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A Feminist Confession - The Things Men Do

Years ago, I was living with a boyfriend, and I learned that there are just some things that I don't want to do that - by and large - men do exceedingly well:

  • Opening Champagne(I don't mind doing this one, I just think it's incredibly sexy when a guy opens it)
  • Cooking Breakfast
  • Taking out Trash
  • Pouring Wine (even if not champagne) and Making Cocktails
  • Grilling Anything
  • Absolutely Anything to do with Boats - rowing, launching, tying up (of course, I CAN do all of these... I just really love to watch a guy doing it)
  • Cleaning Floors

It's that last one that gets me every time.  I HATE to clean floors.  I will clean every other thing in the house, but floors kill me.  In fact, unless pressed, I will live in complete floor squalor for months on end in order not to have to sweep, vacuum or mop.

And sooner or later, I figure the guy will just get it done anyway.

-Heather... off to make a list of all the things I do to compensate for NOT doing the above... ;)

Posted by: jboulden on 09/19/2006
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Lauren  on September 19, 2006 at 08:24 AM 1
I agree with all of the above plus I expect my husband to do the following: mow the yard clean the garage take care of cars Not that I can't do these things but considering that I do EVERYTHING else he got to do something. However, I do clean my floors twice a week and I have used my Star mop for years. I bought it off TV but it's great.
Lee  on September 19, 2006 at 11:00 AM 2
I live in Germany and have used a microfiber mop for 3 years now. Love it! With small children and a sloppy husband I keep 3 heads on hand and throw in with the regular wash. I like to sprinkle a few drops of essential oil on the head for about 3 minutes of "clean" smell. Also, pre-squirt the bad spots with plain water - by the time you get to them they usually come right up. Lee
fhhc  on September 19, 2006 at 11:48 AM 3
The up side to cleaning floors - mopping or vaccuming for 1 hour you will burn 238 Calories.
Megan  on September 19, 2006 at 12:13 PM 4
I'm with you on vacuuming and even mopping, although it's not as bad as vacuuming. I do love to sweep, though! My dream is to someday have a house that has no wall-to-wall carpeting, only a few area rugs I can take out and beat (also fun). I hate vacuuming like poison. Is vacuuming ecologically friendly, or even that necessary? (I don't mean EVER, just not that often) That would make a great future tip!
mt  on September 19, 2006 at 02:49 PM 5
When I saw the title in my RSS feed reader, I was worried this was going to be a male-bashing session based upon sweeping generalizations and stereotypes. Thank you for having a positive spin on some of the things that men do well.
Jenny  on September 19, 2006 at 06:42 PM 6
I have a Swiffer, but instead of disposable swiffer things I use fleece. I noticed that my polyester Polartec fleece pants were dust magnets, so I bought a child's fleece sleep sack at Goodwill (anything large and fleecy will do), and I cut it up into chunks. Now I just stick one of those chunks on the end of the Swiffer and swiff away. It washes clean in the next load of laundry.
Susannah  on September 20, 2006 at 11:18 AM 7
I agree with the list whole heartedly, and luckily I have someone at home who willingly does everything on it. Except I take out the trash but he cooks! We were gifted with an entire set of microfiber cleaning supplies from Act Natural at christmas and love every single piece, fantastic quality and company!
Austen  on September 21, 2006 at 12:54 PM 8
I feel so much better after reading this. I thought it was just me. I don't do floors either. My husband sweeps our floors on a daily basis and mops/vacuums weekly. It would never get done otherwise. I don't wear my glasses in the house so I don't see the dirt, and I always wear slippers so I don't feel the dirt. I even bought him a Dyson for our anniversary last year. He loves it.
Dayngr  on October 02, 2006 at 12:11 PM 9
Amen sister!
Robin  on October 02, 2006 at 10:15 PM 10
First aid kit ointment I have been using Desitin, a diaper rash cream, as a first-aid ointment, instead of polysporin etc. It has a high zinc content (promotes healing of the skin), and says right on the tube that it is good for "minor" scrapes, cuts and burns, and blisters, too. It is water proof and yet washes out of clothing.
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