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Oh Cleanliness!


I won’t lie. When the lockdown first came into effect, what did I miss most (after loo rolls of course!)? A clean flat. You may think that living with a toddler and baby under the same roof may have increased my tolerance of dirt, grime and mess. On the contrary, it’s done just the opposite. It’s my biggest stressor after perpetual lack of sleep.


So, when our cleaner resumed services today, I was in seventh heaven until my toddler spilt a glass of juice on the freshly mopped floor (nooooo!). Ok breathe...1,2,3....


Oh for those of you who might be concerned, yes our cleaner wears a mask and gloves and yes we practice social distancing - We are not remotely interested in leaning against the bathroom door as she is busy scrubbing down the toilet pot; thank you very much! And of course she doesn’t bring her own cleaning materials (Thanking you kindly for the judgement)


Anyway, coming back to my state of happiness as soon as the cleaner left was something else! To feel such freshness after 6 long months was divine. It felt like our flat had just returned from the spa. Shiny countertops, squeaky clean mirrors, and dust free surfaces. 


I’ve always been a cleanliness freak so I end up cleaning when I could be doing something more sensible like resting. “Sleep when the baby sleeps” Oh so easy to say but oh so difficult for me to practice as I really cannot sleep when I will eventually wake up to a grubby looking flat. 


A clean flat for me is an instant mood lifter. Rage cleaning a sore weakness. When I’m on a mad cleaning spree the “victims” know better than to potter about in the disaster zone. You do not just toss a fork into the sink when I’m scrubbing the dishes. And no you don’t saunter in with your shoes onto my freshly mopped floor. And how are you so brave for smattering my just cleaned kitchen top with biscuit crumbs?! 


Some say this need for cleanliness is innate, some say it’s learnt. For me it’s definitely the latter. My paternal grandma drilled the importance of cleanliness in me from a very young age and I also learnt through observing her. Her cleaning schedules and meticulous demeanour were something else! Today at 90yrs of age she still ensures the cleanliness of our home is taken care of albeit less rigorously and with able assistance of course. 


Tidying up the place when you have young kids is like trying to clean in a snowstorm. On the road. But I try! I try to tidy up after the bub as much as possible and have started playing tidying up “games” with the toddler. Who can put the Lego in the basket first and so on. You get the drift..


I can go on and on as clearly it’s my secret obsession (not anymore) but I respect that you may think differently. So, I will conclude with a verse from the poem ‘Dust If You Must’ by Rose Milligan which is obviously an antithesis. 


“Dust if you must, but bear in mind 

Old age will come and it’s not kind.

And when you go (and go you must)

You, yourself, will make more dust.”








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