While I love coming home to a clean house, opening the door after I've had the cleaning lady in feels extra special. She kicks it up a notch in a way I never seem to match; my house literally sparkles and my mood brightens. Here are some other ways to pamper your home and, by extension, yourself.
A full and organized refrigerator: Busy lives often mean barren fridges and takeout. There's something about a fully stocked fridge that feels comforting. Take the time to toss out old condiments and wipe down the shelves with vanilla before filling it up with foods you love. Get the good coffee, indulge in a box of fresh raspberries.
The smell of something bubbling away on the stove or baking in the oven: A quiet weekend at home or a sudden night without plans is the perfect time to try a new recipe or bake up an old favorite. Invite friends over to share it with you if you'd like.
Fresh flowers: We're a big advocate of fresh flowers here on Apartment Therapy. There's a simple joy that comes from seeing their bright pop of color. Try them in unexpected places — the kitchen, the bathroom — or wake up to them next to the bed.
A made up bed: This is one of those chores with a big pay-off. While I resisted for years, now that I've taught myself to make the bed first thing in the morning, silly as it may sound, there's a sense of accomplishment that carries me through the day. And it's nice to jump into a plumped up bed at night!
Freshly ironed sheets: I love crisp, ironed sheets, but I do not love ironing. Sometimes I treat myself by having my bedding washed and ironed at the dry cleaner.
An organized clothing closet: Organizing your closet by kind and color not only makes getting dressed in the morning that much faster and easier, it's nice to open up the door on a space that's visually appealing. Ask a friend or a professional to help you out if you can't do it yourself. You may not only get a nice looking closet but a new look to boot.
An organized medicine cabinet: Do you use it every day? If the answer is no, find another place for it. Toss old medicines, splurge on a nice toothpaste or a new toothbrush (your dentist will thank you), wipe down the shelves, get rid of that lipstick you've had since high school, tuck in a silly toy or favorite photo amongst the deodorant and face wash.
Send the laundry out: I don't know why, but laundry is one of those tasks I avoid. When I just can't face it, I send it out. Sometimes it's worth it to have someone else take care of it.
Nice soap: Even an upgrade of something that you use every day can make you feel indulgent. And not just in the bathroom. Try a new scent for your dish soap. I'm loving Mrs. Meyer's basil scented dishwashing liquid.
Candles: Dinner by candlelight is not just for romantic evenings, it can make even a plain bowl of pasta feel special. If you don't normally use a scented candle in your home, try one.
(Image: Tara Belluci from Brian and Kerry's Brewery Loft House)
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Great picture - I love the colors and angle of it.
For me it's curtains. I have a 3 penny ikea bed, but beautiful, pale grey, silk curtains :-P
I vote for a regular visit from a cleaner. For two income parents, doing all the housecleaning ourselves was leading us in the direction toward a divorce.
Seriously?
I totally agree with Sasha2. I don't have a cleaning service, nor do I have kids. But you can BET when I have kids I'll have a cleaning service! In the meantime I'll have to settle for a roomba.
Coming home to a house that is sparkly that I didn't have to clean is THE BEST. I don't have kids and live by myself. If that is a ridiculous waste of money I don't care. I work hard and chose a profession where I could have someone clean my house. When I was a teen I was the predominant house cleaner in my blue collar family. I would tell my parents then that when I grew up I would have a maid. Dreams do come true. LOL.
Re the picture: The cat psychiatrist makes house calls? I don't know how I feel about that.
Oh my, how imperfect I am.
Huh...ironed sheets. Laundry service?
We were given the responsibility for keeping the house clean as kids and I've hated house work and absolutely loved a clean house ever since. Our Mother thought she was building character in her daughters but she really inspired us to do everything in our power to keep from ever having to do it again! I admire people who can perform those tasks and take pleasure in them, even a little jealous. Instead I just over tip my cleaning lady and treat her like she hung the moon!
My cleaning lady has a fetish with ironing ALL bedsheets, and even my husbands underwear! I've told her it's unnecessary a million times but she insists. It is pretty damn nice though. It's a small perk of living in South America where almost everyone can afford a cleaning lady.
I have been the single working woman who had a cleaning lady come twice a month and now I'm the 40 something mom who has done all of the above. In fact, this spring I have uber-organized the closets (all but one...), cabinets, kitchen cabinets, shed...it's a great feeling AND a gift that keeps on giving. In no way do I feel perfect or superior, just less frazzled when I need a band-aid or when I'm at the store and I don't have to wonder "do we need that...?"
Although I must admit a certain satisfied-smile comes over my face when I open my fridge and it's clean, organized and has food in it for the week (or at least two days -- when you have three kids).
I agree on the made up bed, there is just something special about it.
fresh flowers ! flowers in nice vases in a clean house .
It is amazing how much I enjoy a clean house (and flowers). Whatever it takes. A cleaning lady. To get up early. To clean in my pajamas. Whatever.
It just feels like I can have company over any time and enjoy them. Or just enjoy it by myself even.
BTW. I love the white chair and ottoman. Very modern and cool.
All I care about is that my dogs are there to greet me. The house gets cleaned whenever.
@KLT108 I looked at the photo again - hilarious!
@klt108 "Re the picture: The cat psychiatrist makes house calls? I don't know how I feel about that."
Haha! "So, tell me about your mother. Hummm, left you at 12 weeks old did she? And you never knew your father..."
@MARY AND FELIPE, I'm no expert on South American sociology/geography/economics, but I think "almost everyone" might be an exaggeration. For instance, can your cleaning lady afford a cleaning lady? Maybe you meant "almost everyone we know"?
@klt108 hahaha!
I have the power combination of a cleaning lady and Roomba for daily cleaning. I won't go back, you can't make me!
When I was a student in Montreal there was a start-up that did students laundry for $10 and it was glorious.
Now if only I had a dishwasher, sigh.
@Mary and Felipe: statistics please that says that more than fifty percent of South Africans can afford a cleaning lady (actually, >80% would more be "almost everyone"). But I kind of doubt that. Especially with an unemployment rate of 25%, plus, I doubt that even most of working people can afford cleaning ladies (or can your cleaning lady afford a cleaning lady? Probably not.) Your comment seems really insensitive and not in touch with reality.
I do hope, that at least your pay your cleaning lady well instead of taking advantage of the high level of unemployment and poverty which will make it possible for people who couldn't afford to employ a fair paid cleaning lady to employ someone for a pittance and boast on internet sites how cool it is to live in a country where everybody can afford a cleaning lady!
I like to have a few little splurges like nice hand soap and my bf likes to bring home fresh flowers. I also like nice towels (nice as in purchased at homegoods nice). Nothing major, but just little things like those do make things feel a little nicer at home. Seriously though, the minute I think I can afford it, I'm soooooo into the idea of getting a cleaning service in once or twice a month.
My Dyson vacuum...sound weird but it's super fun to vacuum and see clean it is after!
Both my cleaning lady and my lawn service come today - every other Friday, coming home to both a neat yard and a spotless house is heaven!
Hiring a cleaning lady was probably the best thing I have done in a while. For a long time I thought it was silly, since I live by myself and am fully capable of cleaning...but I work long hours during the week and would find myself spending most of the weekend getting the house in shape, or just letting it go when I was busy. I do much more spur of the moment entertaining now, since the house is pretty much always clean enough to be presentable.
@Betsy Bougie --- I couldn't tell from your post which was more fun for you- being the single gal with cleaning lady or the 40 something mom who does it herself? I have done both and the cleaning lady is definitely the choice I would make if I could again! :)
PS: Has anybody else had the experience of having their cleaning lady quit on you "because you don't know Jesus!" ? True story. Happened in North Carolina.
@FengShuiByFishgirl> Your comment deserves its own Like button.
"I do hope, that at least your pay your cleaning lady well instead of taking advantage of the high level of unemployment and poverty "
I wonder how much it costs to employ a cleaning lady in the US. Here in the UK, it's about £10 per hour, and in France it's 12€ p/h on average. The difference in France is that cleaning is not necessarily an 'invisible' job - cleaners pay their taxes and contribute towards their pensions, paid leave and sickness benefits.
I adore fresh flowers and super organized closets and cabinets. Unfortunately, I cannot afford a cleaning service as I've opted for a really nice neighborhood to live in. Oh, and the article mentioned something on the stove or in the oven, but left out the breadmaker ... what a heavenly smell, especially on a cold winter day.
@fulinlin and @really? No I am not being insensitive and I have traveled the world enough to know the obvious abundance of this job in at least 3 south american countries compared to other parts of the world. The truth of the matter is in south america it is common for the middle and sometimes even lower middle class to have help, but It is more cultural than financial, they would rather never eat out and have someone come over once a week to help out, than not. When I lived in America and Europe this was not the case, where the middle class rarely had cleaning ladies and it was more the upper middle and upper class. In regards to how I treat Nilda (which is her name) I thought my comment on my reluctance to let her iron everything in sight said it, but since this site is usually filled with judgemental comments I will clear that up, and say that we treat her and her family incredibly well, and thankfully we can pay her enough to have her all to ourselves. She is a saint! And with that i'm going to go dive into my freshly ironed sheets :D
@klt108: I.die. LOL.LOL.LOL!!!
@MARY AND FELIPE, I've spent time in Argentina so I know it's more common there than in Europe for people to hire domestic servants. I still think you're wrong that it's "almost everyone" in South America that can afford to have a cleaner. I'm not calling into question your right to hire a cleaner, or your treatment of her, but I think you might be unaware of just what a large proportion of society is less well-off than you. For example, I think UNECLAC estimates 56% of Paraguayans to be living below the poverty line. It's easy for us all to live in a bubble and to think that the people we associate with are representative of the majority. I suspect most of the people reading this blog are part of a relatively well-off minority (even those living in tiny rented flats and decorating on small budgets). It's hard for us to see that, usually.
@really? I really didn't think my choice of the words "almost everyone" was going to be so carefully scrutinized when I wrote it. I am however aware that poverty exists everywhere, and I am sorry if my comment came off as if I did not to some. I never said I was well- off, just to clarify i'm a medical intern we get paid peanuts, and I would settle for being paid in sleeping hours. But thank you for pointing out that Paraguay is in such terrible shape, it is probably the only south american country I have yet to live in or visit and it made me read up on their situation. Have a nice day ( waiting for someone to comment on how x% of the population of Cambodia makes less than I do and I should rejoice) just kidding