when you clean do you need an empty house?

[miss missy]

I just can't clean when my family is here I can get so much when they are out LOL. Is it just me?

 

[Southern4sure]

Yup, I'm the same way. I'm taking a break from cleaning ds #2 room. I have 2 large bags and a toy box full to haul off. Ds #1 room is next, then I can start on my regular cleaning of the house and laundry.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Not only do I like it to be empty when I clean, I like for it to stay that way when I'm done.

It's the only way I can keep it clean!

 

[ducklite]

Wow! I thought it was some little idiosyncracy that I alone possessed! Count me into the "cleans best when alone" gang!

Anne

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

It is NOT just you. I hate trying to clean with the kids around. They undo things as fast as I do them, and my husband is just as bad. I can accomplish ten times as much when I'm home alone!

 

[Sandy V.]

Add me to the list. It's the only way that it will STAY clean for more than 30 minutes!!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

So who cleans their house really, really good before they leave for vacation?

I do, and I sure hope the robbers enjoy it, because as soon as we're back, it's trashed again.

It's probably one of the dumbest things I do.

 

[korbbec]

Yeah, me too. When DBF is home he will try to "help" me, which usually means walking around aimlessly, staring at what I am doing and moving the same item around the room several times until he is happy with its placement. Even when he does actually clean, it drives me crazy to see because he doesn't do it like I would. I do appreciate the thought, but I usually end up aggravated- like he thinks he is getting credit for doing dishes when all he really did was run them under hot water and pass a sponge (minus dish soap) over the top surface. I always end up doing them again... at least he tries and wants to help.

 

[miss missy]

Wow! I thought it was some little idiosyncracy that I alone possessed! Count me into the "cleans best when alone" gang!

Anne

YAY its not just me! I thought I was a witch to be that way!

 

[korbbec]

So who cleans their house really, really good before they leave for vacation?

I do, and I sure hope the robbers enjoy it, because as soon as we're back, it's trashed again.

It's probably one of the dumbest things I do.

I do this too. I have a friend or relative coming over to feed our cats/fish and who knows what corner they might have to dig a hiding pet out of, so I have to. We are not usually the cleanest people so it is a good thing.

 

[taximomfor4]

Yes, yes, yes. I WISH DH would take the kids and visit grandma, so I can really get down to it!

DH just cleans by stacking everything. SO on top of the table, counter, and end table, there is a GIANT stack of stuff. Magazines, his mail, his pay stubs, the book he's reading, his gradebook, etc. SOOOOOOOO aggravating. I keep telling him that the only way to keep the place straightened is to have a home for everything, and for everything to go to its home. He thinks if the floor is cleared., the house is clean. He also thinks the floor is clean if he swiped a mop over it (which merely polishes the dried-on froot loops to a lovely sheen).

Beth

 

[miss missy]

And lets not forget how you can crank the music and really get cleaning!

 

[dreamcometrue]

I'm the same way!! I often tell my DH to take the kids out on the weekend so I can clean! The worst is when DH is off for a week or so, I get NOTHING done and it drives me nuts! He is constantly in the way! He is worse than the kids. If I tell the kids to stay out of my way, they know I mean business. DH doesn't get it!

 

[Southern4sure]

So who cleans their house really, really good before they leave for vacation?

I do, and I sure hope the robbers enjoy it, because as soon as we're back, it's trashed again.

It's probably one of the dumbest things I do.

I do I do! All this time dh had me convinced I was the only nut to do this. It is comforting to know I'm not alone.

 

[mickeyfan2]

DH and I love to clean together. Even better is when DH is cleaning and I am not.

 

[NMAmy]

Nah, I like to have them home to make them help. Why should I have all the fun?

DH is great about helping--the 16 yo requires a bit of persuasion. I'd much rather have help and be done sooner than stress that someone is doing it differently than I do.

 

[Southern4sure]

DH and I love to clean together. Even better is when DH is cleaning and I am not.

You enjoy rubbing that in huh?.....

 

[It's A Happy Day]

So who cleans their house really, really good before they leave for vacation?

I do, and I sure hope the robbers enjoy it, because as soon as we're back, it's trashed again.

It's probably one of the dumbest things I do.

I do, I do I don't think it's dumb either. I do NOT want to come back from vacation to a house I look at and think "I HAVE to clean that!" I like to be able to walk in, sit down and think good, 24 hours till I have to go back to work - be it my job, housework, whatnot.

I also do better cleaning when noone is home but that rarely happens so I do my cleaning at night after everyone else is in bed, then I sit down and have a cup of coffee/tea and watch TV for a little while....peace and quiet

 

[Luv'sTink]

So who cleans their house really, really good before they leave for vacation?

I do, and I sure hope the robbers enjoy it, because as soon as we're back, it's trashed again.

It's probably one of the dumbest things I do.

Umm that's ME!! I do not like coming home to a messy house.

 

[kaddjr]

It really depends. DH is really good about helping around the house, but he has to be in the mood to do it. When he is, we get so much done. My kids are the same way. DH was off the week of Christmas and one day I woke up to him and the kids cleaning the kitchen cabinet doors. Another day, I went shopping. Came home to find that he had moved an antique chest to our bedroom, moved his roll-top desk to the dining room, vaccumed our bedroom, cleaned his side of the closet, and changed the light bulbs in the ceiling that were too high for me to reach. Then he went out and bought me a table so I had a place other than the kitchen table to scrap at.

When DH isn't in the mood to help, his hiney is in his chair most of the day and I feel like I can't get anything done. Then I usually wait until he's at work and the kids are in school to clean.

Oh, and I'm one of those that likes to do a real good cleaning before we leave for vacation. I can't stand to come home to a dirty house and feel like I have to start cleaning right away. When DH and I were first married and we both worked, I'd take part of a day off work before we went out of town and have a cleaning service come in. I'd have them do every room except the kitchen (I did that myself). It was great! I didn't have to stress about getting it done before we left or after we got home.