So I was not blessed with the cleaning genes (I don’t know if that is the right words). I was not taught by example growing up, my parents for all that was good about them home keeping was not on their radar. I grew up moved out on my own and managed okay when it was just me, barely keeping my head above water. Then I moved in with Casey and I started drowning. At that time we had 3 roommates and one bathroom. Hey man it was for the last 6 months Casey was in college. Then we got our first place of our own, and I didn’t magical become Martha Stewart. I wanted a picture perfect home. We didn’t have kids it shouldn’t be this hard, why was it so hard. Then we had kids and I was not only drowning but sitting on the bottom not coming up for air at all, and with my own mental health struggles. I couldn’t get ahead.
In June of 2017 don’t remember how I heard about UFYH. Maybe Twitter, Maybe Facebook. I ended up in the group. And after seeing a few post about 20/10’s more about those in a minute and the fact that everyone was welcome no matter their gender/ religious background. I was like I need the book. I had done research into other systems; Fly Lady (aka Zone Cleaning), and a bunch of other systems. All were made for just women, and a lot were religiously based. While if those work for you, that wasn’t what I was looking for. They also didn’t account for people who couldn’t clean for long periods of time. UFYH on the other is against marathon cleaning cause that causes burn out and in the end makes you not want to clean, the UFYH system encourages frequent breaks. It is inclusive of all everyone and does not bring up religion. On their website there are little challenges to help you and more about the system. Though my favorite is just a plain old 20/10, 20 minutes of cleaning followed by a 10 minute break; rinse and repeat. I typically do about 90 minutes total of 20/10’s. So much can get done.
So I don’t hate Zone Cleaning but it just doesn’t work for me. First off I can’t work on a firm schedule like that. Also the fact that Fly Lady is so heavily religious makes me oddly uncomfortable. It is cleaning, like shouldn’t it be available to everyone not just women and Christians. Men and children clean, everyone in my house cleans.
On another note also reading Dana K White’s How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind: Dealing with Your House’s Dirty Little Secrets, with UFYH was literally the magic combo that has changed my mindset. I will be honest, I still still stumble. My house gets dirty; dishes in the sink, floors that need to be done, laundry that needs to be folded. Though my head is above water and nothing a few 20/10’s can’t fix.
Awkward Club 