That Old Time (Cleaning) Religion

Every once in a while, it will hit me. I will look around the house and notice – it's really filthy.

I try as hard as I can to stay on top of the day to day things – I vacuum every day, keep wipes handy in every bathroom, and I'm always on the lookout for a dusty picture frame. I do laundry every day, all the ironing is hung up waiting for me, and I swiffer whenever I see problems.

Every Friday night is usually when I noticed that the house could stand a straightening up – working from home means that I see it, but it doesn't always get done, and everyone else in the house appears to throw everything all around. So Saturday is usually my straighten up day. Today when I was doing the straighten up, I noticed that we needed the deep clean.

The Groupon that I missed out on may have had something to do with that.

It was a tremendous deal, a really terrific one – eight hours of deep cleaning for $100. But that offer came two days before payday, and it was a choice between picking up milk/bread/fruits/vegetables and filling the gas tank, or purchasing the deep cleaning. So, naturally, I said to myself, "I can do the deep cleaning. I don't need to buy a Groupon. And I'll save $100!"

Sometimes, my idiocy even surprises my own self.

So today, I got started with the Mr. Clean Magic erasers- the kitchen version with the scrubbing pad is really awesome - and cleaned. I wondered why I did it, because no one will ever notice. Do you ever feel that way? All your cleaning is all for nothing? I mean, I don't want anyone to be embarrassed when they come in my house, but I wonder if anyone will ever truly noticed that I've scrubbed those cabinets.

Well, I notice, so I guess that will have to do.

No one will ever thank me though – and no one will ever thank you. So I am here to say thank you. Thank you for scrubbing the cabinets. Thank you for cleaning the toilets. Thank you for separating the wash, cleaning out the dryer vent, and mucking out the bottom of the toybox. Thank you for defrosting the freezer, cleaning out the crisper, and organizing the pantry.

No one might notice. No one might say thank you. But I noticed, and I'm saying thank you.

And you totally deserve a drink, a cupcake, and a nap. Tell your family I said so.

Comments

[Melissa]

Thank YOU, Carmen. I was feeling grumpy about the state of my house--how I scrubbed the grease dripping out of the exhaust hood while my husband sat 6 ft. away and watched tv--and the fact that nobody ever says thank you for my clean clothes, thank you for making dinner, thank you for plunging the toilet. It helps to know I'm not alone.
With love from my dirty (but on its way to being cleaner) house to yours. :)

[suburbancorrespondent]

I'll admit it - I never separate the wash. But Lysol Wipes and Magic Erasers are definitely my best friends. Which is sort of sad, if you think about it...

[Tonya]

Right back at you Carmen. Thank you for noticing and cleaning it up when you can. My husband is real good at noticing and getting upset because it isn't cleaned up, but not so good at the getting it cleaned up (which I sometimes think is worse than not noticing!)

[Wendy]

As I sit in my filthy house and look around and wonder "when am I going to find time to do just that" I thank you. I pick up and organize and clean, and five minutes later, someone drops their crap right where they stand and that's where it sits until Mom does another clean. No one notices and no one cares, so I am right there with you. So THANK YOU also.

[Headless Mom]

My friend Karen and I were just talking about this this week. How much more time would we have to clean deeper if everyone would just pick up after themselves? *sigh* Thank YOU. I notice.

[addy]

And Thank you - for the cleaining and for the noticing. I was just vacuuming under the bed and wondering why. Now I know.

[Amy]

Not only do we not get thanked...but it will revert back to the old mess within 24 hours.....UNCLE! I give up. I don't know how my mom did it?

[Haley]

Precisely. Exactly. This is so totally how I feel. I recently (well, 6mo ago - does that count as recently? it feels recent to me!)had a baby and the other day it was like the blinders came off - this place (meaning my house) is just...kinda...funky. I am like you - CONSTANTLY picking up, doing dishes, cleaning the pot, laundry every single day, and my kids are learning to do their share of chores, but merciful WHEN am I supposed to do the deep cleaning?!? Will I ever get to my fuzzy bathroom exhaust fan? It's so nice to know I'm not the only one. I notice, and thank you too.

[Crazymamaof7]

Thank you for noticing! Loved this post. This is all I ever wanted to do but it's condisderably leas glamorous than I imagined.

[Kyooty/Mary]

Cleaning oh the cleaning! And yes if you let it go go, other people notice. Not your family but others. Yep I know this! BTW I just washed a microwave today, ick!

[monique davis]

Thank you. I am also a mom of 6 17,16,15,12, 10 and 6. Who also knows that I am the only one who cares about a clean space, and often fantasize about living in a zen space with a pillow, plant and a crystal. Who also stops at the grocery store ever other day for milk and cereal and teaches belly dancing on the side. Thank you for letting me know I am not alone.