Cohousing-L Mailing List: cleaning the common house

[PattyMara (PattyMara]

In a message dated 3/21/99 10:30:14 AM Pacific Standard Time,
MartyR707 [at] aol.com writes:

<< What policies do you "built" communities have for cleaning the common
house?
 does everyone take a shift?  or is it one of many jobs to choose from?  How
 often does it get done?  Do kids have to help? does the system work?  Did you
 have a policy before move-in?  did it change later? etc.......... >>

At Tierra Nueva on the central California coast, we have cleaning teams of all
members.  Each team has about 4 or 5 households on it, and it works out that
the common house gets a very thorough cleaning once a week.  Each team cleans
about once every month.  We usually get the job done in about 2 hours.  We
leave it to the teams to create their style of working.  Some do it all
together at one appointed time, like Sunday morning.  Some teams split up the
jobs and let the team members do it when convenient.  Some of the teams are
very efficient, happy workers.  Some aren't, and there are feelings of
resentment that not everyone on the team is pulling their weight.  In my
opinion, this will always be present, depending on the general disposition of
members.  To some, the glass is always half empty.   Some of the teams have
good communication and set up times easily, AND have fun doing the work
together.  Some of the teams are disorganized and don't seem to have much fun
at all.   Some of the members include their kids in the cleaning, and some
don't.  I am happy to see the kids that do help, my own included.  I believe
that they get a real sense of ownership when they are asked to help out.  And
the teams that have fun are the ones that kids enjoy the most, obviously.   

We've only been at this for about 3 months, so we're finding our way through
the maze.  I am confident that it will work out.  The end result is that the
common house always looks clean, attended to and welcoming.  There is some
talk about members on the teams having the option to hire someone to take
their turn.  It has not really happened yet, and it will probably take some
fine-tuning, but I can see it as a good alternative for some members.  

Good luck on your upcoming move-in Marty!  I hereby pass the "through the
looking glass" torch on to you as you make your move into the wonderland of
community.  Let us know all the details, warts and all. 

Warmly,
Patty Mara Gourley