Christmas jobs I hate - cleared and defrosted freezer

[Roseshavethorns]

I have spent the last couple of hours clearing and defrosting my freezer in preparation for stocking up for Christmas. It's probably my least favourite job as I'm short and one is a chest freezer (I always imagine falling in head first and getting stuck. I'd be found with my legs sticking out).
On a positive note I had so much food that probably I won't have to buy anything other than milk and fresh veg for about a fortnight.
Now that I have started I'm looking for inspiration for other jobs that I can do now ( and don't cost money) to make December less stressful.
Any ideas?

My worst pre-Christmas job is cleaning the cooker hood. Off the top of my head, check smoke detectors and your battery stash.

Cupboard/wardrobe declutter.
Oven clean.

Good shout on the batteries. Children are all grown up but there are still plenty of remotes etc that eat batteries.
I have started sorting through the kitchen cupboards to make a list of staples that I need to buy as well as clearing out things that we don't use any more.
I can't believe that I am so organised.

We just stocked up on batteries too, which were located right next to the extensive "toy section" of the store.

We got them for the smoke detectors, ( and battery operated winter candles) cos if we didn't, soon there will be none in stock and it takes ages for them to be restocked.
I have to defrost/clean our two chest freezers too, a job that is so easy to procrastinate doing, I just hate the thought of doing it.
Cleaning the fridge is another one I tend to put off.
I would recommend taking stock of your rooms and de-cluttering now, before decos go up.
Shop early for things that are on sale and will keep.
Personally I dread the thought of how busy the stores get in the days leading up to Xmas.

You’ve done great with that! I have yet to defrost my freezer, not so much for Christmas, but because it needs doing!
How did you manage to do it in a few hours, I imagine mine taking longer.
Plus I have nowhere else to put the items that are in it, so not sure what you/others do.
Regret not doing it in the Summer.

I run the stocking on mine down a little, then take everything out. Put ehat i can I to insulated bags and wrap them in an old quilt. Then I hasten the defrosting process wirh some bowls it warm water in the freezer.

Did mine about a month ago and it still feels good every time I open it and it’s all nicely organised

I always pre-prepare as much of the Christmas food as possible. So - after sorting out and clearing my freezers (😁) I make my stuffing, part roast my potatoes and parsnips, make the fish pie base, do any batch cooking I know I'm going to need, and refill the freezer.

I also do my Christmas shopping order early - it can be amended closer to the time.

I already have all the presents, including for the stockings, bought and wrapped, and I did the Christmas cards this morning.

a day or two before Christmas I lay the table in the dining room and make it look beautiful and festive - and I always decide on which dishes I'm going to need in advance

My DH used to get really stressed thinking about all the Christmas preparations which totally paralysed him so nothing got done until the last minute - so I started doing everything as early as possible so that Christmas itself could be stress-free.

I need thread. There in a lot of stress in my life I can’t control so this is some thing I can focus on.

I agree with clearing out the tins cupboard (I did this today). I had so many half-used packets of sugar and more stock pots than any one person should possess. But it does mean that I know what I need to lay in for Christmas.

It's cleaning out the fridge next, wish me luck.

Can you pop round and do mine? It’s such a pain trying to get the water/melted ice out of the bottom. I’ve tried dipping a ladle in the water and scooping out, putting a cloth in and wringing it out in a bowl (you quickly get cold hands, funnily enough) and even tried putting cut-down puppy pads in there to soak up the water. Very poorly designed.

Speaking of oven cleaning… what’s the easiest and most effective oven degreaser/cleaner available at the supermarket or The Range, B & M, etc? I just realized it’s been ages since we gave our oven a good clean. Eek.

Sounds good. What/where did you get the insulating bags from. Yes I am trying to clear things out of the freezer a bit first.

I think most supermarkets sell an insulated version of their shopping bags. DH has a bit of a problem with throwing things away that “might be useful day” so we have collected obe or two over the years…

You have to defrost freezers?

Lol, I was thinking the same

Well you don’t have to obviously but I had no room so it was a good time to give ours a good sort out.

Oh bum thanks for the reminder! 😆

I am already behind this year!

Two fridges and a freezer to defrost and deep clean here

And one pig of an oven to clean

(I usually do it after Christmas because that makes more sense frankly but I’ve left it so long that oven has started to smoke! 😣)

Also need to clean the downstairs windows and pressure wash the terrace

Wash down front door

Scrub the step like a proper granny

And brush down ironwork front of house

Then put up some twinkly lights on the exterior

Then do a really thorough tidy and deep clean of downstairs (clear coat and shoe rack) tart up the downstairs loo a bit and organise and deep clean laundry room, guest bathroom and pantry cupboard.

A few bits of paint touch up on the walls. A few bits of upholstery to spot clean. The usual sofa covers and dog beds to wash,

Wash all the serving dishes and jugs and gravy boats that we only use on high days and holidays.

Assess things like; do I have enough foil? Can I find gingerbread mould?

Then wash and iron all table cloths and guest bed linen etc

All before end November 🙈

Preferably want to have bought and wrapped all presents by end first week December too.

And we are having a pared down Christmas this year believe it or not

Must remember to buy batteries, blue tack sellotape and string.

Still have to make cake, mince pies, stock for gravy, stuffing x2, fish pie and a stock for Christmas Eve minestrone soup and a beef & Guinness stew (usually put a pie lid on it).

I do all of those things during December and it makes life much easier on Christmas week when family are staying.

Approaching my 25 years of doing all of the above for Christmas now and I would quite happily skip it and just have a nice glass of wine and a turkey sandwich with my dh but my adult dc love Christmas and want everything the same!

Good luck everyone!

I feel tired reading this lot… I do nothing for Christmas! I also didn’t know defrosting freezers was a thing. I don’t cook either so have no idea what’s in any of the kitchen cupboards (that’s other half’s department)

Oven pride - the one with the bag. I have used it for years and have always found it’s excellent.

Not all freezers. It depends on whether yours is “frost free” or not. I have three freezers, one is frost free, the other two aren’t.

How much hosting over Christmas do you do that you need to defrost freezers, clean fridges, make room in cupboards? I get we all buy a few more treats to eat but apart from booze, our kitchen really doesn't look that much different!

Definitely this! I've tried all the alternatives, did half a job or nothing at all. I'm always amazed it works so well.

I was thinking the same, it's just more ridiculous pressure to put on yourself. It's almost a weird kind of festive martyrdom.

@BoredZelda @Londondreamer thank you! I’ll look for this today when I head to the high street.