I have vacuuming issues. I don’t like to vacuum. I like to spell vacuum, but I don’t like to do it. It’s loud, the vacuum is heavy, it scares the kids or wakes them up, and the amount of time it takes to do is much longer in my head than in reality.
I really need to do it for the health and sanity of myself and my family, so my question to you vacuuming-lovers out there (I know you exist!) is–how do I learn to love vacuuming? What do you like about vacuuming? What sunny side or silver lining can I think about as I vacuum instead of the reasons I mentioned above to avoid the task? I’d much rather be happy about doing it and do it often and feel better about the state of my house than my current status quo of occassional vacuuming and general carpet messiness.
Feel free to brainstorm in your comments. You never know–what may seem like mediocre advice to you may be the switch for the light bulb in my head. Thanks!
Vacuuming sucks! But it helps to buy a brand spankin’ new vacuum (my preference is a yellow one). 1.) it makes you excited to use something new 2.) makes you feel obligated to use this expensive piece of equipment. If the funds are not available make words out of the carpet lines. I love the carpet lines the vacuum makes. So vacuum out a “hi” in your carpet or something.
Good ideas, Tina! Someday I want to have a Roomba robot vacuum cleaner, but I’ve heard that one of the biggest drawbacks to using one is that people miss the fresh vacuum lines from a regular vacuum. And it doesn’t come in yellow…
Bethany,
I love to vacuum. It is my favorite thing to do cleaning wise. I must admit I do have a vacuum I like and perhaps that helps. But I have always like vacuuming. I love the results, primarily. A freshly vacuumed room is like a fresh start. This is true in part because of all the picking up that must be done before vacuuming. I think the room just looks and feels better once vacuumed. It is the same feeling I get from new clothes. I like that it doesn’t require a lot of thinking, so you can have your own thoughts. I like the noise it makes. The rumbling is a bit powerful and I am conscious that the vacuum is really doing something. I like the rhythm of it. It is much like running or swimming in a stay-at-home mom exercise sort of way. I like that the noise drowns out any other sounds which once again, allows me to have my own thoughts. I like that even if immediately after vacuuming everyone brings out their toys to restore their version of order to a room that the effect of the vacuum is left on the carpet. All the little fibers will still be standing up in their vacuumed pattern for at least a couple of days. I like emptying the dirt-catcher thingamabob on the vacuum. It it a reminder of just how effective my efforts were. Visual reinforcement of the difference my efforts made.
So there you have it. Perhaps this will help. Hope all is well. I do love your blog. We miss you guys!
Take care,
Marcie