Newsflash: Cleaning Reduces Stress

My computer is back. I didn’t lose any critical information, but I did lose a lot of time re-installing software, etc. Sadly, my FeedReader program was lost and I have to set up all my blog feeds again. If you read any good mommy blogs, homeschooling blogs, or star wars blogs, leave the URL in the comments!

++++++++++++++++++++++

Now, to get to the topic of the day: Cleaning. I’m not sure how I got this disease (OK, probably from my mom), but I actually enjoy cleaning. Especially when I am mad. It feels so freakin good to scrub the bathtub, vacuum the floors, or just putter around organizing toys and putting things in piles when I am mad. Oh, oh - and cleaning out the refrigerator! Purging year-old bottles of marinade or that really spicy mustard that might just be useful someday… Yes, cleaning is good for the soul.

As much as cleaning soothes me, the opportunity to have a service come twice a month was something I could not pass up last year when I was 9 months pregnant. And they were awesome. They cleaned the kitchen, bathrooms and floors, dusted and changed the sheets on the beds. And the house smelled really good when they left (for an hour or so anyway). I kept the house neat, but it was really nice having someone do the major stuff.

A couple months ago, they called to say they would not be cleaning for us anymore because we lived too far away and gas was too expensive. {pout} I was disappointed at first, but when Thursday came and I realized the service was not coming, I felt immense relief. I realized I didn’t have to spend the morning cleaning for the cleaning service.

Anyone who has a cleaning service knows that you have to clean the house before the cleaning service comes, right? I mean, the toys strewn all about the floor do not make for easy vacuuming. The fort L made from blankets and couch cushions? It’s gotta come down. The piles (and piles) of magazines and newspapers in our dining room? Well, hurry up and shove them into a closet somewhere! Damn, cleaning for the cleaning service was pretty stressful.

Now, I can clean a bit at a time. One room today, another next week, with no frenzy to get everything picked up on Thursday mornings. And when I’m feeling angry, depressed or stressed, I can go on a rampage and clean several rooms at once!