Christmas clean

[Puzzledstill]

do people do a big Christmas clean? My houses feels cluttered and messy and I don’t really know we’re to start it overwhelms me

Yes! I'm a lazy cow about housework usually, but I've always done a deep clean and declutter for Christmas. A little bit every evening throughout December. This year it's unlikely to happen as I'm clearing out my late parents house and the sale completes on 20/12. I'm there every spare minute as it's a hell of a job - my mum never threw anything away - and I am stressing about that being done in time as well as my own house being a right mess on Christmas Day. I suppose at least nobody is coming to us as they're all dead now so it doesn't matter too much. I'm bringing home very little from mum and dads house as we haven't got space for it, but new year is going to have to bring a massive sort out at my house. Can't say I'm looking forward to it!

@RocketIceLollie ii clean him regular it’s not the smell he’s got a huge cage on my sideboard x

Currently doing one . It’s like a big clean that involves getting rid of any clutter and extra clothes and toys for me . I also have family staying so a good deep clean

Yeah I pay my kids to do it so they can earn money to buy their Christmas presents. Dd14 has just cleaned out all the food presses.

I try to have a big declutter around the start of September, and then another declutter around January (any unwanted Christmas presents get returned or to charity shop).

I follow the organised mum method, so everything gets cleaned every so often and isn't too bad. I did a "deep clean" (damp dusted everything, hoovered, washed throws, cleaned windows etc, took me and DP one evening) at the end of November just before putting the decorations up.

Christmas is stressful enough without putting pressure on yourself to completely declutter and deep clean your house in a short space of time. For me, the decluttering part takes the longest, which is why I do it in September. It's less overwhelming when you've got less stuff and have a rough system to keep on top things with a little and often approach, rather than everything must be sparkling by 25th Dec.

My bathroom is a mess atm though.

The decluttering really is the hardest bit, isn’t it? To be honest, I don’t struggle with cleaning etc because I just do it daily and I tend to just crack on, but I was sorting out some clothes the other day and was just agog at the sheer volume of kids clothes in my house! Plus the decluttering is harder because (for me anyway) it’s more emotionally difficult. Cleaning is satisfying, you clean way all the dirt and everything is sparkling etc. Whereas decluttering I find myself thinking over each thing, do I want to throw this away/will I need it in the future blah blah.

@Hunkahunkaa do you ever use Freecycle?
I managed to get toddler DD Xmas toys for free from someone doing exactly what you are... Xmas clear out and I was hugely grateful.

Op I'm proud of myself! I've done quite well, cleaned in corners that hasn't seen day light for a looong time. taken down ornamented ready for Xmas ones.

I started the kitchen window sills , repainted some chipped paint. There is more to do but I've made a good start!

I don't use freecycle but we have a 'reuse' shop in our town that does a toy collection ready for Christmas now we have cleared out the toys this weekend I will drop them off tomorrow.
I feel so light now we have had a good clear out throughout the house. I have got rid of a tonne of makeup and skincare that I don't need/want, some new and sealed. I used to get a glossybox and have so much I haven't used. I'm giving the makeup and skincare bits to our local women's aid for their Christmas pamper packs.