Messiest House in America - OMG! About This Page:

[soccermomof2]

Did anyone watch "Clean House - Messiest House in America" last night?

All that I can say is OMG!!! I cannot believe that anyone can live in the conditions that the homeowners lived in. The wife hadn't cleaned the bathroom in months; there was trash in every room. The only half-way decent room was their bedroom and even that was dirty with dog drool all over their comforter.

I understand that the husband had a bad back, but man, can't you pick up your stuff and throw it in the trash? I especially loved their explaination as to why there was a fly catcher hangining from their kitchen light; the wife couldn't reach because she was too short and the husband couldn't stretch his back. If they moved the crap off the kitchen table, they may have been able to get to the fly catcher.

And, don't get me started on the cat poo in the closet. How gross is that? And the dustballs everywhere!

Honestly, people, can't you just pick up after yourselves, especially in the kitchen and not leave egg shells, cartons of milk and other food items lying around? I am surprised they didn't have a rodent problem.

I think that the wife was completely shocked when she saw the attic and all of the stuff that they brought back into the house. I think that was motivation to get her moving to get rid of most of it.

On the other hand, they explained that their mess was from months of depression because they felt that they couldn't provide for each other. I hope that a clean house means a clean start for the both of them and they can move on to brighter days.

[Shell_of_the_South]

I didn't see the show, but I read an article about it in one of the Washington papers. They said that a month later, the house was still clean and the wife was very paranoid of the clutter coming back so she was being very careful. That's good to hear.

[lauren-roxy]

Sounds really gross!

[iamgrumpy]

My mom and I sat there in shock at the mess, The kitchen and the cat droppings were enough to make me want to get sick! While I do understand the troubles of a back problem having dealt with my mom's she still can manage to put things away and clean the kitchen and not live in a complete pig sty.

I hope that did scare her and that the place stays clean!

[TMWIlson7196]

I have a friend who lives like that. She has for years. I had not seen her for a few years she lives in another state. Well DH and I went to visit her and her family last year. I was shocked when we walked into the house. I wont go into detail but just know it was nasty. DH and I were suppose to stay for 3 days we ended up leaving after 2 because it was so nasty. She has an 18 year old son who is the same way. There is no way I could live like that. Some people are just not good housekeepers.

[3girlsmom]

My

[Colexis Mom]

Yikes!!

[Caldercup]

I am fascinated by those shows, but my DH can't watch them -- family members of his have suffered from severe depression and the sight of those homes just make his heart hurt...

Looking it at it from a depression perspective, I can see how some people could get to that point (if it isn't just a natural inclination to live in chaos and mess.) I'm so happy for the people on these TV shows who get the help cleaning up and alway am glad when it seems to have helped them deal with the situation. Hopefully, it will give them the relief they need to help solve their other issues (assuming that they have them.)

It's one of those situations that easy to make judgement about, but we need to keep in mind that not all people think, feel, and act the way we do.
Eileen

[revral]

Originally Posted by Caldercup

I am fascinated by those shows, but my DH can't watch them -- family members of his have suffered from severe depression and the sight of those homes just make his heart hurt...

Looking it at it from a depression perspective, I can see how some people could get to that point (if it isn't just a natural inclination to live in chaos and mess.) I'm so happy for the people on these TV shows who get the help cleaning up and alway am glad when it seems to have helped them deal with the situation. Hopefully, it will give them the relief they need to help solve their other issues (assuming that they have them.)

It's one of those situations that easy to make judgement about, but we need to keep in mind that not all people think, feel, and act the way we do.
Eileen

I apologize in advance if I offend as I don't mean to. However this is a very personal and therefore touchy subject for me.

Well said, Eileen. I didn't see the show but I have seen the promo's for it. Some people are hoarders and others it just sneaks up on or theirs an illness or crisis that sets off a downward spiral. I've been there perhaps for different reasons than the couple in the showand I may or may not have been as bad but I have most definitely been there. It's extremely difficult to not only dig yourself out but than keep yourself dug out and medical problems and depression don't help. Neither does judgement or attempts to shame and or guilt the person in to changing. The task of cleaning it up becomes too overwhelming and you have no idea of whereor how to start. Thanks to Flylady, I'd gotten myself dug out and was doing very well at staying that way when my grandmother died and depression hit and I backslid. Well I had just started to dig out again when my granfather died 8-9 months later followed 11 months later by my grandmother's brother and 2 months after my grandmother's brother died a friend died. Needless to say I was emotionally and mentally numb, exhausted and depressed. In fact my doctor actually asked me if I need an antidepressant. The result I did some major backsliding and 2 years later am still working to reach the place I was before my grandmother died. So if you must pass judgement please do so silently.

[graygables]

Originally Posted by revral

However this is a very personal and therefore touchy subject for me.

I feel your pain, I really do. I let my house get that way when I was married to ex as a way to "punish" him for being abusive. I would take DDs out all day so we didn't have to face it. I was young and despondent and didn't know what else to do. It took me YEARS and Flylady to try to get out of it. Note that I said, TRY. I do keep the bathrooms/kitchen clean, but my office is a stacked-up mess as is my living/scrap room. I desperately need to get back into the Flylady swing of things!

[revral]

Thanks Dawn. I think it's almost harder the second time round than the first. Before my grandmother died I had routines, unexpected company wasn't a problem, I knew where everything was and the only reason for a room's door being closed was to keep the cat's out or because it wasn't being used for anything so there was no point in heating it, and this place pretty much maintained itself.