I hate cleaning with a virulent venom-infested passion. I'm telling you, girl - HIRE somebody. You're helping the economy! You're saving yourself the mental anguish! You get one day a week when the place sparkles and you didn't even have to break a sweat doing it! Plus - it FORCES you to keep the clutter picked up at least the day before. I'm telling you, with the kidlets, it's worth it just for that!
hugs,
A.

Good luck, and could you send either some cleaning momentum or the cleaning lady herself my way?

Amy, peeking out around the clutter

I second Alesia. Get a cleaning service. So you have to vacuum before they get there to maintain your self-respect. Pick up the kids' toys, put the laundry in the hamper. But do you really, really need to do the grout with a tooth brush every week? Clean the oven every week? Wash down the cabinets every week? Wax the floors every week? Etc.

The service I had in Baltimore would do my laundry, clean the fridge and change the beds, in addition to all of the above. Besides, those folks have industrial strength vacuums. No dust, no matter how tenacious, can resist those big suckers - double entendre intended. Also, with your little one having asthma, they'll do such a thorough job that there will be far fewer irritants in the air.

I third Alesia. I hired someone a few months ago, and I will live in my car and STILL have her come clean it. Cleaning gives me hives. Organization I can handle, cleaning, ew.

Do it! Do it!! Do it!!!

A maid is a wonderful human being. She is kind, she is pleasant and sociable, and most of all she is non judgemental. Maids are all like that. And if you're still embarassed, then hire a service who will send an anonymous professional maid to your house and then never use that service again- instead make a standing appointment for ANOTHER cleaning service to come in once a week and keep the place clean, so you never have to clean again. Just a thought. I miss my maid. She was a lovely woman, and I hated to move away from home and therefore, her services. Come to think of it- I bet if I ever have a yard again, I'll miss my yard man too. Okay, now I'm sad- THANKS LANI. :p

You are a woman after my own heart, Manda! I LOVE this idea. And you've all convinced me - if I can fit a maid service in to my new year's budget, I'm doing it! Yay!

I hate cleaning with a passion which is why I never have anyone over to my apartment. I still haven't finished cleaning my mother's closet and she died 16 years ago, not to mention all the books, magazines, and old records (remember them) that need to be thrown away. My mother, god rest her soul, used to always clean before our cleaning lady came, and now i realize why. I'm too embarrassed to have even someone I'd pay to clean see my apartment.

Can you bribe your husband to do it? Mine will clean if he's guilty of something, wants something, or has been promised something if he cleans. I tell ya, no one cleans a glass shower stall or a toilet like a man in lust of something ... or someone ...

Oh, a maid. That is one of my most cherished dreams. I think that if I get the job promotion that I am hoping for (and the $$ to go with it) I am going to look into a maid service. I don't mind the laundry, I just can't stand the clutter and whatnot and every time I think "Ok, today's the day to clean up" I take a good look around the house and end up on the computer reading about OTHER people cleaning or doing fun things--oh, did I mention that I am very good at avoidance and denial and procrastination also?! And Lani, it doesn't get better as the kidlets get older--it's MUCH MUCH WORSE!!! You haven't seen clutter until you have seen MY house....

I LOVE cleaning! I'll come clean your house for you. The dirtier, the better. I always tell my husband I want to get a part time job at a hotel cleaning rooms for fun. He thinks that's disgusting.

Cleaning is my stress reliever. I love cleaning...