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As we’re getting settled into our new home, I’ve realized that some things I’ve heard “normal” people say over the years make sense. They didn’t make sense to me before, and I’m now wondering why. Specifically, why have I not seen the value in flooring that “doesn’t show dirt?”
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--Nony
As I was listening to the podcast about the appearance of clean, I found myself literally screaming YES after every few sentences. “Am I making any sense?” you ask. YES!!
First time back in over a year, yep – quite the ramble. Was very much hoping for list or story about actual “tricks”. Go Floring/surface colots (texture); hidden quick access storage (undertable drape toys); and ???
I am currently looking at couch that won’t show/transfer dog & cat hair.
Looking forward to another podcast that gives additional examples.
Dana, I loved this podcast. Yes, it does make sense to me. This is exactly how I have thought. I love delving into the way our brains can work. Thank you for being you and sharing so much help and encouragement.
Merry Christmas!
Can you provide a link to the carpet that you mentioned in the podcast? 😄
I honestly have no idea! And I think I threw away the invoice! But it’s a gray speckledy carpet. I’m sure I’ll share pics at some point!
Thank you so much! This made so much sense and I am learning to embrace these tricks. I too felt that they were cheating- and it was enlightening to realize it was the idealism. No one would call me a perfectionist in cleaning- but I have been an idealist.
Holy crap this was a revelation to me!!!
THANK YOU for sharing this episode, seriously.
The idealist part – that is me ❤️
I totally understand what you mean. You don’t brow beat or think poorly of yourself between your regular cleanings if you can’t see the dust, etc. My problem is that it’s hard for me to get into a regular cleaning program.
I understand and use your container method, I wash put up my kitchen before going to bed 95% of the time, and I utilize the 5 min pickup. I just don’t have a regular cleaning schedule that I can stick to. It’s easy for me to put off mopping for tomorrow but then tomorrow I have to mop, clean the bathrooms, do the laundry…ugh!
Anyway, I wrote to say you made sense to me and I enjoy your podcasts. I can’t wait until your new book arrives.
The flooring and fabrics and colors that “don’t show dirt” are usually the ones that are dirt colored (or close to it) – think beige, light brown, taupe, grey-beige, grey. In spite of knowing how effective those colors can be, I really don’t like them. Having a routine of nearly daily “do-its” to keep my vinyl floors, throw rugs, and carpet dust-mopped or vacuumed to pick up dog & cat debris and fur is the trade-off I’m willing to make to have finishes in colors that make me happy.
Dana is right about cheating when you need to, so go for “don’t show dirt” floors and upholstery when you need to make time for other stuff like caring for yourself, your family, and your livelihood, but also think about how those colors will make you feel in the long run.
I have experienced this very thing. Formerly had pure white kitchen countertops (came with the house.) Any drinking glass ring or small splatter was glaringly evident and I had to clean and sometimes scrub/ bleach to make it look and feel clean again. We replaced the countertop with “ no-show, speckledy” surface. I LOVE it! My countertops look and feel clean all the time now without constant cleaning. I can relax and invite company in anytime.
Thoughtful choices can have a huge impact!
I’m thinking of taking my dog to the carpet store and saying, “ It has to match him!” Lol
Thank you, Dana, for being so real. (And as a fellow Texan, I love it when you say “y’all”- you speak my language 😉)
Dana! This podcast was a eureka moment for me! Let me reassure you it was incredibly helpful. I’ve been aware that my perfectionist tendencies are actually why my house gets out of control. That’s the point – when “control” is not happening, it’s a slippery slope to “why bother” because it will never be perfect. But!…the word Idealism applies so much better – even the word is the ideal expression LOL. It’s so much more freeing in allowing me not to overcomplicate these tasks, to use routines, to lessen the anxiety and bathe myself in the knowledge and wisdom things don’t have to be ideal. Not sure why the substitution of idealism over perfectionism resonates with me so much better — perhaps it’s the negative meaning we’ve placed on perfectionism.
Then, to build on this new revelation, I’d never brought to my consciousness that my friends with what looked like cleaner homes have tricks, cheats, and hacks for the appearance of clean. I need to give myself permission to see and use those too — make the paradigm shift that these are “ideal” ways to deal with my home.
I realize too my TPAD and slobvision has me puzzled when I go to a good friend’s home and she apologizes for the house being a mess when it looks completely clean to me. I thought she was just being self-deprecating and it was a little annoying honestly. LOL I’m thinking now it’s because she was actually being honest with me because she knows it’s not clean – her tricks work – and my slobvision missed the idealism. I need to embrace what’s simpler and know it’s good, to release the anxiety that comes with perfectionism because that’s not really the goal.
Thanks, Dana! So happy for your move. Hope y’all had a Merry Christmas and looking forward to a blessed new year! I’m also in TYHB from the start and pre-ordered your latest book back when you first announced it. Congratulations on your continued success!
Thanks again so much for these insights!
I’m wondering if we can purchase the flowchart you speak about as a promotion, but separately from your books? I want to give that out to other people as a stand alone item? Please let me know! Thanks so much
This might be possible in the future, but for right now it’s exclusively a pre-order bonus. Check back with me in a month!
Kitchen countertops that don’t show dirt are my nemesis, because they get so dirty without me realizing it. Then I put my hand down and a bunch of crumbs stick to it.
This is why I don’t like stainless appliances, black granite counters and black ceramic stove. While I love the ease of clean of the ceramic top stove I hate that is shows dust halfway through the day. I am naturally clean in a house full of messies. I just gave up at some point. Trying to get a groove back.
Looking forward to a follow up on this one! Loving it, thanks for the content!
I followed every word of this podcast episode! It’s what makes my slob brain different. People who make this look easy have tricks. The tricks are what make life easier! It really makes sense! People have already tried things. It’s ok to use their ideas. I stink at this. Almost as if if they use a trick then the trick is used up and I have to find a new one, because they already used it. Or not believing that other people might be a slob, and using tricks. Messes happen. Tidy people have ways of dealing with the mess, not preventing the mess from happening.