House work

[zhanie]

I am a little challenged in the house work department so opening this topic may be helpful for me. I already own about a dozen books on how to clean/organize but I'm always looking for new tips. My favourite book so far is Speed Cleaning because it is simple and straight forward.
But really I wanted to share today that I bought this product called pink paste (or something like that). I want to use it to clean my floors. It can also be used for mirrors, counters, bathrooms, laundry, and carpet cleaning. Today I mixed a little bit with hot hot water in a spray bottle and cleaned the kitchen counters and appliances with it. I used a wringed out microfibre cloth (that I bought from the dollar store) and I love it! I kept smelling the cloth, it just smells like cleanness:) The product doesn't have a particular smell. Also, my kitchen sink is shiny So.. this will be my latest craze, that will help me to get cleaning done, we'll see how long it lasts though

[Shandeh]

I am the WORST at house cleaning. I only do what absolutely HAS to be done.

But, I will be coming in here for tips and advice.

Any recommendations for a lazy girl like me?

[zhanie]

OK this is what I have tried so far:
(for me, these suggestions only work temporarily, but there is enough variety that I usually can find a method for the moment)
- Picking up 100 things ... this works because I get a little OCD about counting to 100.
- Flylady.com
- using a timer: ie. 10 minutes kitchen, 10 minutes bathroom etc. or 15 minutes kitchen, 15 minutes other bad place, 15 minutes kitchen and repeat until happy or distracted by another knitting/crocheting project or continuing to browse through 289 pages of patterns for flowers on ravelry.
-Speed Cleaning technique: requires an apron, and a very specific system, which theoretically gets easier and quicker with practise ( I haven't practised regularly enough yet to test this theory)
- avoidance
- wearing a fitbit or pedometre and cleaning until I reach 1000 steps (or whatever I predetermine)
- inviting cleany friends over for dinner ( This one works but I rarely do it, too stressful)
- putting my house on the market, this is the most effective strategy for me but I'm not planning on selling my house for at least the next five years!
- a weekly schedule ... I usually follow this suggestion diligently for an entire week before finding an excuse to abort.

[Shandeh]

I'm really good at "avoidance"

And "inviting friends over" ALWAYS works.
Maybe I should have a dinner at my house once a week.

[lialab]

OK this is what I have tried so far:
(for me, these suggestions only work temporarily, but there is enough variety that I usually can find a method for the moment)
- Picking up 100 things ... this works because I get a little OCD about counting to 100.
- Flylady.com
- using a timer: ie. 10 minutes kitchen, 10 minutes bathroom etc. or 15 minutes kitchen, 15 minutes other bad place, 15 minutes kitchen and repeat until happy or distracted by another knitting/crocheting project or continuing to browse through 289 pages of patterns for flowers on ravelry.
-Speed Cleaning technique: requires an apron, and a very specific system, which theoretically gets easier and quicker with practise ( I haven't practised regularly enough yet to test this theory)
- avoidance
- wearing a fitbit or pedometre and cleaning until I reach 1000 steps (or whatever I predetermine)
- inviting cleany friends over for dinner ( This one works but I rarely do it, too stressful)
- putting my house on the market, this is the most effective strategy for me but I'm not planning on selling my house for at least the next five years!
- a weekly schedule ... I usually follow this suggestion diligently for an entire week before finding an excuse to abort.

I like the idea of the 15 minutes timer but for a reason or the other I become deaf at timers.... there is always something between the 15 minutes buzzer and something else to do!!( procrastinating) as for the weekly schedule... ditto No not really, much more fun to do crafty things

[karenarp]

So so glad I am not alone in preferring to craft than clean!
Company is a blessing and a curse - blessing cuz the stuff gets cleaned up finally and curse cuz we worked so hard to clean it can't enjoy the company. I wish I had people that wanted to stop by often without calling (unannounced) for a visit so that I would be forced to keep things tidier! But our house is like the plague, no one ever stops by unannounced and without giving at least 3 hours notice! You would think we had a neon sign posted outside that warns them!

[lialab]

So so glad I am not alone in preferring to craft than clean!
Company is a blessing and a curse - blessing cuz the stuff gets cleaned up finally and curse cuz we worked so hard to clean it can't enjoy the company. I wish I had people that wanted to stop by often without calling (unannounced) for a visit so that I would be forced to keep things tidier! But our house is like the plague, no one ever stops by unannounced and without giving at least 3 hours notice! You would think we had a neon sign posted outside that warns them!

yeah!!! I know what you're talking about

[Shandeh]

Everyone who really knows me, knows that I am mostly a musician and crafter. House cleaning is at the very bottom of my list. But my house does make sense. I can find things without looking forever most of the time. I don't leave food laying around. But I will stack dirty dishes until there is nothing left to eat with. That is my signal to load the dishwasher. Same with clothes. I sort dirty clothes by color in laundry baskets, so I can grab a basket to wash when it gets full. The good part in all that is that I found out I'm being environmentally friendly by not washing things very often. Ha!

[mittenmaker]

The more I knit , the less I clean. I neglect chores to knit!
So knitting has taught me to chill out and not be so compulsive. Except that now I'm compulsive about knitting.

[Shandeh]

Company is a blessing and a curse - blessing cuz the stuff gets cleaned up finally and curse cuz we worked so hard to clean it can't enjoy the company.

That is EXACTLY how I feel when I have visitors over! It turns me into a very short-tempered person, so I'm no fun to be around at ALL. I just want to sit and knit. I need friends like you, who will come over and knit with me, without me worrying about having to make the house perfect first.