Gangsta Clean

In my house, there are 3 levels of clean.

Level 1: Half-assed clean.  This is the level of clean that is achieved on a daily basis.  It’s not that I don’t love having a spotless house, because I do.  But during the weekdays between the hours of 9-5, I’m OBLIGATED to be on the couch at my office desk blogging shopping online working and just don’t have time to clean.

Level 2: Weekend clean.  This is the level of clean that is achieved when, ahem, “other” family members decide they should pitch in.  Let’s just say this level looks very similar to level 1, but with a few additional random tasks completed.  This weekend, that tennis ball that had been stuck in our gutter for 3 months was finally pulled out.  Phew!  Crisis averted.  Also (I don’t want to short-change anyone) a bug that had been smashed on the wall a week ago was finally removed.  I’m going to miss Ol’ Smashy.  The severed legs / bug guts that I refused to clean off the wall and I really bonded over the past few days.  I’m sure I’ll be seeing his wife and kids soon. RIP Smashy!

Level 3: Mother-in-law clean.  This is the level of clean ONLY achieved when my mother-in-law comes to town.  Level 3 would be when I’m on my hands and knees in a bathroom with a magnifying glass trying to remove any evidence that we actually use the toilets.  My kids and husband tend to stand back during a level 3, as I tend to get all Mommy-Dearest for a few hours.

My husband’s parents came into town this weekend and I decided it was time for the kids to pull their weight.  They are only 2.5 and 4.5, but surely they could contribute a LITTLE.   And by “contribute a little”, I mostly mean “don’t make the house worse as I’m cleaning”. 

And so the cleaning began.

The kids put new toilet paper on the ground.  On the ground, that’s where it goes, right?  It is when you live with a 2 year old.

 

They made the bed. Well… sort of.

 

They cleaned the sinks….

…AND the walls.

I’d like to give a special thank you to Inspector Hector color-changing soap for making it look like a drive-by occurred in my bathroom.  Those red pellets are extra fun when you’re scraping them off of paint.  

  

But hey- this is what I asked for, right?  With the help of my kids and Inspector Hector, I think we’ve stumbled across a new level of clean at our house.  Level .5: Gangsta Clean.  

TTFN,

AMo