How Do YOU Fight the Creeping Crap?

I may never understand how some people keep their houses so CLEAN and ORGANIZED. Or hey, one or the other. I’m not picky at this point.

Methods I’ve tried:

• Meticulously detailed chore lists for each person (Response: disbelief, followed by “losing” the list or narrowly interpreting the instructions … “Oh, you wanted me to sweep UNDER the sofa too?” or “But the pantry’s separate — it’s not part of the kitchen” or “You said to clean the fridge … you didn’t say outside AND inside.”)

• Meticulously detailed chore list for each room (a thundering case of “But that’s not my job, man” for each line item).

• General to-do lists that each person is supposed to check and do some of each day (at least I had a master list to nag from).

• Daily chore lists for the kids and grownups. (Ignored or each person found exceptional excuses each day for failure to complete.)

• People picking their chores to do all the time. (Stunning lack of enthusiasm in claiming a task.)

• Yelling and shaming (only to have my own, er, housekeeping flaws pointed out to me in return).

• Letting the housework go to hell in a handbasket. (Ah, that’s been a favorite.)

Kids always have too much homework or are tired, have a headache, or a pulled muscle. My husband and I are tired on the weeknights and busy on the weekends with soccer and Girl Scouts and visiting family members. We don’t go to church, so I don’t have that excuse as a time-eater.

I’ve tried subscribing to FlyLady’s excellent web site to get regular housecleaning reminders, but my inbox is too cluttered as it is. About the only thing that stuck with me was the recommendation to AT LEAST clean your kitchen sink out until it sparkles each night. (Not that I do it each time … but I think about it and wince.)

And I don’t q-u-i-t-e make enough to afford a housecleaning service on a regular basis. Besides — I’d have to clean each time before housekeepers came over, just for clutter control.

Maybe the answer is just some of the un-fun, put-off-able discipline we need:

• Unclutter and find a place for everything.
• For me and my husband, create a FILING and DISCARDING system for our mail and other papers. Good lord, we keep it piled high and wide.
• While you’re working toward a base level of clean, at least don’t ADD to the mess.
• Leave each room a little cleaner than when you arrived, even if it’s a small thing.
• Everyone does certain chores on a regular day; quit planning on doing it tomorrow.
• Irregular cleaning (stuff done once a month or less frequently) needs to be SCHEDULED.
• Invite company over at least once a month to MAKE US clean house. Keep us honest.
• Have a set of cleaning supplies for each floor of the house to eliminate one lazy excuse.

Okay, all you bonafide grown-ups: What are your best crap-killer housekeeping tips? What keeps your house clutter-free and clean?

Photo credit: by MindSpigot, some rights reserved.

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