Spot Cleaning

I like short cuts, especially cleaning shortcuts, although cooking shortcuts can be great as long as it doesn’t ruin the food.

But back to cleaning, everyone’s least favorite job. It is an endless thankless chore. Spot cleaning and stark organization are my friends. I see some dirt,  clean it up, move this, wipe that, make this shine. Yep, all clean… only I know it’s not real. Deep in the corner, behind everything a speck of dirt is left to multiply, call its friends and stage a revolt.

I get to the corners, under the couch, I move the chairs, but a wisp of dirt eludes my broom, my vacuum and even my rag. I caught a glimpse of it from the corner of my eye. I think it was laughing at me.

Cleaning is like waging war, we gather our soldiers, bleach and soap, call in the armory – the weapons of dirt destruction, mops, vacuum, dusters, rags and broom to plan our attacks. It is strategic, it is vital, we must eradicate the enemy.

When everything is neat and clean for that moment between muddy footprints coming in, or a call for the next snack, I hold up my hands in triumph. I won that battle.