| Author | Content |
DustyDS
Urbana, OH
(Zone 6a)
June 7, 2006
11:43 AM Post #2362324
| The other list was getting lengthy for those on Dial up , so I started a new one...
Dusty |
mgh
Willamette Valley, OR
(Zone 8a)
June 7, 2006
4:08 PM Post #2363223
| This thread is continued from here: [HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com] |
DustyDS
Urbana, OH
(Zone 6a)
June 9, 2006
9:16 AM Post #2369995
| Thanks mgh... I need to learn how to do those Hyperlinks..!!
|
mgh
Willamette Valley, OR
(Zone 8a)
June 9, 2006
12:44 PM Post #2370829
| They're pretty easy. You just right click on the address of the page you want to link to and then click copy. Next go to the page you want to create the hyperlink on and right click and click paste. Before I send my post I always preview it and click on my link to make sure it worked.
Now, if were only that easy to get off my computer chair and clean my house. ;o) |
MollieB55
Landrum, SC
(Zone 7b)
June 28, 2006
5:48 PM Post #2444563
| What an interesting site! Too many years ago to count, I kept a very neat and clean house. But as I began teaching full time, working a part time job, taking care of a husband and two kids, things got "messy." I left them that way. Well, I am alone now, just retired and still messy. In the last few years I have noticed this "craze" about being organized. I can't help but throw in a few comments
1. A guy I USED to see was very bothered by mess. Nothing was on any surface of his house. But...he would spend hours searching for where he had hidden things out of site, go buy another, and I would eventually discover that he had 5 or 6 or whatever it was he was looking for. I got frustrated while he looked for things while he admitted that while my house looked messy, I knew EXACTLY where everything was and could pull it out of the pile in a second. Efficient use of time and cost effective as far as I am concerned.
2. My principal preached "neatness." His desk was always clear. I always had to wait at least 15 minutes in a meeting he had scheduled while he searched through his "neat" piles for a sheet of paper. If a student needed something I could pluck it off my desk or science lab table in a second.
3. I read an article by an organization expert and I sure wish I had kept it. She pointed out that neat does NOT mean organized! Most "neat freaks" I know are totally disorganized. I would rather find things
4. To fit in I have been watching these Organization shows. I notice they always say keep what you use everyday out on the kitchen counter and put little used items away. So... I use my bed EVERY night, I rarely invite guests to tour my bedroom so what is this obsession with making the bed the second you get out of it?
5. I am 62 and both my mother and grandmother kept very neat, clean homes. They also never had a job outside the home, never even did yard work. ALL they did was housework! Our lifestyles are a bit different today
6. Finally, as I told my mother, I have toured a lot of old cemeteries. There are some beautiful tributes on them. But I have never seen one engraved, "She kept a neat house!"
SOOOO... Don’t Worry! Be Happy! Life is short and none of us are going to get out of it alive anyway! :)
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teateacher
Franklin Springs, GA
(Zone 7b)
June 29, 2006
12:04 PM Post #2447364
| Good points! sr |
Starzz
Newcastle, ON
(Zone 5a)
July 1, 2006
5:19 PM Post #2455626
| Oh how true...
It doesn't bother me to leave the bed unmade sometimes.
Like you said..you just get back in it later LOL.
During gardening season my house is less tidy..I'd rather be outside. |
Tir_Na_Nog
July 2, 2006
12:49 AM Post #2457152
| I am pretty good about keeping the place picked up and clean. I can't stand paper clutter most of all. Fortunately I am not obsessive about any type of cleaning. My laziest cleaning flaw is leaving the vaccuum out and plugged in...I mean, I'm just gonna have to use it again later right? |
MollieB55
Landrum, SC
(Zone 7b)
July 2, 2006
1:17 AM Post #2457203
| I can see we are all on the same wavelength. My friends come to see me, not my house. And there is an old saying that those dropping by unannounced deserve whatever they get! I remember back when the earth was cooling and the organization bug had not invaded, studies proved that creative people were usually messy. I am super creative! My principal had these stupid signs all over saying, "A cluttered desk means a cluttered mind." I came a cross a saying I made a poster out of but (needing my job) I never posted it. "If a cluttered desk means a cluttered mind, what does an empty desk mean?"
|
Tir_Na_Nog
July 2, 2006
1:20 AM Post #2457211
| I remember Mom always being embarrassed by the unannounced guests and a messy house. I also remember the short-notice guest and rushing rushing rushing to get things picked up. Mom started calling it, "the illusion of clean." So now I am more consious to keep things tidy so I can lessen my anxiety and really enjoy the company.
To think my Dad used to have to threaten cleaning my room with a trash bag!!!! LOL! |
MollieB55
Landrum, SC
(Zone 7b)
July 2, 2006
2:25 AM Post #2457292
| Tir_Na_Nog,
I love that expression "the illusion of clean"! And I remember that four times a year I would clean one side of the windows while Mom cleaned the other. Every Saturday was devoted to cleaning my room, vacuuming the house and dusting every surface in the house. I was always bad about forgetting the bars that ran under the dining room chairs but she always checked behind me. I guess some of my resistance is that I ironed sheets, handkerchiefs, boxer shorts, and dishtowels. Who in their minds irons those things? Even back in those days no one but my Mom! Well, yes, fancy handkerchiefs and pillowcases. But my mom even ironed her bras. There is such a thing as overkill! I am not quite the slob I pretend to be although by those standards I certainly am. I do keep my kitchen, living room and bathrooms straightened and cleaned and dusted. But I don't panic if there are papers on my desk in the office, if I didn't get the bed made that day (the guest room is ALWAYS ready for guests), or if I have one or two dishes in the sink. I don't let them built up. I don't wash windows but once a year except for my kitchen one and I surely don't have my clothes coordinated by color, style, and purpose. I know where they are hanging. If I have to get up early the next day, I make sure the outfit is hanging together and easy to get to before I go to bed. AND, after pricing wooden hangers, I don't have my clothes all hanging on wooden hangers. I would like to but I can't afford it. And I really don't think a wire hanger is going to ruin them before they go out of style.
I do watch the TV shows and read all the hints and have gotten some really good ideas. It just seems to me that lately this thing has gotten out of hand. And the people who run the shows and write the books make their living doing nothing but that. It seems there is the insinuation that we should all be doing that. Most of us have other full time jobs, or are raising a family or both (meaning TWO full time jobs!), or, as in my case, I have worked for over 40 years and raised a family at the same time. I also had hobbies that I have missed having time to do and missed socializing with my friends. I have taken this last year off but am going out of retirement in the fall. I am fairly organized; my house in most part is clean and uncluttered. I am just starting to get defensive that I don't live up to the standards being set. And having just become caretaker of my beloved grandparents things and having just lost my father, I am tired of watching people part with beloved items because some organizer tells them they don't "need them." Right now I "need" them even if they are in a box. I get them out of my closet and they comfort me. Sorry if that breaks their rules. Well, off that soapbox for a while! Thanks for listening!
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teateacher
Franklin Springs, GA
(Zone 7b)
July 2, 2006
12:56 PM Post #2458380
| MollieB... I remember ironing all those things in the 60's. It was 'the' thing to do. I was in elementary school but I did my share of ironing... and sprinkling the clothes. We put them in the bottom of the refrigerator and took them out one at a time and ironed for hours! We also ironed bra's! Anything that was cotton or wrinkled got ironed. My mother always had a tablecloth on the table and it got changed several times a week, or whenever it got a food stain on it. That was a LOT of ironing! |
Tir_Na_Nog
July 2, 2006
8:32 PM Post #2459676
| Mollie:
I agree there is overkill. Funny that you mention chairs with the rungs. Reminds ME of how I've simplified my cleaning quite a bit as an adult just by the things I've chosen NOT to buy.
• I DO NOT like wooden chairs with rungs and have found nice sets for both formal dining and the kitchen, NO DUSTY RUNGS =).
• I AVOID buying ANY clothes that are dry clean only and try not to buy anything that requires ironing as I despise that chore.
• I buy the bleach tabs for the toilet (DH is a DEAR to always close the lid so pets don't get harmed) and then it reduces the amount of times I have to scrub the toilets.
• My FAVORITE tip: I do not buy knicknacks. I am not really into "collecting" anything. I am not saying someone is bad for doing this but man oh man I cannot tell you the hours SAVED in not having to move many small cute things from a countertop or shelf to dust.
I work full-time, DH to, no kids just yet but we manage to keep things in order (maintenance wise to on the house) and still have some fun. It can be a challenege...especially with kids added to the mix!
I meant to tell you...I grew up with the metal hangers and always felt "less" having them (what a dufus =) I know) but then I tried the plastic white ones and they were breaking ALL THE TIME and they yellowed with age. After finally buying my first house last year I upgraded to the wooden ones...purchased from Walmart just 2-3 sets per time (so like once a month for us) we were able to get the whole closet stocked after awhile. The metal ones are still good (kids always need them for school projects to!) but the plastic ones just break.
|
katym
Deatsville, AL
(Zone 8a)
July 3, 2006
12:27 AM Post #2460556
| Oh I am so glad I found this thread. There ARE people like me!!!!! I always freak out when unexpected company comes and my husband laughs because he couldnt care less about the mess and who sees it. The house is actually clean, just cluttered. My biggest problems are laundry and dishes. My kids are the worst to pick up after. I am attempting to train my oldest to help out with household chores, but it is hard when I dont practice them very often myself. I work a full time job outside the home as well and extra time is spent having fun with the kids, gardening, running errands, etc.
Tir_na_nog, I too have discovered the bleach toilet tablets and it really cuts down on the bathroom cleaning. Also have tried the shower cleaners that you spray on after taking a shower and requires no scrubbing. Very nice. :) |
teateacher
Franklin Springs, GA
(Zone 7b)
July 3, 2006
9:59 AM Post #2461780
| Katym, you are doing it right. Your kids will only be there for a few years and the housework will be there forever. Enjoy those children!
Tir_Na_Nog, I have some knick knacks, mostly sentimental things received as gifts from my children and family, but several years ago I started keeping them behind glass, which reduced the dusting chore to once annually. I can handle that! I took one shelf of my china cabinet and use that for display and now it's both functional and pretty. |
Tir_Na_Nog
July 4, 2006
6:42 PM Post #2467582
| teateacher: great job on enclosing the knicknacks! it's the only way to do it and not feel inadequate with all the dusting there is to do or go crazy because you are dusting all the time. |
MollieB55
Landrum, SC
(Zone 7b)
July 7, 2006
7:02 AM Post #2477469
| teaTeacher, Oh, my. I forgot about the sprinkling and putting things in the refrigerator! Yes, we did that too. And I did the sprinkling and refrigerator bit for quite a few years after I was married - 1964. Dishtowels were a snap compared to my husband's button-down oxford's to iron! I, too, have learned to keep just a few knickknacks and to keep them behind glass. Unfortunately, my decorating tastes still leaves me with chair rungs to dust but I steer clear of anything too ornate. And I love the swifter duster! They are a lot better than old T-shirts. |
Tir_Na_Nog
July 7, 2006
1:01 PM Post #2478535
| Thw swiffer is awesome! It will even dust around those knicknacks without your having to move them all. |
scooterbug
TwinLakes,WI Athens, TN
(Zone 7a)
November 13, 2006
11:59 AM Post #2909829
| MollieB55,
I just found this Thread and I must admit that I started thinking the same way about the daily bed making years ago for exactly the same reasons you gave. We must be soul sisters , lol
Still only flip the bed covers up top to keep the kitties off the sheets .
|
clutterjunky
Arlington, MA
November 16, 2006
3:34 AM Post #2918313
| Everyone is sooo funny on this thread!
I am new to this website and thread and I find it very liberating to talk to people who have my similiar clutter problems.
It's unfortunately, a lifelong struggle for me to get my living areas cleared away and clutter free!
I am glad others can also find the humor in what may seem like such a chaotic mess...I can't stand it anymore but don't know where to begin cleaning (literally...LOL)!
Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated!
Thanks so much! |
scooterbug
TwinLakes,WI Athens, TN
(Zone 7a)
November 16, 2006
2:04 PM Post #2919519
| Stand in the center of the house , hold a ruler or something else you can point with and extend your arm in front of you.
NOW ...
close your eyes and turn around 6 1/2 times
Stand still , do not move ... slowly open your eyes and clean whatever yer pointer is pointed at.
When finished ... Repeat ;-))
THis works very well but be cautioned NOT to turn less or 7 times . If you do you get the curse of the 7's.
While you are not watching 7 Trolls come in the house and strew things about again . So be very very careful -or- be very very afwaid.
teeeeeeeeee
good house fairy
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
diamndsnjns
Crosby, TX
(Zone 9a)
November 20, 2006
7:12 PM Post #2932229
| I just found this thread - I had to laugh at some of the stuff because I can remember doing it too. My Granny taught me how to iron - with the whole sprinkle bottle and fridge thing too. When my DH and I got married - he thought he'd hit the jackpot - his uniform was bluejean overalls with a bluejean shirt underneath. I would wash and iron those clothes every week so he would look nice for work...then I went to work and realized...THIS MAN WORKS IN A CARBON BLACK PLANT - WHO'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO TELL IF THE UNIFORM IS IRONED OR NOT!?!?!?!?! After he was at work for an hour you couldn't tell which man was which. Now I TRY to do a really good cleaning about twice a year - usually at the beginning of winter and the end - any other time I'm outside messing with flower beds and kids. The rest of the year I just try to keep it somewhat "picked up", toilets, tubs and vacuuming about once a week. |
billyporter
Nichols, IA
(Zone 5a)
November 20, 2006
7:37 PM Post #2932276
| I have really enjoyed everyone's discussions.
Scooterbug, I love that!
I grew up having to clean house. Saturday's, my sister and I had to trade off each week. One would be lucky enough to clean upstairs, and the other was stuck downstairs cleaning with Mom. Who knew the vacume cleaner made a noise when it was moved, and if it didn't, it meant you were standing there watching cartoons. We also had to trade off setting and clearing the table. She started it! We ended up ''really'' setting the table, with 3 mustards, 3 kinds of pickles etc. so the other had a lot to clean off.
So, it's ingrained to try to keep the house clean, but as I get older, I stop and smell the roses! Friday is now Myday, to do or not. I also just started a thread on how to make it look like you've cleaned for hours. I'm laughing because I found this thread! |
scooterbug
TwinLakes,WI Athens, TN
(Zone 7a)
November 20, 2006
8:44 PM Post #2932441
|
| Quoted: | | I also just started a thread on how to make it look like you've cleaned for hours. |
Sounds hilarious Billy. I will check it out .
*/;-) |
billyporter
Nichols, IA
(Zone 5a)
November 20, 2006
9:10 PM Post #2932512
| Smile! Thanks, I wasn't sure if it would bomb or not. It's under Clean and Clutter Free. |
lourspolaire
Lauderhill,, FL
(Zone 10b)
November 20, 2006
9:29 PM Post #2932565
| My wife is handicapped and I do all the house cleaning. We live in a studio by choice, so there is less place to pile up clutter and we can't have visitors stay with us because there is no spare room. I clean as well as I can, which is pretty good. Oh, I agree it's not up to that nefarious Martha's standards but then, I don't a staff to command into service. When people come in, I tell them: "I cleaned as much as I could. If you find something objectionnable, I'll gladly lend you a rag and any cleaning supplies you require". In 30 years, noone has ever asked for a rag. LOL
Still, the house is quite clean.
Sylvain. |
hey_jude
Scottsdale, AZ
 November 27, 2006
3:09 PM Post #2948188
| A lady friend of my grandfather scolded me once when my first two sons were babies. We had just finished lunch and were going to take them to the park until naptime. I started to clean up the lunch dishes and was told to 'just leave that!' Do you think your boys will remember you did the dishes right after the meal or that you took them to the park?
It changed my attitude and enabled me to ansdwer my own mother when she let me know my housekeeping didn't measure up to her standards. (of course, she had live in help, and her own mother all doing a very nice job for her)
Today, I live with whatever the day brings, well intentions are just that. Reality is a whole other story. My house isn't dirty, but it definately is lived in, every square foot of it, pets people and clutter. |
MollieB55
Landrum, SC
(Zone 7b)
December 2, 2006
1:52 PM Post #2962077
| I just posted this under the Flylady thread but I figure it is good enough to post twice. A dear friend sent it to me a couple of days ago. It puts a real perspective on "Clean and Clutter Free" :)
[HYPERLINK@members.shaw.ca]
This message was edited Dec 2, 2006 1:54 PM |
mgh
Willamette Valley, OR
(Zone 8a)
December 2, 2006
3:22 PM Post #2962298
| I like that, Mollie! Here's a little cartoon for ya.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
MollieB55
Landrum, SC
(Zone 7b)
December 2, 2006
6:51 PM Post #2962824
| mgh, That is great. We have to get our priorities straight! :) |
mgh
Willamette Valley, OR
(Zone 8a)
December 3, 2006
12:56 AM Post #2963763
| exactly! ;o) |
billyporter
Nichols, IA
(Zone 5a)
December 5, 2006
10:08 AM Post #2970560
| Mollie, ROTFL!!! My computer isn't broke but I am behind! My house, on the other hand, is clean so the X-mas decorations look nice.
Mendy, I'm ROTFL again!!! I love that! I did just defrag AND I blew the dust out of the keyboard! :))
A few more posts and then I need to make cookies.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
MollieB55
Landrum, SC
(Zone 7b)
December 5, 2006
10:23 PM Post #2972644
| Your house looks great but I am glad that you took care of the really important things first! :) |
mgh
Willamette Valley, OR
(Zone 8a)
December 7, 2006
8:10 PM Post #2979722
| Me too! LOL |
MollieB55
Landrum, SC
(Zone 7b)
December 23, 2006
4:41 PM Post #3021402
| I hope that during this busy holiday season you are still shaking out the sugar cookie crumbs from the keyboard and defraging! Happy Holidays one and all! |
