"The Clean Age" is Overdue: Cleaning as a Multi-Disciplinary Industry will save us

We aren't taught how to clean. Cleaning and organization skills are assumed to be "natural" because they've often been subsidized by 1 person in our homes such that we would never know their full weight.

By integrating cleaning industry concepts with traditional architecture and building infrastructure, Obsessive Cleaning Disorder can solve the mental overload crisis that endangers our peace of mind persistently and that is made worse in down economies.

Appliances are designed poorly for cleaning.

Storage space is never enough.

We run circles around our clutter.

"Stuff" has replaced our peace.

Attention is a commodity.

Time is not renewable.

Cleaning time feels inefficient and overwhelming.

Yet, we still assume that cleaning should be "quick."

Why?

Given that cleaning and organization are a constant flow of tasks that permeates every bodily movement we make...our hand washes, the hair that falls from our heads as we walk, dust from the natural world, or the glass we used for hydrating ourselves 8x per day....its interesting how little credibility we give cleaning as a dealbreaker for how productive our day will be, or whether we fight with our spouse over the dishes after an already exhausting day at work.

We collectively have failed to recognize the impact cleaning has on our peace.

High expectations of what our homes should look and feel like - big goals that we envision for our personal spaces - combined with lack of knowledge and resources around achieving those goals (that we are "setup to fail") leaves many of us feeling guilty, inadequate and turbulent.

In reality, the task of "cleaning" spans across 6 industries, each of which is a complex business system on its own. It starts with construction and architecture planning. (Does the space itself, lend itself toward storage and functionality?) A functional, and breathable space then marries chemistry with interior design (did you intend to have to re-seal your marble shower every 6 months so that caustic chemicals won't damage it?) and it requires space plannning for organizational ease so that tidying becomes second nature instead of a mountain of dependencies ...where one task can't be completed until another one is first. All of this prepeork and planning needs to happen before "cleaning" can begin, which is the part where we utilize chemistry and technology to remove unwanted debris from a surface. (That's what we've spent years doing!)

...And don't get us started on disinfection and CDC guidelines, health and safety, viruses or infectious materials - that's an entire industry on its own! Mold remediation is its own industry, and so is carpet or fabric cleaning, upholstery, or even furniture. Still, we expect anything with the word "cleaning" in it to be easy, quick, and cheap.

Meanwhile, other Invisible labor in the home, like food management and refrigerator-space optimization, also affects how clean your fridge stays (refrigerators are extremely difficult to clean properly, and its expensive!)

Most importantly, stop feeling shame that you weren't "born" with a natural ability to figure it all out yourself.

While we think a little embarrassment on society is appropriate, given how far we've come in technology and health advancements - yet barebone basics like being able to store your milk upright on properly spaced refrigerator shelves, is still something that we struggle with every day, while we're forced to dismiss it as silly and insignificant.

And, if showers are the wettest thing in the home (designed, on purpose, to get completely wet)...then why is it not possible to spray down most showers?

Who builds a shower that doesn't have a removable spray wand, so that it can actually be cleaned?

For us, its mind blowing how pervasive these problems are.

But no worries, let's get a plan together! We're working on it for you, and with you!

The only thing we need from you, is to let go of shame. Let go of guilt, and the assumption that you weren't born an industry "expert" across cleaning, organizing, and space design, as well as the skills to connect them all with all the other dependences involved. You never needed to do that.

Take a deep breath - you're doing great by simply caring about it! We'll take it from here. Just help us help you, by trusting us, and putting your feet up. Stay awhile. We got you!