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Cleaning your house...too much?!

post #1 of 24
10/4/10 at 9:08am
Thread Starter 
I was told today by someone that I "Clean too much" and that she'd "hate to live" like me. NOW...this was said to me by a person who has no time management skills what so ever and is very easily over-whelmed ~ she has 2 kids spaced a few years apart (1 in middle school and 1 in pre-school) is a SAHM and rarely gets out of her nightgown unless she is going out and cannot complete more than one task at a time. So take that for what it is worth.
Also I am considering the source of this comment so I'm not offended, but it made me think- can you clean your house TOO MUCH?

I have a 'cleaning schedule'. I do a few task a day each day. I function better organized so that is my system. There is still plenty of time in my day for the kids, DH, getting in some exercise as well as my TV time at night (and let's not forget Mommysavers and facebook )
By doing the routine things during the week, that only leaves me 1 or 2 things to do on the weekend so my family can have my full attention.

What do you think? Can you possibly clean your house too much?

ETA: Momof2boys has seen my 'cleaning schedule' and can vouch for me- it is not over the top!
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post #2 of 24
10/4/10 at 9:13am
How much is too much depends entirely on you and your preferences.

The way my mother and sister clean is too much for me, but their methods and routines work for them. I couldn't function that way, but then again, no one is expecting me to.

The way I clean is not enough for them, but enough for me.
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post #3 of 24
10/4/10 at 9:14am
Only if it's all you ever think about. My mother is severely OCD when it comes to cleaning her house, to the point that she can never just relax,it's always got to be spotless. She even washes and waxes her riding lawn mower, it's that bad. I honestly wished she would just stop to enjoy life once in awhile instead of obsessing about cleaning.
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post #4 of 24
10/4/10 at 9:15am
I clean the bathrooms, make up the bed and sweep the floors every single day. I dust and mop every other day.

To a lot of people this is very excessive to them. But to me it is normal.

I have a SIL who always makes the comment, "it must be nice, to have free time to clean". I just laugh.

If cleanning and staying on a schedule makes your life easier and makes you feel better, go for it
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post #5 of 24
10/4/10 at 9:17am
I think it's all about balance and what works for you......however I am sure there are people who are "obsessive" about cleaning.

Chances are she is just not that into 'cleaning' and so she has to say something negative to make herself feel better about her own shortfalls.
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post #6 of 24
10/4/10 at 9:18am
Yes, I have seen your schedule and trying to adapt to it! Yes that was rude of her but like you said look where its coming from. Never getting dressed unless going out wow....

I also try to get all my stuff done during the week, just need to space things out more hence the list you gave me
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post #7 of 24
10/4/10 at 9:18am
From your post, it doesn't sound like you clean too much. It just sounds like you are more on top of things than your friend is, and maybe she said that because she's secretly wishing she could be more savvy with her time like you are.

I do know a few people who seem to clean a lot, but I just figure they must enjoy it more than I do. I could never be accused of cleaning too much, but that's because I don't enjoy doing it. I tend to spend more time on other things that bring me more satisfaction.

Have you seen the show Flipping Out? The main character, Jeff Lewis, definitely has OCD tendencies and his house has to be spotless or else he'll flip out. He's a good example that in certain situations cleaning can become a compulsion if things out of order make you so uneasy you can't function, or if you're extremely afraid of germs.

I was just thinking of this the other day after the HOARDING posts. I think hoarding and compulsive cleaning/organizing are probably just different manifestations of the same kind of anxiety disorder. Some people get anxious when there is too much clutter; others get anxious when they aren't surrounded by their "stuff." I see a lot of parallels.

Are you happy you asked now? You know I love playing amateur psychologist. That will be $.05 please.

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post #8 of 24
10/4/10 at 9:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kim View Post

From your post, it doesn't sound like you clean too much. It just sounds like you are more on top of things than your friend is, and maybe she said that because she's secretly wishing she could be more savvy with her time like you are.

I do know a few people who seem to clean a lot, but I just figure they must enjoy it more than I do. I could never be accused of cleaning too much, but that's because I don't enjoy doing it. I tend to spend more time on other things that bring me more satisfaction.

Have you seen the show Flipping Out? The main character, Jeff Lewis, definitely has OCD tendencies and his house has to be spotless or else he'll flip out. He's a good example that in certain situations cleaning can become a compulsion if things out of order make you so uneasy you can't function, or if you're extremely afraid of germs.

I was just thinking of this the other day after the HOARDING posts. I think hoarding and compulsive cleaning/organizing are probably just different manifestations of the same kind of anxiety disorder. Some people get anxious when there is too much clutter; others get anxious when they aren't surrounded by their "stuff." I see a lot of parallels.

Are you happy you asked now? You know I love playing amateur psychologist. That will be $.05 please.


That's funny Kim!
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post #9 of 24
10/4/10 at 9:25am
Thread Starter 
Should I admit that I LIKE cleaning (Kim, you might want to up that rate- you could make a bundle off me !) I do...it gives me a sense of satisfaction. But again, I don't spend all day doing it~ and when you catch me washing and waxing anything stored in the garage- y'all have my permission to stage an intervention!

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post #10 of 24
10/4/10 at 9:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ruthie View Post

I clean the bathrooms, make up the bed and sweep the floors every single day. I dust and mop every other day.

To a lot of people this is very excessive to them. But to me it is normal.

I have a SIL who always makes the comment, "it must be nice, to have free time to clean". I just laugh.

If cleanning and staying on a schedule makes your life easier and makes you feel better, go for it

For me, this is extreme. My mother kept a spotless house - she wasn't OCD about it, but she was a traditional stay at home mom, a high-energy woman, and the house was always clean, garden beautiful, and lots of home-cooking and baked goods. I work full-time, am very low-energy, and hate cleaning.

We are doing good if the dishes are taken care of every day & the laundry is reasonably caught up. The bathrooms get cleaned when we have company or if we are too grossed out to brush our teeth in the sink. The floors get vacuumed most Saturdays, but if DH doesn't get to it, it doesn't have a chance until the following Saturday, and the tumbleweeds of cat fur will continue to build up. Right now I have about 6 tissues on the floor marking where the cat threw up 2 days ago, still waiting to be cleaned. I would have gotten to that yesterday if my back didn't go out, but I no sooner cleaned the first floor vomit off the rug when they went and did the rest.

Beds do not get made. I'd rather read.
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