I Clean.

The orange peelings lie thin and curly on the cutting board, ready to be discarded. My knife cuts through the thick carrots quickly, and I stow a few sticks in each lunchbox before I take the rest to the refrigerator. I rinse off the celery and place it on my board. I cut it and put it away. Next comes an apple, and then I make sandwiches, one salami and one cheese, and I cut the crusts off.

Clean.

celery

The tables at preschool need to be sprayed with a bleach solution and wiped clean before snack time. Then sixteen little bodies walk in a line to wash hands. I help turn on the faucet, squirt soap on ten little fingers and help them make soap bubbles. Rinsed and dried, we traipse back to the classroom.

Clean.

Back home, I sweep cereal off of the floor and wipe off the table. Sometimes the breakfast dishes don’t make it into the dishwasher until lunchtime. Then I add the soap, press the start button, and listen to the swishing and swashing as I go about the house, doing other housewifely things.

Clean.

How do I spend the whole day cleaning, and yet my house is a cluttered mess?

Look, for example, at my dresser.

messy dresser

Just look at it! I have been meaning to clean it off for months. Today was the day I tackled it.

clean dresser

Ah. That’s so much better.

Except for one thing.

I moved most of the stuff over here.

messy cabinet

Not clean.

Spin Cycle at Second Blooming

I’m linking up at The Spin Cycle today! Why not try your own Spin?

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19 Replies to “I Clean.”

  1. I love it that you cleaned your dresser by moving all the stuff to another place and just leaving them there. That's so me!

  2. Yes….fighting clutter is a never-ending-battle, isn't it?

    My grandmother used to say, "A place for everything, and everything in its place"!
    I think she was on to something ; )

  3. Oh yeah, that desk situation looks very familiar! I've only lived here two months and already my desk starts to resemble anything but a desk! I will have to tidy it up soon!
    My recent post Russia

  4. The thing that has helped the clutter situation in our home is a "one thing in, one thing out rule". Makes me really evaluate if I need that new sweater or lamp if I have to choose something to give away.
    My recent post Vision

  5. I can definitely relate to your post. A few years ago I was a preschool teacher. I loved my job. I remember how much cleaning was involved though. I'll decide to tackle a few things at home and think I've really accomplished something. I look around the house and ask myself exactly what i did do because I see more messes. The other day my teenage daughter decided she wanted to clean. (This only happens every few months.) She cleaned the kitchen and minutes later family members were messing it up. She said to me, "How do you keep things clean?' Mom, I don't know how you do it." Music to my ears. Thanks for sharing!

  6. Hahaha, I can totally relate to you. I'll "clean" out my closet, but just move all the stuff in it to another room. Ugh, the nasty cycle that is cleaning. Loving your post, and stopping by from SITS Sharefest! I'm glad I stumbled upon you, and I'm looking forward to your updates. Feel free to stop by and say hello if you get the chance 🙂 Have a great weekend!!!

    xo,
    Steph
    Diary of a Debutante
    <a&gt <a href="http://;www.stephanieziajka.blogspot.com” target=”_blank”>;www.stephanieziajka.blogspot.com
    My recent post &quot;Anything is possible with sunshine and a little pink.&quot;- Lilly Pulitzer

  7. Thanks for the comment on my blog! A woman's work is never done, there is always more to clean.

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