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About Housekeeping

12/27/2015

18 Comments

 
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​As Mr. Rogers liked to say, today was a beautiful day in the neighborhood.
 
Here in our sweet little beach town, the sun was shining (but not too hot) and a breeze was blowing (but not too windy).  It would have been the perfect time to grab a cup of coffee at the café adjacent to our pier; take a hike along the ocean bluffs just north of us, or even head to the library for some reading.    
 
I washed my kitchen floor. 
 
Maybe that’s because this particular routine often ends up being quiet and mindful.
 
It begins like this: the trash and recycle wastebaskets are taken out and emptied from their custom drawer.  Next, before returning the bins to their place, I clean the inside, and then the baskets themselves, all with warm lemony detergent and a dash of bleach.  Everything is then dried with a clean dish towel, and the trash container gets a fresh white liner.  
 
Next up are the speckled linoleum tiles.
 
The starting step is a thorough sweeping, which involves a whisk broom for tricky corners, and a regular sized broom for the rest of the room.  I’ll then get one of my used-expressly-for-this-purpose, old toothbrushes to retrieve the infinite dust balls and dog hairs that multiply underneath the stove, refrigerator and dishwasher.  Then, sweeping again.
 
Now comes the main event.
 
With a bucket of new lemony suds at my side, I get down on my hands and knees and scrub every square inch of floor, as well as the baseboards.  Depending on the level of grime, I’ll change the bucket three or four times.  Finally, for the piece de la resistance, I retrieve a trusty Swifter mop for one last polish.  
 
The whole routine takes a little more than an hour, and it’s done twice a month.
 
It might surprise you to know that I’ve never, ever, felt like I’ve wasted my time.    
 
Indeed, after the floor is shiny and somewhat new looking, smelling so clean with a hint of bleach, my barefoot feet
do a celebratory happy dance around the kitchen.   If my toes could sing, they’d be warbling a very happy tune right about now. 
 
I can’t really explain why the whole experience makes me feel so good, except that there’s something about keeping my house spic and span that also, somehow, feeds my soul. 
 
In an odd way, it’s a meditative experience.  Too, it doesn’t hurt that after the cleaning is done, there’s a real sense of purpose and accomplishment, much more so than a stroll on the beach could ever accomplish.   
 
As it turns out, I’m not alone in this thinking. 
 
Indeed, there’s an ancient deity supporting me all the way.
 
The Greeks called her Hestia, and 3,000 years ago, she was the virgin goddess of the hearth, as well as guardian of family life and the temple. 
 
As a way of worshipping her, women of that day turned to Hestia for inspiration, transforming their dwellings into homes of beauty and comfort.  And even though Zeus—the King of all of the Gods—allowed Hestia to sit in of the center of his celestial home so that she might receive the best gifts from common mortals, she never had a human form. 
 
Rather, her presence was an eternal flame burning on a round hearth.  If we choose to seek some sort of spiritual encounter with her today, we might open ourselves to Hestia’s calm, orderly and peaceful presence, especially when presented with mundane tasks that involve our homes.       
 
As a matter of fact, if Hestia could have a BFF right now, she would probably be Cheryl Mendelson, author of
Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House.  An instant classic when it was first published in 1999,
this encyclopedic tome (there are more than 800 pages) remains the go-to book that tells you everything--really everything—about housekeeping. 
 
It’s in here that you’ll find not just a chapter on cleaning kitchen appliances, but a glossary of sanitizers and disinfectants.  There are many illustrations demonstrating the correct way to fold tablecloths and socks (there are three methods), as well as a template on proper clothesline hanging.  Basic home sewing, which includes a comprehensive list of what goes into a sewing basket, gets space, too, and of course, the proper care and maintenance of floors, including stone, cord and wood. 
 
Mendelson is absolutely on to something. 
 
Because while cleaning my home makes me feel good, it turns out that living in a clean home is pretty darn good for
​me, too.  
 
There are the obvious reasons, of course.
 
Regular cleaning greatly reduces the presence of dust and other allergens, which can help those with allergies and respiratory problems literally breathe easier.  Sanitizing surfaces prevents bacteria from growing, and simply tidying up and organizing a bit ensures the chance of less injuries.  And let’s not forget that sweeping, mopping and vacuuming all
burn calories.
 
But consistent housecleaning is also good for one’s heart and soul—and there’s compelling research to back that up.
 
A detailed, 2013 study at the University of Indiana seems to offer proof.  Here, nearly 1000 African Americans between the ages of 49 and 65—a group with a high risk for heart disease—were tracked to compare their levels of physical activity with how clean their homes were. 
 
The scientists’ conclusion?  Those with the tidiest homes were also the healthiest and most active.  Furthermore, the study suggested that encouraging folks to maintain their home’s cleanliness might be more important than encouraging them to walk around their neighborhood on a regular basis. 
 
And while the findings were a surprise to those who led the research, a Time magazine article goes on to say that they shouldn’t have been.   The story then quotes Florence Nightingale, the pioneer of modern nursing, who once said, “The connection between health and the dwelling of the population is one of the most important that exists.” 
 
Then again, there’s that one room in my home that I don’t clean, or even venture into much.    
 
That would be The Bedroom of The Teenage Daughter.  
 
Clean and dirty clothes are intertwined and strewn on every available surface. The wastebasket is full to the brim (we once found a very jolly field mouse there), and let’s not talk about the piece of furniture littered with paper that might be a desk.  
 
Still, I am confident that one day—hopefully, sooner than later—my child will make one of my many wishes for her come true. 
 
With age and maturity, she will become more aware of how important it is—for both her mental and physical health—to live in a clean and uncluttered environment.  One day, she will realize that not only is this the best way to live, it’s also the happier way to live.    
 
Flinging her arms wide open, she will welcome Hestia to her hearth.
 
What are your thoughts about keeping house?  I look forward to hearing from you!       
 

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18 Comments
George Marshall link
12/27/2015 03:02:54 pm

Mine is always a work in progress.

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Hilary
12/27/2015 03:29:18 pm

I think that goes for most of us. But I also know how great I feel when my environment is great looking! :)

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Bev Praver link
12/27/2015 03:10:25 pm

I really shouldn't tell you this but there is only a small chance that your wish will come true. Tidiness seems to be an inborn trait. At least that has been my experience. One of my daughters had a room that no one would venture into and now here own home seems to be the same. When we go to Cleveland she always makes sure to meet us anywhere but her house. Our other daughter strives to keep her home neat, clean and tidy in spite of her 8 year old and a dog that sheds his short hair like crazy.
I, on the other hand, am somewhere between the two of them. Both my parents were very untidy people and my mother always had a cleaning lady who came a few days a week. As a result I had never even washed a load of clothes by the time I got married. But that is another story...

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Hilary
12/27/2015 03:31:43 pm

Well, I have a bit of hope, because whenever one of Katie's friends comes over to visit--and 99.9 percent of the time is hanging in her room--she does a pretty good cleaning. Last week she even vacuumed! It's crazy that less than 24 hours later, it goes back to looking like it usually does. And, like you, I'm somewhere between the two extremes most of the time. :)

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leslie spoon
12/28/2015 07:20:34 pm

Hilary That is really interesting about Hestia. I have never heard of her before. Cleaning is like therapy for me but not every day!

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Hilary
12/28/2015 09:17:04 pm

Yup, Hestia is fascinating! I first read about her in a book given me years ago... Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy. You can also Google Hestia and find out lots more!

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Susan Jordan
12/29/2015 10:49:36 pm

I love a clean, uncluttered living space. Making it so is another story, though. My living space is very small, but crowded, and I've never known quite how, but paper just finds its way to me and multiplies. I took all my sheets, pillowcases, and blankets/bed coverings to the laundromat last week, and went to sleep peacefully in a nice, clean bed. My job ends the day after tomorrow, so I'm going to use the first week in January to clean, clear, de-junk, donate, and forward stuff that's been hanging over my head for months. I know it will bring me peace. As far as getting that from housekeeping...sometimes!

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Hilary
12/30/2015 09:51:33 am

I change the sheets every two weeks, and now that it's flannel sheet season (my favorite for sleeping!), the first night in clean sheets feels SO GOOD. I'm not as good as de-junking and cleaning out as I should be, but am getting better; I just sent a 1950 edition of Black Beauty to a relative who will appreciate it much more than me, and a photo album from the 1940s to another cousin. At least it's a beginning! :)

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Cindy
12/29/2015 10:59:13 pm

I love the idea of the warm lemony soap and just getting into the zen of cleaning my floor - you've made me want to get right to it! While on a long drive a few years back I listened to a really interesting tape by a life coach who talked about messy, disorganized areas in our home or office that actually become "energy drains" on our psyche - we might not even realize it but having them drains energy from us because they cause continued indecision and stress. It feels great to dive in & organize and tidy up and stay that way as much as possible. I have that Abundance book you mentioned but never read it -- I'll take a closer look now. Great piece Hilary!

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Hilary
12/30/2015 09:56:35 am

I completely agree with that life coach! A few years back, I had my office painted, including the closet area, where I keep books and envelopes and clippings from stories I wrote. It looked so good when I began to put stuff back in that closet--because I threw out a lot of extraneous stuff as well. I need to do that again! And yes, Simple Abundance is a WONDERFUL book. It came out well before social media, so I'm sure you could find a lot of the thoughts online, but I love having it all in a book, in one place. In fact, it's one of the very few books that sits on a small shelf on my work table.

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Jerry link
12/29/2015 11:25:03 pm

Ugh, I hate cleaning... I pick up as I go along, hand scrub dishes and wipe counters after each meal, do laundry once a week, make guests remove shoes to minimize the need for sweeping/vacuuming... BUT I'm grateful for the housecleaner's arrival for heavy-duty scrubbing and mopping -- which, now that my kids are grown and out of the house, is required only once a month.. In short, I like living in a clean space, but nothing peaceful or relaxing to me about cleaning, which is pure drudgery — I’d rather be doing almost anything else!…

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Hilary
12/30/2015 10:00:27 am

We had a series of housekeepers when we had more money, and lived in a bigger house, in Cambria. They were good to excellent, but NONE did the kind of thorough cleaning on a kitchen floor that I do. When I do it myself, it's done the way I want it done. And with three BIG dogs, two of whom shed, I need to keep it that way. But it sounds like your living space is still very clean, Jerry!

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Jim Nolt
12/30/2015 06:42:33 am

Keep a clean house... or now apartment... is something I learned/inherited from my mother. And every time I thoroughly clean my kitchen or bathroom floor I think of her. I don't know if she's be pleased about that or not. So Mom, let me say that task is not the only thing that brings you to mind.

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Hilary
12/30/2015 10:02:59 am

I'm sure your mom is thrilled that she taught you to keep your kitchen and bathroom floors clean, and also knows that you think about her at other times as well! I think my mom used a vacuum and a wet mop--I don't remember her being as thorough as me... of course, we didn't have three big dogs like I do now. :)

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Jackie
2/15/2016 05:07:44 am

I don't know how my mother raised four kids, cooked meals for us every night (ordering pizza WAS a special treat, not a weekly occurrence), and cleaned our tiny, cramped house every weekend...in addition to working a part time job. Housekeeping is a gene that disappears during puberty! I have winter break from school. It's too cold to spend time outdoors. Good opportunity to coax springtime along by doing some top to bottom cleaning!

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Hilary
2/15/2016 12:54:33 pm

I don't know that housewives felt they had any other choice back then, sadly. Even when they worked! I hope that the housekeeping gene comes back to my daughter sooner than later. Re: the early spring cleaning you're about to do... think how nice your place will look and smell. :)

Larry Grant
1/1/2016 07:36:36 pm

It is such a blessing being married to the writer of this blog. Besides coming home to a clean environment, I come home to a wife who feels good about herself because of it. I'm a fortunate guy and the teenager is too. She just doesn't realize it yet.

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Hilary
1/1/2016 08:21:21 pm

Thank you. xo

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    Hilary Roberts Grant

    Journalist, editor, filmmaker, foodie--and a clown! 
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