I still need a maid.

I still have a huge problem with cleaning my house – it’s just not on my list of priorities, even after I decided that I would spend 15 minutes a day cleaning a few months back. Why spend that 15 minutes cleaning, when you could spend that reading or exercising (or sleeping)? I tend to clean in spurts and quite often I’ll take on something – such as cleaning out my ‘to be filed’ shoebox of paid bills and receipts – and get frustrated 3/4 of the way through. I did finally clean out that shoebox two days ago. there were bills and receipts in the bottom of it from 3 years ago. I’ve moved house four times in that period! I did get frustrated too, I want to quit about half way down the overflowing box, but for once I stuck with it.

I have been worried lately because our lawn is still a mess and we failed &our last rent inspection. The house I kept reasonably clean with Adam was away and I did manage to do some large jobs like weeding out the summer-spent annuals from the garden, cleaning up the shed (we had ditched everything from our last clean up in the shed) and cleaning the back room which was gross from the dog and cats running grass through it, plus still had several unpacked boxes left scattered around the room. Now it’s just a method of cleaning the house and keeping it clean, doing a few fix it jobs where the dog has ripped fly wire and carpet (*sob*) and hoping the lawn grows back before Feb 19th for the next inspection.

But there is still that big hurdle I have to get over – why clean when a) it’s just going to get dirty again. we have a zoo of animals and a 5 year old child, the house only stays clean if there is no one in it b) I have better things to do like blog or watch season 6 of scrubs on DVD or read my metalsmithing books and order some jewelry making equipment online c) no one else helps. Adam is too busy working and sleeping, Kaidin is too young to be of any real help, none of my friends are stupid enough to be tricked into helping me clean. It’s an overwhelming job and I have to go it alone… So I started to research online for some tips and tricks to make cleaning easier, even fun.

I use Seventh Generation cleaning products. It uses Hydrogen Peroxide instead of chlorine, which smells a little strange at first, but with the citrus oils in the kitchen cleaner and other essential oils in the bathroom cleaner it’s not unpleasant. It cleans a lot better than the chemically based products I’ve used. The only problem is it is manufactured in america and shipped here. The bottle is recyclable.

Non-chemical cleaners are really important in my quest for a cleaner home – no point in having shiny floors and scrubbed benchtops if having them is slowly giving you cancer. This site and this site tell why non-chemical cleaners are so important and give lists of suitable alternatives. I know I have an unopened packet of borax around here somewhere, maybe tomorrow I should go and purchase bulk vinegar and bicarb and a heap of spray bottles. When I read that Speed Cleaning book everyone raved on about last year it said to keep a container (bucket or otherwise) in each room, with a handful of rags and a spray bottle of whichever cleaner you perefer to use- That way when you are watching tv/waiting for a site to load/listening to your child read/waiting for the bathroom mirror to de-fog so you can do your makeup you can simply grab a rag and spray to clean up small bits of surfaces/windows etc. Then you toss the rag in the washing basket. Once a week when you do the washing, make sure there are enough rags in each bucket. When I read it I thought ‘pfft – who keeps cleaning products in every room?’ but after more thought it’s probably a good idea – if I only have to clean one surface while I’m waiting for something to load I’m much more likely to do it. And if I make my own spray bottles it’s much cheaper than replacing 6+ bottles of spray and wipe every week.

I’m pretty sure Flylady is my favourite cleaning site. It has so many tips, especially on effecient clenaing for lazy, disorganised people like me! Plus it has a lot of tips about getting kids to clean too. more boxes and baskets needed! Charts and marker pens to be found! Loud dance music to get energy up to be downloaded!

When it comes down to it, al the tips are great, all the cleaning products are great, but it won’t mean squat unless I actually do the work. So I’m trying – at least 15 minutes of cleaning every day. Last night it was all the dishes in the kitchen, the benchtops and cupboards. Tonight I cleaned all the junk off the back lawn (dog bones and such) so Adam can mow it (under duress I might add, and he’s left the choke open on the mower and will probably run out of fuel 1/4 way through, but he told me to piss off when I tried to tell him how to start the mower so I guess it’s ‘Mans Work’ and I should just keep my giggling to myself inside). Tomorrow I fully intend to clean the bathroom, including sorting through all my makeup – a lot of which seems to be under the vanity – and scrubbing the grout in the shower. Wish me luck.

…the mower just ran out of fuel.