stuff that is junk and garbage that you want to get rid of, if it's usable put it on Craigslist as free but say that it's urgent it goes by Saturday. Somebody will come get it. I don't think having junk furniture and stuff put in a central location would be a problem, especially since you are getting rid of it. If you follow through with getting it out within a week or so it should be ok. The smaller junk stuff that isn't organic or paper garbage that is gross and nasty could be boxed up in boxes from the grocery store and labeled something cryptic and you can say you are moving soon and boxing up things you aren't using. That way taking boxes off in your car won't be difficult as it's neat and easy to carry. You can stack then in a corner of a room.
For the roaches, this may not be a popular solution and some people may not like chemicals or poisons but we had roaches growing up and pets and I was there and was a kid so I suggest just a big can of Raid. Clean the kitchen good, throw out all garbage, put up clean dishes, clean off counters and appliances, sweep and mop the floor and wash out the garbage can. Then spray Raid around the baseboards of your house, and above the kitchen counters where it joins the wall. Also liberally under the sink and in the bathroom. Do all rooms. It's never hurt our pets and if you clean the counters again with something before you use them it should be fine. I just had some HUGE ants in my kitchen the other day and it was otherwise clean and I did the same thing with Raid ant spray. We have three dogs, two cats and my 5yo granddaughter is here. I moved the pet food, made sure all food was put away from where I was spraying and I covered the place in it. After a few hours I went back with Pine Sol and then with bleach. It got the ants and I only had to spray a few more times where I saw them coming in and they were gone. It might not be that easy with roaches, it probably won't be, but it's a start to getting rid of them. You might need an exterminator for them even before you move because they will get in boxes and furniture and go with you. Also, if the CPS worker sees a roach you can show her your Raid so she knows you know about it and are doing something. Also, roach motels may work for you too.
Can you pour some sort of cleaner under the boards where the dog pee is soaking in, so that will at least clean it somewhat? I think there is some sort of animal pee neutralizer that would stop the smell if you pour it on there. Then I would get those pads for them and put them all over the room so when your dog has an accident, it's caught on something.
The main thing will be your kitchen and bathroom, if the rest of the house is cluttered and piled up dangerously, or if it's just filthy, and the kids rooms and clean beds and rooms they can function in that aren't more messy than a normal kids room, and clean clothes for them put away in closets and drawers, etc.
Good luck
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Post by charlotteohara on Mar 20, 2015 6:11:28 GMT -5
Thanks italianlady for the roach suggestions. They seem to be everywhere but I know it's because we've taken away many of their hiding places! We got some boric acid today to try first. I've been putting it out as we reveal / remove stuff. The dumpsters are full again!! We're competing with another family who is moving out, apparently. Things are progressing well though. The CPS worker STILL has not made any contact so we're hoping, since it's now Friday, that we're going to be free of her until at least next week and we'll have the weekend. My older son doesn't work weekends and, being 22, he's full of energy and really good at busting-butt so he's a great help and with his help I think we SHOULD be done by Sunday night. Or at the very very least, "passable". Right now what's left is just a few more loads of laundry (it stinks or I'd just leave it in hampers but it makes the room it's in smell funky), laundry that is clean but not put away and so I'm putting that off until last, figuring that a pile of CLEAN clothes is better than dirty ones, about 1/4 of the kitchen, the fridge (gross), and about 1/3 of the living room. Oh and the hall. The hall is clear of stuff but the floor is looking bad because we had those faux wood boards and the landlord didn't put them in right, so they were loose and a safety hazard. We pulled them up and stashed them and underneath is ugly old tile, stick on kind, with some missing. I found some replacement tiles the landlord left behind and need to stick them down after I clean the hall thoroughly. It will be ugly (he used 2 totally different color tiles in a random pattern) but safe and clean. In the living room I have mostly stuff to toss and then I will need to vacuum 3 or 4 times.. I think our rug is pink? was? .. I wanted to post some pictures but I'm confused about personal privacy (who can see those pics coming from Google)...?
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Post by italianlady on Mar 20, 2015 7:45:59 GMT -5
For the fridge, I've been there myself with a bad fridge. I just threw everything out including the plastic dishes stuff was in. If it's really bad I threw away even glass dishes unless it was something good. I read somewhere to use scrubby soap pads to clean the inside of the fridge. You wet them and wipe and scrub with them and then wipe it out with a wet cloth. I didn't know that when mine was gross but I use it now and it's great. Very quick and easy and disposable and cleans things fast. Also use the pointy hose attachment for your vacuum to clean the fridge drawers and where crumbs and stuff collect in there.
Can you put down an area rug to go over the ugly spots on the floor? You could find something at the thrift store probably and wash them.
If you go ahead and do the laundry and fold it and put it in baskets in your bedroom you could sort it basket by basket during breaks from heavy cleaning and put it away bit by bit so it's not overwhelming. Also the smell will be gone much sooner. If something is mildewed though, you should throw it out. I've never been able to get mildew out of things and it makes everything you wash with it stink.
What is left in the kitchen? That is probably the main place they will want to see clean and it's the most important for health. You could probably put your son on it if it's gross.
Good luck
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Post by charlotteohara on Mar 20, 2015 8:01:00 GMT -5
The mildewed laundry has been tossed. I have a problem with over-buying clothing (thrift stores!!) and so I pretty ruthlessly culled and culled. What's left is stinky from just sitting around dirty forever. I already washed anything that smelled like cat pee.. we had a period where my cat was peeing on everything, didn't know it but he had bladder crystals.. he's been treated and the peeing has stopped but there was a lot of stuff I discovered that he'd peed on and I didn't know. But I think I've washed all that at this point. I think I MAY have six to eight loads left at the most? The ugly floor is the hall way and I had a hall rug but threw it out because it was gross. : : It had gotten wet though and had to go. I am hoping to have time/money to go grab a couple of rugs when the rest is done. The kitchen wall is terrible from where we had these wooden cubby stairstep shelves up against it and the roaches were "nesting" behind them. We tried scrubbing the wall but it didn't do anything.. also where we had the trash can and spots from people "missing" the can or it getting too full and stuff falling nearby. The entire wall was never painted beyond primer so EVERYTHING makes a spot. I think the best bet might be to just paint that wall quickly. The kitchen sink and counters are gross but we've tossed all the dirty dishes that were too nasty to bother with and kept just a minimum of basic items.. the counters were buried under miscellaneous dishes and empty food boxes so it's mostly a good scrubbing/wiping of the countertops, sink, and fronts of the underneath counters. Oh and the oven.. we never used it! We moved in and it was propane, and looked dangerous, and meant to have the landlord fix but then never did because we didn't use propane for anything else so we were using a toaster oven instead (which died last week).. but the inside of the oven is dirty. Need to scrub floor in there, paint wall, put some replacement shelves up for food storage (have those metal stacking things).. and wash what little dishes we're keeping.
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Post by wit on Mar 20, 2015 8:38:58 GMT -5
You're doing a great job, charlotteohara! Keep it up! Good for you culling the clothing, I bet that will make it much easier to put away.
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Post by charlotteohara on Mar 20, 2015 8:59:23 GMT -5
Thanks wit! It's still too much clothing, especially considering I work from home and spend most of my time in PJs! I just keep thinking that if/when I get an outside job I'll be the best dressed one at work.
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Post by italianlady on Mar 20, 2015 8:59:33 GMT -5
For the wall, scrub it with a brush and some kind of scouring powder, let it dry and then just cover it with some contact paper from KMart. It's fast and looks fine. You are moving anyway. Also it will cover up holes that roaches were in. If you have that problem with the garbage can a lot like I did with the wall, then scotch tape some newspapers behind it and remove them when you take out the garbage and put up a clean one. It keeps the wall clean and it's cheap and it's a use for something you would throw out anyway.
You don't use the oven so if it's just old dirty baked on crap in there, don't bother with it since you aren't going to start using it. Get a new toaster oven or microwave from the thrift store and just make sure the outside of the stove is clean.
Laundry is something you can do while you do something else, so don't think about it as a chore in itself. You put it in to wash (1 minute) you put it in the dryer (1 minute) and then you spend maybe ten minutes folding it in the basket so it's not wrinkled and can be put up later. Start the laundry now and do it along with other things. Fold it while you sit down to take a break.
In the kitchen start with the top after you get the trash off the counters. Clean out the cabinets and throw out and wipe out the shelves and put stuff back. Do the drawers and bottom cabinets too. Just a quick thing, throwing out obvious old stuff and getting crumbs and all. Use scrubbies on the outside of the cabinets, the counters, the stove, the fridge, etc. Put your dirty dishes in a laundry basket or box while you do this. Set it in another room. Then scrub the floor with a brush and scouring powder. It's the fastest and easiest way. Get a bowl of water, the brush and the powder. Also get lots of towels. Wet the brush and rub it across an area about two or three square feet to get it wet. Sprinkle the powder on and scrub in circles then wipe off with a dry towel. You can use dirty ones for this. Start on one wall in a corner and work left to right and backwards, or right to left, but in an organized way. Then throw the towels in to wash.
After that bring your dishes back in and wash them and put them away as soon as they are dry.
Clean the windows in there with Windex too and if you can, wash the curtains or wipe off the blinds. Windows are more important in a kitchen than other rooms. Also don't forget to wipe the range hood and the top of the fridge because both those gather lots of dirt fast and you don't notice it right off.
If you want to cover the area on the floor and your dog is still having problems going inside and accidents then get some papers and put them down all over. It's a win win situation. You protect it from getting peed on more and you cover the ugly part. Everybody with dogs has had to put down papers at some time or other, so it's not going to be looked at badly. In fact it's a good thing to do because it protects the floor.
Don't forget to dust hanging light fixtures and to wipe off light switches. Those are little touches that you don't notice until you do them. Also get the broom and get the corners near the ceiling for cobwebs, you never notice them until you don't have time to get them and then you can't stop noticing them.
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Post by lostchild on Mar 20, 2015 13:45:32 GMT -5
You can do this. I had CPS involvement due to custody of grandson. I tossed 40% of my belongings. Check with trash company if they do bulk pick ups. Some do.keep cleaning. With roaches spray everything everywhere. If you can put food outside with poison to draw them out of home and kill them. Spray behind refrigerator. That's a bad spot,warm,dark near food. Toss more stuff especially clothes. Take the shelves apart and toss them piece by piece if necessary. It won't be bulk in pieces. Call mom as last resort. Ignore your feelings and do what is needed. This won't last forever. Cps will give you time to clean and can even provide services to help. Just saying.
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Post by downandout2 on Mar 20, 2015 19:01:36 GMT -5
I just wanted to say that I know you can do this because you are doing so good already!! Have you thought about using one of those bug bombs for the roach problem? You would have to get all humans and pets out for it but it should be a quick way to get rid of them. Had friends who used them a couple of times and it seemed to work well. They lived in a very old home that had some holes that the bugs could just walk in..they didn't even have to bend down to do it either ! Anyway, just wanted you to know that you have lots of people here who believe in you!!
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Post by charlotteohara on Mar 21, 2015 15:57:34 GMT -5
Again, thank you everyone for the outpouring of support and suggestions! In my experience in the past, the stupid little German roaches aren't eliminated by the bug bombs you get at the hardware or grocery store and they just hide. So for now I think we'll spray directly as much as possible and use the boric acid. I'm finding that the closer we get to getting this done, the slower I am! weird. I could just push through and FINISH now. I'm going to try today. I ended up telling my mother about the CPS thing even though I may not need her truck at this point. My uncle came into town and he is rarely ever in the state, and he wants to get together to celebrate my oldest son's birthday tomorrow so I HAD to tell my mother why I might not be able to make it. Then again if I push very hard maybe I can. I'm feeling crappy as a result of all the dust. I'm allergic to dust (and yes, the irony of that statement is not lost on me! ) So I'm very stopped up and sinus-headachy right now.
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Post by dayeanu on Mar 21, 2015 20:26:23 GMT -5
I'm so sorry you feel bad!
I too slow down as I near the end of the tunnel. When we start off, throwing away obvious trash is easy.
I think that as the piles shrink, maybe the things left require more difficult decisions. Or maybe I just sabotage my own chance of success. Or maybe you're just worn out, physically and emotionally. IDK. But I have noticed that as I am almost finished I slow down.
Maybe this is where your son could really help.
I am so proud of you, and impressed and in awe of all you have done and are doing!
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Post by dayeanu on Mar 23, 2015 16:08:17 GMT -5
Just checking in to Se how things are going with you. Well, I hope!
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Post by reb on Mar 23, 2015 16:14:03 GMT -5
Just a suggestion for roaches. If you can get the commercial bait from a store owner in the neighbourhood, that stuff is awesome but you have to be patient and let the sick, staggering ones wander off and kill the nests as roaches are cannibals.
I put washing soda or boric acid in used sprinkly spice bottles, Mark them with tape or stickers. Then you can sprinkly it under the toilet seat around the taps etc. one night per week and just rinse off later.
It breaks their shells so they die, it's cheap and non-toxic.
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Post by reb on Mar 23, 2015 16:15:06 GMT -5
And if it's too gross, throw stuff out. Don't waste time trying to clean cheap or disposable items if you're in a rush.
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Post by reb on Mar 23, 2015 16:51:57 GMT -5
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