Persons of a sensitive disposition, look away now. About 40 years ago, Katherine Whitehorn, the gifted journalist, wrote that the only way to keep her house clean was to invite guests round. This comment has stuck in my memory ever since! A number of meetings [downstairs] and overnight guests [upstairs] has seen the vacuum cleaners going into overdrive recently.
Yes, I have two of these – both Sebo automatic X1. The first purchased in John Lewis in 1997 [when we got our dog] It was the same price as a Dyson, and the saleslady explained why the Sebo was better value. The second came from the Scout Jumble Sale. I think Bob paid a fiver for it. It had one small part missing, which was easily replaced, and needed a small bit of gaffer tape on the hose. It has also lost the upholstery brush, but that doesn’t worry me. Like Model #1 it works brilliantly. Having one upstairs, one downstairs saves a lot of lifting.
If you go to our Council Tip Refuse recycling centre, you will see all the dead cleaners in serried ranks, sorted by their manufacturers. There are ones by Electrolux, Hoover, etc [and loads of Dysons] but we have never seen a Sebo there – which must prove something.
Our bed is extremely heavy and I cannot move it on my own, but Bob helped me last week to get it away from the wall so that some really thorough vacuuming could take place. It is alarming how much dust accumulates under there. This post could possibly be subtitled ‘fifty shades of grey’. There, you have seen under my bed, so now you needn’t feel so bad about your dust!
When I change the sheets I turn the mattress if it is that month [the letters are always put into top left position] That way they get all four possible orientations on a regular basis throughout the year. Mattress pads and mattress protectors are useful to prolong mattress life [and they significantly reduce the bedmite population]
Great idea regarding the mattress and marking the corners. In our Guides they don't teach bed making. When the go on camp it's fitted sheets and a duvet or a sleeping bag in a tent.
ReplyDeleteCarolx
I learned how to do hospital corners in my youth and still use them much to my husband's amusement! Glad I am not the only one who has dust behind and under the bed which like yours needs two of us to move!
ReplyDeleteso true ok
ReplyDeleteI learned how to make hospital corners, and how to clean properly, when I worked through my school holidays as a chaimbermaid at the New Bath Hotel. This was in the 1960's, and I have never forgotten how to do it.
ReplyDeleteWhat with that and my very first domestic science lesson which was entitled "how to care for your dishcloth" (hand knitted of course), you would think my house would be spotless! Well, bits of it are, some of the time, but not all at once - unless of course, we're having visitors!
I love the last sentence of your comment 'bits of it - some of the time- not all at once' - how very true for most of us, I suspect!!
DeleteHospital corners here too!
ReplyDeleteI learned hospital corners while working in one as a cleaner when I left school. I'm tempted to pull out my bed for a clean after seeing you do yours. Hubby has the bank holiday off and it's too good an opportunity to miss.
ReplyDeleteOh darling, lets spend the Bank Holiday in the bedroom....vacuuming the carpet behind the bed. How romantic is that?!
DeleteI like my fitted bottom sheets.
ReplyDeleteI turn my mattress at least once a month and vacum it before and after turning, only takes a few minutes and is well worth the effort.
I use a mattress topper and a mattress protector, not a waterproof one (hopefully won't need either!).
o.k re- the fabric, I've also put in the bag a couple of craft mags, a mag about crocheting, with free kit to make crochet hearts. Can't remember if you crochet but, I know you will know someone who does or wants to learn!
Have a nice few days away, hope the weather is kind to you.
Thanks - see you soon I hope - and your new tenants!
DeleteI love it when you go into psycho housewife mode as you just put so much thought into how to make the job easier and better. The months on the corners of the mattress is fab as is your post title. I also so identify with having a workhorse vacuum that just does the job without needing nurturing. I've been through so many and have yet to find my holy grail. I will need to bear sebo in mind for the next one as I love your logic re: the council tip. Hospital corners for me too.
ReplyDeletePlease can I have an apron that says "Psycho Housewife"?
DeleteNavy corners!! I refuse to tuck in top sheets at all now.
ReplyDeleteYesterday,I mentioned to Chris that we need to move the bed for me to vacuum underneath,it looks as though we have another car under there!
Jane x
I think it was Quentin Crisp who said "after 3 years, the dust doesn't get any worse"!!
ReplyDeleteThe best vacuum my boss ever bought for me to use was the very same Sebo. It finally gave up the ghost after a great deal of use and then she bought a Sebo 'cylinder'-type which is nice and light for the 'bedroom' jobs but now I have a state-of-the-art Bosch which is big and cumbersome. I haven't actually used it since the end of January which is the last time I was at work but that will all be remedied next week, when the doc signs me 'fit to work' again, hopefully on Friday.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever had a new vacuum. All ours have come from the tip. I have 'one on each floor' too. Great idea putting letters on the mattress.
ReplyDeleteLove from Mum
xx
Pretty sure that's a dying skill!
ReplyDeleteHa ha! I've seen your dust! You 'int never seeing the dust under my bed Ang dear- it would shock you! I am, however, MUCH better since I've been married! Somehow, I feel a bit more responsible every so often. Right now, it is utter carnage after being away since Friday night and no time to clean the previous week's mess!!x
ReplyDeleteWhat a very organised clever way to remember the mattress turning! I always do what my mother used to call 'envelope corners', but I fear this kind of thing will not filter down to our children's generation, unless they're nurses!
ReplyDelete