Now what about cleaning? Can we keep it simple? And then there’s the noise of the vacuum cleaner. I thinking about all this as I load my vacuum cleaner into trunk of my car in preparation for the trip to the cottage. My cleaning has been minimal all winter, but as I prepare to lock the door for the last time on April 7th, I feel compelled to follow that wonderful kindergarten rule—clean up your own mess.
How can we keep cleaning simple? I’m beginning to think that many of us are programmed to clean too often. My mother vacuumed every week. That was the rule she probably got from her mother, and which she passed along to me. I followed it for a while, but then noticed that it was only getting lip service. Eventually I created my own rule, “clean when there is a need,” which I notice my daughter is more or less following. Of course, what one might consider a need, another might overlook. Regardless, my life and time at the cottage has taught me that simple trumps clean.
How can we keep cleaning simple? I’m beginning to think that many of us are programmed to clean too often. My mother vacuumed every week. That was the rule she probably got from her mother, and which she passed along to me. I followed it for a while, but then noticed that it was only getting lip service. Eventually I created my own rule, “clean when there is a need,” which I notice my daughter is more or less following. Of course, what one might consider a need, another might overlook. Regardless, my life and time at the cottage has taught me that simple trumps clean.