DH hates clutter. Drives him nuts. So he will shove things in drawers and cabinets.

I have a thing about actual cleanliness. Dishes that can't go in the dishwasher need to be washed with "hot has hand can bear" water. Counters need to be sparkling clean. Bathrooms need to be disinfected. Towels washed and dried on hot. DH will wait until the towels start growing things before actually washing them.

He is neat. I am clean. Together, our house is presentable and livable.

Dirty is when someone can catch a disease or have an asthma attack from coming into your house.

5:32 - THIS.

I think twice if I have to watch where I sit. If furniture is sticky; or I get a gag reaction from the dust, or its obvious you have not vacuumed since you bought the place ten plus years ago.

It sends the message that you are depressed.

OTOH, there are some people who are spotless. While I am comfortable and enjoy them and their beautiful homes, I would wonder if mine is clean enough for them.

I strive to be organized, but not OCD.

Clutter vs dirt. Duh.

Our house has a good cleaning every week (window wells wiped, bathrooms cleaned, floors mopped, etc.). We tidy up very nicely before the cleaning lady comes, hang on for a few days, and then explode into a toy and clothing disaster for the final days of the week. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Anonymous wrote:Messy is clutter. Dirty is dust and grime. I think the PP explained it well (see her last 2sentences.)

This. Papers/toys/stuff out of place is one thing, but actual filth is just disgusting.

A house can be messy but it is clean/ sanitary. A neat house is neat both in being clutter free and visibly clean and sanitary. To me things like not heaps of dirty clothes, no dishes in sink, beds all made up, bathrooms nice and tidy, desks or workspaces organized means a neat house. Seeing dirty dishes, heaps of unwashed clothes, unmade beds, bathrooms in disarray not only makes me crazy but also says "messy, clutter" and sometimes I think (fair or not) that it also means dirty.

We clean and declutter on the weekends. During the week, the counters and floors and bathroom are still clean, but clutter piles up (ie: toys and mail).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're not at all going to be grossed out by using my bathroom, but you may trip over a toy on the way there.

Love this explanation!

+1!

Anonymous wrote:You're not at all going to be grossed out by using my bathroom, but you may trip over a toy on the way there.

Anonymous wrote:You're not at all going to be grossed out by using my bathroom, but you may trip over a toy on the way there.

Love this explanation!

You're not at all going to be grossed out by using my bathroom, but you may trip over a toy on the way there.

Messy is clutter. Dirty is dust and grime. I think the PP explained it well (see her last 2sentences.)

I have a cleaning person who comes every other week. Gets the whole house very clean all at once. For some reason, we don't have much dust in between, so that's never an issue. Immediately after she cleans, though, the toys are back out. I let papers pile up in the kitchen. A pile of laundry grows next to the basement steps. And there are many pairs if shoes laying in the front foyer. And not neatly. Mess. No dirt. Because I do clean kitchen surfaces daily. And I do vacuum near doors pretty often. And I do wipe out bathroom sinks on a regular basis. Those are the areas my house gets dirty and requires constant cleaning. But they don't involve moving stuff (except shoes in the foyer). I don't have to vacuum around toys or dust around books and magazines. That type of dirt never accumulates to any real degree.

And I ask in all honesty. My house is a mess and I can't understand when people say "my house is messy but it's clean".

What do you mean? You dust around the piles of junk mail? You mop around the train tracks and puzzle pieces? Please explain...