I See Things…

There have been many times in the course of my cleaning work that my clients have asked me,

“Have you seen this _______?” or conversely, “WHERE did you find the _____?“

Because during the process of cleaning, I have to look, really look, at everything. So… I see things. I am a master of noticing what is out of order or if something is in a place shouldn’t be.

For example, my granddaughter (like many kids) hates socks. She only wears them when she absolutely must, but otherwise, they are off her feet and abandoned–wherever that may be: outside by the trampoline, in or beneath the couch, under the covers of her bed. They’re everywhere… and nowhere at the same time.

Schrodinger’s socks.

How many mothers are nodding their heads at this, laughing?

More often than not, I find things with my vacuum. That alarming clacking and clanging sound as a penny or something else hard gets sucked up into the machine as it bangs its way up the hose and into the bag. The first response is usually, “Oops!” But if I am in a bedroom near say… a dresser with a jewelry box on it, I must stop and retrieve whatever it was that I’ve sucked up, whether it be a coin or a missing wedding ring.

But sometimes, when I am looking under a piece of furniture as I vacuum, I see things. Those things that take a weird bounce when dropped and wind up in places we never think to look. Cat and dog toys, remotes, charging cords, jewelry, and of course, coins. I found a $100 bill once.

Tempting, but no, I didn’t keep it. I left it in an obvious place with a sticky note about where I found it. As I have done with everything of value that I have found. It’s part of what makes me a good house cleaner. Being observant, finding dirt and disarray, are essential qualities–and ones you should seek when hiring someone to clean for you.

So, a housecleaning lady was the natural choice (for me) to be my main character and sleuth. Most good ones are perfectionists anyway that will adjust a wall hanging ever so slightly to make it straight or reset the throw pillows on the master bed to “look” better. We’re kind of fussbudgets that way.