weekend project

While others are out at movies, skiing, in stores and at restaurants, I have more exciting plans for the weekend.

Grout and caulk cleaning.

On Friday, Mike, my handyman, removes my ancient shower doors in preparation for new ones.  The result is a disgusting mess of black gooey stuff.  He leaves me with some kind of razor and wishes me a good weekend and tells me to be careful, "It's very sharp."

In the process of researching grout removal (a first), I realize my newest download of Adobe Flash is not working.  I cannot watch the helpful youtube videos on the-best-way -to-remove-grout.  I spend the next hour researching my Flash problem, and find some guy in a cowboy hat calling himself Mike M  who has the answer.  Really, what did we do before the internet?

On my way to becoming a grout expert, I notice (for the first time since living here) that my kitchen floor is NOT supposed to be a dark gray between the tiles.  I honestly never realized this until studying the videos of — yes — grout.

So I start with the kitchen. Never has my small kitchen felt so big.  I am literally on my knees, using products and props I have never before handled.  I scrub and scrub. I use three different products (Clorox Cleaner and Bleach is by far the best), three different sized grout brushes, a mop and too many paper towels.  An hour later, my floor looks better but not great, and I’m exhausted.  I take a small break.

BEFORE

AFTER

 Next, the bathroom.

BEFORE

AFTER

I even follow some internet advice and buy denture cleaning tablets to drop in my toilet to clean it.  Although not asked, I explain to the twenty-something sales associate the reason for my purchase.  I'm sure she cares.  

On Monday, I am getting a pedestal sink, which forces me to find a home for all the stuff that's now in the vanity under the sink.  This leads to a major reorganization of my linen/cleaning closet.

A few years ago I bought a bunch of plastic boxes at The Container Store and labeled them Nails, Hair, Face, Lips and Cheeks, etc.  I go through them today.  I find so many bottles and jars  of stuff I never use.  Some are unopened.  In the trash. I even toss packets and packets of store samples for high-end cosmetics that are now probably toxic.  Aside from mascara, do cosmetics even expire?  It's amazing how much remains considering all I toss.  I should never have to buy another hair product, cleanser, eye shadow, lipstick or blush for the rest of my life.  

And since I'm now in the territory of cleaning stuff I never clean, I empty out my medicine cabinet, and clean the interior shelves and walls, while again tossing lipstick colors I no longer use.

It's not the most exciting weekend, but still, it's a rewarding one.  Plus, I now know the difference between grout and caulk.  Useful information, if you're in training to be a handyman.