There's a big difference between tidiness and cleanliness. I can have a bit of a messy place - books out, papers, out, pile of semi-dirty clothes on the chair, etc. But hair and toothpaste on the mirror and dirty dishes or sauce on the counter - nope. My parents house since my brother and I have moved out has become so immaculate it doesn't feel lived in anymore. I opened some leftovers and some condensation dripped onto the counter and I had to go and get a paper towel to wipe it up because it seemed so out of place.
Yes, exactly. But, the two often go hand-in-hand, in both directions. I once read that "neat freaks" or, people who care more about clutter than cleanliness, tend to spend more time organizing and re-organizing than is worth the effort, if the space is used regularly. I wonder if it's true, or just something I latched on to, to justify the way I like things.There's a big difference between tidiness and cleanliness.