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 I want to be clean. (Page 2)
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| Author | Topic: I want to be clean. |
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naynay45 Housemate |
posted 04-25-2002 01:48 PM
   
quote: I don't know if it helps or not, but when I'm at the boy's, I pick up my glass/plate/bowl, and usually his too, and bring them over to the sink soon after we've finished with them. He's caught on and tends to do it with me now. IP: Logged |
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leanne Housemate |
posted 04-25-2002 05:59 PM
I can understand about all those FlyLady messages, but I get it all digest format. I think that for the most part it's aimed at stay at home wives and moms who roll out of bed at 10am and schlump around the house in there nightgown. I pretty much ignore that sort of stuff. I get the digest the next day, skip over the bits about "get up, make your bed, put on your shoes...". You've got to take it with a grain of salt. I think that it's a powerful aspect of the whole Flylady "program" - it's about behaviour modification and part of doing that is to brainwash yourself into being active and taking pride in yourself and your home. The most important thing I've seen from it is that it is getting women who are procrastinators with low self-esteem to really participate in their lives. It may just look like housework on the surface, but it's about getting up every day and being engaged in your world - a little bit of "if you're miserable, get up off your arse and do something about it already!!" I'm really fascinated by the testimonials that come in every day. Just that first shiny sink has made so many women so damn happy - transformed their lives and in turn their relationships with their SOs and kids. And, that's a pretty cool thing for a free website/web service. Apparently, from the testimonials, many women have found that their SOs tend to follow the women's examples after a while. Perhaps that's the best way to influence the man in your life - show him how easy it is to be cleanly. IP: Logged |
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Dewgirl Housesitter |
posted 04-26-2002 08:00 AM
quote: Milwaukee? Get thee to the Wisconsin thread!!! [This message has been edited by Dewgirl (edited 04-26-2002).] IP: Logged |
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Makin Subletter |
posted 04-28-2002 06:13 AM
*Sticks hand up* Reformed messie here! I was a SLOB until the day I moved in with a flatmate who was even messier than me. I got SO sick of her stuff being in the way, it inspired me to do something about my own crappy habits. The best tip I have is to make a HABIT of keeping tidy. ie- make your bed as soon as you get up, wash your dishes when you've eaten, have regular laundry days (mine are Mon and Thurs) If you schedule these things on certain days, then after a while they become automatic and it takes away the fun of procrastinating. It also pays to multitask- Friends is just as funny to watch with an iron in your hand, and many a time I chat on my (cordless) phone while I throw old food out the fridge and scrub the shelves! It's not easy- but it does make life easier! IP: Logged |
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cablejunkie Housemate |
posted 04-28-2002 10:14 PM
while speed-shopping for a book about feng shui, i bought "clear your clutter with feng shui" by karen kingston. silly me--i only saw the "FENG SHUI" in white capital letters on the cover and didn't bother to read the entire title! but i must say, it's a great book to motivate you into cleaning up. the book addresses the reasons why we accumulate clutter and methods and reasonings to get rid of clutter. the author is a little self-congratulatory, but i always whip out the book every so often because i always get inspired to free myself of my excess junk and to scrub away accumulated nasties in various rooms. anyways, i always end up filling at least one shopping bag full of useless stuff to donate to charity, plus i become inspired to clean the kitchen or bathroom or such. i think it's good to address clutter issues--if you have a lot of clutter, it's harder to clean up. getting rid of the root of the problem, clutter, makes household cleaning chores so much easier. IP: Logged |
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RaspberriLemonade Subletter |
posted 05-12-2002 07:56 AM
I am a semi-reformed mess queen...I find that if your bedroom is a COMPLETE mess, make your bed superneatly. One, the bed (in my room anyway) is the focal point so it makes a huge difference. Two, it motivates you to clean the rest up a little. I am such a slob with my stuff but I literally go to a friend's house and we go on a cleaning marathon...such an odd habit. My main problem is my clothes..I tend to live out of the laundry basket until all that's left is stuff I don't like...then I dump it out and it remains on my floor for a week or 2. Finally I get fed up and CLEAN! oh well. IP: Logged |
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amaryllis Housemate |
posted 05-13-2002 08:55 AM
My main detriment to keeping clean is my roommates--they tend to let stuff pile up (it's not me, I swear! I'm at work for most of the day, while they've only got four hours of classes!) I hate feeling like I'm picking up after them, so I tend to let it slide, but one way I motivate myself to pick up after them is imagining their shock/horror when suddenly all their clutter disappears. Really, I'm not a horrible person--I'm not talking about art projects in progress or open study notes. I'm thinking jackets on the backs of chairs and saucepans left on the stovetop. True, they might not freak out the way I like to imagine, but if they can figure out where I would put these items (the hall closet and pots-'n'-pans cabinet, specifically), why haven't they put them there themselves? (I'm hoping I'll only have to do this a couple of times before they get the hint.) IP: Logged |
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sarah Housemate |
posted 06-20-2002 12:08 PM
*bump* IP: Logged |
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delightt Housemate |
posted 06-21-2002 12:45 AM
Hee! Thanks Sarah, for bumping this up.  Appreciate the tips.My room gets really messy less than a week after I clean it, and then after that it stays in a generally messy/piled up state (it doesn't, like, overflow out into the hall or anything). Seems to me like it's saying "we need to exist permanently in this particular messy state! No more no less!" IP: Logged |
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krshultz Housemate |
posted 07-20-2002 01:22 PM
Reformed slob here. I think what initially turned me around was buying my first house. I figured if I was going to pay that much for something, I'd like it to look nice. My own trick to keep the place clean is to do one thing per evening. "Things" are usually small...stuff like vacuuming, or cleaning the kitchen countertops and sinks. Doing just one of these things after work isn't so bad. The place never gets to that threshold of mess where I can't stand it anymore, and it's a sure bet that if someone stops by unexpectedly, it's clean. IP: Logged |
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tortoise Subletter |
posted 08-08-2002 10:07 AM
www.flylady.net[/B][/QUOTE] I signed up for this, but I caution you, it's only for the HIGHLY Unmotivated, who LOVE SPAM. You'll get close to 30 e-mails a day - 20 of which will remind you to get dressed and put on your shoes. IP: Logged |
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kittencollar Subletter |
posted 08-12-2002 09:11 AM
Loved Flylady's ideas, hate spam. Afterall the idea is to unclutter your life. My ultimate trick to reducing clutter--move. Seven times in five years! Aaah! But if you're avoiding moving, I suggest grouping clutter and anti clutter devices together. My favorite place to create a mountain of junk mail is right next to a trash can and my boxes for bills and cards. A quiet little crate with twine to bind magazines for recycling is hidden under my coffee table (a book and mag magnet). Clothes coating the floor, the bane of the joy of my exsistance, has recently been conquered by getting a laundry basket for "worn but not dirty" clothes. A seperate hamper holds those headed for the washer. Finally, I can see the floor! IP: Logged |
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crowjoy Housemate |
posted 08-12-2002 09:59 AM
That is a great idea! Like a transfer station from undressing to hanging up. Our closet is actually a whole other room and getting things from bedroom to closet can seem like a trek up Everest, or so it would appear. IP: Logged |
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Dewgirl Housesitter |
posted 08-14-2002 07:41 AM
Well I must say... Oxy-clean IS amazing! I've had it forever, but never got around to using it until last night, when I tried it on my kitchen and bathroom sinks. And Holy Cow! Those things are WHITE! It didn't quite get all of the spots and stuff out of my bathroom sink (but hey, it is 50+ years old, I didn't expect miracles) but it's cleaner than I've ever seen it. But my kitchen sink is just...wow! I've been converted! IP: Logged |
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lwasie Housemate |
posted 08-14-2002 08:30 AM
my favorite room in my apartment right now is my utility closet. it is the only thing that is completely clean and organized. there is nothing in there that i don't know what it is or where it is. i go in there and close the curtain and sit and be at peace. when the cats come in to use the litter box, i leave. i have recently fallen in love with the idea of storage boxes. not big ones, but small ones that will fit on a book shelf or in a cabinet. boxes in the bathroom for hair thingies and make up and extra shmapoo, etc. boxes in the closet for batteries and glue and string and trash bags. they keep everything organized and looking neat. IP: Logged |
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ng-la Housemate |
posted 08-14-2002 09:49 AM
Yup. Storage boxes. I've got a ton of them. Walgreens sells plastic shoebox size boxes, with a lid- 3 for $1. I buy more every time I pass the store. IP: Logged |
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Goddess09 Housemate |
posted 06-02-2003 01:49 PM
*Bumpity bump bump bump!* So as I said when I started this, I can clean when I have a party. And as I had a party Friday, my place is looking pretty good. I just need to keep it that way. Maybe we should form a support group for us slovenly types. :-) What keeps you motivated? IP: Logged |
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jstrizzy Housemate |
posted 06-02-2003 02:13 PM
moving and new stuff does the trick for me. it's a little drastic, but I just moved into a new apartment, and it's helped enormously. First, in the process of packing, I threw out a whole lotta stuff, which by itself seriously decreases the clutter. It's also very satisfying to rid myself of things I don't need. Second, I had to buy a bunch of new furniture and dishes (since my former roommate had all the furniture and kitchen stuff), which I am now loathe to mess up; I am the queen of coasters and cleaning supplies. Since I was buying dishes and silverware for just me, I only have 4 plates and 4 forks, so there's only so much that can pile up in the sink. Moving also gave me the opportunity to decide all at once where each thing I own should belong, so I have a place for mail, a place for hair stuff, a place for the remotes, etc. On a related note, although the flylady regime seems a bit over the top for me, I do like the idea of just a few minutes every day to keep things manageable. As soon as I'm finished unpacking, I vow to put it into practice! IP: Logged |
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Chele75 Housemate |
posted 06-02-2003 04:25 PM
Motivation and lack of storage are two of my major problems. Right now I'm avoiding a rather large pile of dishes next to the sink. I love my apartment when it's neat and tidy but it never seems to be that way all at once. I think procrastination is my biggest obstacle! IP: Logged |
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LittleRed Housemate |
posted 06-03-2003 08:04 AM
How do you really clean hard wood floors? I know I can mop them with Murphy's Oil Soap, but does that actually clean them or just make 'em look pretty? IP: Logged |
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JenMKat Housemate |
posted 06-03-2003 07:17 PM
quote: I mop them with oil soap too. It does make them look good, but the smell isn't my favorite. i like the way it smells in the mop bucket before i start mopping. Anyway, I found this site not that long ago that gives some good hints. http://www.hardwooddirect.com/tutorial_floorcare.asp IP: Logged |
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crowjoy Housemate |
posted 06-04-2003 05:28 AM
quote: Thanks for bumping this! I was reading up the thread and saw the above. I want to say there is no Everest in my home! YAY! There are two hampers with separated laundry and hooks inside the closet for the worn but not dirty masses. Wow, it's amazing to realize that. I've been so much better since working from home. I do a little all through out the day and my standards for neatness are changing. A much smaller amount of stuff creates that nervous feeling that the place is a mess. On the other hand, the days we're off during the week (Friday - Monday between the two of us) see no tidying. So by Tuesday the place really needs an overall tidy again. As far as motivation, how about this. My dad and future BIL came to our house while we were at Mander's shower Sunday to surprise us with a new TV. And the house was a WRECK! All of this effort and I feel like I failed the big test. It was much better than days gone by but by my new standards I was bummed that I got caught with my dishes on the counter. I'm motivated to keep in clean just in case someone wants to come surprise us with a new stereo. IP: Logged |
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quarkiegirl Housemate |
posted 06-04-2003 07:45 AM
quote: I'm thinking of getting one of those wet Swiffers. Are they ok to use on hardwood floors? My floors aren't especially nice, but I don't want to damage them more. IP: Logged |
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yam Housemate |
posted 06-04-2003 08:38 AM
Yeah, swiffer mops are fine on hardwood. They're just a babywipe on a stick, basically. They're great for a quick clean-up but you need a real mop* for serious cleaning.
[This message has been edited by yam (edited 06-04-2003).] IP: Logged |
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crowjoy Housemate |
posted 06-04-2003 11:26 AM
My dishwasher just broke. Doing dishes by hand will not help the cause darn it! I've got a call into a repair service, which I've never done before. Keep your fingers crossed it isn't a big deal. IP: Logged |
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cat Housemate |
posted 06-04-2003 11:57 PM
quote: Heh, that's what I do. I love it. Cleaning like that can be so much fun. IP: Logged |
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ralphyr Housemate |
posted 06-05-2003 12:03 AM
quote: Not to mention the chance to do the Karate Kid exercise, wax on wax off. No really, practice your lunges and you too will have buns of steel. [This message has been edited by ralphyr (edited 06-05-2003).] IP: Logged |
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Mookie Subletter |
posted 06-07-2003 04:21 PM
I use www.flylady.com The daily emails will kill you but if you subscribe to the digest version you only get one a day instead of several. She offers tons of ideas for keeping your place clean and getting organized. I'm a big slob so getting that little email each day is a great motivator for me. IP: Logged |
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chitowngal Housesitter |
posted 06-07-2003 10:04 PM
So I went to the flylady website and was looking at that whole calendar thing where you're supposed to concentrate on certain areas on certain days. I was amused by the "it didn't get junked in one day"...obviously she's never been near my apartment. I have this incredible ability to take an immaculately clean apartment and turn it into a pig sty (without even trying or embarking on major projects) within 3 or 4 hours flat not to mention if I end up at Target on a day, my house most certainly can get "junked" in one day! Maybe I just have amazing junking abilities that should find a better use....any of you digsters that just love cleaning want me to come make a mess so you can clean it??? please??? okay, back to learning about how to not be a super messy packratarific individual...he he he, this may be a painful lesson IP: Logged |
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Finesse Housemate |
posted 06-08-2003 06:56 PM
i do 2....everytime i try i end up bein a slob all over again.... how do i make it stop?? lolol
quote: IP: Logged |
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giamaria Housemate |
posted 06-09-2003 11:58 AM
Want to share my deal....in an effort to keep cleaner I just ordered this: http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?PAGE=PROFRAME&PROD_ID=46713 Can't WAIT to steam clean the carpet, seriously. That will be so FUN! (Am I weird to enjoy vacuuming too? Of course from the looks of the place right now you'd never guess I enjoy vacuuming!) IP: Logged |
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briezee Housemate |
posted 06-09-2003 07:05 PM
quote: I wouldn't necessarily say that you are wierd to enjoy vacuuming. I'm at the other end. My friends and family tease the heck out of me because I am afraid of the vacuum cleaner. (Actually, it is just that I really can't take the high pitch, loud whine of the vacuum cleaner. Somehow over the years it has translated into afraid of.) IP: Logged |
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greschya Housemate |
posted 06-09-2003 07:15 PM
Dave vacuums here. I don't MIND vacuuming, but it has always aggravated my allergies, so as long as he's willing and able, he does that. I'll do the dishes and general cleaning, and he'll take on cat-related or allergen-disturbing tasks. IP: Logged |
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cat Housemate |
posted 06-10-2003 02:26 AM
heh, I am just reminded to buy bags for my vacuum. Ta. I am a bit of a clean-freak (note, *not* cleaning-freak. There's an unfortunate difference). And boys definitely don't seem to define *mess* along similar parameters as girls...at least not too often. Bugger. IP: Logged |
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amandafaith Housemate |
posted 06-10-2003 12:58 PM
quote: Personally, what keeps me motivated is how good I feel when my house is clean- or at least tidy. I really have noticed a drastic change in my mental state when the house is messy and cluttered- I feel claustrophobic, like my thinking is more messy and cluttered. Don't get me wrong, it's not overwhelming, but it is noticeable. Coming home from work to a nice, neat house is soooo restful. It makes me happy. That, and I'm finally living alone for the first time in my life- it's nice to have only my own mess to clean up. If I do a little at a time- dishes here, pick up clothes there- the place stays fairly tidy. IP: Logged |
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giamaria Housemate |
posted 06-10-2003 07:46 PM
I will say that I am not the tidiest (but not a gross slob by any means) but I have been little by little getting rid of crap that I jsut don't need anymore. Last week I went through all my old tapes and got rid of a load of them. The pantry is going to be next, I think. It's rather cathartic. I need to pare it all down. I just have tooo much stuff. Why is it so hard to get rid of books I have no emotional attachment to? So annoying. IP: Logged |
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Bjerica Housesitter |
posted 06-10-2003 08:24 PM
quote: Word. A couple of weeks ago I told my husband nothing turns me on like a clean house after I came home and he had done a fabulous job cleaning the kitchen. I've been doing the FlyLady routines (I'm a Flybaby!) for the last week and it really doesn't take a lot of work to keep the house clean. Fifteen minutes in the morning and maybe thirty at night usually pulls it up. One of the best tips I've picked up from FlyLady is to fill the sink with warm soapy water when you start cooking so you can wash stuff as you go. Combining cooking and washing dishes into one step really seems to work for me. IP: Logged |
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Sabriel Housemate |
posted 07-12-2003 06:10 PM
I have a question about dishwashers. I've lived in 2 apartments now, both with a dishwasher, and I got turned off by how long it took for them to finish a job. And they are SO noisy! I mean each job takes them like half an hour when I could quickly finish a load of dishes by myself in 10 mins or less, and not use electricity. Please convert me to using a dishwasher because I want to believe! IP: Logged |
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KirstenL4W Housemate |
posted 07-13-2003 09:11 AM
Dishwashwers tend to use less water than doing it out by hand - a lot less if you're like me who keeps the water running the whole time. The electricity usage isnt too bad, the noise is the worst part of the dishwaswer, especially if you dont have one of those new quiet ones. I had a dishwashwer at my condo, but I did them out by hand because it was a small 18 inch dishwasher, and I figured that with the size load it took it was just way easier to just take care of it by hand. However, it did make a good drying rack for my pots and pans. I'm not necessarily a messy person, just a lazy one. I dont like having to clean so I make sure everything has a home and that I keep everything where it belongs so I dont have to spend much time maintaining it. Moving from a whole condo to one room makes it easier. I always used to fold my laundry right out of the dryer (as soon as the dryer stopped) so I wouldnt have to waste time ironing stuff, but I'd leave it all in the laundry basket. Now I dont have the space for that, so I put my laundry away right away. Another thing I do is to open my mail over the trash bin, so all junk gets filed right away. The remaining stuff is usually bills which go to a designated spot next to my computer, to be paid at the weekly checkbook update. For making the bed, I use a duvet, euro-style. This way I dont have a top sheet to fiddle with, so it takes me about a minute to make the bed - just fluff the duvet and make sure the pillows are at the head of the bed. I also am a fan of clear storage boxes, but I go for the drawer-type ones. Its much easier to access them. I used to have a huge one in my bathroom for all those trial and travel sized items (I'm a huge fan of things that come in small packages). These drawers arent perfectly organized but they are categorized to make it a bit easier (tools, small toiletries, etc). I'm not a neat freak but I do try to live my life in a way that leaves little room for clutter to accumulate. IP: Logged |
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crowjoy Housemate |
posted 01-09-2004 01:51 PM
bump! IP: Logged |
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