Today was pan cleaning day. I got out my tools, detergent, steel wool, and scrubbed till they shined. I also took a screwdriver to the handles of the saucepans and skillets to tighten those up. It's just so satisfying to get these all clean. Using them feels like they are new once again.
Cleaning and repairing your home and things is the single best and most frugal way to improve what's around you. It often costs no more than some detergent, needle and thread, soldering iron, some tools, and a bit of muscle power.
My maternal grandmother lived a good chunk of her adult life on a very modest income. I knew this about her, but only because my mother would caution me to be careful with my nana's house or not ask for special treats when I stayed with her as a child. My nana still spoiled me as well as she was able.
Her house was small, just a one bedroom, one bathroom house. I stayed with her a couple of weeks each summer. And when I came, she and I shared her bed. Although her house was small, it was beautiful, always. She kept it so lovely. Everything was always in its place. If I had an accident and spilled something, she had it cleaned up so a stain never showed. She knew just who to call whenever something big needed fixing, her very handy nephew. Everything was always in perfect repair when I visited, and stayed clean and tidy despite having an energetic child on her hands.
She furnished her home with second-hand pieces that she refurbished and a handful of small pieces from her travels. The house seemed to have just enough furnishings. It wasn't stuffed the way many contemporary homes are. Not a lot of knick-knacks left about. She didn't collect specific items, with the exception of books.There was just the right amount of everything.
Her yard was beautiful, too. Her rose bushes were a source of pride for her. Every square inch of the yard was cared for. Aside from the house being on the small side, a visitor would have never known how limited my grandmother's income was.
I learned the most about home-keeping from my nana. She was living nearby when I married and was able to provide me with a lot of information and tips. It was she who informed me that a sofa needs vacuuming periodically, and so do the drapes. She showed me how to steam clean carpets, organize a kitchen drawer, make a bed properly, and fold a cloth napkin. But she didn't spend all of her time cleaning and home-keeping. She also had a very full life, working from mid-life to her second marriage in her senior years. She was just very good at taking care of situations as they happened. I first heard from her that you should try to only handle items once, meaning once you have something in your hands, it should be put away or tossed out, and not set someplace to deal with later. She sorted the mail while standing next to both a trash basket and her desk where she kept her checkbook. Nothing ever piled up around her house. And nothing ever became so dingy that it needed a whole lot of work to clean.
Most of us don't have this level of cleaning and organizational skill. Instead, we allow items to begin to show quite a bit of use before we get to giving them a deep clean. And sometime, the thought of the effort that will ne necessary to actually get something sparkling level clean is enough to deter us from doing that today. It becomes a "maybe tomorrow," then the next day, and soon it's been weeks since you first noticed how an item or space needs a good cleaning.
My pots and pans were stained on the inside and had burned on grease on the exterior bottoms. It feels like it didn't take that long for this to build up. But maybe it has been a while since I gave them a good scrub. And I hate to admit how awful the toaster was looking. So today was the day. I cleaned it all up, toaster included. Since I had the steel wool and rags out, I may as well make the toaster sparkle too.
All the pieces look so nice now. It makes me feel happy to see new-looking pots and pans again. I actually smiled when I pulled the skillet out to use in making dinner tonight. And all it cost was time. Cleaning, repairing, and maintaining your stuff is the best investment a person can make in upgrading their environment.
It isn't just about returning an item to its former glory. I believe humans are hardwired to find satisfaction in transforming a dirty something (like a pot) into a sparkling one. It's the satisfaction of creating order out of chaos. We might not enjoy the actual cleaning, but we appreciate the visible results. And it's the ultimate in budget-friendly home care. It minimizes waste, reduces unnecessary spending, and makes the most of what one already has.
And now I have a like-new set of pots and pans, for nothing.
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