I don’t mind vacuuming. Really I don’t. I just didn’t know it would be a full-time career. I have a good vacuum cleaner and it’s rather soothing to be able to run my Dyson vacuum cleaner around the floor and pick up all of the crap my birds felt like tossing around that day. I should also point out that I’m on my fourth vacuum cleaner since I got my first bird, Parker. African Grey dander is absolute hell on a vacuum cleaner.
Perhaps you aren’t aware of it, but my birds are pigs. Instead of “Psittacus Erithacus erithacus,” they really should be classified as: “Psittacus Erithacus Suidae.” Sorry, just a little “scientific classification” humor.
Good God. I like a clean house and rarely ever have one. Allow me to clarify this. This is not the level of filth you will find on “Hoarders.” My level of tolerance isn’t very high. I really can’t handle much of a mess for very long before it begins making my skin crawl. My idea of a mess is very different than others. To me, this is a mess:
This the way I want it to be:
The way I like the play stand floors to look:
This is the way it is after breakfast:
I mean really…
Does it have to be that way? Poop, I understand. The effect of gravity on poop? I totally get it. Poop drops. That’s a given. But what’s with the beans, the carrots, and the pasta? So I have come up with some things that make my constant roaming around and picking up after my winged pigs a little easier.
First of all, I can’t sit down for ten damned minutes before I’m up and messing with something. Stuff on the floor screws up my “eye line” and it bothers me. This explains all of the vacuuming. I’ve even vacuumed their play stands. In order to cut the milage down on my roaming and randomly cleaning as I’m wandering around, I’ve strategically placed some things within reach:
This is the vertical post of Parker’s play stand. That’s a little mini-dust pan and broom hanging there within easy reach to tidy up the stands. See?
Also within easy reach is a spray bottle of “Simple Green” Cleaner and a damp cloth; perfect for those spontaneous bombs. And on the other play stand?
Same scenario, but I added a roll of paper towels. Sure beats running around and looking for the cleaning stuff every time “Somebirdie” takes a dump on the floor. I tell you it’s the little things that add up to an easier life with these guys. Got any good tips on keeping up appearances? Let me know and I’ll post them. The best idea posted wins a “Ring-Around-The-Rainbow” bird toy. All “cleaning and tidying” ideas will be posted. So look around and see what it is that you do that makes your life easier, and put them here! Deadline is Noon on Thursday, March 11th, 2010. Just send me a comment on this post and include your best “Keeping Up Appearances” tip. Pictures would be great if they help explain your tip. I have to go now; Parker just “bombed” on the wheel caster of his “House.”
Patricia Sund
Parrot Nation 
March 4, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Patricia,
as I was reading this blog entry, I felt as it was almost written by me!
First of all, I do vacuum a lot, sometimes to the point that my hubby has enough 😦
I too like my house clean and can’t sit if I see bird messes around.
We have a central vac and the main place for it is w/in a few feet from where the bird cages are, so it is convenient to use, but good Lord! how much mess they create, and my birds are not as big as your Greys.
Sometimes I feel as I have a full-time job here just cleaning after birds 😦
I will think about the cleaning tips as I clean today. I am just about to start vacuuming, LOL, and I this is my ‘thinking time’.
Sometimes I wonder what we bird lovers would do if a vac cleaner was not invented yet.
BTW, I still have to comment on your yummy food entry a few days ago. I am glad we had dinner before I saw all those pics or I’d be running to a grocery store.
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March 4, 2010 at 4:55 pm
One more thing.
Regarding your pics with computer desk.
The first pic would represent my hubby’s desk, the second mine 🙂
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March 4, 2010 at 6:01 pm
Hi again Anneka!
Glad to see you return. Some of my best thinking time has been while I’ve been sucking up nuts pieces, nuts shells, carrot pieces and bits of vegetables! And that computer desk? I actually have a built-in computer desk in my office. But i don’t use it any more. That’s my coffee table, which is actually a large trunk with a custom-made wood top that is “Parrot Proof” and waterproof. I have resigned myself that I’m better off writing in the living room with the parrots or there is hell to pay. They aren’t thrilled if I’m writing in the other room, but are quiet as mice if I write in the living room! My T.V. is off for the most part, all day long while I write.
Thank you so much for entering the “Keeping Up Appearances” Contest. I can’t wait to see your entry!
All the best,
P.
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March 4, 2010 at 9:24 pm
My best cleaning tip ….2 words….Antibacterial wipes! I buy Walmart brand , 50 wipes for $1.68. Quick clean up for droppings while killing germs at the same time. Plus they are great for cleaning dust off the cage .
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March 4, 2010 at 9:32 pm
And they leave a fresh scent!
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March 4, 2010 at 10:15 pm
Darlene,
glad you posted about the wipies. How could I forget about them!
I buy a refill box of 80 for $1.99 in our local grocery store. I tried different brands but those are the best IMO.
I use them for quick bird poop cleanups and also to clean the bottom grates. I probably go faster through a box of wipies than a mom who has a real baby.
One day our son visited us and with a quite strange look on his face asked, “Mom, why do you have baby wipes in the house?” He thought that maybe I was getting ready for their baby, who they were expecting in a few months. :)))
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March 4, 2010 at 11:07 pm
I have trouble getting food off the walls, Especially corn. LOL I figured out the birds have a certain spot where the food lands on the wall. Like a 12×12 inch area so I taped a pieice of wax paper up there and the food slides right off. If I’m having company I can just remove the wax paper, but this saves ALOT of work.
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March 4, 2010 at 9:34 pm
OK, first of all we’re glad to see another Mac household out there!
Secondly, Mom’s definitely a bit OCD so things in the house HAVE to be neat and in their places. However, she is trying to “let things go” a little and has gotten better about not vacuuming our room EVERY DAY and sometimes she just uses the dustpan. So, we don’t have any “actual” helpful cleaning tips but Mom thinks the best tip would be to have SOMEONE ELSE clean up after us! As in “Oh Jeeves, wipe the cages” and “Oh Jeeves, vacuum the bird room” and “Oh Jeeves, mop the Beak Appetit off the floor and while you’re at it, scrub the walls too”….
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March 4, 2010 at 9:39 pm
It’s a new product! “Jeeves in a Box!” I’m weirdly OCD, but I’ve had to let things go due to my schedule. But I have my limits. I can’t let it go all “ghetto.” I need my “Jeeves” dammit!
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March 5, 2010 at 7:55 am
If Steve starts calling me “Jeeves” there will be hell to pay missy! LOL
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March 5, 2010 at 8:38 am
Uh Oh!
Carol, hide this blog from him! You know that’s going to happen! Well, you can always blame Bart…He started it! Carol, you have one seriously clean house…it looks as though you already have a “Jeeves.”
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March 5, 2010 at 11:09 am
I have to share another trick…..an old used electric or cheap battery operated electric toothbrush works great for cage scrubbing in those tiny corners and spaces between cage bars that you can never seem to get into. That’s a good one for any tiny cleaning job. And you can buy those battery operated ones so cheap.
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March 5, 2010 at 11:37 am
Great idea Darlene!
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March 8, 2010 at 7:54 pm
I have a little tip for you that I wanted to submit for your “cleaning and tidying” posting. I have hardwood floors in my house and am always worried about the damage that water, droppings, food, toys, etc., might make to them. I have found that the cheapest and easiest way to cover them is to go to someplace like ROSS. You can purchase one of their vinyl tablecloths for $4-$6. I put it down underneath my play stands on the wood floor and it makes a perfect protective cover. It is also very easy to clean up. Be careful of the color you choose though, or it can be very difficult to see the poop bombs. 🙂
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March 8, 2010 at 8:44 pm
Hi Nancy!
Long time no hear! Glad to see you hanging around the ‘Nation.”
You have a fabulous idea and I see a heavy competition hitting the wall here. Thanks for submitting such a great idea and thanks for sending me your photo. I’ll be posting the photo because it’s a great shot and you simply have a beautiful idea.
Nice to hear from you again,
P.
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