Try soaking it in half-vinegar/half-water. Don’t scrub it, just pour the mixture there (or apply wet rags) and let it work for half an hour before applying elbow. I’ve cleaned several bathrooms whose previous occupants had no idea how to clean; it takes a few iterations but that’s all.
Whether your scales are calcium/magnesium carbonate (due to hard water) or calcium soap salts, the vinegar will get it moving, but it needs time to act more than it needs mechanical action. I’ve seen cases where something that looked like scale was actually a chunk of cement from a bad installation: those can’t be removed, period.
Looks like just what I was looking for! It starts out “I grew up in a house that was always clean. It wasn’t until I lived on my own that I found out how much work it was” That’s for me.
Across: I wouldn’t even worry about your parents’ house. I [del]gave up on[/del] came to terms with mine a long time ago. You can’t. do. anything unless the homeowners are amenable.
Dr. Woo: It takes as long as it takes. It doesn’t usually take weeks for the actual work, once the ball starts rolling. I think the longest was 11 sessions. It was a small house, but they had pretty much bent time and space to get everything in it. And one thing to bear in mind is that sometimes a job takes a little less time than I predicted, because they ask me not to do certain rooms. “The master bedroom – that’s my room. I’ll take care of it; I know what everything is.” Then they throw away 10 used tissues from the side of the bed. :rolleyes:
As for hardwood floors, that’s one time it’s okay to use a Swiffer. Or a mop with a barely damp rag wrapped around it. And you just gotta stay on it: don’t let liquid spills fester, for instance.
I hate to sound like a product shill, but try this too. It would never have occurred to me to clean the fingerprints off the lightswitch panels on my way around the room, but damn if the whole place doesn’t look cleaner.
I have to confess: I’m a 42 year old married guy, a father, reasonably successful in my career - and I don’t really know how to clean up after myself well. My wife isn’t much better.
Growing up, I’d have sneered at the notion of taking classes in home economics and basic money management, even if they had been available; that’s because I was entirely ignorant of how much I’d need these skills to live (and too arrogant to listen to advice in this direction). Now I’d very much like to repair this deficiency.
No, that’s backwards. The idea is that you have not been giving yourself the love you deserve–everyone deserves a clean and comfortable home. So, love yourself by giving yourself a clean home.
I don’t know that it’s my favorite method of motivation, but I certainly see some value in it. I think a lot of FlyLady is aimed at women who have spent far too long putting their own needs and wants on the back burner and who don’t necessarily think that they should be putting effort into what they want. So, you would like a clean home? OK, now give that to yourself. Likewise with relaxation and bubble baths, you’ll find those mentioned a lot too.
Anyway, FlyLady’s way of talking mostly drives me crazy, but I also find that much of her system works well for me. I like the whole attitude that doing some is better than doing none, and don’t feel guilty, just start where you are, sort of thing. It’s the opposite of “a job worth doing is worth doing well” and applies much better to cleaning IMO.
But then I’d have extra work, cleaning up after I puked from reading that.
When I colored my hair, I didn’t expect it to make me a different person. I expected to be pretty much the same person, just with different colored hair. I don’t expect any kind of personal transformation from learning some household stuff, either. I expect to be the same person I am now, and feel pretty much the same as I do now, just with a slightly cleaner house. I guess I’m just way too cynical to expect to get anything else out of it.
Yeah, I dunno about the higher level ‘spiritual’ feedback stuff. But the ‘bonus’ I did get when I transitioned from slob to mostly reformed was a HUGE decrease in daily hassles.
Those ‘everything has a place’ and ‘everything must go back to its place when you’re done with’ rules are wonderful once you internalize them. The time and frustration I no longer have to put into finding my keys or the book I’m reading or, well, everything has probably added ten years to my life.
The other mega-important ‘rule’ I live by is the “Get everything laid out the night before.” No more finding I don’t have any clean undies. No more forgetting to take the library book that’s due with me. No more having to buy crap from the vending machines or spend too much for lunch because I didn’t have time to put together a lunch bag.
In comparison, not getting the soap scum off the show curtain has zero impact on my life happiness. (You want to know my tip for getting the shower curtain clean? Use those cheap clear plastic liners. When it looks grungy, THROW IT OUT and buy a new one.)
Ha, sign up for the FlyLady e-mails so you can learn all about your body clutter. Yeah, we’ll vomit together.
On the other hand, the three days I did clean (not exactly shine) my sink before bed did produce nice mornings that felt good.
I have been reading a bit about using more basic cleansers, like vinegar (which really did clean up the inside of a nasty microwave pretty well), and other stuff like rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide. Do you have any experience with using these types of items? What are your opinions on those vs. typical “cleansers” (like 409 and similar stuff, not to shill)?
There’s an Aussie book called Speed Cleaning also. Author’s names are Shannon Lush and Jennifer Fleming. They used to (and still might for all I know) host a radio show where people would call in with cleaning and stain-removal questions and they’d answer them. The first book in the series is called Spotless and is all about shifting stains. Book two is Speed Cleaning and book 3 is *Comfy *I think. I don’t agree with all their techniques and I believe the catch phrase “a spotless house in just 15 minutes a day” is an out and out LIE, but the books are an entertaining mix of cleaning tips, answers for specific queries, hints for blokes and fragments of 19th century cleaning instructions.
otternell, you might like it because these ladies abhor proprietary cleaners and use vinegar, baking soda, essential oils, beeswax, methylated spirits and all kinds of crazy stuff. Baking soda and vinegar can be quite useful because of the chemical reaction they produce, and the baking soda doesn’t dissolve, and so acts as a mild abrasive on tough marks, like Jif. I like using it in the kitchen because the vinegar/soda combo is 100% food safe.
Sorry, I forgot again! otternell, I think I would love to use only basic cleaning elements, but it’s not feasible at this time. I’d have to have a whole array of elements, and bottles and jars to mix them up in, and for that, I’d have to travel in a van, not a car. Right now, I just have whatever I can cram into a caddy. And I see nothing wrong with Lysol all-purpose spray, really.
Meanwhile, I may be on to a new project! One of my regular clients knows someone who lives in a house she says is “terrible.” Next time I go (two weeks on), hopefully she’ll bring me to her friend’s house so I can give an estimate. Man, I love long recovery jobs…
Two things: 1. Sunshine Cleaning just came up on my Netflix list, and it’s a fun little movie. I always love Alan Arkin.
The ladies (usually one, but sometimes two) who clean my place go through like lightning, the longest ever was about three and a half hours, and they leave it clean. When I do it, it takes me all day, and at the end, it’s not clean. For example, I sweep the kitchen, then I vacuum it, then I mop, and when I mop, I get this residue of cat hair at the edge of where I’m mopping. In the bathroom it’s cat hair plus grey lint. What am I doing wrong? Is there a way to speed this up? 'Cause if I could do it in two hours, I could save $90 every other week. Or else have it clean EVERY week.
I think you need a better vacuum cleaner. Or maybe you let the dirt bag get too full. Because you really shouldn’t need to sweep first, and the vac should get rid of all the cat hair for you.
I am thinking about getting into this business. How invested are you in the legal and paperwork side of things? Taxes, insurance, etc? I’m a worrier, so I’ve already had a detailed fantasy where I clean for one of the many wacky people in my immediate neighborhood, only to be accused of stealing or breaking something I did not, sued for thousands of dollars I do not have (plus legal fees) and having my good name besmirched.
Oh, and whatever tips you have for managing/capturing pet hair would be appreciated. I have two cats - one of which sheds more goddamn hair than any other cat I have ever met - and 1 dog that sheds a fair amount as well, in just over 300 sq ft (we won’t mention the two other dogs as they are non-shedding breeds, thank jesus).
I have a work-at-home license with the city. I’m working on getting insured and bonded. As for pet hair, first, try scraping the most coated areas with the same kind of brush you’d groom a pet with. Second, use the kind of vacuum where you empty a canister instead of changing bags; you’ll see what goes in. Third, be vigilant about upending the vacuum and clearing hair out of the bristles.
