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Post by fluffernut - now Jannie on Jul 1, 2010 10:56:59 GMT -5
I'm not exactly in Maintenance. But my main bathroom and kitchen are perfectly clean, at least in my opinion. I try to do a little something each day, even if the room looks fine already. I'll wipe the bathroom counter aqnd clean the toilet seat, for example. Or run a load of dirty dishes and clean the stove. One thing I do Every Day Without Fail is scoop out the cat litter box.
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Post by slothzilla on Jul 2, 2010 15:13:52 GMT -5
I have been in maintenance for almost exactly a year now. I've backslid a little in my bedrooms (one of which is like my 'basement', which I store a lot of stuff in - collectibles, guitars, computers, etc), but I've managed to keep all of my downstairs looking good for the most part, as well as my upstairs hallway and bathroom.
My 'maintenance' areas are still not perfect by any means, but presentable. The corners of the rooms sometimes start to accumulate extra stuff, so every once in a while I have to clear them out. Lately I've been working on my bedrooms, I've still got way too much stuff for the space I have, so I'm consolidating boxes of stuff, throwing things away, reorganizing, etc.
I've made a lot of overall improvements to my apartment in the past year, such as getting new dvd cabinets (I have way too many dvds, probably almost 1000 by now), a new recliner, microwave, headboard for my bed, and totally redid my upstairs hallway (moved all my videotapes up there, got rid of some old dilapidated bookshelves which had been there).
I also framed & hung up a lot of pictures, along with making some other improvements in my decor. I even spruced up my outdoor area a bit, with plans to do more soon (hopefully tomorrow). I never thought I'd say this, but lately one of my most satisfying hobbies has been making improvements to my apartment.
I've changed a lot of my old habits - now I throw bottles, cans, ebay boxes, junk mail, etc. away immediately. I used to never do this, I would let this stuff pile up for a year (or more). Now when I drop something, or accidentally knock something over, I pick it up, rather than just let it stay there.
I also used to consider my stairs as storage space , and would keep boxes of stuff, and stacks of magazines, books, etc., on them ...3/4 of my stairs were literally buried in stuff all the time. I've quit doing that, and keep them 100% clear all the time now.
I give the bathroom a general cleaning every week (the tub about once a month), I vacuum at least every other week (try to once a week, but don't always get around to it). I also get rid of ALL my trash at least once a week, and make sure that I don't let my dirty dishes accumulate for too long.
I need to get better about doing laundry - I have a LOT of dirty laundry (a bad habit of mine is to buy new clothes, blankets, towels, etc., when I don't have time to do laundry...years of doing this adds up to a lot dirty laundry). I've got my dirty laundry out of sight at least, but its my major weak area, and it takes up a lot of room in my bedroom closet and storage area. (I do 3 loads of laundry every week, but it is not near enough to make much headway into my backlog of dirty laundry.)
When I did my big clean up last year, I rented a mini warehouse space. I'm not sure I could've cleaned up my place enough to pass my apartment inspection without doing this. By moving a lot of 'non-essential' stuff in there, I finally had enough space in my apt to clean it up. (most of the floor and furniture was buried in stuff before then). I bought a lot of bankers boxes, boxed up the stuff that was on the floor and furniture, and most of those boxes are in storage now. I don't even miss 99% of it.
After I get through reorganizing my bedrooms (which should be in about a week), I am going to go through some more boxes that are in storage - throw more stuff away, and consolidate more boxes. I've gradually been going through it over the past year, bringing some things back into my apt., but a lot of it I'm finding I can do without. I hope to get my storage area and my upstairs closets much more organized in the next few months.
Lately I've been 'targeting' certain areas and making them long-term projects...I work on them an hour or two when I feel like it, instead of trying to get it all done in one night (as I used to do).
When I did my big clean up last year, I took three or four days off of work, plus spent the whole weekend cleaning, moving stuff into my storage unit, and taking loads of stuff to the thrift store. I don't think I've ever worked that hard in my life, or have been so stressed out. Now though, I'm really glad I had that apt. inspection, otherwise I still might be living in the squalor that I had been in for so long.
Now I have friends over every week - before my clean up, I tried to avoid having people over as much as possible. Having a clean organized place has a lot of benefits, its just easier to relax in, and I'm no longer embarrassed when friend stop by. If you're having problems with depression, a clean, spacious environment helps a lot.
I'm trying to get my act together better on several levels - I'm almost out of debt, and have found a few vitamins, and over the counter medications, to help me feel better (I have problems with anemia, hypotension, tachycardia, as well as some other problems...nothing life threatening, but I used to feel lousy most of the time - I've found doctors to be incredibly unhelpful for the most part). Just keeping a positive outlook, and taking steps to improve my life when I can - little things can make a big difference over time.
So, to sum it up, in the past year I've changed a lot of old bad habits, now spend about an hour and a half each weekend on general 'maintenance' cleaning, have reorganized some rooms with new furniture, and have had a few 'mini' marathon cleaning/organizing sessions of several hours at a time (but those have been rare).
P.S. - Just got my lease renewal yesterday - no apt. inspection this year, and my rent's staying the same! YAY!
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Post by gggal on Jul 8, 2010 23:14:56 GMT -5
I started sending my laundry out too wash and fold. I live in a new york apartment without a washer/dryer. The complex has one but it's not a nice one and I hated doing laundry. I had sooo much laundry built up and would just buy more.
Once I got mostly caught up, I just sent most of it to wash & fold....I dropped off 3 bags full this week...and it was back to me by 5pm....all nicely washed and folded for $13. Honestly it would have cost me more to pay for the washer, dryers, detergent. Plus I value my time more.
The only thing I don't like is that it doesnt have that pretty just laundered scent...but I know its clean. Its so much easier for me just to pay someone else to do it every week and then I don't get behind.
I pretty much clean as I go along these days....I wipe down the sink right after I use it, clean the mirror every morning, keep a grocery store size bag for trash on my door knob and take it out on my way out every day, make my bed when I get up so I don't get back into it....i was not always like this, but the nicer it started looking, the more motivated I got to keep it that way. Digging out of the mess was the big challenge - once it was in order and organized, the maintaining has been easy. Laundry was always my downfall and just paying for lots of dry cleaning and wash - because honestly what I am spending on that is probably much less than always needing to buy new clothes or random other crap b/c I was always stepping on things and breaking things and losing things when it piled up on the floor. Plus I can get dressed quickly in the morning without spending so much time digging for something presentable and hoping I didn't come across any mouse crap. I would end up being late and jumping in a cab and spending money on that. Now I can leave on time and walk the mile and a half - save money and end up walking 3 miles a day for exercise....I think finding the positive payoffs helps with the motivation to maintain.
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Post by downandout on Jul 10, 2010 7:39:34 GMT -5
not in maintenance in all rooms yet. two big rooms full of stuff but of the other rooms i am trying hard to keep up with it all. daily chores (dinner dishes pet care) but also stuff that altho i cant say is scheduled for the weekend its just that then is when i have time/energy to tackle it. but it isnt like every saturday do laundry or sunday wash floors its more of i notice something needs to be done and just try and get to it. like this weekend the house needs dusting. also the weeds outside need to be pulled. for some reason at home i cant follow a schedule. but i know many who do and they seem fine with it. i think its going to be up to you Diane and what works best for you.
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Post by onwardandupward on Jul 10, 2010 12:49:24 GMT -5
I tried to write a reply - it was quite long. Then the computer messed up and I lost it all!
If anyone is actually interested, I will redo it.
Onward.
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Post by usedtobeneat on Jul 10, 2010 14:46:34 GMT -5
Back before the renovation started and Hell was relocated to my home, I used to keep it sparkling clean. I had a schedule for cleaning. I posted this in a reply to someone else on the Intro forum, but here it is again.
Every day: Straighten up each room, put things away where they belong, pick up all garbage and dishes and laundry in each room. Wash the dishes when the sink or dishwasher is full Take out the garbage when full Make the beds Do and put away all laundry
Monday - sweep, mop and vacume Tuesday - dust all furniture, knicknacks and picture frames etc Wednesday - use windex on all mirrors, screens, monitors, glass over pictures, and the inside of all windows Thursday - clean bathrooms (you dont have to do the floor, you did it on Monday) Friday - change and wash all bed linens
When you cook, open the empty dishwasher or fill the sink with soapy water and wash up as you go. As soon as you are done eating, clear the table, wash the dishes, wipe off the table, and sweep and mop under and around it.
Also, you should sweep and mop the kitchen floor daily, but you can use something like a Swiffer Wet Jet for the mopping. You dont have to bring out the big mop and bucket and Murphys Oil Soap.
One other tip for kitchen and bathroom floors is to actually get down on your hands and knees and scrub them. You only have to do it about once a month and it keeps the dirt from being ground in. What I did was get a brush and a bucket of water and a cleanser called "Bar Keepers Friend" and lots and lots of towels. I would wet the brush in the water, swish it over an area of the floor to get it damp and sprinkle the cleanser on it. Its a powder cleaner. Then scrub the area with the brush and wipe off with a dry towel. When you have done the whole floor, use a damp mop and go over it twice to remove the residue. It looks brand new that way.
Also, monthly I would take things out of the cabinets and wipe them down inside with Murphys Oil Soap. On dusting day I always cleaned the front of my cabinets in the kitchen, laundry room and bathrooms with Pledge too. When you wipe off the kitchen counters daily, go ahead and wipe down the front of the lower cabinets and drawers, front of the appliances, and the outside of the garbage can.
I am a housewife though, so I had all day long to get all this done.
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