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Post by brainjam on Sept 8, 2008 18:25:01 GMT -5
Mysmom,
You really went great guns on the clutter. Perhaps you didn't get all the stains off the floor or the closets straightened out but--- WoW, you did awesome.
As for getting stains out of the linoleum, here are a few things that my ultra-clean dad suggested:
1. Mr. Clean magic eraser (can be gotten at supermarkets) with or without Lysol or some cleaner similar to Lysol. (Lysol like cleaner: let set, then scrub)
or
2. nail polish remover and bleach together (be sure to open your windows as the fumes are bad-smelling. (let set, scrub if necessary)
or
3. scrub with a toothbrush and toothpaste. (scrub)
or
4. Clorox bleach pen, nylon scrubbie, followed by Mr. Clean magic eraser. (scrub)
or
5. hairspray, bug spray, and hot water scrubbed in. (scrub)
or
6. something like windex. (let set, then scrub)
or
7. something like Spray n Wash or other laundry pre-soak. (let set, then scrub)
Brain Jam
p.s. I don't see you as a horrible person. I see you as someone like me. We were astute enough to recognize that what we had been doing was not working. Therefore, we had
enough guts to admit that we had a problem and then had even more guts to seek out
some help for this by coming here. And plenty of peserverance as well.
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Post by brainjam on Sept 8, 2008 18:48:24 GMT -5
Please let me know how the cascade works.
It does seem like it should work, especially if you keep it on the gritty side.
Brain Jam
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Post by heylady1 on Sept 8, 2008 18:54:51 GMT -5
A big  on getting all that done!! Man you have been busy!! I'm not sure I can help with getting the stains out, about the only thing I can think of is bleach water, let it sit for awhile before you start cleaning it up and make sure to either wear gloves or wash your hands really well afterwards. I was wondering if you had any extra throw rugs somewhere. If you did, then you could put them over the really bad stains if you can't get them clean. I can't tell you why we do this. I wish I knew the answer. But I do know that since we are here, we must care and want to change and that gives me hope! I can say with absolute certainty that every single parent has made a mistake somewhere along the way. Big or small, mistakes are made. The biggest thing for any child is to know that they are loved and wanted. As long as your daughter knows you love her and want her with you above everything else she will be alright. Lot's of kids have gone through hard times and come out okay. You aren't a bad Mom!!! Give her a big, big hug...it will make you feel better!  I hope the inspection goes well for you Mysmom, wishing you well...  |
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Post by razy on Sept 8, 2008 19:05:22 GMT -5
This filth has ruined me. I have to do something so it doesn't go back. Ishould have taken pictures so I could keep them with me at all times...So when I don't want to put a dish away, or unload the dish wahers, or put away the laundry, or mop I could look at the pictures and know that I can't ever go back to this. You have done so well Mysmom and you don't have to go back to the way it was. I think it is a great idea to take photos to remind you, photos of your home, now when it is clean. Use the resources here, listzilla, working in 3's, goals for the week and so on. Lots of people here have been where you are and understand your struggle. We don't always get our house clean and keep it clean the first time or the second time or even the thrid time but each time we move a little closer to where we want to be. The unuseful housekeeping habits we have took years to develop so we are not going to change them over night. Can I suggest committing to doing one or two things differently from today - like taking dirty dishes out of your room every day and/or doing a load of laundry every day - until it becomes a new habit, then you can add some other things. I like to have special areas that I keep clean, like my bedside table and the bathroom. I don't clean them everyday and sometimes they get out of hand but they never get overwhelming. I try to take some pride in the clean places and sort of ignore the messy bits. It is much more motivating to see the good things than be overwhelmed by the bad. Don't expect perfection it will never happen- good enough is good enough! Once again well done on your hard work and good luck for your inspection |
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Post by Vivre on Sept 9, 2008 2:04:47 GMT -5
WOnderful! and i don't see you as a bad person...we all have *** mom days and some of us weeks..  but its not yourself to beat up over this, you are trying!!!! I have had instances like what you describe and it makes you want to cry. You are like many of us... you are me with another face, in another place. We can all get through this, together. I cannot tell you how much having a place to come to like this has helped me. Saved my life? Oh yes, quite literally. You are amazing and you can do it  It sounds like you HAVE done it! We can maintain together keep motivated! |
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Post by AnnieOkie on Sept 9, 2008 11:21:05 GMT -5
mysmom-I have tears in my eyes from reading your post. I know the frustration you are feeling. First of all, congrats on the wonders you have accomplished!! You have done an awesome job. You asked why more people don't commit suicide over this stuff. I have to be honest with you (and this is really scary to admit), but I have actually contemplated this in the past. My first reason for NOT doing it would have to be my boys. I could not let them live with knowing I had ended my life. No escape from my pain would be worth the pain of enduring a mother's death by suicide. The second reason would be one that I have read hear more than once-I wouldn't want to be found in my mess. It's as simple as that. I also have a healthy respect for God and believe it is wrong. So I am glad it never got to be a serious issue, but I wouldn't be telling the truth if I said I hadn't thought of it. Keep your chin up and know you are in a place where you can get the encouragement you need.  Annie |
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Post by BDG on Sept 9, 2008 12:28:23 GMT -5
Wow you have done a great job. As for not letting the mess return again, for me sometimes, I have to keep reminding myself of the way it's been here in the past, and keep doing one small thing at a time. I try and do something to stop the mess from coming back every time I get up. I carry the dirty dishes from the den to the kitchen when I go into the kitchen for coffee or whatever reason. If the microwave is going, instead of just standing there (I've actually done this, just stood there watching the microwave turntable,  ) the one or two minutes, I empty or start loading the dishwasher or scrub out a burned pot or clear the counter top or I wipe the counter top, even if it is just a small spot, I do a little more each time I go back in that room. When I go into the bathroom , I clean the sink or empty the garbage or I pick the dirty clothes off the floor and put them in a clothes basket or hamper. Doing one chore at a time does not take long and it is manageable. I vacuum the den when I am watching tv and there is that commercial break. if you watch a one hour show theres plenty of time to vacuum or dust just during the commercials. So really I very seldom get up to clean, I clean a little bit at a time as I go through the house. Years ago I began doing this one or two minute cleaning every time I went into a room, just to make a dent in the messy house, it seemed to work so I continued doing this everyday, and within less than two weeks the house was cleaned. I kept it clean this way, until my hubby who complained nonstop about the messy house started complaining about it being so clean he could not function, so I got so depressed about it, I let things get back to the way they were and he could happily fuss about the mess again. I had forgotten all about it until someone on the old board asked if anyone had managed to escape squalor and how they did it. anyway since then I have been using the method of cleaning and it is what keeps this place fairly clean. |
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