Putting off the inevitable

[5ft Diva]

I was just walking through my house today noticing all the stuff I have put off doing because I really don't like doing it and was wondering, "Am I the only one that puts off the inevitable?"

Which leads me to ask:

What do you guys put off in your homes that will haunt you every day until you do it but you just can't bring yourself to getting it done until it's screaming at you?

For me, it's three things, dishes, dinner, and laundry. Oh, and annually, it's putting away Christmas.

I'm working on it.

[runamyrun]

I am putting off doing dishes. Dh usually does them for me. Isn't he sweet! He is gone this week (with M&Ms hubby on a scout trip), so I need to do them. I usually put off cleaning the kitchen.

[5ft Diva]

My life would be much simpler if I didn't dislike these things so much.

[amberpatomo]

ha ha ha. it's funny that you posted this because just recently I have noticed the mountain of colorful fabric in my bedroom is becoming hard to walk through

I usually am pretty good with laundry but for the past few months I dread the thought of even looking at my full baskets! And I only have 2 small girls that aren't changing outfits 3 times a day yet

So yah I am definitely putting it off. I need to change it now so that I don't continue the habit.

Another thing is I notice that a lot of women dislike the repetitious tasks. Things you must to do. Like dishes, laundry, dinner, dishwasher, diapers. Things that really can't be put off for to long. Personally, I hate the feeling of cleaning up my house and 4 hours later doing it again.

[Imahoot]

I really need to wash my windows and my blinds. I put it off and cannot even think about it before becoming frustrated. It is just two tasks I never have the time or desire after a full day to do. Someday....

[LostnFound]

I always put off cleaning the refridgerator. When all my leftovers are keeping my tupperware hostage and I run out, then and only then I will finally brave diving into the refridgerator to clean it out. I love the feeling when it is all cleaned out and organized for a little while. Note I still call it tupperware even though it is not that brand, probably from the dollar store but old habits are hard to break.)

My other item I put off is the childrens drawer in the bathroom that the toothpaste and toothbrushes get put in. It gets about an inch of toothpaste and I hate cleaning it out. I even have toothbrush holders for their toothbrushes but they always end up in the drawer. It drives me nuts.

[Meticulous madness]

My ceiling fan (in the dining room area) has about a half inch of dust around the edge of the blades. It feels like I just cleaned it all off yesterday (though it's probably been 2 months, I'm sad to admit).

But, I've learned a sneaky trick...If I keep the fan part of it running all the time, I don't notice the muck.

Of course, (cough, cough) I have this crappy allergy-type sinus congestion I just can't seem to shake. Go figure!

Hm. Maybe it's time to pull the ladder in from the garage.

Well, maybe tomorrow.

[Dia Minha]

Making phone calls. I hate making phone calls. Whether it is returning a call when someone has left a message or making visiting teaching appointments I always put in off until last minute. I'm just lucky I have a visiting teaching companion who is willing to make the phone calls. Thanks M&M!

The other thing I keep putting off is cleaning my own room. It probably has been a good six months since I have done a deep cleaning and the dust on the computer desk and the ceiling fan is really piling up. When Elder and I went on our over nighter we discussed what we could do to have a little of the vacation feeling everyday and I suggested we clean and paint our bedroom and get some nice new bedding for a fresh new look the would be funner to keep nice. Probably won't happen until the weather turns cold again, but it's something I can look forward to anyway.

The dishes and laundry are a always a problem. However, I find if I just say I'm going to set the timer for 1/2 hour and get as much done in the kitchen that I can and then be done until after dinner, it helps get me motivated and it's amazing how much you can get done in such a short amount of time. I also try to do 2-3 loads of laundry first thing in the morning and 1-2 last thing before going to bed. Sometimes it starts feeling like I am always doing laundry, but it helps to keep up on it. I am always afraid my washer is going to go out on me and with my luck if I had just one day to do laundry, it would break down first thing that morning and because my kids and I don't quite have enough clothes to get through a whole week let alone two we would be pretty hard up without it. It also keeps me from using my appliances during the hottest part of the day when electricity is running low, because of everyone using their air conditioners.

My I'm a rambler today. I don't really expect anyone to read all this, it just feels good to ramble sometimes.

Dia

[smed]

I dislike washing my walls, deep cleaning and throughing all the crap away. But after it's all done It makes me feel like I can breath just a little more. I feel like I should never sit down and veg. because there's always something to be doing, From kids, to cleaning, and then the deep cleaning that's always there. Somethimes after all the other mom stuff that needs to be done there is no time to do the deep spring cleaning. I don't know about you but spring cleaning takes all year to get done for me. But the thought that always comes to mind is that one day my children will be out of the house and then I'll be able to do all the stuff that gets put aside. (Hopefully) I also just take it one day at a time. Especially with the laundry! That is an all day advent. I do 9-12 batches in one day.
Every day I do something different. clean bathrooms, clean all the bedrooms, etc. But my kitchen and living room is cleaned, sweeped, and vacumed daily. This just helps so I don't become overwhelmed.

[runamyrun]

I also have a hard time doing deep cleaning. Last year I made a list of everything that needed cleaned in a year. A couple of days a week I tried to cross off something on that list. I wrote the date next to it, so I could tell when I would need to do it again. This year I am so unmotivated to do any of it.

[bookworm]

I put off putting away my DD's laundry. She lives out of a basket. She can do it, but it is usually so full that I help her, or it would take her 3 days. I also put off cleaning the blinds and "spring cleaning" like dusting the tops of the cabinets, re-organizing my closet, etc.

[5ft Diva]

Ahh, the windows and blinds are my least favorite as well. My mom came out one day a couple of weeks before my last baby was due and I was in the middle of cleaning my windows and blinds and she helped me and it was so fast. I did the blinds and she did the windows and it literally cut the time in half. I don't know if I'll ever get an opportunity like that again.

Dia, I loved the idea of setting the timer after dinner to see how much you get done. I'm gonna try that.

[Erudite]

Mopping the floor and cleaning out the dishwasher are the two worst for me. I always get a kid to do the dishwasher if I can, but they can't mop the floor. I tend to let it get pretty icky before I make myself do it. I've found that I have to call a friend to get it done. I get tons of housework done while I'm on the phone with a friend...just something about keeping my mind busy while my hands work. Now if I could just do that once a week, my floor might get mopped once a week!

[Dia Minha]

Erudite, I have found a really good way that my kids can use to mop the floor. I guess it depends on how big your floor is, (which is probably a lot bigger than mine), but they love to do it and actually do a pretty good job. It keeps the majority of the gunk up inbetween the times that I get it done anyway.

I give them a spray bottle of diluted cleaner. They take turns spraying the floor until it is pretty damp. Then they each get a two rags to put under each foot. They skate around on the floor until they have it all mopped up. Then they take a spray bottle with just water and spritz the floor again. Then skate around until it is dry. They love doing it and they actually beg to "mop" the floor. We have also taken the opportunity to blow bubbles in the kitchen and then mop up the mess to wipe up the floor. They don't even know it's work.

Dia

[Erudite]

That sounds like so much fun! My floor is pretty big, and I have to move a lot of furniture to really mop it right (and then put everything back...you see why I don't get around to it!!) but that would certainly solve the "in the meantime" problems. I'll give it a try!

[Erudite]

Of course...I do let them make blanket tents or play schoolbus while all the dining chairs are in the family room for the floor mopping. That can be fun too and I don't have to feel bad about not putting everything back right away.