Hoarding...not just on TV

alec_eiffel

About ironing, I only realised recently I'm not bothered about doing it. I used to do anything to avoid it, including not buying certain items of clothing because they would need to be ironed. I only twigged this week why I don't find it as much of a big deal. I started quilting at the start of the year so now I'm really used to having the iron and board out for pressing seams. I think I now associate it with something pleasureable and don't make a song and dance about getting a few things done now.

Brighton_belle

GreyQueen wrote: »

I think almost everyone has "mental blocks" about something in their domestic life. Perhaps yours is floors at the mo.

Maybe you're right. I have developed good routines for the bathroom and kitchen but something about the floors...floors me:D.It's like I have to clean every floor or none, I can't just do one at a time, so feel overwhelmed. I also don't feel I do a very good job so it all seems a bit of a waste of time.
I can't justify the cost of cleaner at the mo but I am seriously thinking about a steam mop like jojo mentioned. I had never heard of one before but this looks fun to use and easy, has very good reviews and might help me over come the overwhelm.

lostinrates

I have to say, I don't love the steam mop I have.....

I didn't buy any steam cleaners but parent has three, I was experimenting with one today and hate that one, so it can go to someone with more patience than me.

One of the problems for me is the time it takes to set it up and for it to heat up. I can start full of vigour but be exhausted after its heated up.

If I am not, then I find the wait to do things like change cleaning heads/tools frustrating.

Fwiw, I cannot get good results on windows with it either.

Floors is the best IMO, but I too, find I like to do floors through out often. When I was able I had the vacuum upstairs one day and stairs the next. Now, we have got two vacuums, the better one down stairs, the less strong one where less dirt gets....upstairs.

IMO half the work of floors is setting up the vacuum or mop/bucket so it makes sense to do them through out a floor.

whitewing

I succumbed to TV adverts and bought a steam mop. I'm with you BB that floors floor me. I am not convinced that I have the hang of floor cleaning but at least now anything is steamed to death, if not actually removed.

It never seems any cleaner when I have mopped the floor than before I started. And the steam mop doesn't make it look better than a normal mop.

I don't think I'll be happy until they invent disposable kitchen and bathroom floors that I can replace weekly. Sorry to any eco warriors I may be upsetting. It isn't so much laziness as cleanliness.

Started my scanning and it does appeal to the supremely organised me. It also gives me daydreaming time.

lostinrates

When my body is up to it I believe truley I get the most satisfying results on my knees with a wet cloth, a scrubbing brush and a towel. It's quick to do skirtings as I go. I am a reasonable mopper but I don't think it beats scrubbing, where the dirt is better removed IMO. I change water a lot more.

I also, and I know this is os sacreledge, do not use stardrops. I just do not like the smell. I like flash, but I also use house hold soap. (nicest smell, but flash is quicker) and I have been known to use washing up liquid.

Brighton_belle

lostinrates wrote: »

I have to say, I don't love the steam mop I have.....
One of the problems for me is the time it takes to set it up and for it to heat up. I can start full of vigour but be exhausted after its heated up.
The one I am looking at takes 30 secs apparantly and doesn't have extra attachments - which is a good thing for me...attachments make it hassle which = avoidance

IMO half the work of floors is setting up the vacuum or mop/bucket so it makes sense to do them through out a floor.Yes, i think this is how I feel - the hassle is in getting started, so once I have it makes sense to go for it.

whitewing wrote: »

It never seems any cleaner when I have mopped the floor than before I started. And the steam mop doesn't make it look better than a normal mop.
MMMmm that's a bit off putting...

lostinrates wrote: »

I also, and I know this is os sacreledge, I do not use stardrops.

*Fingers in ears* Lalalalala, I'm not listening...

SpikyHedgehog

lostinrates wrote: »

When my body is up to it I believe truley I get the most satisfying results on my knees with a wet cloth, a scrubbing brush and a towel. It's quick to do skirtings as I go. I am a reasonable mopper but I don't think it beats scrubbing, where the dirt is better removed IMO. I change water a lot more.

I also, and I know this is os sacreledge, do not use stardrops. I just do not like the smell. I like flash, but I also use house hold soap. (nicest smell, but flash is quicker) and I have been known to use washing up liquid.

I quite like soda crystals, a few drops of tea tree oil and boiling water - smells clean and dries quickly, as well as being satisfyingly old style. I also like giving the boys an old washing up liquid bottle with soapy water in and inside out men's towelling socks and having them do it while I do something else, but there are two drawbacks to this - they tend to use too much water; and Errant Husband took his socks with him. So I'd have to buy more socks...

valk_scot

lostinrates wrote: »

When my body is up to it I believe truley I get the most satisfying results on my knees with a wet cloth, a scrubbing brush and a towel. It's quick to do skirtings as I go. I am a reasonable mopper but I don't think it beats scrubbing, where the dirt is better removed IMO. I change water a lot more.

Nothing, but nothing gets dirt off the floor better than a scrubbing brush and a bit of elbow grease. I have an old toothbrush for the angle between floor and skirting and a pile of old toweling squares for wiping off the water and at the end the floor is x10 cleaner than if I used a mop. And it's time saving as well, because it's cleaner to start with it takes longer to get to the "I must clean it" stage again.

My back doesn't like mopping though, or the motions of hoovering or brushing. So scrubbing is easier, and so is hoovering on my hands and knees. (That makes a better job of it too btw.) But I still hate doing either job, either way!


My current favourite cleaning product btw is Tesco Value Shower Gel. Someone here recommended it for cleaning the loo and I was intrigued so I tried it. Gawd knows what's in it but it works a treat. I'm not sure I'd want to put it anywhere near my bare skin though.

Update on DS's bedroom. I've nearly finished, just a few drawers to reorganise and the last few items to sort into place. I hate it though. DS asked for the furniture to be arranged in a specific way and I think it looks terrible, the flow just isn't there and the first bit you see as you go into the room is the big shelving unit which makes it look like a warehouse. TBH I don't think DS is going to like it either once he sees it but it won't take long to shove it all back the way it was, there's far less clutter in the way and things are much easier to reach. I have thrown out the most extraordinary amount of small bits of rubbish btw, things like broken chewed pencils, sweetie wrappers and disintegrating jotters and notebooks. And magazines! I've also reunited several hundred other things with their set/box/friends. I don't think I'd have excavated it quite so thoroughly if I hadn't been moving the furniture though so it's been a good exercise.

whitewing

My steam cleaner heats in 15 sec so that is okay.

Sounds like my problem with the floors is because I've never dried them as I've cleaned them. (DH does normally do this job though, so it's not a horrible house).

lostinrates

whitewing wrote: »

My steam cleaner heats in 15 sec so that is okay.

Sounds like my problem with the floors is because I've never dried them as I've cleaned them. (DH does normally do this job though, so it's not a horrible house).

I dry a path, or dry where I am having trouble cleaning, to see why, but IMO, the best ways to finish, walk around doing a crzy walk on a towel to take the very worst off, then open the windows and thoroughly air a room. It's fine for people who work and home, or don't work, or even work part time. but harder to do without it taking over ones life if you have long working days.

I like Grand designs, and Eco housing seems sensible in all ways but one for me for new housing, and that is that a number of the Eco house technologies work on there being a sealed unit, no draughts but perfect ventilation. The idea of not being able to regularly open a window for a decent airing without impacting on the efficiency or function horrifies me.