Do you ever clean up/straighten your home for something other than company?
By Amber
@AmbiePam (120637)
United States
October 18, 2009 5:28pm CST
I'm not talking about the regular chores you do every day or week. See, tomorrow is my next back surgery. And after the first night I'll be coming home to my apartment (1st night I have to be with someone, so I'll be with my parents). So I spent most of this afternoon making sure everything is where it needs to be. Fresh sheets on the bed, clothes hung up in closet, vacuuming...Friday I went to the store and got many nutritional drinks and easy meals to make since I won't be going much anywhere for at least a week.
This is the same surgery I had a couple of months ago, just on a different part of my back. I wasn't prepared for the results last time. I thought it would be like the other back procdures. But it wasn't. So everything seems in order at my house right now. Growing up my mom would want the house in perfect condition before we left for vacation. Her thinking was that she'd have laundry and unpacking to do when we got back from vacation, so leaving it as nice as possible would save her some stress when we got home.
Do you clean or pick up your home for any other reason besides having company over?
10 people like this
31 responses
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
19 Oct 09
Yes Ambie I do
Specially if I have to go into Hospital like last Year, I made sure everything was straightened out
Or when I go away for a few Days I will always do everything so that it is ready for me when I come back
I hope your Surgery went well Sweetie thinking of you
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
19 Oct 09
I do that kind of thing all the time. Whenever I go out, I hate to come home to a messy house especially if I have bags of groceries that take ages to be put away. I relate to your mum’s thinking because I do exactly the same thing, could not bear to come home from a holiday to a pig sty! I am a neat freak anyway so I always clean up just to make myself happy! I did what you are doing now before I went to hospital to have a baby, I figured I would have my hands full when I got home; believe me, that’s an understatement!
Best of luck with your surgery, I hope it all goes well for you in the most painless way possible and that you will be as good as new before you know it. All the best AmbiePam!
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
21 Oct 09
She's not a baby anymore but somehow I am still very busy!
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
19 Oct 09
Dearest Ambie....it seems I am always house cleaning...LOL! Having animals does that...but I do do deep-cleaning for special occasions, like right now I am getting all my brass (too much) polished before the holiday season!
MY BIG CONCERN, right now.....IS YOU! You are in my thoughts and prayers, this is such a "horrible" time for you, and the pain that you will be goin thru, and having to take care of yourself! Sure wished I lived close...I would be there 24/7.....HANG WORK! Do you NOT have community nurses? OH AMBIE, please, please take care, and please, please let us know how you are, when you are feeling up to it! GREAT BIG....VERY GENTLE HUGZ!
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (120637)
• United States
20 Oct 09
You're such a sweet person. I'm back home today. I spent last night at my parent's home because for the first night I have to be in the company of others for observation. But this time around I think I'm handling it better. Since I know what to expect, I've been trying to do very few things. Which drives me nuts. Yesterday my mom wanted to get me whatever I needed, but I felt horribly lazy letting her bring me things. At least I get to take off the back brace when I go to sleep. Last time it was 24/7. This time I really enjoy the time without it at night. 
@MysticTomatoes (1053)
• United States
19 Oct 09
I pick up just because. I also have a daughter and whatever she finds, she puts in her mouth and I don't need her picking up something she shouldn't be eating. Plus our two cats love to bat anything around and once, it took me a week to find my keys. Thank God I had a spare set! The cats had batted them into an air vent upstairs in our room.
I can't stand a messy house. I like to have things in order even if it's just me, the husband and the kid and our pets at home. You never know when someone will drop by!
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
19 Oct 09
Hi AmbiePamby, yes I do it if I'm going away overnight or for two nights, so that when I walk in everything is in place and I'm not greeted with piles of things that need doing. Instead I can just unpack the bed and relax with a coffee after the drive back.
1 person likes this
@rosepedal64 (4188)
• United States
19 Oct 09
Hi AmbiePam
I first want to say that I wish you well on your surgery. I have had back surgry and I know that it can be a scary thing to go thru. I will be thinking about you. keep a smile on that face. It will be fine my friend.
Now back to your discussion. I usually try to do that extra cleaning once a month. All the curtains,behind the stove and fridge, and all those places that don't get the normal cleaning. We both smoke so I try to clean that way once a month to get rid of settled smoke..
You have a great day and remember I will be thinking of you. keep smiling...
@rosepedal64 (4188)
• United States
19 Oct 09
Hi AmbiePam
We are getting ready to move into an trailer. I will have the hubby to pull out the fridge so that I can clean behind it. Then I will do this once a month after that. It is just something I like to do. Plus hubby has allergy problems and I try to keep the dust down alot. Yes that is where alot of dust and hidden things seem so find way to. Keep smiling my friend.
Keep smiling my friend.1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32189)
• United States
19 Oct 09
My husband and I are still working on geting a house, our first order of business is health insurance, then a car, then a house. I imagine I will want the house to be straightened up before we go out for a weekend or something like that. I think of course everyone would want their house straightened up for company, but I'd definitely be doing this for Christmas etc. I'm thinking about maybe having our first chirstmas in our new home with family invited, but we'll just have to see, and I'll have to talk to my husband about it.
Good Luck with that surgery, and I hope your recovery is speedy!
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
19 Oct 09
Hey Ambie~ I can definitely see your point of logic! I think
that if I was in your position I would definitely have done
the same thing! It is a good idea to make sure everything is in
order for when you come home and you won't have to worry about
doing anything strenuous for awhile after your surgery. I think
you did the smart thing! And yes, I do straighten up sometimes
for other reasons besides having company! Sometimes I do it just
because I want it to be in order! Like last week it was time for
me to take my winter clothes out and put my summer clothes away!
And after I do that I tend to do some other heavy cleaning so I
will be continuing with that this week! It is like a seasonal
thing! When the weather changes I do some serious cleaning up
and cleaning out! I want to wish you well on your surgery and
please let us all know when you are well enough to get back
online. I will be saying a prayer for you! Hugs, Opal/Leslie
1 person likes this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
19 Oct 09
Gee Ambie! I'll be aying prayers for you tomorrow that everything goes well. Will be anxious to hear from you!
I've always been a nut about cleaning and stocking up before vacations, business trips, even if we were expecting a major snowstorm (when I lived in New England).
I guess I wanted a clean house to come home to, and if we were without power I didn't want to have to sit around looking at housework.
1 person likes this
@BlueGoblin (1829)
• United States
18 Oct 09
I'm lazy when it comes to household chores. People must think I'm a pig because I don't even bother to clean before company. I do feel embarrassed for not keeping things in order. I just don't have the ambition to clean up my own messes. I often just let chores pile up. :(
1 person likes this
@seanbryan (349)
• United Arab Emirates
19 Oct 09
hi ambiepam,
We are living alone with my husband in a flat abroad and I am so excited my mother is coming for a 3 months visit in the next few days, I want everything in order at home so she'll be comfortable with her stay. I want to change the bedsheets, the curtains and make sure that every part of the house is clean. Besides, I will be giving birth anytime this month and I want a clean and fresh atmosphere to welcome home my baby boy when we're out from the hospital. Good Day!
1 person likes this
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
18 Oct 09
Whenever, I visited someone's house for the first time, the first immediate reaction is to see how the house is being managed by the owners. And the best place to see how the owner manages the house their toilet. This very important spot on your house reflect truly what you are. When there's someone visiting our house, the first thing I would do is to ensure that the toilet looks fresh and clean. Its not that I don't clean it regularly, but for extra precaution, I need to make it perfect. If someones here to stay for the night, my wife check the guest room and see to it that all are well-placed and cleaned (bedroom, towels, soaps, brush, toothpaste, etc).
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
19 Oct 09
Yes I pick up and keep my home clean daily. The reason is because I cannot relax in an untidy or messy home. I keeps niggling away at me that I should do this or that and it drives me crazy until I neaten my surroundings.
1 person likes this
@angelajoy (1825)
• Philippines
19 Oct 09
I sometimes do this when I think a little change is needed. But often I don't have time to clean and organize everything, so when I do find time I really put my effort into it. It always feels nice when you finish doing this. It's like your place is brand new.
1 person likes this
@JAG2009 (266)
• India
19 Oct 09
What you did makes a lot of sense. While it can be tempting to leave things as they are, especially in light of what you are going through right now, I think that planning ahead in this way is real smart.When you come back home, seeing your place looking great will cheer you up, for sure.
I do this before leaving for vacations, or even if I know I'm going to be away from home for some time for any other reason. There's something special about walking in to a place that looks neat and tidy. That is in addition to the emotional comfort and healing it automatically brings along.
Good luck with your surgery, and I hope everything goes ok.
God bless.
1 person likes this
@aixshaonline (600)
• Philippines
19 Oct 09
Yes, I do straighten up my room (my home ehehe) whenever my mom bursts into fits. This is the least I can do to appease her. But if I cleaned up in the first place, she wouldn't have to burst into fits. Hahahaha. One of the many revelations that I still don't follow, I still wait for the time when she yells at me for having a room that's "messy". Riggghhht.
