Friday, March 07, 2008

Raise Your Hand

How many of you dust? Ok, how many of you move things when you dust instead of just dusting around them? I rarely dust. In fact, I can count on one hand the number of times in one year that I've dusted. Usually I wait until Rich makes some snarky comment like how he can't breathe, and, without pointing out to him that the fan he uses in our room is covered with gunk blowing into his face all night, I'll get out a baby wipe and dust some things down. FYI, baby wipes make excellent dusting cloths and they're cheaper than Swiffers. I recommend the Target brand.

Ok, now everyone who washes the windows raise your hand. Uh huh. That's what I thought. I've lived in this house for 3 and a half years and I have never washed the windows. Discounting the fact that on the outside of the windows are some pretty evil shrubberies, I've never even done the insides. When we moved Livvie's room Rich washed the insides of what were to be her windows, simply to get the cat gunk off, but that's been IT in 3 and a half years. 

Next, everyone who mops regularly raise your hand. By regularly I mean about once a week. Yeah, we don't. In fact, I can't remember the last time we actually got out the mop instead of spot wiping down the floor with damp paper towels. My method of keeping the floor clean usually is to drop something or spill something on the floor and then call Ginny over to lick it up. She does a good job. For dry stuff instead of getting out the broom I haul out the Dyson and use the bare floor setting and simply vacuum the entire kitchen. Why? Because I'm too lazy to actually use a broom and dustpan.

Ok, now, when was the last time everyone actually cleaned the baseboards? I mean REALLY cleaned them instead of just using a vacuum attachment. Yeah, I don't remember either. In fact, the last time I used even the vacuum attachment was right before the new sofa and rug arrived, because we had the furniture shifted around and could get to them. Prior to that I have no memory of cleaning them at all.

So what is all of this about? Well, it's spring cleaning time and I need another buddy. Nina and I play the Chore Game via IM where we'll set a time period of say, 15 min and each have to complete a task within the allotted time and then report back. Most of the time this involves dishes etc, but the harder tasks are accomplished in longer bites of time. Why do I need another buddy? Because I'm cheating on Nina. No, seriously, I need one because Nina is Very Busy some days and I have plenty of time to sit on my ass and surf the web when I should honestly be accomplishing something of value. The four things mentioned above are only the beginning.

So if you want to be my back-up chore buddy raise your hand. You'll have to understand that Nina comes first, but say, Tuesdays and Thursdays I'll need some help. Honestly the game is the only way I can get things done sometimes.




13 comments:

Dagny said...

heh.

I'd love to be your chore buddy, except you already know how much I suck at cleaning my house!

and my hands are stuck to my sides. If you didn't already guess.

;)

jennyquarx said...

Chores, shmores.

Zac and I just get a wild hair up our asses and go all out some days. That particular day happens to be today. I'll let you know how it goes.

Jennifer Griffin-Wiesner said...

I only dust or wash windows when my mom comes over and helps. Deep sigh.

Anonymous said...

Why would I dust with 6 longhaired cats in the house? Just make a lound noise, make them run & scatter over everything & the job is done!

Cyn said...

I mop once a week. Or at least I intend to. I must do that this week. I must, I must, I must. I do dust once a week. Not my baseboards though. I am not THAT much of a neat freak.

Michele said...

the buddy idea is a good one. I need a buddy who also works so that we can play the cleaning game in the evening or on weekends. If I didn't have to work, I would totally be your buddy Julie.

I don't dust. We moved here in 2004, and I haven't dusted the knick knack shelves since I unpacked and set them up.

I haven't done the windows since then either. And I have those windows that you are supposed to be able to tilt in for easy cleaning. I should try them sometime.

Baseboards are supposed to be dusted?

Anonymous said...

Do you have a Dyson? Because they make cleaning things a bunch of fun. Careful not to vacuum the baby tho. Even if she IS a little dusty.

I'm the odd girl out here. I likes to clean.

You can rent me for a case of beer.

Julie said...

Well I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who doesn't touch baseboards.

How about the very corners of the room? Does anyone vacuum into the tiny corners with the attachment?

I hate the attachment on the Dyson, which is the only thing I hate about it. Otherwise it's the best machine ever invented. Thanks for it Safeena!

Jen- I'll buy you 2 cases of beer if you can manage to make the windows so you can see through them again.

LizLSB said...

I've cleaned the outside of my windows probably half a dozen times in the 13 years I've lived in this house. I do clean the inside of them sometimes, if they are smudgy. I do dust, though I'm not fanatical about it. We all have problems with allergies so I try to keep the dust down to a minimum.

I'll be your buddy on the weekends if you ever need one. :)

Nina said...

I can't believe you are soliciting for new chore game friends on the internet. Is nothing sacred? Sheesh.

Michele said...

corners? isn't that what I have furniture for, to hiding the corners so I don't have to vacuum them. :)

Em said...

I mop every single day. I don't like it.

Cyn said...

I have a crappy vacuum that doesn't suck. The one thing that really should! I have been thinking of a Dyson but they are super pricy. Are they worth the money? If so I will buy one tomorrow.