I had a friend where we used to live who asked me once if I’d like to get together on a weekly basis to help each other clean house while we let the kids play.
Fabulous idea, but it petrified me. I couldn’t let someone into my house to clean without . . . . cleaning it first. Because I am a slob, you know. And my main method of survival at that time (and up until starting this blog) was to clean like crazy for an entire day if I knew someone was coming over, and then say after they arrived, “Sorry, my house is so messy,” pretending that I hadn’t had time to clean.
I also had a very close friend offer to clean my house after my second child was born, when I was overwhelmed with two under the age of 2. I immediately said “NO!” because again, I was petrified for anyone to venture past my living room.
Soon after moving to the town where we now live, my best friend also moved back to the same area, about an hour away. We have kids the same ages, and for the past four years have tried to get together twice a month, switching off houses. It has been so fun. She’s one of those few people whom I allowed to see my house in its natural pre-blog state.
Sometimes we just sit and talk, but often we’ll help each other with a project. I’ve torn wallpaper off of her kitchen walls, and put away Christmas decorations, and she’s helped me sort through stuff for a garage sale, and tear wallpaper down.
Today she was here and we did a small project, one that I’d been putting off forever because I wasn’t sure exactly how I would do at getting it straight.
We put this vinyl lettering in my office gameroom, on the little hangy-downy part of the ceiling that divides the room up. It wasn’t a big project, but it’s easier to be motivated and more fun when someone does it with you.
Lenetta @ Nettacow says
I think it's an arch. And yours looks lovely!!
Nony says
What?!? You don't like the term hangy-downy thingy?
Elisabeth says
I love the term hangy-downy thingy.
2 kids and a cat says
A few weeks ago (or more-time slips away from me easily)you had a post about using your kitchen sink as a mop bucket. It made me think of a tip I wanted to give you but just never made it back to do so-so here it is.
When mopping you can just use a spray bottle you fill with your floor cleaner of choice (I like simple green and water mixed) and spray the floor in sections and wipe with a kitchen rag. I learned this from the cleaning ladies that used to do my house, they all do this. Put the rag under your foot and you don't even have to bend over. Just clean in front of you as you back out of the room. It's pretty much the same system as those wet jet type things, but cheaper, and works better. Then you get away from the whole dirty mop water thing, and it's quick and easy.
I hope this helps with your checklist, and sorry for writing a novel on your blog.
Nony says
That's a great tip. Thanks!
Lisa says
That is so great that you have a friend like that. My cousin (also my BFF) who is the complete opposite of me and totally OCD came over one weekend and helped me clean. It was amazing she cleaned, organized and helped decorate. My house has never looked the same and it has been so easy to keep clean ever since because everything now has a place.
faithfulma says
HI, I dont know if you "blog awards?" I have one for you, hope you'll pop by and Accept it. I enjoy your blog.
Virginia (Jenny) says
Whoa. This post sounds like me. There had been times where I just wouldn't want to invite anyone over because of it being so messy. I hate it when it gets like that and I'm working on simplifying things right now to help me.
Melissa says
“…clean like crazy for an entire day if I knew someone was coming over, and then say after they arrived, “Sorry, my house is so messy,” pretending that I hadn’t had time to clean.”
Me too. 🙂
Heather! says
Not only do *I* totally relate to the ‘cleaning like crazy’ and then pretending I didn’t have time to clean (story of my life), but I also realize NOW how many times I have visited somebody ELSE’s home and they have said and obviously have done the same thing! It actually makes me feel so much better to know that, but I always believed them at the time, and thought “Wow…her ‘messy’ would be my house on GOOD day!” It made me feel worse at the time. If only we weren’t all so ashamed we could be helping each other and admitting we all struggle with the same things.
What a difference in perspective….
Kristy K. James says
In October 2008, a man ran a red light on the highway and totaled my van. If I’d listened to one doctor, I’d be in a wheelchair now, but I basically said pfft to you and continued with nine months of thrice weekly physical, occupational and vision therapy. Now not many people can even tell I was in an accident, but it’s taken a whole lot of hard work and stubbornness on my part…for most of the four years that followed.
The problem is with that much going on with me, pain that made suicide seem like a viable option for relief at times, and an average of 3-4 hours of sleep every night for way too long, my too small house with too much stuff took a backseat to everything else. A major backseat. It was humiliating, but there wasn’t anything I could really do about it.
Since failing at Flylady’s methods…and finding your blog…things are changing dramatically. Since I still have a fair amount of pain most days, there are things I can’t do to plow through the mess…at least not in a timely manner. My daughter helped a whole lot two weeks ago though…all because she wanted to invite her boyfriend over.
My kitchen has been great since reading your books…and coming here for motivation, but I just couldn’t get a handle on the rest. However…I’m keeping up very well with ‘normal’ housework. I’ll continue to declutter a little at a time so all rooms only need normal housecleaning. But my point is…if I hadn’t accepted her help…and pushed myself more than was strictly comfortable for me, my house would still be a disaster.
So thank you for sharing your story with us. I, for one, needed it. I’ve always tended to be a bit of a slob, but the past almost five years have been bad even for me. 🙂
hestia74 says
Oh, Kristy, I hope you are feeling a lot better now. Great job on not giving up!