Housework Tips for the Tired and Ill...."Here's Heloise"-type

[calliope]

I have a secret. It's a secret to having a clean, organized house despite living with the effects of chronic pain and illness. My secret? Pay a good housekeeper. (oh, that's not a secret????)

Of course, paying someone else is the best way, but I would guess many of us are not wallowing in extra cash. Perhaps you have come across some time or effort saving tip for cleaning or organizing your home.

If I had tons of tips, I would start with one. I don't(GRIN). That's why I am asking you!!

Please join me in this discussion! I need all the help I can get!!

[LINDA SLOAN]

Oh Cali - I used to be so organised and would strive for perfection in my housekeeping. I tend to get into a bit of a clutter these days and am so trying to return everything to its rightful home AT THE TIME. Everywhere looks so much cleaner if it is tidy and uncluttered. I think I am trying to live by 'a place for everything and everything in its place'....also if things aren't lying around there won't be a dust mark when they get lifted ;).

[calliope]

yeah, clutter is the stuff of our lives. Our 5 children at home are now down to one, but they have certainly left their mark with stuff to the ceilings! I am going to start having them go through stuff and start throwing stuff out..you know girls, everything a 'memento' (grin)

I do have one hint for quickly cleaning up a messy place when you are hurrying (like when i see a friend's car come down the drive..15 seconds are all I have!!!).

I get three laundry baskets and hand one to each of my husband, my son, and on good day, myself. Then I assign one type of item to pick up. One picks up all the dishes,mugs,snacks, garbage. The other picks up clothes, shoes,towels etc. Finally, the last person picks up all that is left. This is usually things like dvd's, craft projects, school bags..you get the drift..stuff that will later have to be sorted.

We then open up our bedroom closets and in go the baskets! Viola! The illusion of a tidy house.

How about time saving, effort saving ideas?

Cali

[LINDA SLOAN]

AAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..........nooooooo......shut the door.....no more laundry baskets please .... ! ! ! !
With love from..... the closets x

[calliope]

oh, don't let them kid you, they LOVE being part of the illusion!

[Kimberly Beers]

So you have been to my house? LOL

[LINDA SLOAN]

[Kimberly Walker (& Donald)]

I love this!! You silly lady!

[deni]

Well, I heard of a group of gals with chronic illnesses who would pick a day and meet up and commit to doing a task they felt they could manage, and then meet back up for accountability purposes. My housekeeping is sporadic but I am finding I need to declutter more and more. The less there is, the less I have to try to keep straight. Now if only I could convince packrat hubby of the same thing!

[Valerie Ferrell]

My secret to housecleaning, Don't!! ROFL.. Seriously tho I did make an agreemant with my dust years ago, If it agrees to not bother me, I wont bother it! Been working out pretty good for me!! (Although I do have to 'cheat' and decrease the size of the dust population occasionally!!)
I do KNOW also, for those of you who do not have a dishwasher, the new Dawn dishdetergent (the one where the commercial shows the dishes almost wash themselves) has been a God-send to me. I just let the dishes soak a bit and voila!! It is as tho they almost wash themselves!! (It is a bit steeper in price, however, a tiny squirt will do a LOT of dihes!!)

[Kimberly Walker (& Donald)]

For 5 years after my injury I really thought I was managing my housework pretty well. I used to be really neurotic about it and most people were amazed that I was a single mom of two boys, working 2 1/2 jobs and still managing to keep my house clean. Anyways, after my injury I had to round up Donald and Jason to help - they vacuumed and did the physical stuff, not nearly as I did or as often, but they did them. I did the lighter weight stuff.

BUT THEN!!!

About 2 years ago I got bi-focal glasses. And I want to tell you....I was absolutely horrified every time I went in the bathroom and kitchen. I had NO IDEA they were so dirty. No, there weren't any dishes around - they weren't MESSY.....but MY Lord - they were DIRTY. UGH.

So after a while of being terribly frustrated sitting on the toilet (I know TMI) grumbling about the spiderweb in the corner ceiling and dust bunnies along the floorboard, the ring around the inside of the toilet and grime in the sinks...well

I STOPPED wearing my glasses to the bathroom and kitchen and VOLLA! MAGIC! The whole house became CLEAN again!!

INSTANTLY I could breath better. Life became happier. The glimmer came back in my eye and I had a bounce in my step - well, OOOKAAAY, maybe that is going a bit too far :) but singing birds did come flying all bout me and took my broom out of my hand and apron off and - oh no - that's another story :)

So the moral of my story is TAKE YOUR EYE GLASSES OFF for an INSTANT CLEAN!!

I FEAR WE ARE NOT HELPING YOU, CALI ~she says sheepishly~ but you've got to admit! WE ARE HAVING FUN!! So, thanks for the topic!

[LINDA SLOAN]

Ha ha Kimberly....you know, I got to reading where you saw so much dirt after you got your bi-focals I actually thought... 'Just get rid of the glasses again!' ....I just cracked up laughing when I read on! I agree, we're not giving Cali any real solutions here but best not to take housework too seriously.

[Kimberly Walker (& Donald)]

ABSOLUTELY! Absolutely myfriend! :)