I've been off the weekend, and then got Monday off as well so that I could attend a daytime meeting.
I've been trying to clean. I've been doing the "clean for 15 minutes then stop" trick (I've done that for years), which suits my constantly shrinking attention span. I've been trying to reclaim my personal office space, and have thrown out bags and bags of shredded mail, and I've gotten rid of boxes that we tend to keep "just in case we need to return it."
I also do the "start with one empty trash bag, put items in, keep going until you've filled the bag and then stop" trick. That is a good one for pack rats like me, who tend to keep all sorts of stupid stuff, especially old magazines. With the shredder, I can get rid of all of those notes ("my brains", as nurses call them) properly.
As I've mentioned many times before, my big problem is cleaning my bathroom. I hate cleaning out the toilet (my mother and dearly departed housekeeper, Alice, are probably cackling with glee, screeching "Payback's a Bitch, ain't it you DIRTY BOY!!!).
I have tried to do the "one quick squish around the bowl once a day" but I always drop off after about... well... a day. It wouldn't be so bad but, how shall I say this, my digestive system is HIGHLY MOTIVATED to clear stuff out of my colon (right into the next apartment, it seems). I'm sure you get my drift.
I've been trying something new that has been working really well for me. I dump a jug of water down the toilet so that it sucks most of the water out of the bowl. Then I spray the bowl with liquid bowl cleaner. Then I cake over this with Bon Ami scouring powder. Then I go over this lightly with the wire brush, so that it makes a thick paste that will stick to the inner surfaces and under the rim. I leave this on there for at least 15 minutes.
For the underside of the seat (I did say HIGHLY MOTIVATED, thus lots of splashing and backsplash -- can you hear my mother now?) I take several tablespoons of Bon Ami and slowly add, 1 tsp of water at a time, and stir with a spoon until I get a really thick paste. I take mismatched socks and cut them in half or thirds, which I use to apply this paste all over the seat. I leave this on for at least 15 minutes.
After 15 mintes, I take those cut up socks (and I have a pile of old clothes I can cut up into cloths) and I scrub the inside of the bowl. Then I just throw the socks away.
CLR Bathroom Cleaner works wonders on the bathtub. I have trouble cleaning the tiles (which are not real tiles, my entire shower/tub is a fiberglass unit). I have to remember to clean the higher surfaces first, so I can stand in the tub.
The sink and counters are easy enough. I use the "clean one half at a time" trick, pushing all of the counter stuff to one side, cleaning and drying the other side, and then shifting stuff the other direction.
The floor isn't too bad either. I cheat and use Swiffer Wets, and I just start at the farthest corner and work my way to the door. Usually I have a pile of "dirt matter" that I just push along until the pad gets too dirty and then I use it to pick up this stuff. It takes me two pads to work through the whole room.
So right now, both my bathroom and my office are pretty clean and orderly.
As usual, the cats wonder if we are moving.
LOL I remind you both that I did not inherit the neat gene as you both have. Just ask mom!
We've considered the maid service. I'm sure everyone has heard this one before, but I would feel like I had to clean for them to clean. And there's no way I'd let them into my bathroom unless they came every other day.
Posted by: Eric135 | December 05, 2007 at 09:20 AM
dude WTF? you sound like your detoxing nuclear hazzard zone :) I agree with V the clorox things are very handy it sounds like and likely better than the mad scientist experiment you stew in your comode every once in awhile LOL!!!
I know you might not think its worth it but I also highly recommend a cleaning service of some kind every 2 weeks. It is a GODSEND for me.. I don't recommend the generic service that send whoever but get a small shop that comes with good recommendations from friends.. Mine is a pair of twins that went into business and have a ton of clientele they're great and I've tested their trustworthyness quite a bit and they are always good they keep the basics done and prevent you needing the mixture of soda's and toxins to do the minor touchups between their bi-weekly resets :)
Posted by: Karen | December 04, 2007 at 04:54 PM
How kismet!? I am taking a break from cleaning and lo and behold, you are BLOGGING about cleaning. In our house, we do the Clorox disposable sponges on a stick. Ty LOVES this and insists on cleaning the toilets every other day or so. There's something oddly satisfying about a 3-year old running around with a toilet sponge demanding to clean the toilets. My mother-in-law swears by the steam cleaner every once in awhile to steam away the tougher dirt.
Posted by: V | December 04, 2007 at 07:45 AM