tarte tatin

Looking back, I was really glad I used the long Holy Week break to finally gird my loins, unpack my moving in boxes that had been stewing for nine months (like a baby! LOL) and finally clean up my room. 

It was to have been my first major cleaning project without Grace, our super-nanny who had been with us for twelve years (Holy Week is when she takes off for two to three weeks and go to her province for a holiday). At that time, it felt like I was doing a high jump without a safety net. Who knew that it would be a foreshadowing of how life was to be without her permanently? 

For the first time in years, my room became foreign territory to her in the sense that she had no idea where anything was because I was the one who picked up every single knick-knack and stored it away (the plastic storage bin shopping trip at SM was fun, but also expensive—I ended up spending $100+ just on storage bins, insane.).  

After that intense, torturous cleaning session that would last me four whole nonstop days, I put everything in its place (the living room has yet to receive that treatment from me though, but my loins are still refusing to gird itself yet) and would even tell Grace not to fix it as I would be the one in charge (finally!) of fixing everything (who would’ve thought that I would awaken my long dormant compulsive cleaning gene?). 

I just realized now that I had not posted a before and after picture. 

Before. Excuse the crap panoramic shot, I suck at panoramic shots and also I was probably shaking from fatigue then. LOL.

Crap on the floor.

More crap on the floor. Technically, I’m probably not still fully cleaned up because I still have carryover crap outside in the living room, but I’m working on it slowly. Maybe on the next long weekend!

To be fair, I really honest-to-goodness cleaned up, meaning, I didn’t use the bins to just store the clutter and be done with it. I really organized my stuff according to category per bin. This is the pouch bin (I know. I should stop buying pouches since I’ve enough to merit a pouch bin). The bins really helped me with the cleanup because it’s hard to de-clutter without knowing where everything should go. 

This was the evening of the fourth day. I think I cried tears of joy and when I saw this. LOL. I could finally see the freaking floor! 

Months after the cleanup, I’m proud to say that my room is still more like the after than the before (also, I realized that I have been living here for a year now—time flies like Superman on crack).

I read somewhere that for cleaning to be manageable, it has to be done in short bursts a day versus leaving it all dirty and cleaning like crazy during the weekend or in my case, for four days. The article I read prescribed cleaning for fifteen minutes a day so it’s not overwhelming and I’ve really taken it to heart. 

When I wake up, I make the bed and then do a light sweep of the floor with a broom (living with Gucci is like living with the Spider-Man villain Sandman—she leaves behind sandy particles along with her fur, it’s a mystery where the sand comes from). 

In the afternoon, I vacuum the sheets (especially Gucci’s side) and vacuum the floor as well to really suck away the stuff I wasn’t able to get during my morning sweep (also by this time, Gucci the Sandpup would’ve shaken off more particles). 

At night before I sleep, I look at the stuff that’s scattered, pick it up one by one and put it away so it doesn’t build up (e.g I’d put back a bag I had used in the closet after changing bags). I still leave a small allowance for in-room clutter, but make sure that it doesn’t look unattractive. I’ve also found myself unable to sleep when I know my floor is dusty/my bed is cluttered. It’s a freaking miracle. 

During the weekend, I scrub my floor and the bathroom. The shower just gets a daily anti-mildew/soap scum buildup spray everyday after I use it. The toilet gets scrubbed every other day. 

I actually get excited now perusing the cleaning materials aisle at the supermarket or at True Value (they’ve got a fantastic selection!)

These are what I have in my cleaning cabinet. Messy Bessy’s Eucalyptus All-Purpose Scrub, Lysol Toilet Bowl cleaner, a scrub brush, a chamois cloth, gloves, glass cleaner for the mirror, Martha Stewart bathroom cleaner (it’s hella expensive, but she is my inspiration and I will just use the spray bottle to refill with a cheaper alternative once this runs out LOL) and Bio Glow bathroom cleaner. Bio Glow’s label looks iffy but it’s really good. I want to give their Odor Eliminator a hug because it’s a lifesaver when I do doggie waste cleanup, it really neutralizes the odors, and it’s safe for pets (looking for good cleaning materials is a goddamn challenge when you have beloved dogs in the house). 

This is my absolute favorite of the bunch. If you don’t have Messy Bessy Eucalyptus All-Purpose Scrub in your house, do yourself a favor and buy a tub now! The round brush fits the tub perfectly and it’s what I use to scrub my floor, the bathroom wall, the sink, the toilet seat, everything! I love how fresh and minty your room smells after. It helps get rid of Gucci’s adorable but oh-so-stinky natural smell and a little really goes a long way. I’ve had that tub for months and I’m nowhere near halfway. 

I may be a flop in the cooking department, but I do clean up real nice. ;) 

Do you clean, too? Please do share with me your favorite cleaning tools/materials! I’m always on the lookout for that magical product to make my house sparkle.