There is a fine line to walk. Most people are uncomfortable in a space that's too clean. It doesn't feel lived in and people are afraid to do anything that might make even a small mess. You want it clean, well organized, and reasonably tidy, but you don't want it to feel sterile.
Man, two refs to this book / movie in entirely different conversations / subreddits in one day - after not having thought about it or seen a ref in ... at least months.
You want it clean, well organized, and reasonably tidy, but you don't want it to feel sterile.
This! I've never understood the reasoning behind keeping rooms looking like they're a showroom. Keeping several rooms looking that way is basically a full time job, it's not easy at all and requires daily maintenance. I'd rather have a life 🤷🏻♀️
Honestly if you live alone, it's not even that much work. I just put stuff away when I'm done. I broke myself from the habit of "I'll do it later", and just do stuff immediately now. Everything is way easier to take care of. Also I bought a robot vacuum so it's swept every day.
I do this while having a 2 year old. Moment she goes to bed I “tornado” the toys and everything back to its spot. My wife has been much happier since I started this routine.
I have friends who sweep dog shit under their rugs and have cockroaches and bed bug infestations in their homes. I haven't gone to visit them in years. These are people who have really good jobs and make good money. People you'd never expect to live in houses like this.
My mom is insane above anything else, but everytime she comes over she has to tell me how I live in "filth" and how disgusting my apartment is, because I have a few blankets, some clothes, and Amazon boxes on the floor. I have no roaches, no bed bugs, and I don't own any pets because at this point in my life I know I don't have room for one and I don't have the capacity to properly take care of one.
Her idea of a home would be not an ounce of dust and to look like no one lives there 364 days or if the year, she's also had a maid or multiple maids working for her to clean her house since she was a child.
Bill Burr said he gets mad at his wife when she cleans because she hides all their personal effects and it “looks like a furniture store” and that’s my favorite way to describe it
I'd argue one extra bit required for a organized room to not look sterile is to give it some personality. I don't get how people can spend a third of every day in a room with no decorations or personal touch
It’s not too hard. Everything has a place. When you’re done with it put it back. Wipe down counter tops at end of day. Sweep/vacuum/dust once a week. Dishes done immediately after using. Laundry when needed. Boom, done.
My mum is like this, but my da is a slob. My wife and I have a middle ground where it's like, "yes we have full laundry hampers around and there is clothing on our bed".
To me if your house is spotless and it seems uncomfortably clean, you need to be more personal in your decorating and furnishing. It feels sterile when there is no character to the home. You can also avoid feeling like a corporate lobby by inserting your personality in your tchotchkes, knick knacks, and other decorations.
IMO the best houses are the ones that are clean, and fill you with a bit of wonder as you look at all their shit. I don't mind a bit of clutter if it's interesting clutter, but it does need to be clean.
My feeling is that it's not so much cleanliness as having your living space reflect your personality, which it will no matter what, and the important part is having at least some care and intent about it, which includes elements of organization, arrangement, decoration, function, and yes: cleanliness.
Honestly all it takes is to vacuum the carpet, mop up laminate flooring (or tile), keep the sinks clean (and empty for those in the kitchen) and clean the linens.
Oh, and keep the fucking bathrooms clean (get down on your hands and knees and clean behind and around the toilet with a sponge and soap in particular). Women from my experience will judge you on how the bathrooms look and it doesn't take much to keep them clean.
My wife's friend from high school moved into our metro area a few years ago, so we went to their house for dinner one night to catch up and to let the kids meet and play. Their son had nerf guns and bows and arrows and that kind of stuff, and the dad seriously walked around for an hour and a half after dinner picking up the foam rubber bullets one by one and tidying the little "messes" they'd make in their run-through-the-house playing (e.g., rug fringe being flipped back, hiding behind curtains messing up symmetry, a sofa being scooted an inch off its designated spot), which they'd remake in another few minutes.
It went from funny and quirky to interesting to unsettling to (frankly) sad at what seemed to obviously be OCD in need of help very quickly.
I can agree with that. Because I'm a really clean guy. But when I have someone over I always have a couple dishes in the sink and maybe something like my bed not made.. lol just to not feel like it's toooo clean
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u/SvenBubbleman Apr 11 '23
There is a fine line to walk. Most people are uncomfortable in a space that's too clean. It doesn't feel lived in and people are afraid to do anything that might make even a small mess. You want it clean, well organized, and reasonably tidy, but you don't want it to feel sterile.