Squalor Survivors / Cleaning

noelfigart posted a link to www.squalorsurvivors.com. Part of me was fascinated, as I quickly determined I had lived, sometimes for months, in second degree squalor. Yes, squalor can be measured. According to the site, it's "degrees of squalor" are the scale that psychiatrists use.

The other thing I found interesting is their page on "reality cleaning". This is not Martha Stewart / Heloise / Home Comforts wisk-a-duster-in-the-stage-set cleaning; their measurments of "clean" are a lot closer to reality that you see in magazines. Together the 4 degrees of squalor and 4 stages of clean form a pretty good scale to see where you're at....

First degree squalor

You are getting behind in tasks that you would normally manage, like laundry and dishes. You are not the tidy person you once were. Little piles are starting to emerge and your disorganization is starting to affect your life and inconvenience you. Things are just starting to get out of hand and become unmanageable. A sign of first degree squalor might be that you are embarrassed for other people to see your mess ... but you would still let them in the house. ( more )

Stage one clean:

Surfaces are neat; the centre of the room is free; piles are on perimeters. No rotting food, but current meal remnants allowed. Current craft projects, current books/magazines ditto. Perhaps some de-cluttering still to do; also smallish dust bunnies lurking UNDER furniture. But in general room looks nice. You feel ok about things. Unexpected Company would be welcome ... especially at night! ( and the rest )