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me won’t really know who I am, they’ll know that I cleaned my home regularly.</p><p id="fcb1">Some people just aren’t bothered by dirt, grease, grime, and, at times, the critters that tend to make their presences known as a result, but I do.</p><figure id="16a7"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*dXayg-XRmXiaCvbB"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@jannerboy62?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Nick Fewings</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p id="a498"><b>I actually used to be a pretty messy person UNTIL I had roommates, ones that were a lot messier than me.</b></p><p id="8bf4"><i>It was living on my own that ultimately changed my cleaning habits forever.</i></p><p id="83d1">No one else was going to clean anything after or instead of me.</p><p id="1549">So I started getting into the habit of cleaning, as should those of you who haven’t yet.</p><p id="b935">Here are just a few of the reasons why:</p><p id="a635" type="7">But, aside from the moral judgments others make about it, living in mess can negatively affect our mental and physical health.</p><p id="e1ef" type="7">Dust, mold, and pet sheddings that collect in messy homes are all bad for allergies and asthma. Mess also makes it harder to relax, it can lead to anxiety and guilt, can inhibit creativity and affect performance.</p><div id="786a" class="link-block"> <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/why-are-some-people-messy-20170120-gtv2m8.html"> <div> <div> <h2>Why are some people messy?</h2> <div><h3>Updated first published Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Rachel Hoffman is no Marie Kondo. "I'm…</h3></div> <div><p>www.smh.com.au</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*PL6r9SIPxnPSpRyS)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="1eb5">Cleaning isn’t “fun” for me nor “cathartic” as it is for some others, but I tend to always feel better after it’s <b>DONE</b>!</p><p id="0189">One of my favorite things to do to help make cleaning less of a hardship and more of an enjoyment is listen to music.</p><p id="34c4">Singing, and sometimes dancing, help make the time go by faster.</p><p id="4a4a">I also recommend listening to podcasts or TED talks or whatever you desire. At times I drink wine while cleaning as well, especially during tedious tasks.</p><p id="f1de">Do whatever you need to do, but <b>PLEASE,</b> for the love of _______ (fill in the blank), <b>CLEAN YOUR PHREAKIN’ HOME ON A REGULAR BASIS.</b></p><p id="d181">Thank you for your time and consideration.</p><p id="692e">Exhaustedly yours,</p><p id="0d3a">KL Simmons</p><figure id="0986"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*g1vPYHnTFvdpJ6edWXNJbQ.jpeg"><figcaption>Photo credit KL Simmons</figcaption></figure><p id="a83f"><b>A few more of my stories:</b></p><div id="1433" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/cleaning-can-be-a-serious-trigger-especially-for-those-with-adhd-5d0892700ddd"> <div> <div> <h2>Cleaning Can Be A Serious Trigger, Especially For Those With ADHD</h2> <div><h3>I never thought I’d learn so much from a story that was an exhausted, whimsical rant</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="b

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ackground-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*YE9HoQq_xYMfN7Vk)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="82e0" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/to-grow-up-looking-white-with-a-black-mother-in-urban-america-ce57ea7cbedb"> <div> <div> <h2>To Grow Up Looking White With A Black Mother In Urban America</h2> <div><h3>My white father left before I was born and never returned</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*GOoyhAG50u60rzPOo1XPDA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="5664" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/how-getting-naked-in-front-of-people-for-work-is-one-of-the-best-things-ive-ever-done-171e4f5f62a9"> <div> <div> <h2>How Getting Naked in Front of People for Work is One of the Best Things I’ve Ever Done</h2> <div><h3>This part-time job (off and on) for 15 years was one of my all-time favorites</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*ot7yHrJkjnUMRYfS)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="a9ba" class="link-block"> <a href="https://byrslf.co/she-used-to-be-a-good-friend-of-mine-until-she-threw-me-under-the-bus-for-the-last-time-b40c8d6193ef"> <div> <div> <h2>She Used To Be A Good Friend of Mine Until She Threw Me Under The Bus For The Last Time</h2> <div><h3>I never saw it coming from someone so thoughtful, smart and kind</h3></div> <div><p>byrslf.co</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*fc1rU4rgR6tc8nFt)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="b284" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/work-at-one-of-the-first-major-internet-porn-sites-featuring-live-shows-a6f25aa20224"> <div> <div> <h2>To Work at One of the First Major Internet Porn Sites Featuring Live Shows</h2> <div><h3>My boss was a 24 year old pioneer in the sex industry, made MILLIONS and I had no idea</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*deKnmTdALZcMVspzXkSaCw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="4433"><b>Become a member:</b></p><div id="6b0f" class="link-block"> <a href="https://klsimmons.medium.com/membership"> <div> <div> <h2>Join Medium with my referral link - KL Simmons</h2> <div><h3>As a Medium member, a portion of your membership fee goes to writers you read, and you get full access to every story…</h3></div> <div><p>klsimmons.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*DppIwPz3KgmoqRmk)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

CULTURE|PSYCHOLOGY

An Open Letter To Those Who Don’t Clean Their Homes On A Regular Basis

Somewhat of a rant, but too exhausted to feel anger

Photo by Volha Flaxeco on Unsplash

Dear Those Who Don’t Like To Clean Their Home On A Regular Basis,

I hate moving into a home after people like you, including those of you who happen to be Airbnb hosts as well.

Today I spent 10 hours, more or less, cleaning a relatively small kitchen because the people who moved out before my partner and I moved in CLEARLY did NOT clean their home on a regular basis.

I’m not anal retentive about cleaning, nor am I obsessive compulsive.

For the most part, I clean things when they’re supposed to be clean. Oftentimes according to “cleanliness guidelines” or “suggested recommendations”.

Photo by The Creative Exchange on Unsplash

Many years ago, I dated a guy who seemed to NEVER clean his home and I was appalled. He was going through a messy divorce and had very messy emotions to match. I thought it was a phase.

I was wrong.

It baffled me that he didn’t seem to mind the fact that I, or anyone, including his 14 year old son, had to wade through piles of clothes, papers and trash to simply use the bathroom.

We didn’t date long.

I never thought of myself as a “clean freak”.

Photo by Anton on Unsplash

The family of 3 who lived here before my partner and I moved in knew that they had 2 full weeks to clean their ketchup and grease splatters in their kitchen.

I live in Germany now where the rules and expectations are different, which is clearly stated in our contracts.

I seriously couldn’t even guess the last time that they cleaned the knob to the radiators- which took just ONE WIPE to clean.

It wouldn’t be so frustrating if there were not COUNTLESS of spots, places and spaces like that throughout this 2 bedroom apartment.

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

However, I have come to realize that I’m more considerate than many other people and want my home to be clean and welcoming, for myself as well as others.

I could never leave a place I’ve stayed in this condition.

Even though the people after me won’t really know who I am, they’ll know that I cleaned my home regularly.

Some people just aren’t bothered by dirt, grease, grime, and, at times, the critters that tend to make their presences known as a result, but I do.

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

I actually used to be a pretty messy person UNTIL I had roommates, ones that were a lot messier than me.

It was living on my own that ultimately changed my cleaning habits forever.

No one else was going to clean anything after or instead of me.

So I started getting into the habit of cleaning, as should those of you who haven’t yet.

Here are just a few of the reasons why:

But, aside from the moral judgments others make about it, living in mess can negatively affect our mental and physical health.

Dust, mold, and pet sheddings that collect in messy homes are all bad for allergies and asthma. Mess also makes it harder to relax, it can lead to anxiety and guilt, can inhibit creativity and affect performance.

Cleaning isn’t “fun” for me nor “cathartic” as it is for some others, but I tend to always feel better after it’s DONE!

One of my favorite things to do to help make cleaning less of a hardship and more of an enjoyment is listen to music.

Singing, and sometimes dancing, help make the time go by faster.

I also recommend listening to podcasts or TED talks or whatever you desire. At times I drink wine while cleaning as well, especially during tedious tasks.

Do whatever you need to do, but PLEASE, for the love of _______ (fill in the blank), CLEAN YOUR PHREAKIN’ HOME ON A REGULAR BASIS.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Exhaustedly yours,

KL Simmons

Photo credit KL Simmons

A few more of my stories:

Become a member:

Open Letter
Personal Story
Cleaning
Culture
Psychology
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