#checklistchaos

Spoiler: the checklist won… kinda.

So I thought it’d be a great idea to “reset my space for fall.” You know, candles, blankets, cozy vibes, maybe a pumpkin or two. Easy, right? WRONG.

I found this Ultimate Fall Cleaning Checklist and thought, “Sure, how bad can it be?” Turns out: bad. Very bad.

Stage 1: Decluttering Me: “I don’t have that much stuff.” Also, me: find 6 tangled headphones, 4 expired hot sauces, and 2 pairs of shoes I don’t remember buying. By the end, I had filled donation bags like I was running a thrift shop.

Stage 2: Deep Cleaning The checklist: “Wipe baseboards.” Me: “??? Who even looks at baseboards???” Also, me, an hour later: crying while scrubbing like Cinderella on overdrive. My reward? Breathing air that wasn’t 40% dust.

Stage 3: Seasonal Switch Finally, the fun part. Goodbye summer sheets, hello flannel burrito blanket. Goodbye patio chair, hello pumpkin army. The vibes? Immaculate.

The Unexpected Twist I thought I’d just end up with a cleaner apartment. But somehow, I also slept better, cooked more, and felt calmer. Who knew scrubbing baseboards was a path to inner peace?

Anyway, if you want to laugh at my pain (or actually try it yourself), here’s the full saga: I Tried the Ultimate Fall Cleaning Checklist | Here’s What Happened

And if you’re brave enough to tackle it yourself, I’ll just say this: may your vacuum bag be strong, your donation bags be many, and your back survive the baseboards.