Struggles & Identity > Self-Help

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I Need Advice

My house is driving me mad. I'm on maternity at the moment and have nothing to do all day but clean it, but somehow it never feels clean. I've donated maybe 70% of my unnecessary possessions too.

Yesterday, for example, I repainted my kitchen white and scrubbed the floors, today I deep cleaned the oven and bath. Still feels filthy to me, all I can smell in the kitchen now is drains?! Our drains are fine so I have no idea why I'm smelling it. As we rent from a family member, we can't do much to upgrade it and it is a very old, leaky, crumbly house.

What do people do to make their house feel really clean? Any tricks/tips because I feel like I'm going insane 😂

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Vivaci

Try using baking soda in lemon 🍋 water... Keep it in small bowls around the kitchen.. It helps fight odor. Use lemon peels in garbage disposal.

Check house and ceilings for mould.

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Vivaci

@Starsandfire Yeah, take concentrated lemon juice 1 cup... In a soup bowl... Add a cup of baking soda and keep it in the room, kitchen.... even refrigerator.

Starsandfire · 31-35, F

@Vivaci thanks, I'll do that on my sink later :D

Vivaci

Awesome! 👍🤗

lasergraph · 70-79, M

Since you are home all the time you have time to obsess. You sense of smell can be elevated because of the pregnancy. Sometimes even normal smells can make you nauseated. Maybe you need to get out of the house more and find something to do and the fresh air will be of benefit.

Starsandfire · 31-35, F

@lasergraph I do sit in the garden, but I'm due next week, I have no car when my boyfriend is at work and can't walk for more than five minutes :( I am cooped up here, but for the moment I can't really do anything abot it.

jjoe01

The house needs ammonia scrubbed.

MissMollyCharlotte0702

When I was pregnant I kept cleaning sinks with pine o clean....because I could not get enough of the smell.

Starsandfire · 31-35, F

@MissMollyCharlotte0702 clean smell is the best smell! haha

MissMollyCharlotte0702

I couldn’t get enough of it. Are you still pregnant? If so, you are nesting.@Starsandfire

Starsandfire · 31-35, F

@MissMollyCharlotte0702 I'm due next week, but this been going on for months. I literally can't see how much I've done, the house still feels filthy which is a bit worrying. OR maybe it was always filthy and I didn't notice until the mad hormones kicked in! 😂

Peppa · 31-35, F

Never donate always sell...
And go out... sit in a cafe go for a walk. Keep yourself fit and active and not inhaling bad fumes, it affects the baby

CountScrofula · 41-45, M

If the focus on cleaning is getting more and more intense and not being corrected by cleaning, you may have perinatal OCD which turns out is actually a thing. May not be a bad idea to bring it up with your doctor.

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Starsandfire · 31-35, F

@CountScrofula I had no idea such a thing existed. The focus is usually on depression during and after pregnancy and I've also heard of psychosis occuring, but never OCD. Thank you, I will mention it to the midwife :)

CountScrofula · 41-45, M

@Starsandfire I didn't either until you described what was going on and I found some results on it. Hopefully something that you can easily treat!

Starsandfire · 31-35, F

@CountScrofula I hope so too. Thanks again! :)

Sunnykel76 · 46-50, F

this happens to pregnant women...its called nesting. Its normal

Starsandfire · 31-35, F

@Sunnykel76 Yeah, but for three months straight? :/ I don't mind it, I just wish I could sit back and enjoy my hard work

Sunnykel76 · 46-50, F

@Starsandfire well I dunno about 3 months :)

Starsandfire · 31-35, F

@Sunnykel76 Yep! I'm surprised I'm not living in an empty house right now 😂 the decluttering has been INTENSE

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