Scraping Off Plaque – Keep in Step with the Spirit
A trip to the dentist, former procrastinators, illustrates our next “P” – plaque. It’s an apt description for some of the stuff we have in our homes. Behind the pearly white smile in front, the hygienist finds a buildup of hard to remove deposits. It takes extra time and attention for her to address the calcified spots that we weren’t even aware of.
Our focus this week: Look behind, under, over, and around to check out what deposits have formed over time in our homes. We can remove a lot of them and enjoy that “clean feel.”
Because plaque is often not seen, we’ll be tempted to put off dealing with it. Though it’s not readily noticeable, removing it will have a positive effect – less mental and physical weight, less responsibility, more freedom, more available space.
Select a couple of areas to “dig in”:
- Kitchen – Check the back of lower cabinets. I found dishes I don’t need and assorted types of crud that fell from the drawer above.
- Pantry – Move forward items you haven’t used so you’ll grab them soon. Check for container lids with no bottoms and vice versa. Move out the juicer or use it again? Toss never-finished stale cookies.
- Laundry room – Are there attachments for a vacuum you no longer own? Corral like items into one container – and label it. Do you have too many towels-turned-rags? Is something stored here that you realize you don’t want anymore?
- Bedroom – Thin the reading stack and bookshelves. Does anything need to be returned to its owner? Empty the top dresser drawer of items that are awaiting a decision. “Oddballs” like to gather there and sabotage your purpose for that drawer. Remove scarves, costume jewelry, and shoes you no longer use.
- Hall closet – Check for coats nobody can wear anymore, mittens, hats, goggles and boots no longer needed.
- Anywhere – Identify décor that no longer floats your boat. Donate or give it new life in another spot. Do you have specialized tools, hobby materials, or potential projects that haven’t seen action in a long time – or ever? Did you save a lamp to repair but never did?
- Yard – Remove old plastic flower pots. Throw out hoses that have hardened or cracked and rakes with too few tines. Combine leftover potting soil into one bag. Remove outdated repellants and insect homes attached to shed walls.
We forget stuff is there. If you said, “I didn’t even know I still had this!” it can likely go. Some things should come out to be used; others need to make their exit.
Like going to the dentist to remove plaque, this job must be done again and again because we accumulate things and our needs change. Periodic plaque removal lets us enjoy that “clean feeling.”
When is your first “plaque removal” appointment this week?
