I am a poor housekeeper. I'm aware of it, used to it, done trying to hide it. Sometimes it is all just too much for me and I just can't even fathom how to get on top of it, and so I don't try. Eventually I get sick of not trying and I put in a wild, energetic effort, collapsing in a heap whenever my energy dries up. Usually I am at some point of the pendulum-swing between these two extremes. I know that many people operate in the same way so I don't really feel that bad about it. Guilt would only make things worse, anyway.

So in honor of my poor housekeeping, I declare today "Make Something Less Gross Day". This won't take long -- 15 minutes or less. All you have to do is make some gross part of your house, less gross. That's it. We're not aiming for perfection, just less ickiness. I have a number of gross areas in my home (a high number). I picked this one:


I guess it's pretty self-explanatory, but I'll explain anyway. This is my laundry trough/sink. Crammed into the area between the trough and the door is a curtain that fell down, a sqeegee that doesn't do any thing worth doing, a curtain rod, a neglected mop, a bunch of fluff and dust and spiders. Yah. Ewwww. In the trough is our "nappy bucket". It is gross by necessity and I don't plan to do much with that, other than washing its lid.

Here are some tips:

1.) Do this kind of job when you are getting over a cold or sinus infection. You won't be able to smell anything, and it will help to remove you mentally from the job you are doing. If you can't get a cold or sinus infection, use one of those nose pincher things the olympic swimmers use. Or a clothes peg, which I'm sure is more practical but might hurt a bit!

2.) You can do anything with rubber gloves on. Especially if they are pink.

3.) Do not aim for perfection. Just go for "less gross".

I did not set a timer, just put on my pink gloves, grabbed a trash bag, cloth and all-purpose cleaner, and had at it. I am sure this didn't take longer than 15 minutes, though. Am I pleased with the results?



Yup. You can do a lot in 15 minutes. I even hauled out our old, non-working dryer and put it outside wth our old, non-working washer. I don't think you want to see that, do you?


Nope that isn't the old washer and dryer out there in a backyard that looks like a jungle...it's a tall, elegant sculpture surrounded by a carefully planned and tended tropical paradise...srsly.

Happy "Make Something Less Gross Day"! If, perchance, anyone actually does have a "Make Something Less Gross Day", please come back here and share!