Gourmet kitchen supply stores report that their biggest sellers in January are food scales and juicers. Apparently a lot of people make an effort to slim down and get healthy in the wee weeks of the new year.
Good for them, I say. Me, I’m staying the course with my winter regimen of rich foods and sedentary pursuits until it’s warm enough to go outside again.
But I’m putting my house on a diet and health program.
I was inspired by a visit from a good friend. She told me she does her “spring cleaning” in winter, so that it’s all done by the time spring rolls around. We talked about how January is a spa month and how houses could use a good spa treatment in the depths of winter.
First I analyzed the house’s problem zones. The biggest one, the living room, is off to a good start. It always gets a thorough cleaning before the holidays. Since we have to remove and rearrange the living room furniture to make room for the Christmas tree, it’s an opportune time for deep cleaning.
Rapid weight loss is controversial, but I’m in favor of it. Especially if the reductions are in printed matter. It’s unbelievable how many pounds of paper a home with two school-age kids can pack on without realizing it.
I tossed all the magazines from the past year that we were intending to read someday. It’s not gonna happen.
Takeout menus from nearby Indian, Thai, Mexican and pizza establishments–out. We know what they have by now.
Twelve empty video cassette sleeves–out. Like anybody ever puts a tape back in its sleeve.
Programs, fliers, coupons, brochures, yo-yo trick instructions…Who is bringing this stuff into the house?
Because it’s easy to put weight back on, I’ve told the family that, temporarily, paper debris can go anywhere in the kitchen or the office but not back in the living room.
Now that the living room is in good shape, I’m ready to tackle the house’s other problem zones, one at a time.
After getting rid of excess bulk, I’ll focus on deep cleansing with aroma-therapeutic lavender and verbena-scented cleansers. As part of my house’s health maintenance plan, I’ve been trying to replace chemical cleaning products with natural ones, and I’m having mixed results.
My husband keeps replacing the supermarket cleansers as I throw them out. He thinks chemicals eliminate the need for elbow grease. So I emptied a bottle of his favorite “antimicrobial” counter cleaner and refilled it with some basil-scented natural stuff. He was fine with it, until he heard me tell our son about the switcheroo.
“What about the antimicrobial action?” he actually asked, when I pointed out the natural stuff seemed to work as well. He’s the dream consumer from a marketer’s standpoint.
After deep-cleansing comes the cosmetic makeover: a fresh coat of cool-toned white paint in the hallway, bathroom and living room. Come spring, my 53-year-old ranch won’t look a day over 40.
