Yesterday, during my lunch, I headed over to the library to see if I could find a good read. I was scanning the shelves and this title caught my eye. The book obviously addressed a need I have in my life. If you know me very well or maybe not even very well, you know I am just not a clean freak or really even any title with "clean" in it. My motto for guests, is "if you are not going to be my friend because of the state of my home, you're not worth being my friend." My attitude toward keeping a spotless and clutter free home drives my poor husband up the wall! Not that he is a neat freak either, he just prefers things to have order.
So back to the book. I took a half hour or so to scan through the important parts. One quote from the book reads, "Clean creates harmony, peace, safety, and security. Clean speaks with a clear voice that all is well and in control.(pg 21)" Well, yikes! I suppose that says I am not well or in control. My mom probably agrees with this statement.
Mr. Aslett, the author (oh yes, did I mention a man wrote this book, lol) does provide an "antidote" for "perfect house stress". "If visitors are invited, it means I've asked them to share my living experience. I'd like them to enter my life for a little while and feel comfortable and feel comfortable myself. I do want to sanitize my surroundings and lifestyle slightly so as not to shock them, but I want them to share my life, not a perfect museum I don't actually live in.(pg 33)" So friends, the cobwebs, dust and laundry on the couch, are me wanting to "share my life" with you. Remember that.
I did gain some valuable advice regarding laundry, as this seems to be the biggest evil in my home. He suggests keeping separate baskets for sorting clothes as you remove them at night. This way on your laundry day, all of your clothes are already sorted. Also he recommends each child have their own basket. They are responsible for keeping their dirty clothes in their basket, then you or the child launders the clothes and return to the basket to be put away BY the child. Of course, I'm not quite comfortable letting Parker operate the washing machine just yet, but I could return his folded clothes to a basket and let him put them away.
Lastly, Aslett's book gave me an idea for a gift for my husband. A pressure washer. Aslett states, "If there is one new cleaning tool and method every homeowner should consider taking advantage of, it is pressure washing - that is, using water under pressure as an aid in cleaning. A pressure washer will cut your outdoor cleaning time and remove dirt and debris from exterior surfaces that have plagued you for years...if not a life time." (pg 116) When we lived in Muldrow, we had a friend who owned and treasured his pressure washer. I think Devon would enjoy all that intense power. However, would getting my husband a cleaning tool for our anniversary would be like me getting a vacuum for Valentine's day? Most women would cringe, but I'm okay with practical gifts. Especially if it was one of those cool robot vacuums that sweeps your floors while you are gone all day. Yeah, I really want one of those, and I've told my husband many times I would take no offense to receiving one as a gift. :)
I don't really know what I was expecting when I picked this book up off the shelf. I guess I was looking for a little cleaning fairy to jump from the pages and with a flick of fairy dust my home would fantastically clean itself. Sorry, wearisome home owners it doesn't happen. I suppose it's back to the old fashioned way, elbow grease and commitment to routine. Ugh, I hate it when that happens. It's kind of like diet and exercise, but you know, that's a whole 'nother day, book, and post.
Have a wonderful Wednesday! And if you're in the mood for a good read, skip this one.
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