Happy & Healthy
MY MOTHER’S CLEANING RULES
A couple weeks back I went to Paris with the fam and my mother tagged along. That meant two hotel rooms. One for us and the other for grandma and our daughters would find their way splitting between the two. Well, it was pretty clear from the beginning, the girls wanted to stay with grams.
When I left our room in the morning, it looked like a Jackson Pollack painting had come to life but once I set foot into the room next door, organization was key. Even though she had had all three of my girls spending the night in there. The bed was made, there was nothing laying around on the floor and the bathroom looked although she had called room service for an extra service.
Which wasn’t the case by the way. My mother just happens to be the neatest person on the planet. So I’m here to share some of her lessons. It won’t make you as perfect as she is (43 years later and I still haven’t gotten it under the belt), but I’m sure there’s plenty you can learn from it.
1. Good riddance
My mom is a brilliant multi tasker. While we’re drinking coffee, she’s capable of going through an entire laundry pile. Or clean out her makeup bag. Without it ever being boring.
2. Gone is gone
My mother (and my father too) are advocates for team throw it out. Empty bottles get deposited immediately as they bring our kids to school. Same goes for paper and cardboard.
3. Exterior is everything
When my mom takes off her vest, she’ll do it in one slick move making sure it isn’t inside out and dangling from her arm. When others do it, you’ll spot the seams and the label. Not when she does it though. Takes a little bit more effort, but looks a lot neater. Less messy. Hence the reason she also makes sure to brush her hair and put on some red lipstick when she’s waiting for a red light. And she always throws out any socks with holes in them. And worn out underwear. Out the door, no hesitations.
”You won’t even find a pot of jam on the breakfast table on a Sunday.”
4. Do it now
Load up the dishwasher right away, that way you’ll have it over with. And clear off the kitchen counter too. Another good case of multitasking.
5. Everything in a bowl
Bottles of ketchup and pots of mayo are a no-go in the Mobach household. You won’t even find a pot of jam on the breakfast table on a Sunday. My mother takes everything out and places it in a bowl together with a silver spoon.
6. Bedspread
This was an unexpected Eureka-moment. Buy a bedspread. My mother’s bedroom always looks like a five star hotel. Why? Because she makes sure to air out her bed and then cover it up with a bedspread. That way her bed is made exactly like you’re used to seeing it in a hotel. Remember to buy a stylish bedspread though, not the ones made out of wool that date back to the 50’s.
7. Type by type
My mother classifies everything. She’s got a basket for all her blowdrying attributes. The blowdryer and rollers and bruises; the whole shebang in one basket. Which you will find underneath her immaculate closet.
8. Go through things piece by piece
My mom will go through a drawer one by one whenever she’s got a couple of minutes to spare. Her underwear drawer, the closet filled with my kids’ toys… She never procrastinates and always splits her chores so that the things she still needs to do and the things that have been done are clear.
And you know what it is? It’s addictive. Before you know it your home will be spic and span. Forget Martha Stewart, meet Pleuny Mobach.
