panicked
New Member
Joined: September 2009
Posts: 64
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Post by panicked on Dec 22, 2009 21:40:34 GMT -5
I never heard the term crisis cleaning until I started reading here, but boy did I recognize it when I did. This was my mom's modus operandi. She was domestic in many ways, cooking, baking, knitting, and gardening, but she didn't like to clean. She would do the minimum required to keep the house from turning into a real pit, but before every holiday, party, or other occasion when things "had to look nice", she'd have a 14 hour cleaning frenzy. Needless to say, this did not leave her in a happy mood. You'd think I'd have learned that wasn't the optimal way to proceed, but no. I pretty much followed the same pattern. Whenever my son saw me vacuuming, dusting, or cleaning behind anything, he'd look at me skeptically and ask who was coming over. And I'd hate every minute of whatever cleaning I did, because (as I'm sure you all know!) washing the kitchen floor when you haven't really done it in three months is a lot more unpleasant than if you've done it last week. That leads me to now. I've spent the last two years decluttering, cleaning, and starting to redecorate my house, in little spurts. My last spurt was this late summer and fall, and I got a lot done. The last few weeks, I've slowed down, not been in the mood, haven't wanted to start any new projects. But *because I've been reading here* I've "defended". Even when I didn't want to, I've been cleaning the kitchen counters and stove, not letting stuff build up on the kitchen table or the living room coffee table, vacuuming the foyer, etc. This afternoon after work, I thought, "oh, I gotta clean the downstairs...Xmas is in three days" and started feeling that familiar crisis cleaning dread. Well, I just did the entire first floor (excepting the bathroom) in two and a half hours. With plenty of breaks. Nothing was really very dirty. Nothing was where it wasn't supposed to be. It was so easy and pleasant. I blame SOS.  |
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Post by CourageouslyLion SeeksSerenity on Dec 22, 2009 21:50:28 GMT -5
wow!
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Post by Peach on Dec 23, 2009 10:16:37 GMT -5
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Post by breakingfree on Dec 23, 2009 10:20:03 GMT -5
THAT...IS...AWESOME!!! Whoohooo!!
BF
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Post by Script on Dec 23, 2009 11:53:30 GMT -5
I never heard the term crisis cleaning until I started reading here, but boy did I recognize it when I did. This was my mom's modus operandi. She was domestic in many ways, cooking, baking, knitting, and gardening, but she didn't like to clean. She would do the minimum required to keep the house from turning into a real pit, but before every holiday, party, or other occasion when things "had to look nice", she'd have a 14 hour cleaning frenzy. Needless to say, this did not leave her in a happy mood. Until I joined FlyLady and Squalor Survivors (Oct'04) this was also my method: Screaming Banshee Madwoman Marathon of Doom cleaning. The last time I did this: August 2004. We were having close friends for dinner, plus THEIR GUESTS from the islands. We never cleaned except for company. My DearHubby observed our pattern. We left everything to the 'last minute', cleaning wise. The day BEFORE and the day OF the dinner were hideously hot and humid. Still, we cleaned and cleaned. The next week I was sick as a dog: horrendous 'stomach flu'-----and every kind of ache-pain-and-wobble. I was quite receptive to trying something different, let me tell you...........  My house is not perfect, but it is NEVER as bad as it was in the past. Also I CANNOT spend a whole day cleaning BEFORE a party. I get too tired and sore. A little every day is sooooooooooooo much easier. |
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Post by puppybox on Dec 23, 2009 12:52:08 GMT -5
It was so easy and pleasant. I blame SOS.  ! good for you! I backslide a lot, but each time its faster to get out of it. |
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Post by gottaproblem on Dec 23, 2009 14:09:37 GMT -5
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Post by fluffernut - now Jannie on Dec 24, 2009 15:56:44 GMT -5
My Mom was one of those crisis cleraners. The house would be a mess, she'd decide to throw, say, a high school graduation party, or invite people for Thanksgiving. Then she'd rush through the house cleaning every room. Except us kid's bedrooms. We were told to clean our own rooms. Don't know how she managed, but she did. I wish I had her energy!
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Post by StuffNoMore on Dec 24, 2009 15:59:55 GMT -5
Now that's what I call a true Christmas present. My New Years resolution to myself is never to be faced with what I just went through again.
Congratulations on reclaiming your space again with much more ease than it was 2 years ago.
Hugs
SNM
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