one hundred and sixty-seven

In case you have been reading this blog with blinders on, you've probably noticed that I am (what some might call) pretty freaking Type A.  I'm the sort of person that thrives on routines! and normalcy!  and muti-step processes!  Though it is probably borne of my untreated ADHD, I have come to love my quirks and feel a strange sense of pride at my possibly imagined efficiency. 

Unfortunately, with great efficiency comes great responsibility--responsibility that requires you to clean even the tiniest of nooks and crannies.  Don't know where to get started?  As always, I have a convenient list that should keep you busy for the next week--and even less if you're as awesomely hyperactive as I happen to be.

• Remove the knobs from your stove and give them a quick wash in warm soapy water; use a toothpick to remove gunk from any grooves or indentations.
• Clean your drain openings and drain stops by using a toothbrush or scouring pad to apply a thin paste made of Barkeeper's Friend and water.  Let sit for a few minutes, give it a scrub, rinse with fresh water, and then dry with a rag to prevent water spots.
• Next time you're dusting your shelves or chairs (you do dust your hard chairs, right?), don't forget to do the undersides!  You'd be surprised at the dust that builds up down there.
• After you clean your windows or mirrors, use the dampened paper towels or rags to wipe down the face plates around your light switches and electrical sockets.  While you're wandering the house looking for light switches, why not wipe the hand prints from your doors?
• Next time you wash your duvet or quilt, consider taking down the curtains and giving them a good shake outside.  You'll be amazed at the amount of hair (human and pet) that somehow weaves itself into the fabric.
• Every time you remove a full garbage bag from the bin, check for any crumbs or spills.  Shake the crumbs into the full trash bag (before you tie it, naturally), and use an old sponge or a dampened rag to wipe the bin down on the outside, then inside.
• Last, but not least, I recommend installing a fingerprint sensing device to inform you of any fingerprints on windows, appliances, and other shiny things.  Failing that, I'll come by and point out all of your failings fingerprints free of charge so that you can promptly wipe them from existence with the help of a lint-free cloth.  You're welcome. :-)

As always, feel free to chime in.  I'd love to know if there's someone at least half as neurotic as me.