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Anybody else having a really hard time getting the house straight this year? - OT VENT

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Posted 12/14/2010 1:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hello All,

I know this is a little off topic, but I'm wondering if I'm the only one going nuts and can't keep up with anything in the house.  It looks like my car is a trash can and my house is a dumpster.  I refuse to cook in a dirty kitchen, so that is a real problem and my husband loves these "meals" his mother used to make.  I swear I don't know where she learned to cook (I never got to meet her) but man these things STINK!!!  He's big into the smoked ham hocks and collard greens or corned beef with cabbage just to name a few.  They usually get cooked outside because I can't even stand to smell them at all.  We don't fry in the house either, but he does love fried food and he'll just have to get over it while it's so cold!!

I guess it shows that I have a reall issue with bad smells.  I am a big fan of the Bath and Body plug ins, the Arora Candle warmers and the plain old candles (where they are very safe), but NOTHING can kill the smell of these foods lately.  I can't even stand to be in the house with it.  Yuck!!!  Covering it up is worse than not and opening the doors and windows is not possible.

Naturally, today...the only day there is no "old time" stinky food, my daughter BURNS some eggs in the pan.  She forgot to turn on the rangehood vent and now the whole house STINKS of really burnt eggs, has trash in every room, has things in the walkway, gets a bookbag unloaded in the floor everyday, has clothes everywhere, has dirty dishes in the sink, has a whole room (usually my "junk" room) overtaken with new apppliances (fridge/range/rangehood/

dishwasher/vanity/sink/faucets....you name it) for the new addition.  The weather has been too cold to pour any more concrete, so the yard is full of boards, old blocks, chipped bricks, tarps, and Lord knows what else.  It's like coming in to a war zone and I hate it!!!!! 

I really want to try and get it clean and all the clothes put away neatly for a day or two before it explodes again.  I only have a few hours each day this week because my daughter's school lets out at 12:15 every day and then my nephew will arrive at about 4:00 on the bus from his school. 

To top it off, the painter who did my house recently dripped and speckled paint all over my dark SUV and now I have to make arrangements to pay over 200.00 to have it sanded and a special sealant/wax put on to remove the damage.  Until then, it looks like a paint can got sick on my car.  Naturally he wasn't bonded and isn't going to pay to have it fixed.

Ok, vent done....I'm getting started again on the pig pen I live in.  Perhaps a small area at a time, but something has got to give. shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked   I'm a little overwhelmed.....does it show????

Posted 12/14/2010 2:41 PM (GMT 0)
We all need to vent from time to time. Got to let it out somewhere before it explodes and causes damage to either ourselves or those around us.

And no. You are not alone in not really being able to keep up with the "daily" household stuff. I feel like I am constantly taking 2 steps back for every one forward in this area. Heck, I am still trying to deal with some of my Mom's stuff from when she passed away 3 years ago. At best I can have a decent living room, bathroom and kitchen all at the same time, but that is about 1 day a month.


As far as your car goes there are several things you can try to get the house paint off. One is to use an automotive detailing clay and paint cleaner. You can usually find these at an auto parts store in a kit or order them online. Another is to use OOPS. This you can buy most anywhere. It is a light duty paint and adhesive remover and if you spray it on a rag and then use it to rub at the paint it may take it up and leave your original finish intact. Just be sure to have a clean wet rag handy to wipe off the OOPS once you are done so it doesn't soak into your finish. Then when you are totally done wash and rinse the car really well and apply some wax.

If you do have to get professional help with the repair take the painter to small claim's court and sue him for the amount of the repair and court costs. Be sure to take photos of your car before trying anything to remove the paint as well as your house to show the colors match.
Posted 12/14/2010 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Jim!

I never even thought about going to small claims court. I paid him in cash (he was recommended by a very good friend). I should have known it was a bogus thing when my dog tried to eat the whole crew for breakfast and I had to stay outside for the WHOLE day. The job wasn't too good either, but I was trying to get it done before this addition and give a good base before the winter kicked in. It had been a while an the last paint was not the correct kind for the job. I know the paint was right because I ordered it and paid for it separate.....this way he couldn't stick me with a bill later like the roofer did my mother one time.

I've been working on the damages with the house for the while, but at least I'm making some progress.
Posted 12/14/2010 4:59 PM (GMT 0)

   Dear RM,

   YIKES! That just wont do! First off, burn smells are terrible! Do you have an orange or lemon? If so, peel it and put the peels in the garbage disposal, turn it on and off in short increments until it is gone. No matter how nice those plug ins or spray air refresher smell, they aren't going to get rid of the burn smell. You need natural oils in the air and pronto! Lemons are great for that. Also, when you are at the store next buy a cleaner with natural orange and lemon. They are a must! Sheesh, I HATE burn smells. My husband has nearly burned down the house 3 times! He is banned from the kitchen. 

     If the smell of fryer is evident then it needs to be cleaned because someone has the temp too high. I use oven cleaner. Just spray it and leave it outside for the afternoon then just wipe it down. Tell them if they turn up the temperature too high on the fryer again, they aren't allowed to fry anything anymore! At the proper temperature you shouldn't smell anything, literally. Yuck, I'm having flash backs of scorched fryers as we speak   nono   *shiver* Cant use old lard either. Once it is scorched it retains those terrible smells.

     Alright, I know they are tired when the come home from school but if they want lunch or snacks they are going to have to put clothes in laundry basket, books on the desk and backpacks in the entry way closet. Don't be afraid to black mail! You can do it! Put their cute little faces out of your mind! It is for a greater good!

    Recruit those able bodied family members. You shouldn't have to take all of that on your own! It isn't about who made what mess, and who should only clean their stuff. Familys make messes together and we clean together. Thats that. You are too tired and too sick to shoulder all of the "little things" that are left behind. Those little things are turning into a big mess! Everyone pitch in for end of day "Quick Cleans" before dessert. Pens, pencils, papers, msil, keys. All the little things. I just take "little things" and put them in baskets then place it on the offernders bed to sort through and put away. They want an oh so delicious dessert they are gonna have to work for it. It is all about the blackmail! Besides if they don't like the item(s) enough to clean them up... well, now then there are lots of folks who would love and care for those items once they are donated    devil  

   Don't stress! I know the holidays are coming. I know you are exhausted but just go at it in little spurts. Little goals for each area. You have a lot of very serious health conditions and you don't want to end up with your body going down for the count!

*warm hugg*
      dani    

Posted 12/14/2010 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Dani!!

I'm with you on those suggestions. I don't have a garbage disposal though, but I am going to add some lemon or orange oil to the base of my dehumidifier. That seems to circulate pretty well and now that my daughter is home from school, she can empty the container so that I can put the lemon or orange in. There will be no TV and no computer, no phone and no radio until the house is in better shape today. I even picked up lunch so we could eat quickly and throw the mess in the trash outside.

I feel silly for posting such a rant, but boy did I need it. It's getting better now and I can feel the difference already. It really gives me pleasure to have a clean home that smells good. Everything else feels better and more open when things are clean around you.

After the house is the car! I'll still have to have the outside done by a professional, but the inside is a different story.

Have a great week!!

Thanks again!
Posted 12/14/2010 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
RM one thing that is suppose to work wonders on paint like you are talking about is WD40. Try it on a spot not see by everyone so well. Spray a little on a rag and rub it in lightly. But, do a little test spot first. Have heard of many using this and supposedly it will not affect your paint job.

As far as the house goes, I have given up.
Posted 12/14/2010 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
My bedroom and bathroom looks like a bomb went off, too. I try to clean when I'm having a good day. I do a little at a time when I can.
Posted 12/14/2010 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
I am having a terrible time doing anything right now! I am not hurting as bad but I have had a cold that has lasted for 3 weeks now and it gets better and worse and better and so on! I just have no energy or motivation at all! Sorry you are having a hard time and don't worry about venting!! We all need it!

Take care of you!
Beckey
Posted 12/14/2010 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info on WD 40. I haven't ever tried it, but I bet it will work...even on the spots on the "plastic" cover for the bumper and the tire cover. That should leave a good shine too and I've been wondering about how to get the shine back.

I made great progress today in my house. I just hope it stays for tonight and into the weekend. I'm still working on clothes in the washer and dryer and I still need to swiffer the floor since I'm not able to do the mop (any more than the vacuum). I bought a little swivel vacuum yesterday that weights almost nothing. My daugter did a decent job on the carpet with the new vacuum and then I tried the swivel one on the areas she "missed". It did a great job and I whould highly recommend it for us CP'ers. I was amazed how well it got the corners and beside the wall. It's not great for the whole floor, but is nice for those hard to reach places and easy to empty without bending at all.

I have to admit that I'm done in today and feel like I've been run over by a truck. I bet tonight will be rough, but it was worth it to make the progress. I just wish that I could have done more, but that is the nature of CP. As I sit here in the recliner typing, I can feel the muscles tightening up already. Oh well...at least it smells nice and looks presentable in most of the house.

Huggs everyone!!!! Ya'll make me feel better even when the topic is some mundane thing like cleaning the house. I guess that's what friends are for, huh?
Posted 12/14/2010 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
I can totally relate. I have finally gotten my car mostly cleaned up but my house is a disaster. Doesn't help that the dishwasher broke 6 months ago. And the laundry facilities are in the basement.

It's all just so depressing -- hard to get motivated to do anything. I keep hoping the Christmas elves will come whilst I sleep. At least it's cold enough now that the fruit flies can't survive. lol. Gosh, how pathetic am I?!

Oh -- my mom's trick for stinky kitchen smells? Buy a loaf of cheap bread (the 50c bread at Jewel works fine) and pop it in the oven at 350F for maybe 15-20 minutes -- until you can smell the fresh bread smell. Probably won't cover the grease smells but it'll do the trick for the burnt eggs.
The only suggestion I have for the grease smells (ick -- I hate ham hocks. My gma always tries to feed them to us at holidays. ick. ick. ick. I don't even like regular ham) is to get a good quality air purifier. I have a Blue Air unit & the thing works like magic. Great for allergies & it gets rid of the smoke coming up from my downstairs neighbor's unit so I don't get migraines all the time. You can get them reconditioned for about $150 -- I know, still really expensive unless it's useful for medical reasons. I can't tell you how many trips to the allergist & neurologist & urgent care clinic it's saved me. Well worth the money.

Well, I'm off to lie down. All this talk about my filthy little home is depressing. I'm taking one more load of dishes out to my bro's house for c-mas and then I'll just keep 1 pan, 1 pot, and one place setting to use on a daily basis. Dishes are just the worst! I've got short-cuts for nearly everything else except standing at the sink & scrubbing, scrubbing, scrubbing.

If I find those elves, I'll send some your way.

Ho, Ho, Ho,
frances ;)
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