My life is half work and half cleaning lately. The cleaning thing isn’t exactly new to me. I grew up in a house if the CDC sent in a hazmat team they would have found nothing, zero, nada. My parents were obsessed with a clean house. And there wasn’t a housekeeper. We did it. Ugh, it was so annoying. But as an adult I had a cleaning service for many years because of my work/travel schedule. Currently, we aren’t using a housekeeper. I’m doing it.

It’s been a re-learning experience for me because all I’ve had to take care of as an adult has been cracker jack box sized condos and apartments. I feel all over place when cleaning this house. Schizophrenic, ADD, distracted, I would rather be on the internet, I still have to take phone calls from work while trying to get it done. All of this is very firstworldproblems and very white girl of me to talk about. But its been overwhelming and sometimes I’ve felt like I just can’t win. I’m a better employee than stay-at-home-person.

But as with work practice makes perfect. This house is a project when it comes to cleaning and to keep it at the standard that B expects. Because I’m not exactly good at this, here is what I’ve used to help me deal with a 6,000 sq. ft. house. I went to my favorite place, the internet. Turns out its very helpful. There are obsessive cleaners like my mother with their own websites and cleaning lists to help people like me out.

First, I consulted Martha Stewart. Her weekly and monthly lists are great.

I liked this deep cleaning list as well. It’s kind of intense, but so is B and this is what the job requires.

FlyLady’s commandments are good. But that site is a little over the top for me.

Meh, who am I? I even googled the best way to clean base boards. Might as well do it right.

A couple of other things I’ve learned.

The off brand weed killer is just as good as the super expensive RoundUp. I think the person at Home Depot was a little shocked when I was standing there saying “It’s not Prada. It’s weed killer. That price is ridiculous. What else is there?” It’s funny to me how branding and pricing and people’s stupidity happens in weed killer brands just like handbags.

Here is the $8 (on sale) off brand that has almost the same ingredients as the $75 bottle of RoundUp.

I’ve talked before about my obsession with clean bathrooms. I might forget to dust the lampshades but I’m obsessed with clean grout.

Here are my recommendations.

The hard bristled brush works better than a toothbrush.

And since we can’t forget that I have a job/get dressed up most days and my love of fuchsia is immense here is a full-length of the J.Crew Bow Coat that I’m currently obsessed with. It was a Christmas present from my mom. It’s been a great addition to my fuchsia collection. I’ve received so many compliments. I really like fuchsia and statement coats over my relatively boring black & gray dresses, black opaque tights and black patent heels I live in.

For me, trying to find a balance and doing these things well has been hard. But the lists are helping me stay focused and not forget little things. Some of this seems a little bit silly, but its part of my day to day life now. As a perfectionist in my work life I figured I might as well get good at this housekeeping project as well. No reason not too.

Now for a bit of blog housekeeping. I’m going through all of my old posts that go back to 2007 and making them public again. I was a very different person and looked very different back then. If you have any questions about the past please feel free to ask. I don’t mind. I’ve changed a lot and the past is just the past at this point. I really don’t care and have nothing to hide about it. But gah, I looked terrible.

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