And the Medal Goes To…
There are just some things that women do that deserve extra recognition.
Like, for instance, cleaning a bathroom.
I hate cleaning the bathroom. It’s not that I’m a germophobe…I just hate the cleaners, I hate the constant need to use things that are both wet & dry and that there is a ton of bending and stretching involved. Not to mention dust. You guys have heard–ad nauseum–about my freakishly dusty house. But of all the household chores that need to be done around here…cleaning the bathroom is probably my least favorite (next to putting away clean laundry…I’ll wash, I’ll fold…but I hate putting it all away!)
But I digress.
Yesterday, I cleaned our master bathroom. Really, really cleaned it. Started by dousing the entire shower stall in bleach. Full strength. We have high deposits of rust and calcium in our lovely Florida water, so it takes desperate measures to get the cleaning process underway. Once this is rinsed thoroughly, I move on to the more traditional cleansers. And I have to use several. One works miracles on the glass doors and on soap scum. One other does the job on the calcium. A third disinfects the toilet bowl. Another kills the germs on doorknobs and handles.
By the time I’m done, I want jewelry. Preferably the kind that hangs on a tri-colored ribbon.
So my question for today…as I know many of us are gearing up for the holiday by cleaning (even those of us who are not having anyone over…what’s up with that? I suppose I should have gone to my cousin’s house and cleaned her bathroom since she’s the one cooking–single-handedly, I might add–for about forty people!)…what household chore do you do that you think deserves trumpet fanfares, confetti, certificates of merit and a cash bonus?
Of course, I’d settle for someone who lives in this house simply NOTICING.
Ha! As a single woman, I do it all: clean the bathrooms, dishes, hauling out the garbage, changing the lightbulbs, mowing the lawn, taking the car in…you name it. But that’s okay. I’m thankful for what I have - great friends, my family, my independence, and things are always done my way LOL. :gobble:
Comment by Stacy ~ — November 21, 2007 @ 6:52 am
hey Julie,
) and then your familiy comes home and…doesn’t even notice. 
That’s what always gets me annoyed. I mean I clean and clean and then they don’t even notice. What about a little “Wow, the bathroom is shining” or something like that but even a small word of appreciation is too much.
I totally understand what you mean. Once in a while, I decide to actually clean the bathroom ( I hate it as much as you do
That’s why I think that all these women doing all those household chores really deserve getting a medal.
support your soldiers. All the soldiers out there are doing a great job.
and I think the household chores that have to be done frequently (otherwise your whole family would die in a junk yard) really are those that would deserve a medal.
And now for yesterday’s blog: I was actually visiting the blog but honestly I didn’t want to disturb the national thoughts and feelings. But it’s really great that even you
Happy Wednesday all
See you
Vero
Comment by Vero — November 21, 2007 @ 7:09 am
Julie I would have to agree with ya and say cleaning bathrooms really sucks! Especially the master bathroom! I try to put off doing it but then I get disgusted with it and spend half a day cleaning it. The end result is always rewarding but the best would be to hear how good it looks!
Comment by Tina — November 21, 2007 @ 7:58 am
Scrubbing crud of any kind out of pots and pans after a holiday meal deserves some kind of recognition. Chocolate medals would be good.
Comment by Darlene — November 21, 2007 @ 8:19 am
I was reading this out loud to hubby while he ate breakfast - good way to drop a hint - and when I read the part about putting away laundry he started laughing.
What is up with that? I’m the say way. I’ll wash it, dry it, fold it….then leave it in the laundry basket so we have to dig through and find the clothes. Either that or leave them on the bed and hope hubby does it
Nope, it doesn’t usually work, he just piles it all back on top of the wicker laundry hamper.
I’m the same with unloading the dishwasher. I don’t mind unloading it, but for some reason despise putting hem away. Everything else falls in together, I dislike all of it but do it.
Comment by Jodie — November 21, 2007 @ 8:40 am
i think that anyone who cleans the apartment of 5 20 something men deserves a metal. doesnt matter what room.
Comment by Cail — November 21, 2007 @ 9:21 am
Good morning jungle friends and the
.
Jules, you and I hate both the same chores…folding clean laundry is at the top of my list and cleaning the bathroom is a very close second…I live alone and it should be easy, but life happens and cleaning gets put off for a little bit until you take care of more important matters, right? Even though I am single, I have A LOT of clothes, so it takes a while before I have to really do laundry. By the time I get to that point, you would think that three or four people live with me. It is such an arduous task, and it is at laundry time when I wish I had a maid to do everything for me…ok, I am just lazy when it comes to doing that stuff…talk to you all later…
Have a :happythanks:. Enjoy your :feast: have fun and just relax…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — November 21, 2007 @ 9:43 am
hey Paula,
You’re speaking from my heart. Having a maid definitely would make things better. Just think of those endless piles of clothes you WOULD NOT have to fold. Sounds like a dream.
I do have lots of clothes, too and a maid would definitely make things easier.
Now hearing that I’m not the only one having this problem already helps my piece of mind. I always thought I was that ONE exception from the rule. You saved my day. LOL
Have a great time
See you soon
Vero
Comment by Vero — November 21, 2007 @ 10:08 am
Good Morning All!!!
Julie, I’m with you, I absolutely hate to clean the bathroom. I don’t so much mind the laundry, since I now make my 20 year old do his own, there isn’t as much to do, just me and hubbys. The other thing that I absolutely DESPISE doing is raking acorns. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it. Being that I don’t work outside of the house, I also do all those things. Cut the grass, blow the leaves, rake the acorns, take out trash and basically anything else that needs done inside or outside of the house. This past March I scrubbed every ceiling and wall in our home after my hubby at the very young age of 46 was diagnosed with emphysema, so I basically do it all around here.
On yesterday’s topic: I went to the USO website and donated to send care packages. I read that they should send me an e-mail confirming my contribution. As of this morning, no e-mail confirming my contribution. I did however print out the page that thanked me for making my donation with all the info on it, so I guess I’ll make a copy of that and send it to you snailmail.
That’s it for me for today. Everyone have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!! Enjoy your :feast: and don’t eat too much :gobble:.
Everyone take care and have a good day!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Kathy — November 21, 2007 @ 10:39 am
Oh, I am right with you on hating to put folded laundry away AND on cleaning bathrooms!
Probably my least favorite of all, however, is IRONING. I HATE to iron. Therefore I don’t. I feel bad that Bruce has a mountain of clothes to iron in the corner all the time…but not bad enough to iron it myself.
PS: Be careful with that bleach! I had an icky experience from splashing bleach on myself while cleaning the bathroom a month or so ago!
Comment by Leslie — November 21, 2007 @ 10:49 am
Kathy, hopefully their website has just been so overwhelmed with our generosity that they’re running a little bit behind.
Give it just a little while longer. If it doesn’t show, can you scan & email the printed receipt as an attachment?
Comment by Leslie — November 21, 2007 @ 10:50 am
Cleaning bathrooms, hands down! Hate it, hate it, hate it!
I don’t mind doing laundry, but I hate folding the whites. They will sit in the laundry basket for a week before I finally break down and fold them!
:vibrating:
Comment by Janelle — November 21, 2007 @ 11:35 am
Totally with y’all on cleaning the bathroom and putting away laundry. I’m single, so it all is up to me, but I put off cleaning my bathroom until the lasat cleaning chore each week. I’m great about folding the laundry, but most of the time my folded clothes are in my clean laundry basket folded or on my kitchen table folded.
:gobble: :vibrating: :happythanks:, heading out to shop for all the food for tomorrow in just a little bit.
Comment by Liza — November 21, 2007 @ 11:38 am
Good morning all,
Julie, I am standing with you on the bathroom cleaning. I hate it but I do it once a week–3 bathrooms! The second thing is putting laundry away. I don’t mind washing and folding but I don’t like putting it away either. The third thing is unloading the dishwasher. I hate that as well. The fourth thing is vacuuming which I don’t do. My husband vaccums. Oh, I forgot about dusting. I hate to dust but I divide it up over three days so that makes it easier. The last thing is driving–if I were really, really rich I’d definitely have a chauffer at my beck and call.
Have a great day all and somebody please start handing out those medals!!
Cher :gobble:
Comment by Cher — November 21, 2007 @ 11:51 am
Almost forgot…I crossed the 50K mark in NANO yesterday!!
Woo Hoo! What a ride!
Cher
Comment by Cher — November 21, 2007 @ 11:54 am
I totally agree! I hate cleaning the bathrooms too! And mopping the floors! I am not having people over but it is a good long weekend to do a good long cleaning!
Comment by Michelle — November 21, 2007 @ 12:00 pm
I am with you Julie, I HATE cleaning bathrooms. Coming in a very close second is vacuuming stairs. I think both deserve a medal.
I’ll be heading OOT tomorrow morning so :happythanks: everyone!
:feast:
Comment by Kelly H — November 21, 2007 @ 12:53 pm
I’m allergic to bleach but things just don’t feel clean unless I use it! I’m not cleaning too much this year but the bathroom is my first stop (I scrubbed the kitchen last week). Luckily, my hard work does get noticed around here!
Comment by Ladytink_534 — November 21, 2007 @ 12:58 pm
Uggh Julie I feel your pain, there’e nothing worse than the bathroom, especially when you have a young man who doesn’t have the greatest aim
But I also hate seeing dust on the tables or lint on the carpet so I clean, and clean, and clean I feel like its never ending 
I hate all forms of house work, especially after working all week long! I don’t want to have to clean on my day off
Hope everyone has a great holiday!! :turkey: :feast: :vibrating: :happythanks: :gobble:
Comment by Tina Martinesi — November 21, 2007 @ 1:09 pm
Oh, I would do everyones laundry and folding in exchange for cleaning, buffing and shining hardwood floors in our home. Lovely to look at but what a lot of work. I would also have to rate the Bathrooms just right under the floors.
Have a very Happy :gobble:
Comment by Ardie — November 21, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
Hello to the
& Everyone that visits here. May you all have a wonderful :feast: with family &/or friends. Enjoy, eat well & remember everything you have to be thankful for.
Like several others here I am single so I do everything. I have very little upkeep outdoors! I hate housework period…..!!
However, cleaning my bathroom is the one thing I get done on a regular basis, the other is laundry & I don’t mind doing it. I love the clean fresh smell of the clothes after they are done! I’ve been hearing a lot about how toxic our cleaning supplies are to us & the environment. I’m not trying to promote any product but along with that I’ve been hearing that the Shaklee products are some of the best & they have a special now on a starter kit. Right now I can’t afford it but maybe someday!! Maybe one reason we all hate housework is cause it is always there even if we have just done it! 
Most of my friends are excellent housekeepers which makes me seem even more of a slob!
Take care,
Donna M :gobble: :gobble:
Comment by Donna M — November 21, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
Guys get the most confused expressions when I try to explain that bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms are erogenous zones.
Honey, don’t feel bad about ironing one little bit. I would never expect you to do something that I loathe doing myself.
Julie
. And be careful mixing cleaners, you can end up with chemical warfare agents. Bleach and ammonia are particularly bad.
Happy Thanksgiving! :turkey:
Comment by Bruce — November 21, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
While the kitchen can get destroyed after one meal, it’s the bathroom my son and husband share. I don’t know what they do in there but, it REEKS! My husband doesn’t flush at night because he is afraid it will wake everyone. He doesn’t remember to flush later in the day. My son is 3 and occasionally forgets to flush, wipe and still has a few misses. I need a gas mask just to go in! Yarg.
Comment by ThatBrunette — November 21, 2007 @ 2:05 pm
Leslie - guess what I spent about 35 minutes doing this morning? Not only do I iron all of hubbies shirts, I have to use heavy startch!!! When we first started dating and we were both dirt poor, we ate lunch together every day. It was the only way we got to see each other. And he usually always paid so I started ironing his shirts for him. A trade off, he bought my lunch, I ironed so he didn’t have to take them to the cleaners. 15 years later and I’m still ironing those damn shirts. But I’ve gotten it down to under 4 minutes each.
Comment by Jodie — November 21, 2007 @ 2:36 pm
Julie, I am with you about the laundry. I don’t mind the sorting, washing, folding,ect… but I depise putting it away. I usually ait until we are about to start a nudist colony of three and then with much sighing I put it away. But what chore do I truly dislike- cleaning out the fridge. Yuck!!! My husband and my son just jam and ram stuff in the fridge,things leak, and, breakdown( I know the feeling) and it gets NASTY! also it takes so long to really clean it well.
I have a friend who hums and sinhs when he washes the dishes and cleans his kitchen. How sick is that?
I hope everyone has a lovely Thanksgiving weekend. :gobble:
Comment by Sue Mont — November 21, 2007 @ 3:55 pm
I do not iron.
Ever.
Except to put patches on my daughter’s Girl Scout vest. It’s a matter of principle…and besides, I totally suck at it.
Comment by Julie Leto — November 21, 2007 @ 4:47 pm
What keeps me happy cleaning in the kitchen is Harry Potter. Honestly! I have all the books on CD and I listen while I work. I love being in the kitchen! (Well, I don’t love mopping, but I get through it.) I guess the answer to my troubles is CD players in every room!
Comment by Julie Leto — November 21, 2007 @ 4:49 pm
I detest mopping floors. :happythanks:
Comment by Estella — November 21, 2007 @ 5:12 pm
I think all household chores deserve recognition (medals are good). My least favorites are dusting and ironing. My hubby (bless his soul) cleans the bathrooms. He deserves a gold medal. Housecleaning is a necessary evil - I couldn’t live in a messy house so therefore I clean.
I want to wish everyone a very Happy and safe Thanksgiving! :turkey: :feast: :gobble: :vibrating:
Comment by Carolyn A. — November 21, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
Hire a housecleaner….it’s a treat to myself…..I don’t iron, either. I take into the dry cleaners to put patches on my son’s cub scout uniform. You would think I am lazy, just super busy! :vibrating: :feast: :turkey: :gobble: :happythanks:
Leslie: you got yourself a winner.
I hope everyone is safely at their destination….we are….boys are super happy, loving their Nana and Papa…..life is grand.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!!!!
Comment by katie — November 21, 2007 @ 9:18 pm
It depends on which bathroom. I don’t mind doing ours, but I refuse to do the one downstairs that my daughter, 3 cats and anyone visiting uses. We did make it easier on ourselves by buying a self-cleaning litter box, which is great!
I hate putting laundry away. I hate cleaning. Vaccuuming especially. I have no idea why. I am really, really good at piling things up and leaving them. DON’T look at my side of the bed!!
I think I am finally done cooking for tomorrow. Now I have to clean the kitchen. Ok, that’s another job I hate.
And popper-scoopering. ick.
have a :happythanks: everyone!!!
Comment by ev — November 22, 2007 @ 12:38 am
You guys are hilarious and I love your medal woes, Julie. Priceless.
I used to hate vacuuming most, so we bought a house with hardwood floors (love them). Used to hate ironing, but bought one of those QVC hangaway things. Now, I just put hangers on it, pop it up next to the dryer five minutes before it goes off and hang everything up as it comes out of the dryer. The clothes hang there for five minutes and every single wrinkler comes right out (all cotton clothes). I do NOT iron, ever.
So, since I have hardwood floors and the hangaway for laundry, I hate bathrooms. Our old house had molded showers (one piece and VERY easy to clean)–that was in California. In Florida, everyone has tile. I even regrouted our master bath shower (huge) twice to have very clean white tile. Six months later, it’s back to being easily dirtied again. So, since I have allergies, my hubby cleans it.
I think I’ll keep him (the hubby, not the bathroom tile). 
Comment by chris — November 22, 2007 @ 9:03 pm
I hate cleaning in general. However I do what has to be done. If it doesn’t look like it needs it, then it can wait. Company or not.
Comment by Tammy G. — November 24, 2007 @ 7:39 am