cleanliness

manda84

I did a bit of cleaning when I got home from work yesterday and my OH's exact words were "Why are you cleaning? Have we got people coming round?"

Says it all........

puddy

i think what people often dont recognise is that for people that are quite excessive about cleaning (and some of the daily duties discussed here are excessive) are that way because there is an underlying anxiety.

anxieties can be expressed through any channel, cleaning just happens to be the thing that the anxiety is 'hung on'. if you ask the person how they would feel if the dusting wasnt done that day, or the yard not disinfected that day, they would feel uncomfortable, uneasy, undone in some way.

anxiety creates adrenalin so the person has more energy to deal with the anxiety, so for us, i cannot imagine having the energy to do what has been cited by some people as their daily routine, but for them, the adrenalin keeps them going.

i know if i am particularly anxious about something in my life, i cant sleep, i get up early, i have to carry out that anxiety onto something, usually getting stressed about things not put away, even though that is not the thing causing the anxiety.

so its just a different method of functioning and those people will find the time because they run on a different level

however, having said that, i have always found it distasteful that 'cleaning' somehow has some moral or judgemental value put on it and that some people consider that if you dont do all these things every day your house is 'dirty' and you are 'dirty', clearly this is untrue but its difficult for people who clean excessively to understand that

londoner1998

donnap83 wrote: »

Ditto!!

I hoover when I've finally had enough on the mountains of sock fluff from my other halfs cheap sports socks :rotfl:

WOW, I thought I was the only one... the sock fluff leaves a trail... and it is espcially irritating when I have just hoovered...
I consider I have a touch of OCD (mainly becasue I haven't got the time to clean as much as I would like to maintain the standard that I think it is adecaute) but I am amazed at how much people do- there is no way in hell I could do that every day and still talk, eat and sleep... so I have to let it go a bit (a bit too much this time around), and in my mind that keep my OCD in check . ie, the world doesn't stop turning. What works for me it to do a bit every day, instead of everything all the time. Otherwise, it is endless...

I am thinking of hiring a cleaner once or twice a month though, for the big stuff . I can't carry on being so stressed about the floors, the carpets, etc...

onlyroz

Wow, some of you must be spending a fortune on cleaning products. Where do you all find the time? The only thing I do each day is to wipe down the kitchen worktops, and wipe the area around the loo (because my boy doesn't have very good aim). The floors get mopped/hoovered around once a month, but I'll sweep the kitchen floor maybe twice a week (otherwise it gets a bit crunchy underfoot). Cleaning curtains? Never. Disinfecting the patio? Never.

StickyNikki

OK I feel so much better! I now realise I'm pretty average (at the moment) in the house cleaning stakes. My routine is nowhere near as full on as the OP but I certailny wouldnt need the help of Kim & Aggi.

My mum was quite house proud and OH always felt like he couldnt relax when we went over. After 12 years of marriage he has finally learnt to take his shoes off as soon as he gets in the house, but will also keep his slippers on to "nip to the shed" even when is pouring with rain outside :mad:

I used to hoover everyday (sometimes twice) when we had 2 dogs but now try and keep it down to once a week. The cobwebs are used as decorations and the sticky finger artwork created on the patios doors would put Picasso to shame! :rotfl::rotfl:

But my kitchen is spotless your could drink out of the toilet and I can see nearly all of the floor in every room.

ramblinghaggis

my house is....lived in. I love cleaning the bathroom so that is done every day. Kitchen cleaning sucks, but worktops, dishes, hob cupboard doors get done every day. Hoovering the lounge about a million times a day surfaces in the lounge once a day. general tidying once a day. Anything else...when I can be bothered

balletshoes

ramblinghaggis wrote: »

I love cleaning the bathroom so that is done every day.

see I think thats the main difference between those who clean and those who tend not to so much - as I can't imagine any sentence beginning "I love cleaning the" ...... anything in my house (and certainly not repeating the process )

puddy

its the expecations too, many people on here say they dont do much and then come out with a long list of jobs that they do daily, which in fact are really monthly or fortnightly jobs. no one needs to clean cupboard doors on a daily basis for them to be clean

ramblinghaggis

balletshoes wrote: »

see I think thats the main difference between those who clean and those who tend not to so much - as I can't imagine any sentence beginning "I love cleaning the" ...... anything in my house (and certainly not repeating the process )

I only love cleaning the bathroom. Because its the room that actually manages to stay clean for more than five minutes with 4 kids under 7 :rotfl:

mummyroysof3

puddy wrote: »

its the expecations too, many people on here say they dont do much and then come out with a long list of jobs that they do daily, which in fact are really monthly or fortnightly jobs. no one needs to clean cupboard doors on a daily basis for them to be clean

the only door that gets cleaned here is the one in front of the kitchen sick cos i get water everywhere:D the rest get wiped if i spill something on them

why clean something that already looks clean:rotfl:

ramblinghaggis wrote: »

I only love cleaning the bathroom. Because its the room that actually manages to stay clean for more than five minutes with 4 kids under 7 :rotfl:

i wipe the toilet and the floor/wall around it but the rest doesnt get done much

i think my best tip is just to do little and often...for example i dont have to clean the bathroom basin cos i give it a splash round when i wash my hands so its never actually dirty