Comments on: Coping with Housework Drudgery http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/coping-with-housework-drudgery/ About finding balance in your life, connecting with who you are, and creating a lifestyle where you wake up each morning eagerly anticipating the day ahead. Fri, 10 Sep 2010 08:08:36 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Katrina http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/coping-with-housework-drudgery/comment-page-1/#comment-25643 Katrina Thu, 08 Apr 2010 05:14:47 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/coping-with-housework-drudgery/#comment-25643 I would like to know if you have any tips or suggestions for dusting. It is my number-one, most-dreaded housework chore. It feels so fruitless to me, since I just have to keep doing it over and over again--even though I love the newly-dusted, shiny surfaces when I'm finished. Do you have any ideas on how to make dusting less drudgery? I love, for example, your post about effortless dish-washing, and would be thrilled if you had something similar to help me get over my dread of dusting. Thanks! I would like to know if you have any tips or suggestions for dusting. It is my number-one, most-dreaded housework chore. It feels so fruitless to me, since I just have to keep doing it over and over again–even though I love the newly-dusted, shiny surfaces when I’m finished. Do you have any ideas on how to make dusting less drudgery? I love, for example, your post about effortless dish-washing, and would be thrilled if you had something similar to help me get over my dread of dusting. Thanks!

]]> By: anna http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/coping-with-housework-drudgery/comment-page-1/#comment-9964 anna Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:37:23 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/coping-with-housework-drudgery/#comment-9964 how clean is clean? Where do you draw the line? I often feel like a fanatic. how clean is clean? Where do you draw the line? I often feel like a fanatic.

]]> By: Shirley http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/coping-with-housework-drudgery/comment-page-1/#comment-4081 Shirley Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:52:04 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/coping-with-housework-drudgery/#comment-4081 Alissa, I suppose I keep a schedule of sorts in my head, but I don't have any written schedule. Out of necessity, I have had to learn to do some things differently since my back injury. As to toilets, dusting, and vacuuming... I vacuum every morning and clean the toilets every evening, which means that neither job takes a lot of time or effort. Dusting more or less gets done when needed. Give me a little time and I will see if I can come up with a better description. Alissa, I suppose I keep a schedule of sorts in my head, but I don’t have any written schedule. Out of necessity, I have had to learn to do some things differently since my back injury. As to toilets, dusting, and vacuuming… I vacuum every morning and clean the toilets every evening, which means that neither job takes a lot of time or effort. Dusting more or less gets done when needed. Give me a little time and I will see if I can come up with a better description.

]]> By: Alissa http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/coping-with-housework-drudgery/comment-page-1/#comment-4056 Alissa Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:08:36 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/coping-with-housework-drudgery/#comment-4056 I'm back to ask a quick question! I've been thinking a lot about your post. I mentioned in my earlier comment that I have scheduled "deep-cleaning" days for each room of my house. I was wondering, how do you handle your deep-cleaning tasks? Do you have a schedule, or just do them as needed? Particularly things like dusting, vacuuming, scrubbing floors, cleaning toilets, etc. I'm always curious how others do things, to see if there is a more efficient way. Thanks! Alissa I’m back to ask a quick question! I’ve been thinking a lot about your post. I mentioned in my earlier comment that I have scheduled “deep-cleaning” days for each room of my house. I was wondering, how do you handle your deep-cleaning tasks? Do you have a schedule, or just do them as needed? Particularly things like dusting, vacuuming, scrubbing floors, cleaning toilets, etc. I’m always curious how others do things, to see if there is a more efficient way.

Thanks!
Alissa

]]> By: Cindysoowho http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/coping-with-housework-drudgery/comment-page-1/#comment-4055 Cindysoowho Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:30:25 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/coping-with-housework-drudgery/#comment-4055 I also have the rule that everyone must wipe out the shower after using it. One really good benefit of this lifetime habit is that it basically eliminates the use of cleaning chemicals in the shower. There is no chance for mildew or soap scum to grow because the shower is always dry and the faucets always sparkle! I also have the rule that everyone must wipe out the shower after using it. One really good benefit of this lifetime habit is that it basically eliminates the use of cleaning chemicals in the shower. There is no chance for mildew or soap scum to grow because the shower is always dry and the faucets always sparkle!

]]> By: Thomas http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/coping-with-housework-drudgery/comment-page-1/#comment-4046 Thomas Sun, 09 Nov 2008 01:34:45 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/coping-with-housework-drudgery/#comment-4046 One of the numerous domestic tasks that my ex-girlfriend and I argued about was the dishes. Our unfortunate agreement was that when one of us cooked, the other had to do the dishes. "Unfortunate" because I cleaned as I cooked and left a sparkling (or near sparkling) kitchen at the serving of the meal. On the other hand, she managed to find a use for every piece of cookware we owned and left a huge pile of dirty dishes to be cleaned after the meal. That is how I learned that it is very hard to clean encrusted garlic on a full stomach while sleepy after a heavy meal! One of the numerous domestic tasks that my ex-girlfriend and I argued about was the dishes. Our unfortunate agreement was that when one of us cooked, the other had to do the dishes. “Unfortunate” because I cleaned as I cooked and left a sparkling (or near sparkling) kitchen at the serving of the meal. On the other hand, she managed to find a use for every piece of cookware we owned and left a huge pile of dirty dishes to be cleaned after the meal. That is how I learned that it is very hard to clean encrusted garlic on a full stomach while sleepy after a heavy meal!

]]> By: Alissa http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/coping-with-housework-drudgery/comment-page-1/#comment-4035 Alissa Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:42:28 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/coping-with-housework-drudgery/#comment-4035 I do many of the same things! I try to keep things as tidy as possible (well, as tidy as can be with 2 kids under 4), and then each day of the week I have a "focus area" of my home that I do deeper cleaning tasks. These tasks generally only take me 30 to 45 minutes each day, and while it means that my whole house doesn't sparkle all at once, it is always presentable, and I know that each area of my home will get hit once a week, so I don't stress about it. I figured out once I had kids that cleaning it all in one shot was not going to be possible, as I would never have that much consecutive time again! I posted about my weekly schedule here, if anyone's interested: http://onpurposeliving.blogspot.com/2008/03/weekly-schedule.html I do the same as you with making beds first thing in the morning and picking up the bedrooms. I find it's a great way to start the day. I would hate to go upstairs later in the day and see unmade beds, then it would seem like drudgery to make them later on. For some reason, doing things right away seems to make them more bearable. I like your idea of wiping out the shower after each use. Since I only use natural cleaners, I find it tough to remove soap scum if I only do it once a week. I'll have to give your method a try! I also agree that it's important to teach children to put things away where they belong. It also alleviates a lot of frustration on their part when they want to know where their such-and-such is! If they learn to put things away when they're finished with them, you aren't endlessly searching for their toys. Great post, and lots of good ideas here! I do many of the same things! I try to keep things as tidy as possible (well, as tidy as can be with 2 kids under 4), and then each day of the week I have a “focus area” of my home that I do deeper cleaning tasks. These tasks generally only take me 30 to 45 minutes each day, and while it means that my whole house doesn’t sparkle all at once, it is always presentable, and I know that each area of my home will get hit once a week, so I don’t stress about it. I figured out once I had kids that cleaning it all in one shot was not going to be possible, as I would never have that much consecutive time again!

I posted about my weekly schedule here, if anyone’s interested:
http://onpurposeliving.blogspot.com/2008/03/weekly-schedule.html

I do the same as you with making beds first thing in the morning and picking up the bedrooms. I find it’s a great way to start the day. I would hate to go upstairs later in the day and see unmade beds, then it would seem like drudgery to make them later on. For some reason, doing things right away seems to make them more bearable.

I like your idea of wiping out the shower after each use. Since I only use natural cleaners, I find it tough to remove soap scum if I only do it once a week. I’ll have to give your method a try!

I also agree that it’s important to teach children to put things away where they belong. It also alleviates a lot of frustration on their part when they want to know where their such-and-such is! If they learn to put things away when they’re finished with them, you aren’t endlessly searching for their toys.

Great post, and lots of good ideas here!

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