Clean House

What makes you most comfortable at home?  Are you the type of person who likes things spotless?  Are you someone who knows germs are lurking if it doesn’t smell clean?  Have you embraced the piles of laundry on the floor as a fun  mountain for your kids to climb?  Do you know those dishes will get done some day, one day, another day?   I love having a clean house that is welcoming to all.  In my mind, as long as it is tidy, with everything in its place, I can relax and enjoy.  Unfortunately, I’m finding that I don’t always have the time to do everything I want to do, including all of the house cleaning.  The more people I have in my life, and in my house, the less time there is for tidying, straightening and cleaning.  I do, however, have more helpers.  I have and am continuing to learn three things about a clean house: it doesn’t have to be perfect every day, accept help (even if it’s not the way you would do it), and people are more important.

I used to have a cleaning schedule.  Starting with a tidy house, I would routinely clean one room of the house each day thoroughly, while just “spot checking” the rest of the house.  This all went out the window when I was down for almost a month a respiratory illness followed by the delivery of my baby via c-section.  I couldn’t even walk unassisted for over a week!  The more my days fill up, the less time I have for thoroughly cleaning.  Mondays are becoming our “cleaning day” when I focus on cleaning the house.  The rest of the week may be some dishes or laundry here and there with some “spot cleaning” as the need arises.  I have learned to embrace “clean enough” even if it’s not my perfect idea of clean or tidy.

With an eleven-year-old at home, I have a handy helper with me all day.  Some days she is a willing helper, other days it’s more forced.  She is awkward and struggles with things that seem easy to me.  I have to regularly remind myself that she is still learning, and that she has to practice to get better.  One way we are practicing, is she has to redo something if it is not done properly.  However, she also doesn’t have to do it exactly the same way I would, as long as the dishes, floor, or whatever is clean in the end.  This has been hard for me to let go.  I can be a bit compulsive about how even towels are folded.  I have found that not observing the process lowers my stress levels and makes me more accepting of the help I have been given.  I have learned, and am continuing to learn, that I need to accept the help that is offered and be thankful.  I can be thankful that something was accomplished, giving me more time to do something else.  I don’t have to worry about the way in which it was accomplished.

The relationship with my husband and children is more important than a clean house.  It seems like I’m the only one who notices the piece of string on the floor because, on most days, I am.  People who stop by to visit are not there to inspect the cleanliness of my house.  They are coming for fellowship and friendship.  I need to focus on people more than the house itself.  It doesn’t help to have a spotless house and a neglected family.  For every person this may look different.  I have learned that we all have differing ideas of what makes something “clean” or “tidy”.  We need to find a balance between where we are comfortable living and how much time we spend cleaning.  While we do need to take care of our home responsibilities, the following poem by Ruth Hulbert Hamilton has taught me a lot about savoring the time with my family and friends instead of obsessing over a clean and tidy house: