MY ECSTATIC TALE OF LIBERATION
MY HOUSE WAS A PIGSTY+WASDIRTY
And what I did about it
By
Nancy Erickson
A tribute to MAID BRIGHT of Fairfax, Virginia: my saviors.
Mid November 2024; the indictments and all related have been trashed, anything health wise is under control, and I was feeling empty, and discouraged. Obviously, I need a project.
No problem; it found me.
THE HOUSE IN GENERAL has always suffered from the distinct effects of a MINIMALISTIC APPROACH TO HOUSEKEEPING, and now that I have no peripheral distractions, I have become especially aware of this discrepancy.
There was a disgusting amount of dirt, dust, grime and just plain grunge lurking everywhere. Dirt?
Yes, DIRT!
How did this happen? style of cleaning has always been basic haphazard; compulsive and piecemeal. Obvious spots were dealt with, anything else I’d deal with when I couldn’t stand it any longer. Obviously, this ADMITTEDLY RANDOM FASHION OF CLEANING HOUSE IS WITHOUT A DOUBT USELESS AND OVERTLY FRUSTRATING. A lot of areas went unattended; there was nowhere anywhere that wasn’t grit, grime, and dirt. Puddles of it. In the past I was constantly confronted/beset by a myriad of frustrating depressing “touch up” cleaning jobs, nagging little bits of undesirable grit and grime that demand immediate addressing drop what you’re doing distraction; so, I was constantly wiping, dusting, sweeping; that’s where the piecemeal comes in Obvious spots were dealt with, anything else I’d deal with when I couldn’t stand it any longer. Everywhere I looked I was confronted by something that demanded instant attention – by me. The stairs were a constant threat; the powder room drove me crazy; and these were only the most conspicuous areas. I was surrounded, and there was no chance in hell I could get even a reasonable amount of it decent… let alone all of it at once.
Cleaning was hardly very high on my priority list. A good example: I just ran across a Xmas schedule from some time ago and I find listed, “MAKE WORK”. The main objective here was Xmas, but, Yup, it would have included peripheral chores as well– most especially like cleaning. That’s a pretty good description of my attitude towards “cleaning” and probably the reason why it wasn’t done very often, done very well, or more likely even, rarely done. “Make work”? Gives the process a very low priority for something with such a very high profile.
Add to the dirt and the cleaning were the inevitable house maintenance problems; ones we really are incapable of dealing with due to height, or weight; the lifting, climbing, fixing, or something of the sort. We’ve more or less been dealing with the upkeep of the house ourselves; just to keep the appearance and comfort reasonable, I made sure I kept things uncluttered and straightened. That did nothing for the high up smoke alarms that needed attention.
DETRITUS/DEBRIS/DREGs/dross/filth//dirt grunge.
All that was just fine, but age, and aches, and comfort made this more and more difficult.
What to do?
The preliminary solution was - a HANDY MAN, to deal with the repairing, big ticket, heavy duty maintenance stuff.
PERFECT!
Which still leaves -THE DIRT!
What to do about DIRT? A cleaning company? A MAID - ???? IMAGINE!!!
And this is how MAID BRIGHT came into my life, saving me from the ardor of Household Filth Syndrome, and giving me time to pursue a brighter life.
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Cleaning was hardly very high on my priority list. A good example: I just ran across a Xmas schedule from some time ago and I find listed, “MAKE WORK”. The main objective here was Xmas, but, Yup, it would have included peripheral chores as well– most especially like cleaning. That’s a pretty good description of my attitude towards “cleaning” and probably the reason why it wasn’t done very often, done very well, or more likely even, rarely done. “Make work”? Gives the process a very low priority for something with such a very high profile.
Add to the dirt and the cleaning were the inevitable house maintenance problems; ones we really are incapable of dealing with due to height, or weight; the lifting, climbing, fixing, or something of the sort. We’ve more or less been dealing with the upkeep of the house ourselves; just to keep the appearance and comfort reasonable, I made sure I kept things uncluttered and straightened. That did nothing for the high up smoke alarms that needed attention.
DETRITUS/DEBRIS/DREGs/dross/filth//dirt grunge.
All that was just fine, but age, and aches, and comfort made this more and more difficult.
What to do?
The preliminary solution was - a HANDY MAN, to deal with the repairing, big ticket, heavy duty maintenance stuff.
PERFECT!
Which still leaves -THE DIRT!
What to do about DIRT? A cleaning company? A MAID - ???? IMAGINE!!!
And this is how MAID BRIGHT came into my life, saving me from the ardor of Household Filth Syndrome, and giving me time to pursue a brighter life.
NEGATIVE ATTITUDES and considerations ABOUT TAKING ON SUCH A PROJECT.
I have never been crazy about the idea of having household help; a maid to be specific.
I don’t like the idea of people waiting on me. Being waited on seemed to me to be a weakness; if you couldn’t take care of your belongings, you should step back to a level in which you are capable of doing so. That was before I got old. (looking back– that one’s certainly a snobby attitude)
I’ve always had this nagging suspicion that it was a form of ‘SLAVE labor- there’s a strong history of negativity to this profession and I wanted no part in that. Not all maid services are created equal, of course, but there was and has been a great deal of unfairness existing in the business.
Another and certainly an even less rational reason: It was always important for me TO BE DIFFERENT; that it was important TO BE GREEN. I resisted being what I considered normal, or perhaps ordinary. l pretended to be an independent thinker. You can list this one under “pretense” or perhaps “deceit”. But it formed a distinct level as being part of my attempt at personality.
I never ever expressed this out loud, only in my head, and not too seriously.
I was also reluctant to take on the amount of organizing, planning, preplanning, and complications I thought such an undertaking would involve.
On a more immediate and serious note; I worry about my carefully arranged stuff being shifted. This unavoidably does happen, but the reason has to be a necessity, like window washing.
DETRITUS/DEBRIS/DREGs/dross/filth//dirt grunge.
Years went by. Soon we were 88 years old, and increasingly less mobile, so eventually I had to give up. It’s time for this idealism to be buried. And surely acceptable at this age, even by me.
THERE comes a MOMENT when you just have to do something, and sometimes that takes a very long time in coming. In this case things were of course piling up, exponentially, like topsy. I don’t break easily but I could see this wasn’t going to get any better.
SOMETHING HAD TO GIVE.
I DID NOT WANT TO LIVE IN A PIGSTY: This is our HOME: It should be our haven.
Overcoming these prejudices was a real struggle, but the high that ensued upon success was phenomenal.
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Now that’s settled --HOW TO FIND A MAID? And, WHAT do you do once you’ve found one?
I spent some time contemplating this issue. There’s no question; they are almost clamoring at your doorstep, they are everywhere. As it turns out and in due time It finally sank in, they are indeed everywhere, and surprisingly most specifically, right here on our very own doorstep.
I was vaguely aware that every week or so I’d see a brightly colored car appear on the cul-de-sac, and it did actually occur to me that this might possibly be evidence of - - A MAID SERVICE? And there it was. Conveniently printed in big letters on the side of the car was just what I needed: MAIDBRIGHT, and a telephone number. I wasted no time at all ……one phone call and we’d hit the jackpot.
Almost Immediately there was a representative sitting with us working out what his service could do for us, what they could do to bail me out of this miserable mess I’d managed to surround myself with. An added extra little bit of perfect was that they came complete with a built in recommendation; they worked for our neighbors. What could be better?
The best part: THEY’RE COMING IN A WEEK!!!!
BINGO!!!! I WAS so excited + SIMPLY OVER THE MOOON!
CONSIDERATIONS IN PREPARATION FOR THEIR ARRIVAL
Is it true what we’ve always heard; that one has to clean up before the maids come? Well, if it wasn’t, it is now.
In anticipation and on the off chance maybe someday soon I’d come to my senses and get some help, we cleaned out areas that hadn’t seen the light of day for eons; most specifically the walk in closet harbouring all my accumulated art work from age 18, 68 years’ worth or so. I am a professional artist so this was an immense exhausting job.
We got everything off the floor and paired down on the surfaces so we would be all set for the great day.
When we were actually sure of arriving help, I did a lot of work I thought was needed in order to assure that this arrangement would be satisfactory and successful. We had absolutely no idea what to expect.
I figured the presence of a massive amount of what might be considered knick-knacks were my first major concern. Being an artist I needed still life material. This in turn led to a rather intense/aggressive inclination towards collecting. There are a few spots in the house that are literally covered with objects. My opinion was that these areas were way beyond the pale on what one could honestly expect some poor cleaning person to have to deal with, so my first order of business was to do an aggressive job of secreting the majority of these items.
As careful as I was, I managed to overlook a few spots. I was totally amazed that the maids seem not to have been fazed one bit. Even more amazing, the maids just went about their business and dealt with what they found neatly and effectively. See! So much for anticipating.
And then there were the plants: The plant room with its pebbled shelves are obviously not dustable, so I just hung tight and hoped they’d ignore this problem. Fortunately, they left this area by just doing the floor – beautifully, and I’ m so happy with that being tended to as it is very hard for me to do.
THE BIG DAY
The HUMMMM of the vacuum cleaner is music to my ears.
Parked in front of our house, under our maple tree, there sits a little blue car with yellow suns painted around the back tires and MAIDBRIGHT printed on the side.
Inside the house everything is peaceful. The MAIDBRIGHTS, two of them, are hard at work. The vacuum is the only sound that would make you aware of their presence, or that anything unusual was taking place.
They glide around the house, performing their multiple tasks, silent as a whisper.
This was their inaugural visit, meant to give them an idea of what they would be confronted with, and to do a thorough cleaning of the entire house.
Five o’clock and they left as silently as they’d arrived, leaving an aura of a job well done.
FIRST IMPRESSION ….
WOW!
My house was PRISTINE I WAS ECSTATIC
The weight of the world (at least my dirt) was lifted from my shoulders and I was FREEEEEEEE!!!
I am no longer falling over heaps of grime/ grit the dirt. They’ve scrubbed away the dust/grit of years. Admittedly this is only confronting the very obvious degrees of cleanliness, but, never in a million years would I alone have accomplished this feat.
What a difference and a huge load off of my back. It gave me a glimmer of what a wonderful new stressless future of comfort, ease, and time to do what I wanted I could look forward to. A WHOLE NEW LIFE. Now, that’s awesome. There is no doubt, this has been a wonderful breakthrough.
It is assuredly the first time this house has been clean in entirety. EVER.
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WHAT THEY DID!!!!
Their main target: THE BASICS. That means they don’t scour or scrub, climb on chairs to reach high, or move furniture to reach low, and they open no cabinets. They do just the essentials, and who really needs more for a comfortable environment.
About those areas of the house that had most disturbed me.
MAJOR AREAS OF GRIEF ++++
1/ MASTER BATHROOM SHOWER: white tiles and grout, mostly orange with I don’t know what, and black mold? around and between. I was almost always scrubbing around on it but never very successfully. It slams me in the face and is a constant issue as I sit there enjoying my shower. This was no big aggravation: That was a slave job for me.
They managed to get this area almost SPOTLESS… I’m SIMPLY amazed. It is now Virtually pristine.
2/Under the downstairs stair well – this includes … gasp, the kitty potty; meaning that all over the place is litter….. The major living action has long been abandoned on this floor, so basically this area is very much not visible. BUT it’s still there, part of the filth baggage that we’re dragging around.
They ABSOLUTELY ACED this area.
3/ Black in toilets; which I actually have managed to keep slightly under control, is now GONE!!!! I SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW HOW THEY DID THIS - here is their expertise showing. I still don’t actually know what one should do with toilets, but whatever it is, this is way good enough and I don’t need to know.
Beyond that, there was the question of the knickknacks. The spots I forgot to police – I figured they’d hop over/avoid; but they did take them on with no trouble. I can’t believe it. The pictures on the upright piano were dusted and left all lined up in a row -poor women.
Unexpected benefit to all of this: I was encouraged to do a bit of permanent removal. Who needs all that much clutter? I pared the family photos on the piano down to real basics- like great grandparents. The more family heritage stuff was retained; all current stuff gone. The advantage? What’s left is now a lot more visible.
I have a small table next to where I’ve reigned supreme for all these many years (55?) my personal junk pile; I never thought to straighten. I figured they’d write this off as what ? too much junk. Evidence of movement shows they made an attempt. No complaint.
I’m supposing what I left undone was acceptable, so I will take that as a “go” for the future. That means all attempts at pre visit straightening on my part has been basically eliminated. BUENO!
THEY Emptied all the trash cans – of what we considered to be paper recycling; this just means that in the future we’ll make it a point to do a bit of a hustle and rescue the stuff from the trash cans.
They are programmed to change beds – we’re going to have to figure out an adjustment to this I suppose. One thing, we don’t have that many sheets.
Half the real estate they’re hired to cover is virtually never used and not counted in the biweekly visits, but it’s there, and for my peace of mind, has to be kept presentable. In order to keep it from returning to grungy, we’ll make it a point to request a special cleaning chore of the downstairs maybe every couple of months.
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AND HOW THEY DID IT: Key to success
Tricks of the trade; how they can do it and I can’t.
MAJOR ADVANTAGE HERE between them and me: far be it to mention age.
They are professionals; they know what they’re doing. One example, I’ve indulged in some musing about how to clean the toilet –and I’m aware of a plethora of cleaning products and equipment designed for that purpose, but I truly haven’t a clue what, how, or why to use them. I feel that I’ve not been very well brought up. Obviously, I need help.
These women, probably there are men as well, are PROFESSIONALS, that in itself is a huge advantage. They’ve got the proper tools, equipment, techniques, knowledge, time (no interruptions), experience and training at their fingertips and a totally efficient time management system created down to the last dot, and THEY ARE NOT DISTRACTED.
They show up for work weighed down and loaded up with cleaning equipment and supplies. They’ve got it all; a good clue as to how and why they do a better job than I for one do. I had a good laugh when I opened the broom closet the other day and there’s almost nothing in it; my arsenal is actually almost nonexistent – and what I have I don’t almost ever use. Obviously again, I needed help.
They work as a team, in tandem…. this is a real advantage/bonus for the actions they are employed in doing. One does up -dusting; other does down - with the vacuum. Presto! a flash. Totally efficient. They do apparently expect to do beds; without a doubt bedmaking is so much easier if there are two to tango. Or, if it’s a double effort. Job done in an instant IN A FLASH, well, especially if compared with how some of the rest of us manage to do it.
Incentive? If needed…..they are PAID. Whoooooops: I’d say I’ve just run in to who is the SLAVE around here. Of course, this has never been much of a secret- it’s how my generation operated.
All this equipment and expertise aside; the professionals are dealing with a totally different scenario than that of the average homeowner; we’ve got distractions from all directions like telephone calls, meals, chores, all sorts of interruptions, plus a totally useless inclination to get involved with the objects that are presumably being cleaned. One might also add lack of serious intention, which a distinct disadvantage.
The professionals on the other hand are totally immune from any distractions of this sort.
THE IMPERSONAL APPROACH IS SO MUCH MORE EFFICIENT.
THEY ARE HIRED TO DO THE JOB AND THEY DO IT: The benefit of the professional approach.
WHEN YOU NEED SOMETHING DONE; ASK A PROFESSIONAL. Yeah, man!!!!
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EVALUATION
They were scheduled to arrive between 12 and 2; they arrived 12:10 – I was majorly impressed by this punctuality.
They were here until 5pm; five hours. This visit was abnormally lengthy as it was their initial visit. It included the lower level which, as it is used very little, will be cleaned on an as needed basis- perhaps every month or so.
They were concerned only with the basics. The desired objective being that THE GENERAL APPEARANCE gives the impression of being perfect. As an artist I know IT’S THE OVERALL AFFECT that counts and further, is really the result of the effect of an OPTICAL ILLUSION. Any and all little missteps disappear, and you’ve got instant success. You have to look hard to locate any further attention needed.
There are deeper jobs which may occasionally be desired. (Some things are so deep and require such an upheaval to do, I think they will wait until we sell the house.) We can add tasks as desired at an extra charge. For instance, cleaning the oven, etc.
Contacting the central office is super easy; we can cancel, reschedule, add tasks as needed, etc. with a quick call. Very much appreciated; you are not locked in.
FINAL RESULT/BOTTOM LINE: THEY LEFT US WITH A HOME; ONE WE CAN KEEP CLEAN WITH MINIMAL EFFORT, and with the knowledge that IN TWO WEEKS THEY’LL IRON OUT ANY WRINKLES WE MAY HAVE BEEN GUILTY OF CREATING until the next time they’re here.
We passed the test and are set for a mutually acceptable future of cleanliness together. The house is all now neatly broken in and I’m sure they will be able to finish future visits in the 1-2 hours normally allotted.
BEFORE x PIGSTY: AFTER x PRISTINE
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FINALLY: AN ASSESSMENT.
Thankfully, gone is my former style of cleaning; basic haphazard, compulsive, and piecemeal. This method is very frustrating and ineffective indeed. I am most thankfully left with the general essence of a pleasing home; not always spooked/haunted/disturbed/unhappy about piles of foreboding dirt grit and grime. The peace that has ascended is blissful.
IN THE PAST, VERY LITTLE THAT I MANAGED TO GET EVEN VAGUELY CLEAN WAS CLEAN ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
I had been concerned at the idea that things would get moved; of course, things got moved. I moved things, they moved things, lots of things got moved. No problem, and probably this is a good thing indeed. I’ll probably leave the hidden knick-knacks hidden for the time being, then when they come the next time, I need do nothing. The basket of knick-knacks I misplaced will just remain so. So, what. I don’t miss them at all. Now I’m primarily left with a modicum of rearranging – or not. Leave it and it’s all set for their next visit. An added bonus; this was just the hint that I needed that would propel me into bigger and better bouts of weeding; to our and their advantage.
The basics are under control. PERFECT. And now what might be left for me to do? I never said I’d be entirely off the hook ….inside cupboards, pantry, fridge, etc. I now had time to do household chores, time to tidy, and anything else I deem desirable - at my leisure, my choice. Even better; I get to do the fun stuff/the icing on the cake/the trim; like polish the copper- the stuff that makes the house a home.
PRESSURE, STRESS, pffft gone
WHAT A RELIEF.
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MAJOR LESSONS:
I like to think of this as an epiphany of enlightenment.
THE KEY TO A CLEAN HOME
BASIC DOES THE JOB PERFECTLY
BASIC IS SUCH A SUCCESS
Because it is the BASICs that are VISIBLE.
VISIBLE -- therein lies the secret to visual success. What’s more visible than the refrigerator; and mine GLEAMED. WOW! This was my first impression; and I was very impressed. Inside said fridge, inside the accompanying kitchen cabinets; other cleaning ;;;; believe this ;;;; this stuff is undeniably INVISIBLE and therefore can be negotiated whenever I’m in the mood. So there.
The most obvious example of the importance of visible is that highly visible gleaming fridge of my first encounter. It sent such a very strong signal and distinct message of clean, and was therefore an ideal introduction to expect nothing but excellent results.
As far as high visibility goes, beyond that gleaming fridge are all those troublesome knick-knacks and other decorative trappings, like pillows. I have so enjoyed how very careful these items have been handled; they have been so very carefully arranged; neatly lined up, balanced and the pillows are all carefully centered. So cool.
I am presuming that this is their standard operating procedure, part of their training. The deft use of this trick couldn’t be more effective in projecting a very strong and a distinct message, a signal of proficiency and impressive professionalism. All this orderliness very clearly announces CLEAN HOUSE. I am very impressed. BRILLIANT!
FINALLY: To remember, most important;
DON’T LET IT PILE UP AGAIN. KEEP ABREAST.
This makes it so much easier to retain. The big thing…. It’s been left at an easily maintained level, and it’s our job to keep it that way. Theoretically from now on, all they, and we in between visits, need to do is MAINTENANCE.
no more pigsty for me << OUR HOME IS OUR HAVEN
BEFORE: PIGSTY: AFTER; STRESS FREE ENVIRONMENT.
SALVATION
THERE IS NO DOUBT THIS REPRESENTED A HUGE CHANGE IN OUR LIFESTYLE.
LIBERATED
BASICALLY I’M STARTING OUT WITH A WHOLE NEW LIFE APPROACH
EMANCIPATION
A NEW BEGINNING AT AGE shshhhh88….. who’d a thought. How did this come about? Aren’t I fortunate.
At age 88 it’s somewhat difficult to imagine there is any possibility for self- improvement or anything else of that sort. Here is a really good example of how very wrong that is. One must never give up. I’m now well into my much appreciated new found sense of emancipation. Is there any possible limit to just how comfortable one may want to get? Could comfort possible evolve into lazy? Could happen. But I’m far too anxious to take advantage of this great opportunity which has been offered me to let that happen. Thanks to this stupendous change in our life style, I now have time to do extracurricular stuff like further aggressive feats of clutter control, and I’m having time to write, aren’t I? I am so thankful.
I don’t have to think of dirt anymore because I know in my heart of hearts that in two weeks’ time
DIRT BE GONE
MAJOR YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
THANK YOU MAID BRIGHTS
I CAN’T THANK YOU ENOUGH
FOR WHAT YOU’VE DONE FOR ME