MAN CLEANING 101 (B) .....

 ..... A REFRESHER COURSE.

The Old Girl has been in Auckland this weekend and returns this afternoon so I've been busy doing housework.

Those readers who've been around a bit (and, let's face it, you are getting a bit long in the tooth) will recall previous posts I've written on the art of man cleaning.

In case you don't remember, here's a few links:

REPORT CARD

CALLING ALL INVENTORS

THE SHOWER SERIES -PART ONE

Now man cleaning is different from student flat cleaning even though The Old Girl says that my shower (the one that she refuses to use) is like something out of a student flat. Admittedly its state of cleanliness doesn't meet her standards but 'student flat'! Really?

A Dunedin student flat shower box.

The Old Girl never flatted as a student. She lived at home before marrying so missed that experience.

These Dunedin students wouldn't be so happy if The Old Girl, with her OCD tendencies had been one of their flatmates.

In Man Cleaning 101, in the past I've suggested time-proven techniques like: simply moving lounge furniture slightly to suggest that vacuuming has been done; spraying some 'clean'-smelling chemical in bathrooms to suggest that cleaning has been done; moving items about on surfaces to suggest that wiping and dusting has been done. These were effective up to a point until she rumbled me and I got the point - literally. Ow!

The trouble is, is that my eyesight is failing and hers seems to be betting better and sharper. Hoodwinking isn't much of an option nowadays. Here are some little 'wrinkles' that I can share with you though:

• Unless your partner is some sort of Amazon she's likely to be a couple of inches shorter than you. This is important and can save a lot of extra energy. When dusting or cleaning surfaces, work at a comfortable height level. There's no need to stretch up to unnecessary areas that she won't be able to reach.
• Although just spraying some 'clean'-smelling chemical in bathrooms won't cut it anymore there's no need to get all OCD about it. Sure, use the Jif and the toilet 'duck' - a quick squirt, brush and wipe will suffice but, and this is important, make sure that you leave the Jif or the toilet 'duck' out of the cupboard so that she can see that you used it.
• Empty the vacuum cleaner. No matter how much you used it, if at all, make sure that you empty the dust receptacle or replace the dust bags. Put the machine away but make sure that you put it away in a different place or in a position that suggests that it has been moved.
• Now here's a tricky one - that old trick where fussy employers or house-owners try to catch out commercial cleaners and housekeepers. Robert will know this. The fussy person will place a coin of reasonable value somewhere like tucked in a corner below a skirting board or behind a couch. Look out for these and remove and pocket them. I'm not saying that my Old Girl does this but there are some odd places within her reach where she might see some undusted or unwiped dust. Familiarise yourself with these 'traps' and make sure you dust them first.
• Do pick up items and straighten things. While it sounds simple and obvious this is what creates the first impression and can save a lot of investigation.
• Buy some flowers and put in a vase or vases in prominent places. Ideally some sort of lilies that have a nice bouquet.

Good luck!