Adding “Neatness to your Day” House Cleaning Tips
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011In the book Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Housekeeping, Cheryl Mendelson makes one of the most logical and eloquent cases for why and how to keep things neat that I’ve ever read. Mendolson’s book, published to much fanfare in 1999, is one of the most thorough, meticulous, and well-researched books on housekeeping ever published. I highly recommend it.
In the chapter on “neatening,” Mendolson explains the difference between a compulsive commitment to neatness and one that is reasonable and logical. Her concepts suggest that abandoning the Sunday morning crossword puzzle alongside an unfinished cup of coffee and your morning slippers, may not be such a bad thing. By the day’s end, it may serve as a comforting reminder of the leisurely way your day began. It will make your home look lived in. But coffee cups and slippers will turn to distraction and chaos by the next day, opening the door for even more clutter.
With this in mind, the habit of neatening and restoring your home to order in the morning and evening hours is introduced. Before you retire each evening, pick up the day’s debris. Make sure the dinner dishes have been washed, the coats have been hung in the closet, the gym bag is unpacked, and the kid’s school papers have found their rightful spot. By restoring the house to order before you retire, you awake to an orderly, organized household and you’re ready to begin the day.