house cleaning poll

In My Humble Opinion
1

My roomate and I have been having a (friendly) discussion on what most people believe needs to be done to a house/apartment for it to be considered “clean”.

  1. Who lives in your house?

  2. In general, how often do you (or your spouse/kids/housekeeper…):

  3. Vacuum your carpets

  4. shampoo/steam clean the carpets

  5. Sweep the floors

  6. Mop the floors

  7. Wax the floors

  8. Clean the tub

  9. Clean under the furniture

  10. Have the couches/curtains etc cleaned

  11. Wash the walls

  12. Clean the stove/refrigerator/dishwasher

  13. Do general dusting of shelves, electronics, knicknacks etc.

  14. How often will you leave clean dishes in the dishwasher/dishrack
    12b. leave clean clothes in the dryer/hamper?

  15. Leave a full load of dirty dishes in the dishwasher/sink

Are you an “as needed” cleaner, or do you have a list of things that you do at a scheduled time regardless of how the area looks (ex: do you vacuum once a day/week whether or not you see fuzz on the carpet?)

Does it bother you if something is out of place, even if the house isn’t messy? Ex: a book laying on the coffee table instead of the bookshelf.

How clean would you consider your house on a scale of 1-10, and how clean would you like it to be?

2

** 1. Who lives in your house? **

Just me and my SO. Oh, we do have four pets, but they are all tank creatures (2 lizards & 2 turtles) so not much mess there.

**2. In general, how often do you (or your spouse/kids/housekeeper…): **

1. Vacuum your carpets
Once a month. And no housekeeper, it’s just us.

2. shampoo/steam clean the carpets

When we move in/move out.

3. Sweep the floors

Every week.

4. Mop the floors

Every two weeks.

5. Wax the floors

Que? HAHAHAHAHAHA.

6. Clean the tub

Once every two months or less. We never take baths.

7. Clean under the furniture

When we move.

8. Have the couches/curtains etc cleaned

Curtains - once a month or so. Couches - we only have a futon, and I cover it with a sheet and then just wash the sheet once a month.

9. Wash the walls

Again, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

10. Clean the stove/refrigerator/dishwasher

Once a month or less - we don’t make that much mess.

11. Do general dusting of shelves, electronics, knicknacks etc.

Once every two weeks.

**12. How often will you leave clean dishes in the dishwasher/dishrack **

Every day, and I don’t remove them until the next time to wash dishes. Basically I wash each night’s dinner dishes the next evening, before dinner, while he cooks.

** 12b. leave clean clothes in the dryer/hamper?**

Never, although I never put clothes away until the day after laundry day.

13. Leave a full load of dirty dishes in the dishwasher/sink

See above. Although I do get lazier on the weekend, but come Monday I empty the sink.

**Are you an “as needed” cleaner, or do you have a list of things that you do at a scheduled time regardless of how the area looks (ex: do you vacuum once a day/week whether or not you see fuzz on the carpet?) **

Mostly as needed. I mean, the numbers above are average. If I’m feeling lazy or just too tired, I don’t mind skipping a week.

**Does it bother you if something is out of place, even if the house isn’t messy? Ex: a book laying on the coffee table instead of the bookshelf. **

Not for little things - but clothes laying around do bother me.

How clean would you consider your house on a scale of 1-10, and how clean would you like it to be?

Probably a 6 and a 7 on good days. I mean, food is always picked up, there’s never stuff like that laying around, but it sure isn’t really neat. Still, most things are in their places or close to it.
Ideally I’d love for it to be a 9. But it rarely happens unless we have parental units coming over.

Now, if I had shedding pets or something I’d clean more. Or if one of us, you know, cared. We’re pretty at home with it and would rather spend our lives living than cleaning all the time. So we can deal with it a bit messy.

3

**1. Who lives in your house?**Me, husband, 2 kids, one powershedder dog and 2 cats.

2. In general, how often do you (or your spouse/kids/housekeeper…):
1. Vacuum your carpets
At least once a week, maybe more. It’s more to get the damn pet hair.

2. shampoo/steam clean the carpets
Just to get the really dirty spots from doggy accidents or food spills or whatever. I have a handheld Bissel thing to steamclean the carpet, and it’s okay, but we should probably rent one of those big power cleaners.

3. Sweep the floors
Only the kitchen and bethrooms are uncarpeted - I Swiffer them once a week or as needed.

4. Mop the floors
As needed - whenever it seems sticky or gross.

5. Wax the floors
Huh? Never.

6. Clean the tub
Once a week.

7. Clean under the furniture
You’re supposed to do that?

8. Have the couches/curtains etc cleaned
I use the attachment on the vacuum and clean them that way, or spot clean them if food gets spilled.

9. Wash the walls
You’re supposed to do that? Who the hell washes walls?

10. Clean the stove/refrigerator/dishwasher
As needed, once a week or so, at least. If something spills on the stove, I clean it right then.

11. Do general dusting of shelves, electronics, knicknacks etc.
Once a week.

**12. How often will you leave clean dishes in the dishwasher/dishrack **
I don’t have a dishwasher (well, I do, but she’s leaving for college next week :wink: ), but I try to keep up with the dirty dishes. I hate seeing dirty dishes sitting in the sink. That said, I don’t mind clean stuff stacked in the drainer. I never dry - I wash them and let them air-dry in the drainer. Having clean dishes in the drainer doesn’t bother me at all.

12b. leave clean clothes in the dryer/hamper?
The only thing I leave in the dryer is towels or sheets. Anything else gets taken out and hung up or folded right away. I do laundry probably every other day. I will wash it all, and stack it neatly in the basket, and fold later while watching TV, but if it needs to be hung up, it gets hung up right after coming out of the dryer. Things like undies and socks get tossed in the basket to be folded and matched up later.

13. Leave a full load of dirty dishes in the dishwasher/sink
See #12. I hate seeing dirty dishes in the sink, and will keep up with the washing. I stack the clean stuff neatly in the drainer, turn the ceiling fan to high and let them dry that way.

I’m sort of an “as needed” cleaner, but I do vacuum on a fairly regular basis, since we have three Powershedders. I hate dirty dishes in the sink, but if they’re all clean and stacked neatly in the drainer, that’s fine.
It bothers me to a certain degree if things are out of place, even if the house isn’t messy. (ex: a book laying on the coffee table instead of the bookshelf). My husband often comes home and dumps his crap all over, and my kids do the same. I find myself picking up after them, because I hate the clutter.

How clean would you consider your house on a scale of 1-10, and how clean would you like it to be? On a scale of 1-10, it’s probably a 7 or 8. It could be a lot cleaner and neater, but it’s not bad. Those other people who live here seem to work against me a lot of the time.

4
  1. Who lives in your house?

Me.

  1. In general, how often do you (or your spouse/kids/housekeeper…):

  2. Vacuum your carpets

Once a week.

  1. shampoo/steam clean the carpets

Once a week (I bought a steam cleaner and I LOOOOVE it).

  1. Sweep the floors

every day

  1. Mop the floors

every day

  1. Wax the floors

Never (no wax floors)

  1. Clean the tub

Every day

  1. Clean under the furniture

Once a week

  1. Have the couches/curtains etc cleaned

Couchs - once a week (see “New Steam Cleaner”) - curtains - about twice a year

  1. Wash the walls

When I see a shmoo.

  1. Clean the stove/refrigerator/dishwasher

Every day.

  1. Do general dusting of shelves, electronics, knicknacks etc.

Twice a week, or if I see dust.

  1. How often will you leave clean dishes in the dishwasher/dishrack

never.

12b. leave clean clothes in the dryer/hamper?

all the time.

  1. Leave a full load of dirty dishes in the dishwasher/sink

never.

Are you an “as needed” cleaner, or do you have a list of things that you do at a scheduled time regardless of how the area looks (ex: do you vacuum once a day/week whether or not you see fuzz on the carpet?)

As needed.

Does it bother you if something is out of place, even if the house isn’t messy? Ex: a book laying on the coffee table instead of the bookshelf.

No - but when I’m done with it I put it away.

How clean would you consider your house on a scale of 1-10, and how clean would you like it to be?

Maybe a 7ish. God knows when my mom visits she cleans for about 8 hours solid and mutters about how she raised me, so it’s not a 10 for sure. :slight_smile:

5

  1. Who lives in your house? My husband and I, four cats, a dog, and lots of fish.

  2. In general, how often do you (or your spouse/kids/housekeeper…):

  3. Vacuum your carpets: About once a week.

  4. shampoo/steam clean the carpets: Um, about every four years I guess. I shampooed them last fall and we’d lived in our house for four years.

  5. Sweep the floors: Once a week.

  6. Mop the floors: Mop? What’s that? That’s what the Swiffer Wet Jet is for. I do that once every two weeks to a month.

  7. Wax the floors: That’s really funny.

  8. Clean the tub: Okay, I hate this one. Let’s just say not that often. I have one of those automatic shower cleaners now though. Definitely helps.

  9. Clean under the furniture: When we decide to change all the furniture around.

  10. Have the couches/curtains etc cleaned: Our curtains are machine washable. I take them down about 3-4 times a year. I generally just spot clean the furniture as needed.

  11. Wash the walls: Once or twice a year.

  12. Clean the stove/refrigerator/dishwasher: Inside or outside? The top of the stove is cleaned, but rarely the oven. I can’t stand cleaning the refrigerator.

  13. Do general dusting of shelves, electronics, knicknacks etc. Once every two weeks to once a month. More in the summer because of the air blowing around. We have hot water heat so it doesn’t get as dusty in the winter.

  14. How often will you leave clean dishes in the dishwasher/dishrack: I try not to do this but sometimes I forget if they’re clean or dirty.
    12b. leave clean clothes in the dryer/hamper? Again, I try not to, but if there’s a load in the dryer when I go to bed, it stays in there until the next night.

  15. Leave a full load of dirty dishes in the dishwasher/sink: Well, I don’t wash half-loads of dishes, so most of the time there are dirty dishes in the dishwasher. I wash them when it’s full.

Are you an “as needed” cleaner, or do you have a list of things that you do at a scheduled time regardless of how the area looks (ex: do you vacuum once a day/week whether or not you see fuzz on the carpet?) As-needed.

Does it bother you if something is out of place, even if the house isn’t messy? Ex: a book laying on the coffee table instead of the bookshelf.
What do you mean, books aren’t supposed to be on the coffee table? In my house, that’s where they go (at least the ones I’m currently reading). I don’t like for things to get left out, but it will happen sometimes. My house is definitely lived-in and I’m not afraid for other people to see that people live there.

How clean would you consider your house on a scale of 1-10, and how clean would you like it to be? It’s probably a 5. I could stand a point or two higher than that, but I’m not too worried. (Unlike my sister whose house smells like a hospital it’s so sterile. She shudders at the thought of dirt.)

6
  1. Vacuum your carpets: 2-3 times a month (or more as needed)
  2. shampoo/steam clean the carpets: 1-2 times a year (or as needed)
  3. Sweep the floors: Occasionally
  4. Mop the floors: Every other month or so
  5. Wax the floors: never
  6. Clean the tub: Every other month or so
  7. Clean under the furniture: When we move or rearrange furniture
  8. Have the couches/curtains etc cleaned: I’ll toss curtains in the wash 2-3 times a year
  9. Wash the walls: When we move
  10. Clean the stove/refrigerator/dishwasher: When it needs it (maybe 2 times a year?)
  11. Do general dusting of shelves, electronics, knicknacks etc.: 3-4 times a month
  12. How often will you leave clean dishes in the dishwasher/dishrack: I’ll leave them for up to a day before reshelving
    12b. leave clean clothes in the dryer/hamper? A couple days unless they’re hanging clothes
  13. Leave a full load of dirty dishes in the dishwasher/sink: Up to a day

No list of things to do, just do them as needed. It does bother me when things aren’t where they are supposed to be, most everything has a place. If things are in a state where they can’t be put away, but I don’t have time to clean or take care of them I will make sure they are arranged neatly and prepped for whatever needs to be done (e.g. dirty dishes in the sink are always rinsed and stacked neatly, no food left on them, etc.) On a scale of 1-10 I’d say our place is around an 8. It’s pretty easy to keep clean mostly because we don’t have a lot of stuff, though. We just moved and before we did managed to pare down a lot of our junk. We’re still without a lot of furniture too, but I’m really enjoyng having all the free space.

7

** 1. Who lives in your house? **

Just me, my husband and 2 cats.

**2. In general, how often do you (or your spouse/kids/housekeeper…): **

1. Vacuum your carpets
No carpets.

2. shampoo/steam clean the carpets

No carpets.

3. Sweep the floors

Every week - though we vacuum rather than sweep.

4. Mop the floors

Once a month, or before and after a party, whichever comes first…

5. Wax the floors

We don’t even know how…

6. Clean the tub

Once every couple of months. I wish we’d do it more often, but we don’t think to do it.

7. Clean under the furniture

Everytime we vacuum & mop - all our furniture is easy to sweep/vacuum under.

8. Have the couches/curtains etc cleaned

I don’t think we’ve ever cleaned them, but they’re only about a year old. I think I’ll add that to the “Spring Cleaning” regimen.

9. Wash the walls
During Spring Cleaning, so once a year.

10. Clean the stove/refrigerator/dishwasher

Stovetop - every day - it’s part of cleaning up after dinner.
Oven - I don’t think I’ve ever cleaned an oven! :eek:
Refrigerator - inside: thorough cleaning a couple of times a year. outside: when it looks spotty, so every few months.
Dishwaher - doesn’t it clean itself? :confused:

11. Do general dusting of shelves, electronics, knicknacks etc.

Once every couple of weeks. My husband sometimes absentmindedly dusts while he’s on the phone. He’s weird.

**12. How often will you leave clean dishes in the dishwasher/dishrack **

Until it’s time for dirty ones to go in.

** 12b. leave clean clothes in the dryer/hamper?**

In the hamper - until they are covered in cat hair, because one of the cats loves clean laundry. Then they go back in the dirty clothes hamper.
In teh dryer - 'til one of us notices a favorite item of clothing is missing and goes looking for it.

13. Leave a full load of dirty dishes in the dishwasher/sink

Not often. Dirty dishes go into the dishwasher unless the dishwasher is already full of dirty dishes or is running. Sometimes we have to let a full load of dirty dishes sit in the dishwasher overnight because we live in a second floor condo and I’m worried that late-night dishwasher-running might disturb the downstairs neighbor. It takes us a couple of days to accumulate a full load of dirty dishes

**Are you an “as needed” cleaner, or do you have a list of things that you do at a scheduled time regardless of how the area looks (ex: do you vacuum once a day/week whether or not you see fuzz on the carpet?) **

Mostly as needed. If we skip something one week we don’t feel guilty about it. If it needed it we would have done it, but tasks don’t always need doing.

**Does it bother you if something is out of place, even if the house isn’t messy? Ex: a book laying on the coffee table instead of the bookshelf. **

Not until the number of things lying around reaches a critical mass. Then I start getting crabby, which prompts my husband to tidy up and me to then feel guilty about him cleaning without me so I start helping.

How clean would you consider your house on a scale of 1-10, and how clean would you like it to be?

I think it’s about an 8 on the neatness scale most days, but can go as low as a 3 on bad days/lazy weekends. On the cleanliness scale, probably about a 6. No visible dirt but we don’t exactly sanitize the place.

I’d like the cat hair to disappear magically on its own, and then I could keep things at an 8 all the time. Unless that means using “antibacterial” products, which I won’t do.

8

  1. Who lives in your house? My husband, my daughter and I and three cats

  2. In general, how often do you (or your spouse/kids/housekeeper…):

  3. Vacuum your carpets: 1-2 times a week

  4. shampoo/steam clean the carpets Almost never

  5. Sweep the floors 1-2 times a week

  6. Mop the floors 1-2 times a month

  7. Wax the floors never, Ceramic tile doesn’t need to be waxed

  8. Clean the tub around once a month (though I should do it more often)

  9. Clean under the furniture easy to move stuff whenever we vacuum, heavy hard to move stuff never.

  10. Have the couches/curtains etc cleaned Curtains go in the laundry twice a year, couch gets spot cleaned only

  11. Wash the walls - Never

  12. Clean the stove/refrigerator/dishwasher when they start looking grimy but not more than once a month

  13. Do general dusting of shelves, electronics, knicknacks etc. about twice a month

  14. How often will you leave clean dishes in the dishwasher/dishrack the dishwasher gets emptied every day to make room for new dirty dishes.
    12b. leave clean clothes in the dryer/hamper? All the time, the last load frequently gets forgotten in there for a couple of days.

  15. Leave a full load of dirty dishes in the dishwasher/sink dirty dishes never sit for more than half a day.

Are you an “as needed” cleaner, or do you have a list of things that you do at a scheduled time regardless of how the area looks (ex: do you vacuum once a day/week whether or not you see fuzz on the carpet?)

As needed.

Does it bother you if something is out of place, even if the house isn’t messy? Ex: a book laying on the coffee table instead of the bookshelf.

Not at all

How clean would you consider your house on a scale of 1-10, and how clean would you like it to be?

My house is quite tidy (maybe an 8) but really clean probably more like 6.

I’d love for it to be a bit more clean but lack the time and energy to scrub any more than I do.

9

  1. Who lives in your house? 2 adults and two kids, 8 & 10

  2. In general, how often do you (or your spouse/kids/housekeeper…):

  3. Vacuum your carpets Weekly

  4. shampoo/steam clean the carpets Annually

  5. Sweep the floors weekly or twice weekly (more often in the kitchen)

  6. Mop the floors weekly

  7. Wax the floors never

  8. Clean the tub weekly

  9. Clean under the furniture depends. If you have to move the furniture to clean under it, annually. Nobody sees it anyway.

  10. Have the couches/curtains etc cleaned Have never done but every year at most would seem reasonable

  11. Wash the walls as needed

  12. Clean the stove/refrigerator/dishwasher as needed, probably quarterly

  13. Do general dusting of shelves, electronics, knicknacks etc. weekly

  14. How often will you leave clean dishes in the dishwasher/dishrack dishwasher gets emptied within 2 hours of finishing a load
    12b. leave clean clothes in the dryer/hamper? clean clothes are folded and put away same day

  15. Leave a full load of dirty dishes in the dishwasher/sink we run the dishwasher when it’s full, 3-4 times a week

Are you an “as needed” cleaner, or do you have a list of things that you do at a scheduled time regardless of how the area looks (ex: do you vacuum once a day/week whether or not you see fuzz on the carpet?) As needed.

Does it bother you if something is out of place, even if the house isn’t messy? Ex: a book laying on the coffee table instead of the bookshelf. Nothing bothers me.

How clean would you consider your house on a scale of 1-10, and how clean would you like it to be? Cleanliness is an 8, but I wish it was as neat as it is clean. The kids mess stuff up faster than we can straighten it out.

10

1. Who lives in your house?
Me and my two cats.

**2. In general, how often do you (or your spouse/kids/housekeeper…):

  1. Vacuum your carpets**
    Once a week, or whenever one of the cats has tracked or kicked litter everywhere. I can’t really go more than a week without vacuuming; both my cats are longhairs and shed like crazy, and eventually little tumbleweeds of cat hair start drifting around the apartment.

2. shampoo/steam clean the carpets
I haven’t yet had this done, though I know it was done before I moved into the apartment about 2 years ago. The logistics of penning up the cats and clearing all the clutter out of the way have thus far prevented it from happening.

3. Sweep the floors
About once a week.

4. Mop the floors
Only when there’s a spill of something that requires mopping up.

5. Wax the floors
Never.

6. Clean the tub
I try to do this every few months, but my very hard and occasionally rusty water ensures that it only stays clean for about a week before the ring comes back.

7. Clean under the furniture
Almost never. Only the cats can see under there, and they don’t care about dust.

8. Have the couches/curtains etc cleaned
No couches or curtains in my apartment.

9. Wash the walls
The hell?

10. Clean the stove/refrigerator/dishwasher
Whenever it’s dirty.

11. Do general dusting of shelves, electronics, knicknacks etc.
Rarely; I don’t mind dust, and there’s usually so much crap piled up on shelves that dusting wouldn’t accomplish much.

12. How often will you leave clean dishes in the dishwasher/dishrack
Until I acquire some dirty dishes that then need to be placed in the dishwasher.

12b. leave clean clothes in the dryer/hamper?
No washer/dryer in my apt., so n/a.

13. Leave a full load of dirty dishes in the dishwasher/sink
Dirty dishes don’t sit in the sink, but go straight into the dishwasher, which however is only run when there’s a full load accumulated.

Are you an “as needed” cleaner, or do you have a list of things that you do at a scheduled time regardless of how the area looks (ex: do you vacuum once a day/week whether or not you see fuzz on the carpet?)
As-needed, for the most part. If something looks dirty, I’ll clean it.

Does it bother you if something is out of place, even if the house isn’t messy? Ex: a book laying on the coffee table instead of the bookshelf.
Neat, orderly houses are something I’ve only seen on TV and at relatives’ houses. My branch of the family got the “clutter” gene, it appears, and all of my friends are the same way.

How clean would you consider your house on a scale of 1-10, and how clean would you like it to be?[
Probably a 7. It’s cluttered as hell, but I do make a point of cleaning up any organic debris.

11
  1. Who lives in your house? Me, husband, TWIN TODDLERS, 3 barfy cats

In general, how often do you (or your spouse/kids/housekeeper…):

  1. Vacuum your carpets
    Once or twice/week

  2. shampoo/steam clean the carpets
    I do a few portions every month or two

  3. Sweep the floors
    Quarterly (apprx)

  4. Mop the floors
    Quarterly (apprx)

  5. Wax the floors
    Do what?

  6. Clean the tub
    Quarterly (apprx)

  7. Clean under the furniture
    As I’m doing other sweeping (I always end up moving furniture to get at the Cheerios)

  8. Have the couches/curtains etc cleaned
    I’ve steam-cleaned our couch a couple of times. We don’t have any curtains. The mini-blinds need to be thoroughly dusted about twice/year.

  9. Wash the walls
    Whenever the kids get loose w/crayons in hand (no time for thorough cleaning).

  10. Clean the stove/refrigerator/dishwasher
    Frequent wiping; no time for a thorough cleaning

  11. Do general dusting of shelves, electronics, knicknacks etc.
    Before my Aunt shows up.

  12. How often will you leave clean dishes in the dishwasher/dishrack
    I do a load of dishes every single day, sometimes twice/day.

12b. leave clean clothes in the dryer/hamper?
We do 12 loads of laundry/week, but I only put away maybe twice/week, so stuff sits in the laundry room quite frequently.

  1. Leave a full load of dirty dishes in the dishwasher/sink
    It’s surprising how difficult it is for me to keep the sink clear - there’s usually something there.
    Are you an “as needed” cleaner, or do you have a list of things that you do at a scheduled time regardless of how the area looks (ex: do you vacuum once a day/week whether or not you see fuzz on the carpet?)

I’m “as needed”, although now that the kids are in nursery school for two afternoons/week, I am working my way through a mental list of to-do’s.
Does it bother you if something is out of place, even if the house isn’t messy? Ex: a book laying on the coffee table instead of the bookshelf.

I do a 5:00 sweep on the living room & make it completely orderly, so that Husband can come home to at least one non-chaotic spot. The rest of the house is up for grabs.
How clean would you consider your house on a scale of 1-10, and how clean would you like it to be?

Now, I know of some truly filthy people (well, one person - my MIL) so my “1” is pretty doggone low. I’d say we’re about a 6, and I’d like to be an 8 when we have guests over. No desire to reach “10” status, though.

I liked XJETGIRLX’s answer about cleaning walls - “When we move” :p. My cousin’s a neatnik, despite having a daughter the same age as my kids. When she used to come over for “playdates”, she’d frickin clean my kitchen! She was looking at the drip pans under the burners & asked me when I clean them. I’m like, when we need the deposit back.

12

You need a dog. When one of my cats barfs, the dog ‘cleans’ it up. Gross, I know, but she does a really good job.

13

It’s just me, in my three room with kitchen and bath apartment.

  1. Vacuum your carpets
    Twice a month, or when I notice they are dirty.

  2. shampoo/steam clean the carpets
    Maybe every three months.

  3. Sweep the floors
    Never. I pick up things when I notice them.

  4. Mop the floors
    Once a week.

  5. Wax the floors
    Do what?

  6. Clean the tub
    Once a week

  7. Clean under the furniture
    Do what?

  8. Have the couches/curtains etc cleaned
    I have none. I clean my window blinds about once a month.

  9. Wash the walls
    I clean spots as soon as they happend.

  10. Clean the stove/refrigerator/dishwasher
    No dishwasher. I clean the frig once a month, and use a cookie sheet whenever I bake so I don’t have to clean the stove. If something spills, I put salt on it and wipe it up immediately!

  11. Do general dusting of shelves, electronics, knicknacks etc.
    When I notice it needs to be done.

  12. How often will you leave clean dishes in the dishwasher/dishrack
    I store clean dishes in the dishrack. Why not?

12b. leave clean clothes in the dryer/hamper?
I go to the laudromat, so never.

  1. Leave a full load of dirty dishes in the dishwasher/sink
    Absolutely never. I cannot stand dirty dishes.
14

Who lives in your house?
My husband and me
**
In general, how often do you (or your spouse/kids/housekeeper…) vacuum your carpets**
Once a week

Shampoo/steam clean the carpets
Oh, man, we just did this for the first time last month after having lived in our house for 3 years. Does that make me gross?
**
Sweep the floors**
Once a week
**
Mop the floors**
Once a week

Wax the floors
Never

Clean the tub
Once a week
**
Clean under the furniture**
When we move the furniture
**
Have the couches/curtains etc cleaned**
I wash the curtains maybe once a year. I’ve never had the couches cleaned.

Wash the walls
Before we paint

Clean the stove/refrigerator/dishwasher
The stovetop and counters get wiped down every night. I try to clean the refrigerator inside and out every 3 months or so.
**
Do general dusting of shelves, electronics, knicknacks etc.**
Once every couple of weeks

How often will you leave clean dishes in the dishwasher/dishrack?
I try to put them away once the dishwasher is done.
**
Leave clean clothes in the dryer/hamper?**
Occasionally, a load of dry clothes will stay in the dryer for a few days. I try to put them away as soon as they finish, though.

Leave a full load of dirty dishes in the dishwasher/sink?
Never overnight. I cannot go to sleep with a sink full of dirty dishes.

Are you an “as needed” cleaner, or do you have a list of things that you do at a scheduled time regardless of how the area looks?
I work half-days on Fridays, so I spend Friday afternoons cleaning house. I’ve got a routine down.

Does it bother you if something is out of place, even if the house isn’t messy? **
A few things out of place don’t bother me. Clutter, clothes, and dirty dishes scattered everywhere do.
**
How clean would you consider your house on a scale of 1-10, and how clean would you like it to be?
I’d give my house a 7. I’d like it to be a 10, but I don’t have the time or energy, and my husband doesn’t care what the house looks like.

15

The last three questions:

Are you an “as needed” cleaner, or do you have a list of things that you do at a scheduled time regardless of how the area looks?
As needed, but I do some things like frig cleaning Saturday night.

Does it bother you if something is out of place, even if the house isn’t messy?
A few things out of place don’t bother me. Clutter, clothes, and dirty dishes scattered everywhere do.

How clean would you consider your house on a scale of 1-10, and how clean would you like it to be?
A 5. Messiness doesn’t really bother me; dirt does.

16

1. Who lives in your house? Me, my husband and two cats

**In general, how often do you (or your spouse/kids/housekeeper…):

  1. Vacuum your carpets**
    As needed - which works out to about twice a month. We don’t have that much carpet.

2. shampoo/steam clean the carpets
Never! Although we just got new carpet, but the answer is still never.

3. Sweep the floors
As needed - the kitchen at least twice a month, the basement floor more like once every other.

4. Mop the floors
Not very often. I clean up spills as they happen, lest they get sticky. Sticky floors + bare feet = evil.

5. Wax the floors
I’m sorry, people do this?

6. Clean the tub
At least once a month.

7. Clean under the furniture
Depends on the furniature! The dining room table, coffee tables, etc as I vacuum, chairs, couches, etc. - never

8. Have the couches/curtains etc cleaned
The couch has a blanket tossed over it - that gets washed once a month or so. The curtains are new (with the carpets) and I plan to wash them once a year or so.

9. Wash the walls
Barring random accidental spillage on the wall, never.

10. Clean the stove/refrigerator/dishwasher
The stove gets cleaned in the General Kitchen Cleansing, which happens probably twice a week. Spills cleaned as they happen. The fridge gets it about twice a year. The dishwasher, nevah! (See above comment on walls)

11. Do general dusting of shelves, electronics, knicknacks etc.
I loathe dusting. This happens immediately before my mother visits. So once a year.

12. How often will you leave clean dishes in the dishwasher/dishrack
In practice, clean dishes live in the dishwasher until the next time I do dishes.

12b. leave clean clothes in the dryer/hamper?
I try not to do this. Prevent wrinkling and all that. It still happens once in a while, but mostly, clothes are removed and folded upon completion of dryer cycle.

13. Leave a full load of dirty dishes in the dishwasher/sink
A full load, not often. There is almost always a dish or two in the sink though. Rinsed off, but hanging out in the sink waiting for the next dishwasher cycle (3 times a week, more or less).
Are you an “as needed” cleaner, or do you have a list of things that you do at a scheduled time regardless of how the area looks (ex: do you vacuum once a day/week whether or not you see fuzz on the carpet?)

As needed all the way, baby.

Does it bother you if something is out of place, even if the house isn’t messy? Ex: a book laying on the coffee table instead of the bookshelf.

Erm no. There is very little actual dirt/filth in our house, but lots of clutter. Two readers, with paraphrenalia-laden hobbies, cats who regard any small object as a toy to be left in random locations, and a total failure of filing system = clutter.
How clean would you consider your house on a scale of 1-10, and how clean would you like it to be?

Eh, we hang out at around a 6, with dips as low as 4 if we’ve been feeling lazy or life has been particularly hectic and peaks as high as 8 if one of our mothers is expected to visit. There’s always clutter, but very little actual filth (although my bathroom needs cleaning at the moment - that’ll be tonight or tomorrow probably!). There’s nothing actually unsanitary, but it’s not tidy either. The house stays at my preferred level of cleanliness, as I do the vast majority of the housework. This is because my husband (bless his soul) does not notice the impending need for cleanliness. If I ask him specifically to do something, he will cheerfully comply, but left to his own devices it’ll never cross his mind that cleaning should happen.

17

1. Who lives in your house?
Me, my girlfriend, and a chihuahua
**2. In general, how often do you (or your spouse/kids/housekeeper…):

  1. Vacuum your carpets**
    No carpets
    2. shampoo/steam clean the carpets
    See above
    3. Sweep the floors
    Maybe once a month.
    4. Mop the floors
    Immediately after sweeping, always
    5. Wax the floors
    What is this “wax” of which you speak? (Ours are polyurethaned and don’t get waxed)
    6. Clean the tub
    Once a week with Clorox and heavy scrubbing
    7. Clean under the furniture
    Every 9 months or so?
    8. Have the couches/curtains etc cleaned
    We have no curtains, only blinds. Never cleaned a couch.
    9. Wash the walls
    We don’t wash walls. Walls get painted once a decade or so I guess.
    10. Clean the stove/refrigerator/dishwasher
    Stove: every 5-6 weeks
    Fridge: manual defrost and wipedown w soda every 3-4 months
    Dishwasher: they need cleaning? Who knew?
    11. Do general dusting of shelves, electronics, knicknacks etc.
    She does. I do floors and laundry. I don’t dust or pick up clutter. Dunno how often she does it, really.
    12. How often will you leave clean dishes in the dishwasher/dishrack
    We don’t have a diskrack, manually washed go straight to cabinet
    Dishwasher: sometimes until there are dirties that need to go in, then we have to unload — maybe up to 24 hours sometimes.
    12b. leave clean clothes in the dryer/hamper?
    Dryer is in the basement & shared w/ other apt residents. They’d be on the floor.
    Never leave them in the hamper. Half the contents of closet floor have to come out to get to the freaking hamper, leaving a sprawling mess on the floor.
    13. Leave a full load of dirty dishes in the dishwasher/sink
    Sometimes half a day in the dishwasher, waiting for a full load’s worth.
    A few hours in the sink but not often.

**Are you an “as needed” cleaner, or do you have a list of things that you do at a scheduled time regardless of how the area looks (ex: do you vacuum once a day/week whether or not you see fuzz on the carpet?) **
A mixture. We both hate bathroom duty so we stick to schedule or it wouldn’t get done. Other things are dictated by when receptacles (hamper, dishwasher) run out of room or some threshold of slovenliness is exceeded (doghair tufts in floor start to bark on their own)

**Does it bother you if something is out of place, even if the house isn’t messy? Ex: a book laying on the coffee table instead of the bookshelf. **
That’s so totally her job. I don’t notice clutter until it falls on me, and can’t figure out where to put things if I do. We worked that out a long time ago. She hates the hot humid laundry room so laundry is mine. And I cook. Deal.

How clean would you consider your house on a scale of 1-10, and how clean would you like it to be?

I have no complaints overall except the
[TMI] … mold in the bathroom. It’s gross and disgusting and very hard to keep at bay. I’ve scrubbed it with pure Clorox until my hands were slippery and pruney, then with dilute, then with commercial mildew-resistant wallscrub stuff. It comes right back. Grows on the ceiling, the newly painted walls, the guaranteed mold-free synthetic tiles in the tub liner, the bath mat, the tub under the bath mat, the stainless steel handicap bar, the towel racks, mirror, window, light fixture, porcelain of the toilet, ewwww[/TMI]

18

Who lives in my apartment: Me, Mr. Neville, and the two Neville kitties.

  1. Vacuum: As needed (this usually means there is something dangerous like broken glass around), and the housekeeper who comes every two weeks does it. We spot clean with Nature’s Miracle if there is a cat-related incident that affects the carpet.

  2. Shampoo/steam clean carpets: Never.

  3. Sweep the floors: As needed (usually translates to “the floors feel gritty and the housekeeper isn’t coming soon”), and the housekeeper does it when she comes.

  4. Mop the floors: As needed (when the floor is sticky or there is a spill) and when the housekeeper comes.

  5. Wax the floors: Never. I would have no idea how to do this if I wanted to.

  6. Clean the tub: The housekeeper does it.

  7. Clean under the furniture: Never, unless something shows from outside.

  8. Have couches/curtains cleaned: Never, though I’m starting to think maybe I should get the bedroom curtains cleaned, because maybe they’re triggering my allergies. But it would be such a pain to do… We sometimes run the Dirt Devil over the couch cushions to clean off the cat hair if guests are coming (which is rare). The housekeeper dusts the blinds- I can’t, that really sets off my allergies.

  9. Wash the walls: Never.

  10. Clean the stove/refrigerator/dishwasher: The housekeeper cleans the stove. If there is a lot of gunk left in the dishwasher after a load of dishes, Mr. Neville will sometimes clean it out (I’m too short to easily reach back there). If the dishwasher seems to need it, I will run it for a cycle with no dishes in it. The refrigerator, dishwasher, and oven get cleaned every year as part of pre-Passover cleaning.

  11. General dusting: On alternate sightings of Halley’s Comet, and let it be said for the record that I dusted in 1986 :smiley: I try to avoid collecting knick-knacks, because two klutzy humans and two curious cats live in our apartment.

12a. Clean dishes in the dishwasher: I leave them there, unless there is some reason I need to unload it, because loading the dishwasher is my job and putting dishes away is Mr. Neville’s job (he’s better than me at remembering where things go and putting the glass dishes away in the cabinet such that they won’t fall out). I usually ask him to do it within a day or so of running the dishwasher, though it might not get done for another day or so (he’s forgetful, as am I).

12b. Clean clothes in the dryer: Clean clothes usually stay in the dryer until I need the dryer for another load of clothes.

  1. Leave a full load of dirty dishes in the sink: Lots, because we have two sets of dishes (meat and dairy) that can’t be washed together. I try not to run the dishwasher partially full, so I wait until I’ve got a full load of one or the other (or we need to clear out a sink for something) to put them in the dishwasher. I do make sure that the sink gets emptied of all dishes before the housekeeper comes.

We’re very much “as-needed” cleaners.

Not only do things out of place not bother me, there is almost never a time when something isn’t out of place in our apartment (because we’d need a mansion to have enough bookshelves for all of our books), and I don’t understand people who are bothered by this sort of thing.

I’d say we’re probably about a 5. There are books everywhere, and cat hair, but we’re pretty good at cleaning up messes involving food, and a little cat hair never hurt anyone (well, unless they’re allergic, but we don’t let people who are allergic to cats into our apartment or my car for their own protection).

19

Me, my SO and our cat.

  1. Vacuum your carpets - about once a week - when needed or if we have company
  2. shampoo/steam clean the carpets - never/when we’re selling the place
  3. Sweep the floors - about once a week
  4. Mop the floors - about once a month
  5. Wax the floors - never
  6. Clean the tub - about once a week
  7. Clean under the furniture - same time I vacuum
  8. Have the couches/curtains etc cleaned - never
  9. Wash the walls - never
  10. Clean the stove/refrigerator/dishwasher - about once every two months; stove more often
  11. Do general dusting of shelves, electronics, knicknacks etc. - about once a month
  12. How often will you leave clean dishes in the dishwasher/dishrack - do you mean how long? Never more than about 12 hours.
    12b. leave clean clothes in the dryer/hamper? - don’t have a dryer, so never
  13. Leave a full load of dirty dishes in the dishwasher/sink - never

As-needed. Any other way seems a bit OCD to me.

I don’t mind things being out of place. My SO (from a diagnosed OCD family) gets pissed off by it.

House is about a 7 or an 8 in cleanliness. I’m perfectly happy with it, thought less kitty dust bunnies would be handy.

20

Oh, this is depressing. I am a house slave.

  1. Who lives in your house?
    Husband, myself, 5 kids (2-11) dog, guinea pig

  2. Vacuum your carpets
    5 times a week

  3. Sweep the floors
    5 times a week

  4. Mop the floors
    Twice a month, hands and knees scrubbing, otherwise just spot cleaning.

  5. Wax the floors
    Never

  6. Clean the tub
    Twice a month

  7. Clean under the furniture
    Once/twice a month

  8. Have the couches/curtains etc cleaned
    Rarely

  9. Wash the walls
    I paint the walls from about 3’ down approximately 5-6 times a year.

  10. Clean the stove/refrigerator/dishwasher
    Wipe up several times a day, clean stove inside maybe once a year, clean fridge inside maybe 2 times a year.

  11. Do general dusting of shelves, electronics, knicknacks etc.
    As needed.

  12. How often will you leave clean dishes in the dishwasher/dishrack
    Couple of hours.

12b. leave clean clothes in the dryer/hamper?
Do laundry everyday.

  1. Leave a full load of dirty dishes in the dishwasher/sink
    It happens but never more than for half a day.

I am an as needed cleaner, for the most part, but really, there is always something that needs to be done.

Unless I trip on it, it smells, is on fire, is dripping, can be considered waste byproducts I can ignore it. Hate clutter however.

7