Some years ago now Domestic Goddess gave me a copy of Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson. At the time I think it was a little wink to the unassailable fact that she is the Domestic Goddess, not me. However, I love this book. In our house, and amongst other friends who own it, it is simply known as "Cheryl". Cheryl discusses how she hangs out the washing and avoids "broken windows" (mess areas) in her home in a way that reminds you how nice it is to have Shepherds Pie on a cold winters evening. She's Martha without the ribbons and lavender spritz on the sheets. Oh so comforting to read, but oh so not me.However, after spending a long weekend with Domestic Goddess (who within minutes of hopping in my car started to wipe the interior with baby wipes she just happened to have in her purse) I felt that some areas of my home could do with a spruce up. Not the external areas, the internal-nobody-sees areas. Like the fridge.
Let it be recorded that yesterday I cleaned the fridge. Not a quick wipe out. A full clean. Over the period of two hours I stripped the interior and scrubbed every centimetre. It was cleaned as well as a toy library toy. Those of you who have ever been a member of the Stonnington Toy Library will know what I mean. I even used satay sticks covered in cotton wool...
I need to tell you this because the reward I get for all this work is a fridge that looks EXACTLY THE SAME as it did before I cleaned it. Seriously, no-one has even noticed. I've gone to the extreme lengths to tell everyone I come in contact with of my domesticity just so it's recorded. Most friends have shaken their heads at me saying "what on earth did you bother doing that for?" and "oh, well, at least YOU know it's clean".
So I hearby declare that I feel all zen-like inside on account of my clean fridge.
Now to attack that pile of filing that has been gathering in my office since September 2005...
9 comments:
I'm looking for a cleaner! What do you charge? Well done on achieving such a task.
Why is it that nobody notices such things?
My bathroom needs FlyLady's attention right now.
Ronnie
You are so good and so entitled to feel zen like - I am one of those unfortunates who can tidy for HOURS and it still looks the same - I always say my house is clean but never tidy - dang it
Firegazer finally noticed the fridge this morning (had he read this blog?). He said "wow, is that, like, the first time it's ever been cleaned?". Can't work out whether that was a compliment or not...
I'm learning from your experience. No-one noticed the end result (except Firegazer, who I'm sure had read the blog..) therefore the benefit of actually cleaning the fridge was almost completely in your own mind. I'll just imagine I've cleaned my fridge and will achieve the same effect!
and I will just imagine that I've done my filing...
my fridge is filthy and you have given me the inspiration to clean it tomorrow. there my be food in it ready to walk itself out.
Is that why the domestic books recommend a final wipe-over with vanilla essence when cleaning the fridge? So that when people open the fridge they get the lovely smell and realise the effort that's been expended?
You could also consider my tactic when immense cleaning has been done which is to make everyone else's life a misery by shouting "don't touch that / walk there / play with that!!! I've just cleaned the house!!!" I'll teach them to appreciate me.
Well, I might not have seen in your fridge lately but I'm sure I would have noticed - seriously I know how it normally looks. Was it as noticable/impressive as the Oven Fairy made your oven look?
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