The GRAND FINALLY!!!!

ATers -- If you've arrived here having followed Wende's link in the comments on the Spring Cure Announcement, you can see all my Housekeeping Therapy posts at my new blog

Housekeeping Therapy Redacted

Thanks for dropping by!

Cue the Herald Trumpets!

Yes, I know the term is generally "Grand Finale", but in the case of Housekeeping Therapy, I believe that GRAND FINALLY is more appropriate.

FINALLY it's over.

FINALLY she'll stop nattering about housekeeping all the time.

FINALLY!!!!!

(Not to mention, "It's about time!!!")

I don't know if this foray into Housekeeping Therapy has benefited anyone else, but I know it has helped me. No, my home isn't a perfect example of tidiness and cleanliness now, but I do have routines that I own, and methods that work for me.

What has happened for me on this Housekeeping Therapy journey?

-- I've rearranged some furniture to make cleaning easier. Turns out I like the aesthetics of the rearranged version better, too. When I get around to taking pictures, I'll post them, just because.

-- I've decided on a time-limit for housework during the week. After a day of work, and quite possibly some time spent doing something for or with Mum & Dad, I'm tired. But I can generally handle about half-an-hour of housework. Once I get started, it can easily grow to more than that, if I have the energy, but knowing I can stop after half-an-hour is more likely to get me started. (And 15 minutes just isn't long enough for me. I don't want to wear myself out rushing to do stuff. I am a slow-moving vehicle. I should have a triangular yellow sign on my back.)

-- I've set up simple routines (not that I follow them religiously) that give me a focus for my day's half-an-hour of work. Monday is Bathroom Day. Tuesday is Recycling and Kitchen Day. Wednesday is Mid-Week Grocery Day (there isn't a half-hour task this day, because getting groceries after supper, or after work, for both my parents and myself is quite enough, thank you). Thursday is Floorsday. Friday is Wash The Sheets While Watching What Not to Wear Day. Saturday is Groceries and Errands Day (and more Laundry in the Evening).

-- I'm learning to pick up after myself. This is a big one. If I keep current with that, the place looks good even if it isn't clinically, antiseptically, clean. Pick Up Patrol (aka Mine Sweeping) or TATTing (Taking Action on Three Things) have to be a daily patrol. If done daily, it doesn't take long at all. (What a surprise!... not)

-- Making the bed goes a long way to making the bedroom look tidy. Since I don't have to think about access on both sides of the bed, I have the covers tucked in on the side that's not in sight from the door. Making the bed is therefore much easier.

-- The right cleaning equipment goes a long way to making the job easier. I've grumbled more than once about my vacuum cleaner. I'm now on the road to doing something about it, not just complaining. I've chosen a vacuum, and I'm "saving up" for it -- soon the Dyson DC14 Animal will be a working member of my household. Why, you ask, do I need an "Animal" when the only animal in my household is a toy dog with a penchant for wearing red hats?

Elementary, my dear Blog-friends. The Animal has the attachments and capabilities that I want and need, the All-Floors doesn't. Simple as that. (Now, bring on pay-day, I want my Animal!!!) In the meantime, I've bought a broom with an attached long-handled dustpan. The fact that it's called a Duck was an added attraction for me, just because it was kind of funny. I've also bought a stick-vac that converts into a hand-held vac. Always wanted a convertible, though this is more what I had in mind... Thanks to Maxwell's recommendation, and the fact that I've seen my parent's having to replace various rechargable stick vacs and hand-helds that had lost their oomph, I bought a corded one. Thanks to my dislike for spending much money, I bought a cheap one. Er, I mean an inexpensive one. Anyway, no excuses now for not doing Floorsday!

-- I've learned that although Mary Poppins may be a little off in her assessment that "in every job that must be done there is an element of fun", there are certainly ways to make it easier on myself. Self-bribery, and appropriate LOLcats along the way help, for me.

-- I've learned that I'd rather leave writing this sort of Therapy process to someone else. It is not an easy task to write in a way that makes others eager to follow the process. Kudos to Wende for her marvelous job with Wardrobe Therapy. I'm looking forward to Spring WT. (I'm also really looking forward to Spring, but that's a whole nother thing!)

So, FINALLY Housekeeping Therapy is done, and I'm ready to face the tasks around the apartment with a better spirit, and a better way to get things done. I hope there's been something here for others, too.