I haven’t seen my dustpan in at least a month.
The last time I remember seeing it was when I asked my 3yo daughter to go dump it in the trashcan. I’m thinking she must have fully obeyed.
Now, let me acknowlege right here and now that I know exactly what is going through the mind of any “normal” person who has happened upon this post. You’re thinking, “Ummm, so get another one, they’re about a whole dollar?!?” And you’re thinking it in the same voice you’d use explaining something to a three year old.
Yeah, well, I’m guessing that the place in my brain that somehow keeps me from noticing big piles of trash on my dining room table probably is the same spot that keeps me from thinking of things like dustpans while at the store.
So for the first week or so of the “Mystery of the Missing Dustpan” I used it as an excuse to not sweep. I mean, I’m always looking for an excuse anyway, and not having a dustpan is a pretty good one. A few times I tried the piece-of-paper-for-a-dustpan method, but that never works very well.
Then I remembered another mother-in-law trick. I’ve mentioned her tricks before. She is not a neat freak, but her house always looks perfectly fine. She sees messes and takes care of them without acting like it’s some huge feat.
Once at her house I was sweeping up a mess one of the kids had made and asked where the dustpan was. She said that she usually just used a wet paper towel to wipe up the dust pile when she swept. She felt like it picked it up better than using a dustpan.
So about two weeks ago, I remembered her idea, and she’s right. It totally works. Sweeping every day means that there is rarely a 3 inch high pile of dust (like pre-blog days) and so a wet paper towel works perfectly fine.
The slob part of me is irritated to have eliminated an excuse, but the wants-to-get-over-being-a-slob part is happy about it.
Lenetta @ Nettacow says
Pretty soon I'm going to make myself quit commenting just to say "wow that sounds just like me!" but I want you to know how excited I am for you (and me) – and now I'm off to do dishes and reclaim some flat surfaces from clutter!
I linked and quoted you again in a post today – you really got me with your two questions, where would I look for this and if I needed it, would I know I have it? – paraphrasing, I think, don't want to click over and double check 'cause that'll turn into another 10 minutes before I get busy…
Nony says
NOOOO, don't stop commenting! I love it when my dashboard says ___ comments.
And thanks for linking to me!
MJ says
So true about your two questions: Where would I look for it and would I know I have it. Those are great questions. Even better than, "Do I love this or use it." It has changed the way I declutter!!!
Meghan says
As a kid we somehow lost (or broke?) our dustpan too and my mom did the wet paper towel thing. I think it's great because then you don't have that little line of dust that you can never manage to sweep up.
Anonymous says
Just popping been a busy week. But just to let you know Friday I made sure the house was pick up dishes were done before I went to bed. Saturday morning I woke to clean house and loved it now I just need to do it. I woke up in a good mood because my house was in good shape all I had to do was make my bed and make breakfast. Tomorrow I have list of all my cleaning I want to do. Here's other tip when I drop a egg on the floor I use a slice of bread to clean it up. I even use bread to clean up broken glass. All those small splinter glass.
Anonymous says
I just found your blog and have started reading a bit from the beginning… I'm sure others have said this, but you sound just like me!!! I was just thinkiing this morning about starting a blog, even if nobody reads, just to keep myself accountable. I am tired of a slobby house, and don't want my kids (3 & 5) to grow up with our bad habits. I will definitely keep reading, and maybe even get the courage to open up like you have. Keep up the great work, and thanks for the inspiration 🙂
wilma says
I have actually almost eliminated the need for sweeping…by keeping the vacuum (a canister one) out, instead. i will literally vacuum for about 2 minutes (my main living area is very small) every day. i think vacuuming is easier than sweeping because the vacuum sucks up the dust completely, and then there’s no need to get close to the dirt to sweep it up, haha. but, i also think that whatever system that work for you is the one that you should use 🙂
Stephanie says
Found your blog almost two weeks ago after finding your podcast. I have a long way to go, but I started reading your blog from the beginning.
My house overall looks presentable every day. As fly lady says it is 15 min to guest ready. But so many of the quirks you fight against I have noticed in myself and my family.
My husband and I were talking one day about how we have no problem going to bed with closet doors open, a few toys on the floor, and a dish or two or 10 on the counter. Do I really want it that way? No. But he says we realize we have to live here and it isn’t going to be perfect every day. While true, I’ve been trying to notice the clutter before it goes crazy.
Sundays are the worst. We go to church twice and the getting ready, going, coming home, eating, giving kids a nap, then up, then snacks, and out the door again. Come home, eat supper, get ready for bed, etc seem to throw me off. Especially if I don’t have breakfast, lunch, and supper planned for that day. I’m realizing a relaxed Sunday starts Sat afternoon. I would love to say Sat night but by then it is too late.
I’ll do good for a couple weeks even months and then a schedule will change again and we will be thrown into chaos. My hubby’s work schedule changes every 3 months or so, just started having a kid in school, and then there is my weekly things to do. If Inleave my house more than twice a week my house will completely fall apart. I know it is my fault, but I want to blame everything else.
Thanks for giving me an amusing place to read about REALITY for people like me. I can’t handle the type A people reality blogs. They act so perfect like it isn’t a struggle ever to finish their tasks, “I just do it, every single time!” I don’t believe them.
Anyway, this has gotten long winded and I feel with no purpose.
Thanks Noni!
Dana White says
I’m so glad you found me!! (And I have a hard time believing them, too!!)
Susan Koble says
Geesh! If I had read this post yesterday I could have saved a buck on a new dust pan. 😀 😀 😀