by Jerri Akins

Created on: November 10, 2008

I love my house, and I want it to be clean. But, for me, trying to clean it by a schedule or by using a list takes all the satisfaction out of it. Housecleaning should fit in with the way you live and be a natural part of your life. If you approach it the way you would approach dieting, like an unpleasant ritual, how can you stick to it?

The housecleaning urge comes to me at random times, and I've learned to give it free reign when the impulse comes out of left field. Sometimes I clean as I decorate and rearrange. Sometimes I tidy up as I'm getting dressed to go somewhere, just so I won't have to come home to a messy house. I clean like crazy when I'm angry! I clean when I feel overwhelmed by life.

But when I want to sit down and soak up the ambiance of my home, whether it is in front of a cozy fire or at a candlelight dinner, I want to see "pretty," no matter where I look. Unexplained piles mess up my view. So, I quickly tidy things up, or dust, or whatever it takes to have "pretty" to look at. I want my votive cups to glow, my wooden tables to look and feel fresh, and my rug to be clean and fluffy, so I can lie on it by the fireplace with a blanket and pillow if I (or we) choose. Loving lamps as I do, I want them dusted and casting a perfect glow over my happy place.

Cleaning a shower, tub, or sink is only slightly different. Here, the key for me is to accommodate spontaneous cleaning; in other words, make cleaning easy. Keeping a spray bottle of cleaner and a roll of paper towels handy is all it takes to wipe up at any given moment. I can spray everything from the mirror to the floor, then quickly wipe with a couple of towels, removing fingerprints, hairspray and fallen hair easily. But again, I want "pretty" on my counter top. Neatly folded towels, fresh soaps, candles, and comfort items that have a spa look will usually provide me with the incentive to keep things looking fresh. Hair and dust do not mix well with a spa look.

My cleaning tools are also a little off the wall. I use soft paint brushes to clean a lot of things, like lamps and things with grooves. I love soft, flexible brooms and old-fashioned mops. I even like washing dishes and drying them with soft tea towels. I only keep dishes that I love (they seldom match), and I love to arrange them on the shelves. They, in turn, inspire me to cook.

I'm not June Cleaver, but my house makes me happy. I love touching my "stuff". Maybe this isn't the kind of thing that can be taught to anyone who doesn't "feel" it. And, obviously, if you have a houseful of kids, there might be less joy and a tad more ritual involved in the upkeep. But my best suggestion is to try to find a way to be in love with your home, and it will make housecleaning come more naturally.

Learn more about this author, Jerri Akins.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.