I got this email from a fellow Penelope, Denise. She brings up some excellent points so I wanted to share her note with you.
Here’s what she says:
Hi Penelope,
It’s raining outside today and all I want to do is clean. I tried to watch a movie but couldn’t sit still.
I was cleaning the kitchen and decided to turn on my Pandora radio station. I found the best station for cleaning! It’s my Christina Aguilera Pandora station.
I don’t know if you are familiar with Pandora, but you tell it an artist you like and it will create a station with their music and other artists like them. So, my Christina station has a lot of Christina stuff, of course, but also Pink, Britney Spears, Beyonce and Destiny’s Child. That kind of thing.
I was dancing around my kitchen to “Lady Marmalade” and “Dirty” and before I knew it my kitchen was sparkling! I cleaned my patootie off and the music kept me going.
It made me think that everyone talks about having a playlist for the gym, but why not for cleaning? Makes all the difference.
Love,
Denise
Good point, Denise! I love to plug my iPhone into my Memorex Minimove Portable Boombox and listen to music or podcasts as I clean or cook. I gotta say, though, I’m glad there are no cameras in my house (that I know of) or they’d catch some pretty embarrassing late 80’s dance moves.
My favorites include “One Girl Revolution” from SuperChick (Penelope’s Theme Song) and anything by The Black Eyed Peas and Madonna. I’ve even shared my playlist with you, but don’t laugh. Pinkie promise? OK, you can find my cleaning playlist here. I pop over there whenever I need a quick pick me up.
Meredith's Cleaning Playlist
If you’re looking for more great tunes, jump over to one of my favorite websites, Good Girl Gone Glad. Jesse chooses some wonderful songs for her blog’s playlist.
Do you have a cleaning or organizing play list? Are there certain songs, or kinds of music, that help you get things accomplished? Tell us about it!
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I love to have my iPod on when I’m cleaning, but sometimes it distracts me.
You are SO sweet to include me in your post! Girl, I can’t live without music! It get me though lots of situations, like cleaning! LOL!
That is an excellent point. Al Green always helps make my home sparkle. If I’m cranky when I clean, I play Green Day at a volume that makes the windows shake. Productive and therapeutic.
OMG!! I just cleaned yesterday!! TEEHEE!! I love to rock out while I clean!! I like cleaning to 80’s music and super upbeat dance tunes. Is it weird that I actually get a little thrill from cleaning!!?? I guess that is the “Penelope” in me!!
no playlist but a song that ALWAYS gets me up and moving is “You can’t hurry love” – Phil Collins. Oh and Come on Eileen – dexy’s midnight runner. And some OLD Bon Jovi
I am showing my age!!!
@ Angie, I love that: “Al Green always makes my home sparkle.” So funny and so true!
@ Meredith and Marcia, I think the best music is from the 70s and 80s and early 90s! Who cares if we’re showing our age. We’re showing our good taste, too!
Falling under the same category of “don’t laugh”: I listen to the Scrubs soundtracks, 1 and 2. Lots of very different songs which are kinda quirky (which I guess suits my personality). I’ve become so used to the music that I’ve noticed my cleaning routines are tailored to the songs: I dust and drive my steam mop during the faster-paced songs and find myself folding laundry and organizing during the slower-paced tunes.
@Lisa: one Penelope would NEVER laugh at another. This is a no laughing zone!
I’m off to check out the Scrubs soundtrack now. Great find.
I like to listen to the Eagles Melbourne DVD when I am cleaning. Great post!
I think it is a fabulous idea to clean to music. I would like to create a playlist that is exactly 31 minutes long and so I know that I have accomplished my goal (30-min clean) when the music stops!
Definitely Peggy Lee’s Latin ala Lee! and Ole ala Lee! Gets the hips moving in a 60’s housewife with pearls kinda way. Just need to find a feather duster to match the music.
I have been very curious about Pandora and wasn’t quite sure how it worked, thanks for making it so clear! Love your blog:)
xo,
Miss B
i have to admit… ok.. i’m 29 years old and a total mess and i listen to astrid lindgren plays while i clean. pippi longstocking.
yeah.. it’s freaky.. but sooo eases my mind 
I love Pandora! I like to listen to ’80s pop when I’m working around the house. I have a 2 CD set called Monster Ballads (yes, I ordered it off one of those TV commercials) that’s great for cleaning.
Hey, I just adore your write-ups!
is it okay if I use some of the information from this post if I provide a link back to your blog?
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