In Today’s Cleaning News
So, as if I hadn’t done enough cleaning yesterday, I did still more today. First, I cleaned the bathroom. Everything but the floor. I HATE cleaning floors because they never, ever look or feel clean when I’m done and I just get too discouraged. But anyway, I vacuumed it yesterday, so that’s something, right? (Seriously, someday I’m going to figure out how to get those laminate floors of ours truly CLEAN without having to go over them three complete times–vacuum first, mop with vinegar-water, and then mopped/toweled dry to get the dirt actually OFF–and I’m going to faint from surprise. I’m still waiting for someone, anyone, to tell me how mopping does anything other than move dirt around on the surface of the floor, because, I’m sorry, but once you’ve dunked the dirty mop into the clean, rinse water, you’ve got dirty water. And those microfiber “mops” do the exact same thing–they clean the very beginning of the floor, but then, they’re dirty, too. And the Swiffer mops can’t be used because the cleaner isn’t compatible with laminate floors…. I HATE cleaning floors!!)
But, um, anyway, after that, I pulled off and washed every scrap of bedding from my bed–the pillowcases, the feather bed cover, the fitted sheet on the mattress, the duvet cover . . . even the dust ruffle, which only gets cleaned about once every three years. And when it was all done, instead of reinserting my old, patchwork quilt into the duvet cover, I used my new, wool comforter. Because, who doesn’t love wool? (Although, what I’d really love is a 100% silk comforter–light, insulating, good for all-seasons, and hypoallergenic . . . just . . . way more expensive than the wool one.)
But, I didn’t stop there. No. While all the bedding was in the laundry and my bed was perfectly flat for once–feather beds, for the record, are not the easiest surface for doing things like folding clothing for storage or for packing–I cleaned my closet. As in, I took just about every, single item of clothing out and assessed it for things like fit, fashion, wear and tear, and so on. Every item. Except for a couple items in the corner that are purely for sentimental value. This pile is the heap that’s going to good-will. Two, big garbage bags full. There are some really nice things in that pile that are just, unfortunately for them, sadly out of date. Like the “classic” long-sleeved, jewel-necked black, wool, Anne Klein dress that I’ve had for at least 15 years that would still be wearable if it weren’t for the god-awful shoulder pads (sigh). (And before you say it, no, I am not seamstress enough to salvage it, and it’s a little too big now, anyway.)
Oh, and please note the relaxed posture of my assistant, who was watching the proceedings in comfort, paws folded politely.
Here’s a photo update on my african violets, struggling on from their trauma of last week. I took their little plastic bag, greenhouse covers off for the picture. I think they’re mostly doing well, although the left-most one DOES have a couple of leaves that have died. My hope is that that’s just a side-effect of the new, root-growing focus the plant SHOULD have, and not a sign that the whole thing is dying.
Does anybody know, by the way, if it’s good or bad for the plastic bags to have beads of water on the inside? The bags a’re there to help trap moisture, but since violets don’t like water on their leaves–is that good or bad? There was no such condensation before the temperatures dropped around Wednesday….
Mom and Dad weren’t lolling around the house today, either. They went out to look at dishwashers since ours is apparently on its last legs. We figure it’s about 18-19 years old, so it’s certainly not worth trying to get it repaired. They went around to all sorts of appliance places and saw one or two that they liked . . . though, apparently some come with just half-racks across the top? What’s the point of THAT? Wouldn’t you want as much space for dishes and glasses as possible?? And Mom had to immediately exclude any number of them from possibility because they opened too low to make it comfortable for her to load and empty. Pity, that.
Now, the plan is to relax with Chappy until dinner is ready. I was stupid and had a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch, which was a mistake, since I had to pull out my albuterol inhaler before . . . although it’s possible the dust in the closet caused the wheezing more than the intake of that much dairy . . . or both together. Who knows? Either way, I’ve been spending far too many Sundays lately feeling asthmatic. (Hence the excessive cleaning yesterday and today.) One of these days I may just have to go to an allergist and find out exactly what my allergies ARE….
Oh. Since Risa made it sound like so much fun, I actually bought my own domain name. www.chappysmom.com which is currently pointed right at the Typepad blog. Someday, still, I’d theoretically like to get a custom page design and all that stuff, but . . . the learning curve for that is WAY steep and cuts too far into my knitting/reading/spinning time. And I know there are theoretically people you can hire to do that for you, but . . . well . . . anyway, I DO have my own little piece of the internet, so that’s cool, right? The funny part is that when I looked last week, that name wasn’t available, but when I went back last night, figuring I’d take .net instead . . . it was. Well, yay for us!
Oh, and the hood extension still isn’t done. I read through “Funny Face” last night, rather than knitting. So . . . still an inch or so to go . . . tonight, I hope!
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Congrats on having your own domain name!!!
I had mine for 6 months before I did anything with it.
I’m exhausted from reading about all of your cleaning. I SO need to do the same thing.
Oooh, that wool comforter looks nice! And, I think it is OK to have water beading on the inside of the bag- it just means that the water that was in the soil evaporated into the air. If it bothers you, or makes the violet leaves moldy, get a fresh bag. Also, I order some black tea samples from Adagio Tea! I got them yesterday and I really like the Irish Breakfast but really, really hate the English Breakfast! Go figure, huh?
Laughed when I read this. I’ve spent all day with laundry, bed-changing and closet cleaning too. I’m torn between feeling satisfied that it’s done and frustrated that I’ve lost a day. Guess I’ll have to focus on the first one.
Don’tcha love Adagio? We’ve become addicted to that “real” tea strength and taste. I like many of the fruit flavored ones (mango is particularly good) and the Irish Breakfast too, while Brian likes the strong blacks and greens. Their little glass teapot with the infuser is great.
dishwashers sometimes have half-racks on the top so you can put very tall things in. like cookie sheets.
i need to go through my ENTIRE HOUSE! like that, lol.
Well, yeah, what Minnie said! But as for those #@*& laminate floors, I have finally been reduced to Windex and paper towels, lots of paper towels. It does get the dirt with little or no streaking. Unfortunately, it means hands and knees. Have you tried those steam cleaners?
It’s good to know that I am not the only one who hates cleaning!
I have heard of people using baby wipes on floors. (You can use your foot if you can’t deal with hands and knees.) Depends how big your floor is.
I hate to clean the floors and used to do our large kitchen old maple floors on all fours. Then I discovered Flylady, and decided that doing a crappy job every week beats doing a thorough but often-avoided job every two months.
Jessie
I envy your accomplishments! actually, I did some of the same, just in a different room;) Something about about stirring up the dust that brings out the sneezies in all of us. You should get your allergies tested though-good to know exactly what you should be avoiding. I too, want my ouwn site, but probably don’t have the time to learn the things I’d want to do myself too. But when you’re ready, it will happen. Good luck with the plants. They look good actually:) The way the clothes are piled, looks like someone’s curled up under them!
I totally agree – there’s nothing worse than cleaning floors. I put it off as long as possible and then they’re so filthy they’re nearly impossible to clean.
Ah yes, the dishwasher quest. Kirk & I replaced ours a while ago. (A year or 2 ago I think) And we found 2 that we liked. Both were from Bosch and on price comparing, a savvy sales person at the local Sears told us that the Kenmore dishwashers are in fact made by Bosch. We got the exact same dishwasher for $500 less! And it’s very close to silent, has an adjustable top rack, (if you want to tilt it for a taller item on top you can) and has a lot of adjustability in the metal spacers on the bottom.
I actually use my sink to put the mop in, and rinse it out each time. I use as little water as possible in each dunking. It makes for a truly clean floor since I refresh the mop each dunk. It may take a smidge more time initially, but you only have to do it once.
Yeah – your own domain name. You need to take the plunge. If you use Movable Type it’s totally similar to Typepad. If you go with WordPress there are so many options – it’s too much fun.
I totally hate moping floors too, but I think carpets are way worse. When I wash the carpet it seems much worse than the floors.
I use the swiffer first to get up all the debris, then wet an old dishrag in hot, slightly vineger-y water in the sink, put the rag on the Swiffer head (it should fit the smaller sized one), and mop the floors, removing and rinsing, then rewetting the rag in the solution as you go. The rag can be thrown in the washer at the end and/or changed out for a clean one at the start of every room. In a pinch, a Clorox wipe will also fit on the swiffer for bathroom floors or the kitchen if I’ve been cooking like a fiend.
I need to do some serious cleaning, but I just haven’t been motivated. Maybe next weekend, or maybe not
I can’t help you with the floors, mine look terrible and I even pay someone to do them (and she doesn’t do a great job either).
I’m exhausted from all your cleaning! Good luck with the wool comforter. I had a couple of them, but helpful people put them in the washing machine for me and felted the hell out of them. useless. I’m back to down now, thanks
Welcome to the world of domain owners
Wow! You’ve been a woman on a mission! Chappy is looking adorable as usual. Congrats on the domain name too.
I hate cleaning floors as well. I use a steamer and nothing gets the floor cleaner. We bought a package of 25 white towels and I will use every last one on our tiny kitchen floor. As soon as one gets black you switch (if you are like me and don’t clean the floor often enough) and keep going until they no longer get brown at all. When I tested the steamer (my aunt let me borrow hers), I cleaned the floor the regular way first and then used the steamer. I couldn’t believe what came off the floor. Best yet, the steamers clean carpets, bathrooms, sinks, gets wrinkles out of clothes and are fabulous for blocking knitted items.
I hate cleaning floors as well. I use a steamer and nothing gets the floor cleaner. We bought a package of 25 white towels and I will use every last one on our tiny kitchen floor. As soon as one gets black you switch (if you are like me and don’t clean the floor often enough) and keep going until they no longer get brown at all. When I tested the steamer (my aunt let me borrow hers), I cleaned the floor the regular way first and then used the steamer. I couldn’t believe what came off the floor. Best yet, the steamers clean carpets, bathrooms, sinks, gets wrinkles out of clothes and are fabulous for blocking knitted items.
I hate cleaning floors, too – which makes me love my Roomba even more ;o)
Going through your clothes, too! It’s almost inspired me to do the same…almost ;o)