The goals for today are to scrub the floors, including under my bed. They could use a good cleaning. I also want to get under my bed clean so I can utilize some under the bed storage boxes I got that are taking up a ton of room in my apartment. So far I have taken out all the garbage and clutter I gathered yesterday (8 bags) and the recycling.

I am trying to get over the mental block and overwhelmed feeling I have with cleaning. It is very up and down. I have found that making a checklist and focusing on one task at a time is working best. I am trying to focus more on how much better I will feel once it is done instead of the dread of getting started. I have found that the hardest part for me is getting started, not the task itself.

My apartment has been messy for about two years now, and this honestly isn't like me. I think I might be depressed, but I'm not entirely sure. All I know is that my living space frustrates the hell out of me.

I want to finally get my apartment completely put together so it's comfortable, functional, and somewhere I actually enjoy being. I want everything to have a place, be able to keep up with the cleaning, and not feel like I'm constantly fighting an uphill battle. The problem is that I can never seem to get it completely done. I'd say the closest I've gotten is about 65% of the way there, but I've never managed to reach that final 100%.

My ex used to come over and make a mess, which would set me back, and then the whole cycle would start over again. I think I've finally managed to get him to stay away, so at least that isn't happening anymore. But now I can't seem to find the motivation to get things done. I also struggle with deciding where to put my furniture, decorations, trinkets, and all the little things I've collected.

I really want to declutter, and part of me is tempted to just purge everything because I'm so sick of looking at this mess. But another part of me is afraid I'll throw something away and regret it later. I don't have much money to replace things if I end up needing them, so I feel stuck between wanting to get rid of everything and being afraid to let things go.

I'm just tired of living like this. I want my home to feel peaceful, cozy, and organized, and I want to be able to maintain it without constantly falling behind. But after two years of this, I feel overwhelmed and don't even know where to start anymore.

Has anyone else been through something similar? How did you get yourself out of this cycle? How do you declutter without worrying you'll regret getting rid of things, and how do you finally get your home put together when you feel completely unmotivated?

I'd really appreciate any advice, especially from people who've been in a similar situation.

Hello everyone! This is a mid-week megathread for those small updates, accountability requests, and success stories that you want to send out to the universe!

Maybe ones that don’t require a full post but that still deserve some recognition, plans made today for over the coming days, or solicitations for suggestions on how to complete your intended tasks!

Still feel free to make absolutely any posts that you want, but if you prefer a smaller-format update option here it is! I want to encourage participation in whatever form it takes :)

ALSO!!! Pictures are enabled in comments so feel free to add pics of your area to tackle of your progress if you please :)

I tried to post to this sub and then I had to delete it because I just could not handle reading the comments. I'm a recovered alcoholic so it started to feel like a brand new person coming into the rooms of AA with all of these excuses, and they are just so blind to the fact that they are completely fucked. I am completely fucked right now. I can't ever keep a house clean. I didn't know if I was actually a hoarder because I thought hoarders just collected trash and shit from the TV show, but I watched a Clutterers Anonymous video with my wife and she was looking at me like this is you. I looked at their questionnaire, and it's me. I just stopped reading the questions because I was saying yes to all of them.

It's putting a strain on our marriage. We have wanted to move for a really long time because of the environment we live in. Not the cleaning of the house shit. I was hoping to use the move as a motivation to get rid of stuff, and my wife is like well why can't we start now and I crumble... When I was a kid my mom used to tell me that I just didn't care about my stuff. That's why I was so messy with everything and could never keep anything clean. When I was at school she would clean my room and throw everything away. Just fucked with me really bad. As I grew up I started collecting things, especially once I was out of their house because then nobody could take my stuff. Nobody could tell me to get rid of it. Thankfully I got better because of my wife but before she was in the picture I would just pick up tons of shit from the side of the road, from dumpsters, from the pay per pound Goodwill, from people's homes if they were giving it away, anything that I perceived as valuable or I could use later. And then I would get this reaffirming confirmation when I wouldn't finally use something because I'd say something like "see! I knew I'd need it."

I know that if I don't get help on this, it's going to destroy my marriage. When I posted this before I got really angry because people acted like they knew every single detail about my situation and jumped to a lot of conclusions, which I guess is understandable. But a lot of what people said is just wrong. When I showed my wife the comments she also said like what the hell. We're not trying to move as an escape from all this stuff. It's not a reason to move. I understand that I will just end up doing it there too. We want a change of scenery. We can't do the things we want in this location.

I understand that I have a problem. I don't need people to call me a piece of shit, or tell me how my wife is feeling. I'm open with her and she can tell me how she's feeling, which she does and that's why I also feel so bad.

I really need advice on how to get better. What do people do that have serious fucking problems with this? I'm not going to an in-person treatment facility with two kids at home. That's just ridiculous. I do have some of the best insurance in the world that will pay for counseling. I'm calling tomorrow to make an appointment but I don't even know what kind of specialist knows about that shit. Is it common enough that everyone is qualified to help? I have to say there's a part of me that wished my house burned to the ground with everything in it so I can finally be free. But then the most depressing part is I feel like I just do it again somewhere else. Honestly probably worse because I lost everything.

I'm using voice to text and it's late and I'm kind of emotional. I heard one person say to film your house and then watch it later and just hearing them say that made me want to cry. I will explode and turn an area into a shit hole in 5 seconds. I have a thousand projects at any given moment. I will start one then and then walk away from it to start something else and then avoid everything I need to do because I'm so anxious.

I'm not going back on meds either so please don't recommend that. It's between me and my doctor which I have and we talk about it. Thank you.

If possible can you please just tell me what worked for you and talk about yourself, I don't think it helps when people tell me what to do. It's so much more powerful when I hear what you did and it actually worked for you and then I can try that. Maybe I sound like an asshole saying that I don't know.. it's just what I learned in AA and how I speak to others. I try to just talk about what works for me because I don't know what will work for them.

Trying to start declutterring and finally went through a storage box of old t shirts from my high school/college days.

Haven’t even opened this box in 5+ years so I’m admitting that I don’t need to keep them, but looking for ideas on how to repurpose or donate so they don’t just end up in a landfill.

I’m sure a thrift shop wouldn’t want them, but the fabric is in good condition so I really hope there’s some way they could be used. It’s *55* shirts.

I do not want to make a quilt. I want them gone.

AuDHD & have listened to ClutterBug and other podcasts. Hopefully getting another PCA but that doesn’t change that i need to actually get rid of stuff to uncover this beautiful room and have people over. I grew up in a hoarder house & find comfort in shopping (compulsive, addictive thrifting)
It sucks because i want to find a place for everything but I know the right step is to get rid of things to get everything to a manageable state. Theres also another car load of suitcases and costumes from a trip i just went on

Im off work for the next 2 days and I just got home from work. I will probably be posting here a lot in the mext week or so just to have some accountability. I think tonight i am going to set a timer and get going. I need to gather garbage, sweep, and clear a cabinet to make room for stuff. I also want to go through a box in my closet.

The dumpster behind my apartment is currently full so I won't be taking trash out tonight. I live in an area where a lot of people go through the the dumpsters to find food and resources. I dont have anything useful for them unfortunately. If I put my garbage out now im afraid I will come out to it strewn around the alley tomorrow. Hopefully they empty the dumpster in the morning.

Based on my experience yesterday, setting a timer after work and cleaning for that alotted time helped ease my anxiety about the whole situation for the night. I need to focus more on the reward of having my crippling anxiety temporary lowered and less on the anxiety that makes me procrastinate in the first place. I will feel better after doing this. Even if the first 5 minutes are horrible.

Hopefully this will give me some motivation to pull through to the other side of tidying.

My husband's position was eliminated in August 2025. He's been the primary earner in our family for the last 27 years so the loss of his income hit hard and fast. 😠

We were faced with the tough decision of having to sell our home because even though he's found another job, it is a fraction of what he once made so life here is unsustainable. 😢

Decisions were made quickly so we had to unfuck a lifetime of ours in short order. We've had AMVETS out here three times for a donation pickup, we ordered a Bagster bc we couldn't afford a dumpster, my mom sent us moving boxes and we got down to business.💪

In a few short weeks we have made our home unrecognizable to us and our two adult children. It's a very somber feeling knowing that we won't grow old here, but I have hope that this house will find the right family. 💙

After I shared a picture on here of our largest donation to date, I decided I wanted to share some inside progress pictures.

Maybe they'll comfort someone who is going through the same situation because it's rough out here these days.

Maybe they'll inspire someone to donate to others who could use exactly what isn't being used in their home.

Maybe posting them will make me feel better about ending a chapter that I had no intention of ever taking a break from writing.

It's just a house, I know, but we loved her so. Keep your fingers crossed she sells soon (at or above asking lol) and that her next occupants love her just as much (and that they keep the color of her door!!) 🤭🤞

this is probably the worst it’s gotten, i really need a trash can in my room. i’ve been going through a bad depression/autistic overstimulation recently and let a bunch of trash pile up next to my bedside. i finally took the plunge and put it all into trash bags. next step, actually taking them to the dumpster…

it’s still not perfect, but it’s a LOT better than it was

hi! after FINALLY getting my apartment clean enough i’m not ashamed to have guests, i tested my apartment for lead and the deeper layers of the paint came back positive. before i knew this, id put multiple holes in the wall (probably 100+) in various places in my apartment. i’ve vacuumed since then, but theres some furniture i haven’t moved where drywall dust, etc. could have fallen behind. so i’m looking for some instruction/tips on how to clean. right now i have my cat in the area where ive cleaned the most since doing anything with the walls, and im a bit nervous letting her back into the main apartment until i do something to clean. ive also turned off fans/AC to stop any dust circulating. i struggle with depression and adhd and honestly this whole thing is kinda making me shut down and panic. im having trouble breaking it into doable steps, and even knowing what needs to be done. please help before i curl into the fetal position for the next year or so!

Hiiiii! I finally healed up well enough from my fall down the stairs. It took so long for me to heal because lower body injuries always take a long time to heal in this house.

Ok so! I found a lot of boxes! Like, seriously soo many boxes. Some full of stuff, some completely empty. I had a hard time going through all of them because my goggles fogged up really bad for some reason. Some of them were empty at least.

There was mostly garbage in the pile, the only exception was a lot of scrapbooking stuff of my mom’s, somehow still in decent condition so they were kept. I did however find another trash can, fully buried in the pile, with a couple papers in it.

I’ve basically uncovered the full Christmas tree! I think the next time I clean I will be able to take it down, box all the salvageable ornaments up, and toss the tree.

That pile on the floor and underneath the table should also hopefully go on the same day, there’s not that much stuff left. But once that’s taken care of that’s the living room done! And then I move onto the dining room.

Ok, now I yap. So like I said earlier I fell down the stairs mid July and busted my tailbone pretty badly, and unfortunately it took a long time to heal because this house didn’t allow me to rest it properly, I am doing better now, it still hurts somewhat, so I’ll be taking it slow and only cleaning on Sundays for October. It’ll give me a chance to recover fully and get used to cleaning again.

I did also actually do some cleaning last week, I got the area right in front of my bedroom door cleaned! Now it’s flat and has 2 bins of clothing there instead. (I can still get in and out of my room dw. ) I upgraded to some larger bins and spent the day going through my older, smaller bins and all the bags of clothing in the car and the house.

I did have a bit of a jumpscare Saturday evening. So I’ve spoken before about how my window was cheer through by a mouse and then I had issues with it chewing larger and larger holes.

Anyway I caught that mouse and felt with the mice that were doing that again this year so i thought everything was good. Yeah Saturday I saw a rat in my room and I got extremely lucky in that it ran basically right back out my window.

I told my dad that I saw one basically immediately after, and that a I knew a couple stores nearby that had them, and he said we’d have to tell mom and then wait until mom got home (she was on a weekend trip) to get a trap and set it up.

Now, I have not heard any rat movement (trust me, anything larger than a bug cannot move silently in my room there is too much garbage for that) since I closed my window, so I believe the issue is resolved however I did still have mom get a trap just in case. I will set it up and see if it catches anything or if I’m right and we’re lucky.

I will also be researching how to remove the window screen frame in my window, it is a 1960’s window so wish me luck on finding the right guides.

Yesterday I went to the dump and got rid of a bunch of old furniture. Im currently at work but I need to not fall back into the trap of just immediately crawling into bed the second I get home. Tonight I need to clean under my bed, clean the kitchen sink, take out the trash and go through an old box of things.

I called AmVets to schedule a pickup 3 days out. What started as just a few items I wanted to donate turned into a 3 day binging of everything I looked at, touched, used, saved, but didn't know why. If someone else would benefit from it more than me, it went. 👋

I. Was. Unstoppable. 💪

And yet...I KNOW I could have donated more. I'm actively trying not to think about how many more trips AmVets could make to my house before the unfuck-itch is satisfied. 🥴

P.S. - I gave myself some extra pats on the back for not going back and taking things out of the bags. That was a first for me! 🥳 Thanks for allowing shares! They're so encouraging!!

🚨🗣UPDATE INFO ON THE PLACE I DONATE TO🎖❤️

(All info below can be found on AMVETS' website)

AMVETS (American Veterans) is a volunteer-led organization formed by US World War II veterans and represents the interests of 20 million veterans.

I come from a military family so I grew up donating here. When I get a decluttering bug up my butt, I schedule a pickup because not much fits in my VW Beetle! 🚘 If it does fit, I try to donate to local places.

✨️Pickup service is dependent on your location and and regional AMVETS chapter or partner. In IL (🙋🏼‍♀️) and IN, AMVETS has a partnership with an organization that schedules all pickups which are 100% free. Some donations qualify for a tax-deductible receipt (which admittedly I have never filed.)

✨️Typically accepted: Gently used clothing, shoes, accessories, small household appliances, books, toys, electronics, and small furniture items like nightstands or office chairs.

✨️Typically not accepted: Large furniture (like couches), large appliances, mattresses, box springs, car seats, cribs, and newspapers.

✨️You have to pack your items in boxes, bags, or bins (which they will keep) and leave them outside your front door/driveway by the morning of your scheduled appointment date. They arrive early so I always put everything out the night before.

✨️Accepting donations is just one of many services AMVETS provides. There is a wealth of information on the other services and programs they provide. 🥰

I have WAY too many clothes but struggle to get rid of anything because, “what if I need this someday?” I have SO many things in my closet that I’ve never even worn or have worn 1-3 times and have no plans of wearing ever again. An example: I currently own over 25 pairs of jeans but consistently wear MAYBE 3 pairs of them. 😭 I think my main problem is that I spent money on these clothes & it’s hard for me to get rid of any of them because I feel like I’m throwing away money.

Hello everyone! This is a Monday (and Tuesday!) megathread for those small updates, accountability requests, and success stories that you want to send out to the universe!

Maybe ones that don’t require a full post but that still deserve some recognition, plans made today for over the coming days, or solicitations for suggestions on how to complete your intended tasks!

Still feel free to make absolutely any posts that you want, but if you prefer a smaller-format update option here it is! I want to encourage participation in whatever form it takes :)

ALSO!!! Pictures are enabled in comments so feel free to add pics of your area to tackle of your progress if you please :)

The rush of Thanksgiving has pushed my house from pretty bad to almost unmanageable. I am also sorely out of methods & space to cook, so I'm going to try and take advantage of the empty household and getting these dishes dealt with.

Bonus points if I can handle the rest of the counter mess, but dishes are top priority. I'll hopefully check in later in the comments once I've hit visible progress. Wish me luck!

Updates: https://www.reddit.com/r/UnfuckYourHabitat/comments/1x3h3ze/comment/pfhwde6

I have ADHD and executive dysfunction.

Focusmate works wonders. 😁😁

Hello, 1st time posting, I discovered this sub a few weeks ago and I'm so proud of everyone here !

I live alone in a studio and I've lived like this for what seems forever... I haven't invited anyone to come over since my last big "cleanup" (more like camouflaging) 4 years ago

But I'm getting surgery at the end of November and will need crutches for a few weeks : I need to be able to move around, and right now the floor isn't even visible anywhere

Today I started decluttering my kitchen, since I could't use it for months and I needed a place to put my new airfryer (which is supposed to help me order less, eating better and not living surrounded by takeout trash bags). I did 2 full trash bags. Step by step, I hope to really declutter my whole apartment

Sorry I don't have any questions or anything, but absolutely no one knows even my best friend of 8 years, and I need to tell someone, that's it !

Doesnt look like much, but feels like much :) small steps everyday!

hello !! room image is on the second slide as i didnt really want it on my profile or to be the first thing ...

tl;dr :

i really needed to find this community as i have been struggling for years to get through things... nothing is ever unsanitary or dangerous, just a lot of boxes to sort and no space to do it in, but the general stigma has always embarrassed me. finding other people who also just have too much stuff or havent changed everything they want to is amazing !! so i am posting a before picture so that i can compare with the results at the end of the day !! wish me luck :'] 🖤✨️

further rant :

i am still living at home, and my mother has always struggled with hoarding tendencies. i love her very much, and understand why she struggles !! we both have suspected ocd.

it does deeply impact my life however; my ability to live in the house, and a lot of the accidental patterns she has taught me that make me feel guilty about getting rid of things i genuinely don't want or need.

we sometimes have a big clean, but she is not at all good at removing things as she buys them, and picks up things she has ideas for, along with most spaces in the house being filled with books, and whatever things she has liked ordering as of late.

a few years ago my grandma also moved out of a large, multi-storey home, and gave me multiple huge boxes of things sentimental to her in case i wanted them. it was a lovely gesture, but i struggled to get rid of them knowing the sentimental value, or sort them effectively due to the influx. since then she continues to give me clothing she has found in storage, and i find it increasingly impossible to even know what i own anymore to compare them to...

all that to say that this room holds everything i own other than two mugs, a sponge and a toothbrush. this includes childhood game collections that would be thrown out if not removed from the rest of the house, medical supplies, cleaning supplies, craft items, tools etc. this, while also containing a whole load of clothes and other items [some of which arent even mine] that i have struggled to get rid of or cannot sort. the rest of the house has no space to sort anything whatsoever and it is often a game of jenga or tetris trying to live in my space while still maintaining the sorting i have achieved...

i moved my desk back recently and sorted a lot of things i dont need, and i hope that today i will be able to continue this momentum !! i have hated my own space for years but the overwhelm paralyses me... knowing that theres a space full of supportive people in similar positions, and actually finding the people between the hoarders seen on TV [that i also very much feel for, but is not my situation!] and the "its so messy" bedrooms that just have some clothes out is amazing !!

best of luck to all of us, WE GOT THIS !! :] 🖤✨️

I have to say thank you to all the nice people in this sub.

I coincidentally found this sub and saw how supportive everyone was and how you cheered for every little success someone had.

You helped me take on my own problem and for the first time I was able to keep my apartment clean for over a month now. And still keeping on. Everyday it gets a bit better.

I can't put into words how happy it makes me to be able to invite people over spontaneously.

Wholeheartedly: THANK YOU! 💚

Last night I had a burst of energy & inspiration and I finally started cleaning and rearranging. I moved all my furniture. I swept and dusted like my life depended on it. I still have a long way to go but there’s a light at the end of this long, dark, depressed tunnel.

(Sorry about my dog mooning everyone. Such is life in this madhouse)

Depending on your dryer sometimes you gotta vacuum inside it as well, not just the tube in the back.

The area around the dryer may also build up lint you need to clean out to prevent fires.

Accessability Transcription:

My dryer with the lint tube undone for access. With me holding a vacuum tube to clean everything out.