Chores, Rugs and Mess

Karen asked me what chores I do not like to do and these are my answers:

There are so many chores that need to be done in every home. Unlike other households here in the Philippines where a house helper or two are staples, our household has none. So some of the chores that need to be done grudgingly are the following:

• Cleaning the floors which includes sweeping, mopping and wiping clean.
• Getting rid of all the dirt from the cheap rugs that we use for wiping the shoes whenever we enter the house.
• Washing the plates.
• Cleaning up after the preparation for cooking
• Organizing the things we use day in and day out, putting these where they belong.
• Dusting.

We try to get by, cleaning after ourselves, and that includes the children doing some chores like putting their plates in the sink after they ate. They also sort their clothes by putting the underwear clothes in the washing machine and the clothes in the basket of dirty clothes which will be brought to the washers.

We have devised ways to make cleaning easier. We use those disposable rags that children sell in the streets. No need to wash and dry again and again, just throw when these are dirty. For spills on the dining table, there is a roll of tissue within reach to wipe the mess soon at it happens.

The children each have their own drinking/water bottles to avoid getting a glass for a drink. These get washed at night.

One thing that really makes have a hard time is cleaning those rugs, ridding all its dirt. Good thing we don’t use carpets or area rugs much like what they do in my in-laws’ house since my son Julian has asthma. And since he has asthma, I need to dust every now and then which in turn makes me all teary-eyed, itchy and sneezy.

Now organizing the things we use daily is a big issue.For bags, we have a table where all these are put. The children have their own big plastic containers for their toys though one or two finds its way to the bed on the sofa just about anywhere, even on rugs.

For the many books we use for our homeschooling lessons, these are in a tray on the table where we usually study.

Now if only hubby will file the bills and letters in their right folders because these are crammed in a paper bag somewhere here in the library, I would be contented for now.