Press
Amy Bates
Here's What Happened When I Let My Family Clean ...

When GoodHousekeeping.com asked me to stop doing housework for two weeks, I was terrified. For starters, we're your typical, busy Midwestern family with two teenage sons and two dogs. My husband Alan is a tidy and fastidious civil engineer, and I am the proud owner of a Merry Maids office and the founder of the Don't Look Under the Rug blog. The two of us divide the chores (Alan washes dishes, cooks, and vacuums; while I handle laundry, grocery shopping, and monitoring general clutter) and the boys are expected to pick up after themselves. That said, I do feel I handle more than my fair share of housework after a day at the office.

I don't think my standards are unrealistic. I love things to be clean, but I also enjoy living in my home. We do have a mail pile and a "take it up the stairs" collection. So, eventually, I felt cautiously optimistic about taking a two-week hiatus from housework. My boys are well-behaved, helpful, and only slightly sloth-like when it comes to picking up after themselves — how bad could it be? 

Here's What Happened When I Let My Family Clean the House for Two Weeks

Makeup Brushes

October Survival Kit From Don't Look Under The Rug

I hope your start to October is going well! This month's survival kit includes items I use constantly, when on the road, and in my home cleaning regiment. I would love to hear what your favorite items are this fall - Comment below!

Clean Makeup Brushes Using Baby Shampoo

Say "bye-bye" to oil and bacteria buildup on your favorite makeup brushes! See how using warm water and baby shampoo (that's right, you DON'T NEED expensive brush cleaner) can clean your makeup brushes quickly, safely and effectively! 

#happycleaning, Amy Bates