How do YOU keep your house clean?

[rachelmichellek]

No, really-- How?

I am seriously asking. Because I guess I just am descended from one of those families that never really figured it out, therefore they never taught me.

I'm certainly much, much better at it than I once was. Especially when it comes to the paper clutter, and books, and cleaning the kitchen and bathroom.

But it still baffles me-- the

Comments

[hi_im_kelsi]

i like this magazine http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/channel/organize they have all kinds of things about staying organized and simple

[rachelmichellek]

i actually read and love that magazine. (secondhand, though, b/c can't afford it.)

but it hasn't helped me get my brain wrapped around cleaning.

[judecorp]

The basic rules of a simple manageable household are:

1. Put something away as soon as you are done with it.

2. Wash something as soon as you have used it (within reason).

Seriously, this eliminates more clutter than anything else. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's clutter. I'm that person that goes behind you and picks things up, the person who pushes your chair in when you leave it out, the person who puts the toilet seat down when you get out of the bathroom. Because it's MUCH more daunting to see a room full of shit and think, "Oh god, where do I put all this crap?" than to read a book and then put it back on the shelf, or put the mail in the recycle right away, or pick up the baby's toys every night.

It's not even like our house is super clean, but it is tidy. Because I hate STUFF.

[rachelmichellek]

i wish we had more surfaces in this apartment. and more non-surface hiding places in which to stow things.

there's no surfaces to DO anything on, in this place, from which afterwards you remove the thing and put it away. and therefore the floors and the couches and the few horizontal surface that we DO have are covered with crap without a home. mostly paperwork.

we don't even have a kitchen table. we briefly had a coffee table from freecycle but i decided it was too large and we put it in storage.

[crowheart]

sorry I don't have any advice but I feel like I could have written this post myself. it is like you just reached into my brain and pulled out my thoughts. weird! can I repost this and see if I get useful answers??

[rachelmichellek]

sure...

[doorinward]

Just a passing stranger with a helpful hint

www.flylady.com

I have had issues with housekeeping (especially with 2 kids) and have found some of the techniques over there helpful (even if the tone is sometimes too Jiminy Cricket).

[rachelmichellek]

thanks.

btw, just curious, how did you find me? my LJ doesn't get many visitors...

[doorinward]

lol I have been monitoring the quaker community for a while out of curiosity (not a Quaker myself--at least, not yet). Since I live near Pittsburgh, I meant to click on your link last night except it turned out to be one of those sleepy-headed "duh" moments. I had about 5 different frames open and it took a moment of scrolling (down to this entry) and wondering how I got to your journal at all before I realized my mistake ;-)

Anyway, somewhere on Flylady is a detailed course on housekeeping from square 1. For a week, the main thing you do is polish your kitchen sink before bed.

[rachelmichellek]

we are planning some events at the Meetinghouse specifically for the 18-35 age group, coming up soon, if you are interested (since you are nearby!)