@papergirl (papergirl) posted a new topic, subject "Bodypoet is cleaning house! (I need cheerleaders.)". It read:

   Okay, we have reached Health-Hazard status here. The living room is a wreck. I have baskets of clothes (both clean and dirty, take your pick) sitting around, all the furniture is out of place because we rearrange it to keep babypoet in, and there are newspapers and junk all over.  
    The kitchen…you don't even want to know. It would give you the willies.  
    And of course, there is the hallway and the dining room that both need picked up. The dining room is my workshop, so I can get away with some mess in there, thank goodness.  
    Unfortunately, my house is arranged so that any visitor is exposed to all of these kristin18@example.net. _sigh_ Now I am beginning to really appreciate the concept of a gunshot house.  
    Okay, off to clean! Anyone here want to help? Anyone want to cheer me on? Anyone want to give me an excuse to stop and check the board every ten minutes or so? Please???
    
    When it's all nice and tidy, you can all come visit. I'll make my new recipe–Death by Chocolate Chip Cookie. Bring milk.
    
    ~karol
      *[Ghost]: “I

So @tiny_ham (tiny ham) replied

    I am such a damn slob.
    
    BUT, I maintain that there is no greater feeling than cleaning my house thoroughly and with total abandon, and then getting in a nice bubble bath and reveling in the joy of having it done.
    
    And waking up in a clean house? Forget it. It's better than sex.
    
    jar
      *[Ghost]: “I

@screech-owl (screech-owl) replied

    I could always be a drill sergeant…
    
    Turn off the computer (after you've read this, of course): big time-waster when you have a task to do. Put on a CD or tape that you like. Or a non-talk station.
    
    Start with the laundry. Separate out the dirty clothes from the clean. Put away the clean stuff. Start the laundry.
    
    Next tackle the kitchen. Do the dishes. Clean out the sink. Clean the counter tops. Clean out the refrigerator. Disinfect EVERYTHING.
    
    Do more laundry while tackling the kitchen.
    
    Next the bathroom. Scrub everything, even if it doesn't need cleaning. Just disinfect the heck out of everything.
    
    Put in a new load of laundry.
    
    The kitchen and the bathroom are usually the worst in my house. The smell of disinfectant is such a wonderful smell, especially when those two rooms are clean. Invigorates me enough to tackle the rest of the rooms.
    
    Get rid of the newspapers.
    
    Then get on-line after completing these tasks and let us know how you are doing.  
    (On preview - gotta agree with jarbabyj: a clean house in the morning is SUCH a wunnerful feeling. Damn, I got the shuuders just thinking of what my house could do to me if I had the energy to clean. I'll think of it again. 8b7c:f320:99b9:690f:4595:cd17:293a:c069rrrrrrrrrr8b7c:f320:99b9:690f:4595:cd17:293a:c069 Orgasmic.)
      *[Ghost]: “I

Then @sidle (sidle) said

    Heres a few cheerleading and motivational tips!
    
    When I get in that mood, Bodypoet, the first thing I do is sweep through with a giant hefty bag. Newspapers, magazines, mail fliers, bits of this and that, all get  
    trashed. Makes you feel good!  
    Then, I make big piles, sorted by where everything needs to go. A pile for the hall closet, pile for the toy chest,  
    pile for the garge, etc etc. Then grab a pile and put it  
    away.  
    Motivation to vacuum? Go by the DDollar Store and grab some  
    of that carpet fresh stuff. Yesterday, I got cinnamon in honor of the holidays!  
    Kitchen? Lots of lemon-scented cleaner and paper towels.  
    Another lay way to clean on a daily basis is to hop up and clean during commercials. Yeah, I know, pathetic  
      
    but it keeps down the clutter! Of course, with babypoet  
    around, you probably have no time for such indulgences as unhindered TV watching!  
    Good luck and have fun! Crank up some music; preferably something you love but the rest of the fam could do without!  
    Quick question:  
    Where are you from? My old roommate was from Virginia/w Virg  
    border, and always said the same thing you wrote,  
    “hallway and dining room need picked up”  
    leaving out the “to be” between need and picked up out. I had never heard that before. Is that a regional thing? Or were you just typing quickly? Just curious!
      *[Ghost]: “I

So @Zyada (Zyada) replied

    Hints?
    
    Newspapers first, then pick up. These don't take much time, and you get a lot of result for the effort.
    
    Then go through each room and do the heavy duty stuff like moving furniture and mopping.
      *[Ghost]: “I

@iampunha (iampunha) replied

    8b7c:f320:99b9:690f:4595:cd17:293a:c069runs through thread fully cloth8b7c:f320:99b9:690f:4595:cd17:293a:c069
    
    If you want me naked you gotta earn it;)
    
    [sub]Hey, it was worth a shot …[/sub]
      *[Ghost]: “I

To which @InternetLegend (InternetLegend) replied

    I'm very picky about scents (I get sinus headaches from some scented detergents, for instance), but I love the smell of Sani-Flush and Lemon Pledge. In fact, if I need to motivate myself to clean, spraying a little Pledge on a cloth and dusting one surface is sometimes enough to get me in the mood. And the Sani-Flush makes the bathrooms smell like peppermint.
    
    Now, if anyone has a tip for motivating oneself to fold laundry, I'll be all set.
      *[Ghost]: “I

After which, @bobkitty (bobkitty) added

    Gimme a “C!” [sub]“C!”[/sub]
    
    Gimme a “L!” [sub]“L!”[/sub]
    
    Gimme a “E!” [sub]“E!”[/sub]
    
    Gimme a “A!” [sub]“A!”[/sub]
    
    Gimme a “N!” [sub]“N!”[/sub]
    
    WHAT'S THAT SPELL???
    
    How the hell should I know? You should see my place. Dog-hair-balls the size of large tumbleweeds, clothes and dishes all over the place, computer equipment lying in piles… ugh. Yes, it's the end of the semester at the Kitty House.
    
    Good luck, bodypoet. My turn's this weekend, when we get ready to put up holiday decorations and totally piss off the neighbors. Nothing like a good motivator! 
    
    -BK
      *[Ghost]: “I

To which @papergirl (papergirl) replied

    Okay, dishes are soaking (I'm a big believer in soaking here). 2 baskets of laundry folded and put away, and more dirty piling up by the moment. We have to go to the laundrymat, so Mr. bodypoet will get that job by default, since he isn't home today.  
    **jarbaby** , I agree completely. When I can walk into the living room in the middle of the night without walking into something, I am truly in heaven. It happens only a couple of times a year, but I remember it well.  
    **scredle** : _sigh_ For a moment there, I thought you were gonna offer to hop on over here and help.  I'm from Indiana…not sure if it's a regional thing or not, but I think that's the way I usually put it: “This rooms needs cleaned,” or “The hallway needs picked up.” There is also the well-known “This house needs cleanING,” but I don't use that one.  
    **'punha** , clothing is optional. As long as you get that floor clean.  
    **IL** , how I hate laundry. HATE it. Often it goes unfolded, but with a family of six, that is a LOT of laundry sitting around in baskets. My philosophy: Underwear and socks are the responsibility of the wearer, and go (unsorted and unmatched) into a big basket in the closet. I refuse to answer the question, “Are there any socks?” anymore. All shirts go on hangers, and I hang those in the closet for the owners to claim. I end up folding towels and pants and that's about it. One would think I could motivate myself, eh?
    
    Off to get babypoet out of bed, give her and poetling a snack and a private viewing of Teletubbies: Happy Day (“The teletubbies were very happy. Very, very happy. ‘Very happy! Very happy!'”…ah, the educational implications just escape me at the moment), and to tackle those dishes.
    
    Thanks, cheerleaders! Please don't stop!  
    ~k
      *[Ghost]: “I

@sidle (sidle) replied

    Yeah, it must be a regional thing.  
    [English BA hat on]  
    The grammatically correct  
    way to say it would be the house needs cleaning, or to be cleaned, as the house “needs cleaned” mixes up the tenses.  
    [/English BA hat off]  
    Don't mind me, though. Hell, I'm from the South! I don't say  
    ain't, but get me tired or drunk and I'm droppin G's like flies!  
    Have fun?  
    Happy, happy cleaning…happy, happy cleaning…  
    happy happy happy cleaning…!!!  
    
      *[Ghost]: “I

So @Leifsmama (Leifsmama) replied

    Yeah cleaning!!! Me too. Today is bathroom and laundry day. I can't do the whole house at once, I've tried. The Little Squeak is faster than I am.
    
    Do you by chance know how to get red Koolaid out of carpeting?
      *[Ghost]: “I

So @papergirl (papergirl) replied

    > *Originally posted by Leifsmama *  
    >  **Yeah cleaning!!! Me too. Today is bathroom and laundry day. I can't do the whole house at once, I've tried. The Little Squeak is faster than I am.
    > 
    > Do you by chance know how to get red Koolaid out of carpeting? **
    
    I have a buddy who makes industrial cleaners of all kinds, including carpet shampoo for…oh, that carpet shampoo company. I asked him this very question, and he told me the only thing that takes red dye out is something with bleach–which means, of course, that you end up with a WHITE spot instead of a RED one.  
    If Koolaid would invent a CLEAR cherry mix, they would rule the corporate world.
    
    I suggest a new piece of furniture to put over it.   
    ~k
      *[Ghost]: “I

@Ethilrist (Ethilrist) replied

    > *Originally posted by iampunha *  
    >  **8b7c:f320:99b9:690f:4595:cd17:293a:c069runs through thread fully cloth8b7c:f320:99b9:690f:4595:cd17:293a:c069**
    
    8b7c:f320:99b9:690f:4595:cd17:293a:c069trips over bucket of laundry, falls down steps to basement, wakes up half an hour later surrounded by dirty laundry and no memories, thinks “Gee, I must be the person who does the laundry here,” and proceeds to do so.8b7c:f320:99b9:690f:4595:cd17:293a:c069
    
    Good thing you weren't naked, because that would be _really_ confusing! 
      *[Ghost]: “I

Then @swampbear (swampbear) said

    Bodypoet, I saw you sweeping that dirt under the rug. Now go get it up! 
    
    You know what really helps me when I clean house? Beer! After 5 or 6 the place starts to look pretty good.
      *[Ghost]: “I

To which @Primaflora (Primaflora) replied

    I am too. It's horrible :(. I've been studying all year and Mr P has been in charge of the house.
    
    It's not pretty. He's done a bit of a Quentin Crisp approach to cleaning.
    
    I'm trying to do a room a day which includes dusting and cleaning walls where necessary. I'm also planning to make him paint stuff I can't be bothered scrubbing.
      *[Ghost]: “I

Then @screech-owl (screech-owl) said

    > *Originally posted by Primaflora *  
    >  **…He's done a bit of a Quentin Crisp approach to cleaning…**
    
    Hanh?
      *[Ghost]: “I

To which @Leifsmama (Leifsmama) replied

    > *Originally posted by bodypoet *  
    >  ]
    > 
    > I have a buddy who makes industrial cleaners of all kinds, including carpet shampoo for…oh, that carpet shampoo company. I asked him this very question, and he told me the only thing that takes red dye out is something with bleach–which means, of course, that you end up with a WHITE spot instead of a RED one.  
    >  **
    
    That's what I was afraid of. Sigh, I guess The Squeak will have to stick with milk and water now that he's discovered how to unscrew the sippy cups. Hope the house is starting to sparkle for you!
      *[Ghost]: “I

After which, @Hamadryad (Hamadryad) added

    3, 5, 7, 9!  
    Clean a bit, then have some wine!
    
    4, 6, 8, 10!  
    Sweep, then have some wine again!
    
    8, 10, 12, 14!  
    Wine will make it all seem more clean!
    
    1, 3, uhhh…4?  
    F'nish yer wine n drink smore!
    
    45, 20, 13…  
    Thish shtuff ish jusht grand…tashtesh like camel drool…
      *[Ghost]: “I

To which @Primaflora (Primaflora) replied

    Quentin Crisp apparently lived in one room in Chelsea, London for 38 years without ever cleaning it. There's a fabulous quote from him about how dust doesn't get any worse after a certain number of years. This has been Mr P's approach. He was attempting to defend his housekeeping style yesterday when we were having a domestic over his deficiencies when I asked him the last time he had dusted.
    
    I think the resulting silence was the answer…
      *[Ghost]: “I

After which, @Omniscient (Omniscient) added

    > And waking up in a clean house? Forget it. It's better than sex.
    
    Girls…you are _seriously_ not doing it right.
      *[Ghost]: “I

To which @papergirl (papergirl) replied

    Today's Plan:  
    Finish cleaning the living room. (Someone may drop by, so I have to at least have it in non-frightening status.) Sweep. Clean that nasty bathroom…it's only nasty because we put in a new tub and there is dust all over, so it just needs a good wipe-down.  
    Sweep the halls. With bowls of jelly. Fa la la la la, etc.  
    Cook all the food that is in my fridge that has to be cooked TODAY OR ELSE. Pork chops, chicken, and hamburger. At least we will have food all day.  
    Wash both babies–they are minimum 2-bath-per-day babies, but since they are starting out grimy, they may need three today.  
    IF I can get all that done today, then this evening I can play with wax and oils!
    
    What say you, support group? Can it be done?
    
    ~k
      *[Ghost]: “I

So @screech-owl (screech-owl) replied

    > *Originally posted by Omniscient *  
    >  **
    >
    >> And waking up in a clean house? Forget it. It's better than sex.
    > 
    > Girls…you are _seriously_ not doing it right. **
    
    Well, it's a plus if it's my house. And he does the cleaning. And the cooking. And the laundry.
    
    But I'll take the sex too, as well as the clean house.
      *[Ghost]: “I

After which, @Leifsmama (Leifsmama) added

    Yeah!!! Day two!!! Go Go Go Go!!!
      *[Ghost]: “I


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