Are you houseproud?

Me too Saggy

I don't iron although I do own one AND a steam cleaner. My OH who does not live with me, has his shirts and bedlinen laundered at the local valeting service and suits, trousers and other clothes dry cleaned but then, he's a City professional who dresses for the job. I, on the other hand, am retired and my City suits are long gone. I only iron that which absolutely needs ironing. Most materials don't.

Im not a keen cleaner either. Dh vacuums much more thoroughly.
But when the GC play hide and seek and emerge from under beds convered in dust its a bit embarrassing!
But I don't dislike ironing and hate wearing creased clothes so I do do most garments (not underwear or socks) and I do teatowels so they can be nicely folded in the drawer. But not towels.

Hi, I too like a lived-in house. To me that says welcome etc etc. However, I have to admit staying at an in-laws house for several weeks. One day I counted how many times the vacuum was out because I couldn't believe it needed to come out so many times when there was no-one home. FOUR times that machine came out.!!!!!! No, we didn't feel welcome. who would?

don't think I've ever hoovered under my sofa! I do keep the kitchen very clean though.

I do like to know roughly where everything is in my flat. I get quite distressed if I realise I'm unable to locate something. I have four huge, walk in cupboards full of stuff, so its quite a job to keep track of stuff if I'm not vaguely organised.

Response for Saggi. For me it's 'all about' the feel good factor. In an un-ironed garment I would feel and look scruffy. Also I just love the sensation of smooth sheets. Tried the alternative. Awful. I just iron away as I watch the telly and don't find it either onerous or any sort of chore. I'm a little curious as to why you do the deed for weddings and funerals. Surely it either matters or it doesn't? Interestingly my children say they love coming to stay because I iron their garments. Both are totally able and equipped but are prepared to sacrifice appearance for laziness - their words, not mine. Funny old life but I enjoy it.

Not house proud. More of the 'manyana' type. I took Mary Berry's book of household hints and tips out of the library, and have had it re-issued twice, but still at page 11! I really do want to read it!

These postings have done me no good at all! My blood pressure has raised considerably! I am not houseproud. I hate housework. I am a hoarder so my house is cluttered, untidy and dirty. I hate it. But I am trying to declutter so that I can finally return my house to the lived in home it once was. My husband died over 10 years ago and everything went down hill from there, nothing seemed to matter anymore. Life has changed in the last two years. I have used my willpower to lose weight, and now I have to use my willpower to turn my house around. I have made a start but it could take months if not years. Wish me luck.

Greengage indeed I do. You have already shown what you can do in one area of your life, an area requiring far more willpower than needed, to clear the house, so I am sure that you will succeed in this as well.

Good for you Greengage and good luck!
I think I’m averagely (is that even a word?!) house proud as I like the kitchen and bathrooms clean and the rest reasonable. I like ironing and do it listening to the radio.
Today my DGD (aged 6) asked for a duster and polish as she was going to “get into all the nooks and crannies”!! I hate cleaning DGC’s finger prints off the glass doors ...

Some pot fell under bed yesterday. When I went to retrieve, it’s eeks dustsvilles under there. Really need to do it. But that bed is big. Likewise behind dishwasher. Looks grim. Really should get to grips...

Are you house proud, what does that actually mean.
Does it mean you dust, vac, wash floors, windows, window frames, paint work, hob and oven, fridge, freezer etc etc etc everyday.
Years ago I worked with a women who actually did all those things everyday.
What fits in with my life is a good clean once a week including the bathroom but my shower as and when I use but I clean my kitchen more often. However I am very tidy putting items away when I have finished with them. It gives the illusion of a clean home.
I certainly don't move beds, wardrobes settees or anything heavy without help.
I personally think to be happy in life do house work to your standard not other peoples.
I iron very rarely.

I hoover the bits I can see daily because wood floors pick up dust and dirt easily otherwise it’s a once a year effort! I wonder if she pulls the bed out every day! Don’t ask! Life’s too short!

Definitely not houseproud and proud of it! Aunt visited years ago when children were small and we told her we lived in squalor but she said it was “happy squalor”.
Recently 2 year old GD was visiting and was fascinated by her uncle’s feet- he likes to go around the house barefoot. We would ask her “ what colour are A’s feet?” She would reply “black”. (I recently bought a steam mop so things might improve).
We do live in the country and DH tends to track mud in from the garden. However, neighbours and friends are always made welcome and come back, so they can’t be too put off by our slovenly habits!

Once when I went to visit my Mum when she was 80 we caught her on a little step ladder cleaning the top of her doors. She made a career out of housework as many of her generation did. Our house it not a show home but our home for living in. The kitchen and bathrooms are cleaned more regularly than spare bedrooms. It is cleaned and tidied each week but I do not have a strict routine for cleaning skirting boards and the like. If I know we are having visitors then I will do a clean before they arrive as I expect most people would do.

Very little ironing done here either. I tumble and shake and fold whilst warm. That is fine. dh irons his own shirts for work.

Shizam... 'pot fell under your bed'... maybe i need some of that to cure me of my constant cleaning!

I like things clean, but get caught out quite a lot when I discover somewhere that should have been cleaned and hasn't. Don't tend to look up that often.

Ah yes Pagzy I made a cushion which reads, "Housework won't kill you, but why take the risk?" Sadly I'm unable to photograph it and put a pic on here but you get the drift.

I am with Greengage here. My place is a mess. GG , What is your plan of attack?
Today as raining, not off to allotment so need to do some clearing up.
Have to catch up on washing and ironing as have been out a lot recently.
Not not house proud at all.

I used to iron everything even socks and underwear.Now owing to being disabled I never do ironing just hang clothes up on hangers and hope for the best.

I only become really houseproud when visitors are about to come and stay.Then I go into overdrive!

Well done so far Greengage you can do it. Don't try to do it all at once, small steps are best and you can see your achievement quickly. Good luck.

I like my surroundings to be nice but so does OH and between us we tend to do small cleaning jobs as we go. I'll clean loos and sinks and floors when I use them if I notice they need doing! I also like to relax in my surroundings and can easily forget about dust. I'll dust when I notice it and it annoys me. I cannot move furniture so vacuuming around it suits us. OH is good. He'll lug the vacuum upstairs and do under beds etc. Btwn us we are on top of it so rarely have to have housework sessions, thankfully. It's not my favourite thing to do! The children can come around and have fun....it doesn't take long to tidy up once they've gone.

lemongrove - that sounds familiar! My MIL coming to visit always inspired me to clean the oven! It wouldn't get done otherwise.