The dictionary gives this definition for cringe: to feel very embarrassed or awkward, react with discomfort.
I spent yesterday in my quilt room pulling out some totes of miscellaneous items I hadn't sorted through in quite a while. I knew they needed to be reorganized because I hadn't been able to locate a couple of things I'd recently been seeking.
All went well and I was feeling proud of myself for being so industrious and doing a good job of the task.
Then I pulled out one of the boxes I store my felted wool in.
Crikey! Take note of my fingerprints where I took hold of the box and the swipe I made across the top. Yep, cringe-worthy.
This box is stored on an open shelf underneath the top of my cutting table. (Stack of the boxes on the top left.) Granted I haven't taken out any of these boxes for several months now, but where does all that dirt and dust come from?
It's not like my quilt room is a high traffic area nor have even I had a chance to spend much time in there until the last month.
Well, time (past time apparently) to put on my hazmat suit and tackle some deep cleaning. Who knows what other areas of grit and grime I'll find. Cringe!
What a beautifully organized quilt room! Thankfully the boxes protect the contents. I also have stuff stored in totes for that reason. Wood heat? Ash dust? It gets everywhere. I am learning to live with it, (up to a point!) as it would be a never-ending chore to keep on top of it!
ReplyDeleteRosalea - Yeah, I'm suspecting (sorry to say) it probably does have a lot to do with our wood heat. It still surprises me, though, because my quilt room is located a bit "away" from the main part of our house where the two wood stoves are. Also makes me realize that those areas nearer the wood stoves must be FILTHY in/on areas that I don't clean regularly. Arrrgh, hope the Clean Police never come checking on me!
ReplyDeleteHad a similar experience in my sewing room over the holidays. I usually grab the remote & turn on a radio station when in there. I decided to pull out some Christmas CDs to play. When I actually went to the corner where the 'stereo' is, there was a 'fine' layer of dust on it. I went to wipe it off & found that I could put that 'fine' layer in a pot & start a few seeds with it. Cringe worthy for sure. I walk by that corner (ignoring it apparently) at least once a day. I'll try to remember to look down one of these days.
ReplyDeleteOur bedroom is typically the dustiest room in the house because of bedding and laundry folding and I imagine cutting fabric is the source of your lint dust. I've been running a HEPA filter in the bedroom this winter which improved things AMAZINGLY but yesterday we took the bulbs out of the ceiling light and they were pretty cringe worthy. Other problem areas are the backs of picture frames or dressers. I recently got a glimpse of the situation developing behind our super heavy computer desk in the office....
ReplyDeleteI like your organization in your quilt room! I'm cringing here seeing the layers of dust. Hubby and me sort of have an arrangement. He's retired so he's supposed to be doing the housework (I'm still working 40 hours weekly). I had done the housework for years when he was working in addition to working 40 hours a week myself. He is great about the other stuff, cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms, vacuuming, etc., but he hasn't gotten dusting down yet. Better undertake it myself and soon!
ReplyDeletebetty
Yep, I recognize that fine film of dust/ash. That's why I keep my decorating to a minimum!
ReplyDeleteOur hundred year old house and wood heat pretty much keep it dusty almost all of the time. So the sight looks familiar! Even so, your quilt room looks really nice.
ReplyDeleteDFW - You made me laugh out loud with your comment of having enough dust to start seeds in! I'm planning on first vacuuming the tops of those boxes and then scrubbing them with Simple Green and water. Think that will do it??
ReplyDeleteSmartAlex - I know what you mean about dusty (downright dirty?) light bulbs. I've had to change some that had so much grime on them that it's surprising they gave off any light. Can you imagine what the house of a truly bad housekeeper looks like? Oy.
betty - Dusting is such a fruitless task. I don't know where so much dust can possibly come from, but I could dust each and every day and it would still be needed in my house! I think your husband is doing a great job. Good for him. And hence, good for you!
Michelle - I've always said you were a wise woman. ;o)
Leigh - Well, the dust hasn't killed any of us yet, has it?! ;o) There are definitely better things to do than keep an always immaculate house, right?
Just like soil in water, dust settles better where the air is calm. And the wood heat, and fabric fibers probably add to it. Besides, aren't they now saying that living too clean is contributing to the rise in asthma and allergies? Don't write the date in the dust before you put the bins back, and it's all good :-)
ReplyDeleteJustGail - I hadn't thought of that . . . the fact that dust settles better where the air is calm. Now I'm worried about where all the dust ends up in the areas of the house where we're whizzing around daily. ;o) If living too clean is not good, must be why they say every kid has to eat a certain amount of dirt to grow up healthy! Those bins are on the list to be cleaned THIS WEEK. Along with all the rest of the quilting room.
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain! Dust is a constant battle here, although its been better since we bought a different clothes dryer. We also put a HEPA filter in our bedroom and it has helped tremendously.
ReplyDeleteGranny Sue - Seems dust is an ongoing problem for even the most meticulous housekeeper which I am not! But could be a lot worse. It's really small potatoes, as they say, compared to a lot of other problems. :o)
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