Every so often I stumble upon the idea that humans born with penises live more disgusting lives than what people born with vaginas do. Until recently I almost thought that there's a special gene attached only to Y-chromosomes whose sole purpose is to make boys unable to clean properly. But then a (female) friend of mine tried to convince me over a bottle of wine that girls are dirtier than boys.Being a fan of the notion of evaluation of information, I decided to visit a bunch of ladies and find out if this is true.
Annons
JAQULINE, 28, NORRMALM
VICE: What do you work with?
Jaquline: Songwriter and artist.How long have you lived here?
About two months. I've mostly lived in furnished collectives in the past so I don't own much stuff except for my clothes. My sister lives here too, she's made all the paintings here.How often do you clean?
Clean… Well, it's funny that I work extra as a cleaning maid on cruise ships, but in my flat it's mostly my friends who clean when they visit. I tend to gather stuff in bags and hide them.So you have friends over a lot?
Yeah, that's how it's become now since I'm the one who lives central. This is where we meet up.
Jaquline: Songwriter and artist.How long have you lived here?
About two months. I've mostly lived in furnished collectives in the past so I don't own much stuff except for my clothes. My sister lives here too, she's made all the paintings here.How often do you clean?
Clean… Well, it's funny that I work extra as a cleaning maid on cruise ships, but in my flat it's mostly my friends who clean when they visit. I tend to gather stuff in bags and hide them.So you have friends over a lot?
Yeah, that's how it's become now since I'm the one who lives central. This is where we meet up.
Do you collect anything special?
I collect small elephants and I love my Bambi deer, but I only have one.Did you choose the colours of the walls inside your flat?
No, I don't really understand what the last tenant was thinking when he chose the colours of mustard and ketchup. He also covered the bathroom in cartoon magazines.Would you prefer to live in a well-organised flat?
Yes I would, but I guess it'd become like this anyway.What if someone tells you that you're messy?
I get angry – even if I know I am.Do you ever invite your parents?
They haven't been here yet, but my dad and my grandmother will be visiting soon and stay with me. It might be about time to get some plates and cutlery.Yep, maybe. Thanks Jaquline! More photos of Jaquline's flat:
I collect small elephants and I love my Bambi deer, but I only have one.Did you choose the colours of the walls inside your flat?
No, I don't really understand what the last tenant was thinking when he chose the colours of mustard and ketchup. He also covered the bathroom in cartoon magazines.Would you prefer to live in a well-organised flat?
Yes I would, but I guess it'd become like this anyway.What if someone tells you that you're messy?
I get angry – even if I know I am.Do you ever invite your parents?
They haven't been here yet, but my dad and my grandmother will be visiting soon and stay with me. It might be about time to get some plates and cutlery.Yep, maybe. Thanks Jaquline! More photos of Jaquline's flat:
Annons
LOUIS, 32, HANDEN
VICE: What do you work with?
Louis: I'm a preschool drama teacher. How long have you lived here?
I've lived here for six months with my two kids.How often do you clean?
I vacuum every week, but clean… I just redecorate and move things around. That's why I don't have things on the walls yet. It takes time to find the right spot for everything.Do you collect anything?
Yes, I collect furniture an homebuilding stuff, I'm a do-it-yourself kind of girl so I gather things that I can build new things with. I'm also into dumpster diving, so I pick up OK vegetables and search for meat to feed my cats.What about the ninja turtles toys?
When I became a mum I asked every one to get ninja turtle toys for the kids. So that's on me.
Louis: I'm a preschool drama teacher. How long have you lived here?
I've lived here for six months with my two kids.How often do you clean?
I vacuum every week, but clean… I just redecorate and move things around. That's why I don't have things on the walls yet. It takes time to find the right spot for everything.Do you collect anything?
Yes, I collect furniture an homebuilding stuff, I'm a do-it-yourself kind of girl so I gather things that I can build new things with. I'm also into dumpster diving, so I pick up OK vegetables and search for meat to feed my cats.What about the ninja turtles toys?
When I became a mum I asked every one to get ninja turtle toys for the kids. So that's on me.
Do your parents like your flat?
My dad doesn't mind, he's kind of the same as me and my mum has accepted it now I guess. She's a well-organised person and I was the same when I was a kid, but something changed.Do you ever bring friends over?
My friends are open-minded and know who I am and that's OK. People only really comment the military bike that I have in the living room.Are you good with plants?
I'm not the best with plants; I get new plants when my old ones die. I planted an avocado in the kitchen, but now it's mouldy and some other green leaves have started to grow around it. It might be time to end that little project.Are you considered organised in other aspects in life?
Yes, I am very well-organised and pretty controlling at work.
My dad doesn't mind, he's kind of the same as me and my mum has accepted it now I guess. She's a well-organised person and I was the same when I was a kid, but something changed.Do you ever bring friends over?
My friends are open-minded and know who I am and that's OK. People only really comment the military bike that I have in the living room.Are you good with plants?
I'm not the best with plants; I get new plants when my old ones die. I planted an avocado in the kitchen, but now it's mouldy and some other green leaves have started to grow around it. It might be time to end that little project.Are you considered organised in other aspects in life?
Yes, I am very well-organised and pretty controlling at work.
Annons
Would you prefer to live in a well-organised flat?
No, I like it how it is. Alright. Thanks Louis.See more photos of Louis's flat:
No, I like it how it is. Alright. Thanks Louis.See more photos of Louis's flat:
EMMA, 36, KUNGSHOLMEN
VICE: What do you work with?
Emma: I work as a Paid Search Specialist at an agency. I'm also a DJ.How long have you lived here?
Two years.How often do you clean?
I'm not a fan of dirt and I use a house cleaner to keep it nice if necessary. Since I travel a lot, both for work and when I'm free, I take every chance I get to go away on surf trips, there's always an unpacked travel bag in the hallway.Do you have any favourite items?
My records and my surfboard. I've got a few crates of vinyl here but then there are a couple of thousands more records at my parents' place that I need to create room for someday.
Emma: I work as a Paid Search Specialist at an agency. I'm also a DJ.How long have you lived here?
Two years.How often do you clean?
I'm not a fan of dirt and I use a house cleaner to keep it nice if necessary. Since I travel a lot, both for work and when I'm free, I take every chance I get to go away on surf trips, there's always an unpacked travel bag in the hallway.Do you have any favourite items?
My records and my surfboard. I've got a few crates of vinyl here but then there are a couple of thousands more records at my parents' place that I need to create room for someday.
Do you invite your friends over?
Now when I have furniture it will hopefully be more often. Once I had a party at my old flat. At the time I just bought my speakers so there wasn't any money left for furniture and my friends had to sit on the floor. But I've ordered a nice sofa now! Five years later.What about your parents, are they allowed in your flat?
Absolutely, they know their daughter. But mostly I prefer to be on my own and study, work out, mix music or paint. But I think it's time to start socialise more so I don't die alone, haha.Why do you have an unwrapped hairdryer in the hall?
That was an attempt to become more of a grown up I guess. I visit this fancy hairdresser once a year and last time I was there I bought this top of the line hairdryer. I like things with good quality and got tempted, but I still haven't opened it, and that was about six months ago. Money well spent.
Now when I have furniture it will hopefully be more often. Once I had a party at my old flat. At the time I just bought my speakers so there wasn't any money left for furniture and my friends had to sit on the floor. But I've ordered a nice sofa now! Five years later.What about your parents, are they allowed in your flat?
Absolutely, they know their daughter. But mostly I prefer to be on my own and study, work out, mix music or paint. But I think it's time to start socialise more so I don't die alone, haha.Why do you have an unwrapped hairdryer in the hall?
That was an attempt to become more of a grown up I guess. I visit this fancy hairdresser once a year and last time I was there I bought this top of the line hairdryer. I like things with good quality and got tempted, but I still haven't opened it, and that was about six months ago. Money well spent.
Annons
Do you bring guys here?
Guys normally love my flat, which is good – then they make an effort to stand me as well!Do you have any contact with your neighbours?
Yeah, I have the best neighbours, It's a fun house. Two more DJs, an opera singer, screaming babies, our own shady gay porn club in the basement. No complains about me playing music here. The 73-year-old lady next door is awesome, she's an old school surfer and a sweetheart. One time she offered to take care of my laundry because "I was so stressed and busy all the time" as she put it. She also peered over my shoulder into my flat and said "oh, I love to keep it tidy and clean" meaning It looked like shit with all my half full bags and stuff in the hallway. I could see how she just wanted to throw herself in there and "make a proper home"!Ha ha! That sounds lovely. Cheers!See more photos of Emma's flat:
Guys normally love my flat, which is good – then they make an effort to stand me as well!Do you have any contact with your neighbours?
Yeah, I have the best neighbours, It's a fun house. Two more DJs, an opera singer, screaming babies, our own shady gay porn club in the basement. No complains about me playing music here. The 73-year-old lady next door is awesome, she's an old school surfer and a sweetheart. One time she offered to take care of my laundry because "I was so stressed and busy all the time" as she put it. She also peered over my shoulder into my flat and said "oh, I love to keep it tidy and clean" meaning It looked like shit with all my half full bags and stuff in the hallway. I could see how she just wanted to throw herself in there and "make a proper home"!Ha ha! That sounds lovely. Cheers!See more photos of Emma's flat:
CASH, 29, VASASTAN
VICE: Hey Cash! How often do you clean?
Cash: I clean everyday, and mess up everything every night.It's 9 PM now, is this as messy as it gets?
It's at least this messy, but only in my room. You came too early because it's not aesthetically attractive until midnight. When I have too many guys around at the same night and you can stick the sheets to the walls – that's when it's at its most disgusting state. Luckily, I have very beautiful blankets.Do you usually end up on the floor?
Yeah. It's a bit strange though that I sit here. I mean I have a sofa on one side and a bed on the other, but I tend to hang out in between.
Cash: I clean everyday, and mess up everything every night.It's 9 PM now, is this as messy as it gets?
It's at least this messy, but only in my room. You came too early because it's not aesthetically attractive until midnight. When I have too many guys around at the same night and you can stick the sheets to the walls – that's when it's at its most disgusting state. Luckily, I have very beautiful blankets.Do you usually end up on the floor?
Yeah. It's a bit strange though that I sit here. I mean I have a sofa on one side and a bed on the other, but I tend to hang out in between.
Annons
The jumpsuit you're wearing, where did you get that from?
It's some kind of pilot jumpsuit. I got it from a friend who used to wear it when flying over the Bermuda Triangle.
It's some kind of pilot jumpsuit. I got it from a friend who used to wear it when flying over the Bermuda Triangle.
So do you have any favourite items?
Maybe my lithograph with the queen of hearts. My ex's dad made lithography of kings, knights and queens of hearts with a 19th century lithography machine. This one was a present for me. Framed and all. One day I came home and just stood and admired it and I realised it was the only thing in my flat that wasn't broken. It was perfect, I just gave it a little touch to level it. When I walked into the front room I heard it crash to the floor…Ouch. For how long have you lived here?
For two years. But I'm leaving soon for a secret mission. Before I moved to Vasastan I thought everyone who lived here was unhappy. Now I know it.Do you ever invite your friends over?
Sure I do. If you are my friend you can call me night and day. I love gatherings and balloons and stuff. But partying Stockholmers are missing out my sister O W. She makes these parties that even I don't dare to attend. A REAL mess. My roomie also almost left me for taking all those "murderers of principles" and hobos home to feed and bade.That sounds fucked up. So, do you ever leave your flat?
I feel like I really can't go outside. When I do I go out for a couple of days and stay with friends. But mostly I leave it to go to the 24/7 open taxi cafe 10 metres away. Since [strip club] Club Privé closed, it's become more boring to take night walks.
Maybe my lithograph with the queen of hearts. My ex's dad made lithography of kings, knights and queens of hearts with a 19th century lithography machine. This one was a present for me. Framed and all. One day I came home and just stood and admired it and I realised it was the only thing in my flat that wasn't broken. It was perfect, I just gave it a little touch to level it. When I walked into the front room I heard it crash to the floor…Ouch. For how long have you lived here?
For two years. But I'm leaving soon for a secret mission. Before I moved to Vasastan I thought everyone who lived here was unhappy. Now I know it.Do you ever invite your friends over?
Sure I do. If you are my friend you can call me night and day. I love gatherings and balloons and stuff. But partying Stockholmers are missing out my sister O W. She makes these parties that even I don't dare to attend. A REAL mess. My roomie also almost left me for taking all those "murderers of principles" and hobos home to feed and bade.That sounds fucked up. So, do you ever leave your flat?
I feel like I really can't go outside. When I do I go out for a couple of days and stay with friends. But mostly I leave it to go to the 24/7 open taxi cafe 10 metres away. Since [strip club] Club Privé closed, it's become more boring to take night walks.
Annons
How are your neighbours, do you see them?
There was some drama here recently, I woke up to a smash when a lady on the opposite building was throwing out stuff from the flat – stuff that seemed to be her husband's. All his clothes were out. And then the rain started pouring down [laughs]. And there's so much gossip in this house, people take their movie cameras to film things like that.Sounds like fun! Good luck on your secret mission!More photos of Cash's flat:
There was some drama here recently, I woke up to a smash when a lady on the opposite building was throwing out stuff from the flat – stuff that seemed to be her husband's. All his clothes were out. And then the rain started pouring down [laughs]. And there's so much gossip in this house, people take their movie cameras to film things like that.Sounds like fun! Good luck on your secret mission!More photos of Cash's flat:
MILLIE, 24 AND SANDRA, 22, HUDDINGE
VICE: How often do you clean?
Sandra: How do you define cleaning? I mean I usually pick up what's laying around on the floor to make it look OK. But it doesn't have to be super clean. I try to keep the kitchen clean though, not that I'm easily disgusted but I hate old leftovers and I'm scared of spiders.
Millie: Well I do clean and sometimes dust off all the surfaces. But I have too many clothes and usually I just move stuff to a new place. I wonder what happens when you get older, wouldn't you just get more and more stuff to take care of?
Sandra: Sundays are the worst, when you have tried on all your clothes the night before and then been out. Although I think that's a problem with every girl I know.
Millie: But no, we don't really clean that often.Do you collect anything?
Sandra: I just like knick-knacks, like my porcelain cats.
Millie: I collect nail polish.
Sandra: Millie also collects empty glass cans and flamingos.
Millie: I haven't bought many flamingos lately, but it happens unintentionally.
Sandra: How do you define cleaning? I mean I usually pick up what's laying around on the floor to make it look OK. But it doesn't have to be super clean. I try to keep the kitchen clean though, not that I'm easily disgusted but I hate old leftovers and I'm scared of spiders.
Millie: Well I do clean and sometimes dust off all the surfaces. But I have too many clothes and usually I just move stuff to a new place. I wonder what happens when you get older, wouldn't you just get more and more stuff to take care of?
Sandra: Sundays are the worst, when you have tried on all your clothes the night before and then been out. Although I think that's a problem with every girl I know.
Millie: But no, we don't really clean that often.Do you collect anything?
Sandra: I just like knick-knacks, like my porcelain cats.
Millie: I collect nail polish.
Sandra: Millie also collects empty glass cans and flamingos.
Millie: I haven't bought many flamingos lately, but it happens unintentionally.
Annons
Do people call you messy?
Millie: They do.Do you ever invite friends over?
Sandra: We organise dinners here but no more parties. We had a party in our old flat, but we woke up in the middle of the night and our side table was in pieces.
Millie: A friend of a friend had a stupid idea of hitting his head through our table. He got stuck with his ears and was covered in blood.
Sandra: He came by with a new table later that week and took care of the broken blood-covered pieces.
Millie: My bedroom door apparently got stuck the same night and we had to break that loose. So that was also fucked.
Sandra: So we didn't have a housewarming party when we moved in here.
Millie: They do.Do you ever invite friends over?
Sandra: We organise dinners here but no more parties. We had a party in our old flat, but we woke up in the middle of the night and our side table was in pieces.
Millie: A friend of a friend had a stupid idea of hitting his head through our table. He got stuck with his ears and was covered in blood.
Sandra: He came by with a new table later that week and took care of the broken blood-covered pieces.
Millie: My bedroom door apparently got stuck the same night and we had to break that loose. So that was also fucked.
Sandra: So we didn't have a housewarming party when we moved in here.
Do you bring dates here?
Millie: Yes, I've never been ashamed of the mess.
Sandra: Yeah, I've never been ashamed either. I remember one time a guy said something like "there's so many plastic bottles under you bed." I was hangover and just had to get rid of them at the moment.
Millie: I've had someone saying "you have so much clothes here," I'm like "well, I need to have them somewhere!"Why is there a tree in the shower?
Sandra: That's because of my separation anxiety, I can't throw stuff out. My ex-boyfriend took the last one I had so I got a new one.
Millie: It's dead.
Sandra: It had leaves on it before I put in the shower. I put it there to water it, but that was a while ago.
Millie: We brought all the other dead plants in here from our old flat. Sandra didn't want to throw them out when we moved so we took them with us.
Millie: Yes, I've never been ashamed of the mess.
Sandra: Yeah, I've never been ashamed either. I remember one time a guy said something like "there's so many plastic bottles under you bed." I was hangover and just had to get rid of them at the moment.
Millie: I've had someone saying "you have so much clothes here," I'm like "well, I need to have them somewhere!"Why is there a tree in the shower?
Sandra: That's because of my separation anxiety, I can't throw stuff out. My ex-boyfriend took the last one I had so I got a new one.
Millie: It's dead.
Sandra: It had leaves on it before I put in the shower. I put it there to water it, but that was a while ago.
Millie: We brought all the other dead plants in here from our old flat. Sandra didn't want to throw them out when we moved so we took them with us.
Annons
Do you have any favourite items?
Sandra: I like my sofa, canopy, and my vision board with Ryan Gosling that I just got started on.
Millie: I like things that smell nice!
Sandra: Yeah, just like that incense thing you have. Millie also insist on buying wc blocks you have in the toilet. She moves them around to get the best smell out of them, just like the green thing that is there now.
Millie: It's a blue one! I like it, it nice, and some times when they'r on sale I buy a few.
Sandra: It just creates an illusion of a clean bathroom. Sometimes there's one on each side.Would you prefer living in an well-organised flat?
Millie: I'm not sure i would feel at home in an environment like that. Then again it would probably become like this anyway.Alright! Thanks, ladies.More photos of Millie and Sandra's flat:
Sandra: I like my sofa, canopy, and my vision board with Ryan Gosling that I just got started on.
Millie: I like things that smell nice!
Sandra: Yeah, just like that incense thing you have. Millie also insist on buying wc blocks you have in the toilet. She moves them around to get the best smell out of them, just like the green thing that is there now.
Millie: It's a blue one! I like it, it nice, and some times when they'r on sale I buy a few.
Sandra: It just creates an illusion of a clean bathroom. Sometimes there's one on each side.Would you prefer living in an well-organised flat?
Millie: I'm not sure i would feel at home in an environment like that. Then again it would probably become like this anyway.Alright! Thanks, ladies.More photos of Millie and Sandra's flat:
NATALI, 27, SÖDERMALM
VICE: How long have you lived here?
Natali: Two years.How often do you clean?
I try to clean my mess up when I know my friends are coming over. Right now it's OK, but It gets messy kind of fast.Do you collect anything special?
I buy a lot of random cute stu ff. I collect things that make me happy.Am I right to say that pink is your favourite colour?
Yes I love pink! But I guess I have to buy things in other colours so it won't be too much.I think it's cute. So where do you get all your stuff from?
At flee markets and places like that. Some things I make myself, like the lamp in the living room, it's an old boring IKEA lamp that I transformed into a colourful creation with flowers.
Natali: Two years.How often do you clean?
I try to clean my mess up when I know my friends are coming over. Right now it's OK, but It gets messy kind of fast.Do you collect anything special?
I buy a lot of random cute stu ff. I collect things that make me happy.Am I right to say that pink is your favourite colour?
Yes I love pink! But I guess I have to buy things in other colours so it won't be too much.I think it's cute. So where do you get all your stuff from?
At flee markets and places like that. Some things I make myself, like the lamp in the living room, it's an old boring IKEA lamp that I transformed into a colourful creation with flowers.
Annons
What does your parents say about your flat?
My mum's like me, she got me that Betty Boop statue and the porcelain panther.
My mum's like me, she got me that Betty Boop statue and the porcelain panther.
Were you messy as a kid?
I've always been like this.Do invite friends over?
Yes, people usually get happy when they come over and see all the colours. I have a boyfriend who lives with me. But he was only allowed to bring beer-glasses to the flat, the rest have to be chic.Do you ever lose things in here?
No, I know where I have my stuff, at least where to look for it.Are you considered organised in other aspects in your life?
No, I work in sales and my desk at work is filled with documents and samples. Until recently I sat next to my most organised colleague. We have moved around now so I'm sitting in a corner where my mess is less obvious. Would you prefer to live in a well-organised flat?No, I would never choose that. When I'm visiting people who live like that I can't relax because I'm afraid to touch things and make a mess.Understandable! Cheers, Natali!More photos of Natali's flat:
I've always been like this.Do invite friends over?
Yes, people usually get happy when they come over and see all the colours. I have a boyfriend who lives with me. But he was only allowed to bring beer-glasses to the flat, the rest have to be chic.Do you ever lose things in here?
No, I know where I have my stuff, at least where to look for it.Are you considered organised in other aspects in your life?
No, I work in sales and my desk at work is filled with documents and samples. Until recently I sat next to my most organised colleague. We have moved around now so I'm sitting in a corner where my mess is less obvious. Would you prefer to live in a well-organised flat?No, I would never choose that. When I'm visiting people who live like that I can't relax because I'm afraid to touch things and make a mess.Understandable! Cheers, Natali!More photos of Natali's flat:
