I clean my house according to some simple principles
that are easy to remember:
1. If you have just stepped on something and danced
around in pain until you slipped on a magazine, it is
probably time to pick up again.
2. If you find your scissors by feeling around your
dining room table until you feel something hard of the
correct shape, it's time to clear off a few things.
3. If you need a gas mask to open your fridge, you might
think about throwing away some of those leftovers.
4. If you drop your comb in the bathroom and you pick
it up with more hair than is currently attached to your
head, it's time to sweep.
5. If the neighbors are circulating a petition about the
state of your yard, you might consider cutting the grass -
but only if you've failed to buy them off with a doll dress
or two.
6. When sorting newspaper, ask yourself if anyone asked
for it in the last six months (or the last time you sorted,
whichever comes later). If no one has, throw it out.
7. If your feet stick walking across the kitchen floor, it's
time to mop.
8. If it takes more than 20 minutes to find your kids when
you wake them up in the morning, it's time to have them
clean their rooms - use new doll dresses or Power Ranger
stuff as incentives.
9. If you haven't seen the floor of your car for a week
because of the Happy Meal litter on the floor and 'wash me'
is written in the dust on the outside of the car, it's time to
take the hint.