One shitty job a day - mission to get all the crappy tasks done this year

[Shittyyear2025]

I'm an eternal untidy person. I don't see my own clutter. I've tried HARD to find a routine that I can get engaged in, signed up for COUNTLESS get yourself organised apps.

I saw a video yesterday about getting one shitty job a day done. I think I can manage one shitty job a day. So far I cleaned the lounge carpet (over yesterday and today, bad back and heavy furniture) and I've painted a door that's been off it's hinges and propped up against my hall wall for maybe a year.

I reckon one shitty job a day (or for an hour towards it say, after work, longer crap jobs can be done at the weekend) I can do. I can finally finish decorating the kitchen. I can finally finish painting the landing/stairs/hall after the ceiling collapsed in Autumn 2024, I can sort out the front garden one job at a time (hell, I can even get rid of the ironing mountain and charity shop everything I no longer wear for an hour a day).

Anyone want to join me? Or any tips for starting AND STICKING WITH domestic routines?

Another long delayed SJ: a big charity shop run, split between two shops.

My SJ this week was cleaning oven door and shelves with Astonish oven and grill cleaner. It’s widely available, low cost and non-corrosive. Safe to use without gloves. It comes with a scrubber, but as I haven’t cleaned my door for well over a decade, I needed to use one of those twirly metal scrubbers for the majority of it.

Quite a lot of literal elbow grease involved, but omg it really worked!

https://groceries.morrisons.com/products/Astonish-Specialist-Oven-Grill-Cleaner-Sponge/109614903

@SliceofTosst I have this https://www.dunelm.com/product/astonish-premium-edition-oven-grill-cleaner-1000150315

Have had it sitting in a cupboard for a while, so it's one of my SJs to do!

DS is shredding receipts (I've played a substitute for this SJ)
I am doing the ver' ver' important job of cleaning my earrings

See my post just above yours - it really works! Like you I’d had it in the cupboard for ages and it’s only reading this thread that inspired me to get around to trying it.

I did take the glass out of the door to enable maximum scrubbage, but if you can get a comfortable angle, or maybe you haven’t left it quite as long as me, it should work without doing so. (That was more for @SliceofTosst I think)

Astonish products are really good .
With the paste , you need to make sure you seal it well after use otherwise it goes solid when you go back to it . They used to do the paste in a tube which was better but no more .
I buy the huge tubs of Astonish OxyActive in Costco .

The only product I haven't liked is this , which is a shame as a tin is more recyclable but a git to open. And it was like cleaning with toothpaste !
The Good One | All Natural Power Cleaning Paste | Astonish

Bicarb/baking soda and vinegar paste is great on glass oven doors and inside. I use it on baking trays and saucepans too. SJ today was spending ages trying to remember a bike lock combination. I tried every birthday etc but cracked it in under 5 mins with a very nifty online method after most of them were pants. Now I feel like James Bond or Ethan Hunt lol but it's actually a bit worrying how easy they are to crack once you know how.
Found the grate blacking & need to tackle the fireplaces. I feel like the Tweeny or housemaid with this SJ.
Lost eBay parcel turned up which restores my faith in human nature as the wrong recipient took it round to the correct address and recipient was honest enough to say it had arrived, when they could have demanded a refund. I sent a small gift relevant to their purchase as it was an expensive item. So, chasing RM & getting eBay involved is now off the list of SJs!
Watched an extreme hoarder TV programme from the USA. Good heavens, the homes are so big therefore the hoards are unbelievable. I feel very sorry for them, there's usually a horrible backstory to the hoarding but it makes me throw something out, list it or designate it to charity shop/hopper.

Eventually cleaned the fridge - it was way overdue & grotty! Looks loads better now.

Please keep us updated, @3flyingducksarrive ! This is like the housekeeping version of Sporner Corner!

I've just washed all the wooden floors, which ought to be a regular job but isn't, so the water was very satisfyingly dirty at the end. Now off for a charity shop run, and then there is a lot of shredding in my immediate future....

I have cleaned/cut away all the hair off the hoover roller, it was more a 15 minute job rather than a 5 minute job like I thought. I also did a thorough hoover in DC's room, behind and inside the radiator etc.

I have taken time too keep the areas in the bedroom I have tidied clear of clutter/junk. Making sure I'm throwing things away or recycling them or putting them away right away rather than leaving them for later. I can see an improvement. The culprit dumping grounds are still clear which is nice.

Yesterday I de-cluttered the kitchen side, threw away a few things that had been lingering for a while. Put away things properly where they should be and it looks so much better.

Oh that's what I did yesterday! Its ok(ok I got bored cleaning the racks) but it was most satisfying on the glass hob.
Today it was a cupboard when the plastic boxes went to die. Miraculously only two odd lids and two bottoms. The plethora of herbal teas bought by dd has gone.(she's been moved out 3 years).
DH is part way sorting out the cookbooks. He's got a definitely ditch, a definitely keep and a maybe. He does not cook. This also wont happen today as there is some stupid pokemon event on. I've sorted the clean clothes so there is now 6 shirts to iron. And yes, they are linen, so they have to be.

We once found a squashed and mummified lizard under the lounge rug in Oz.

Doh! Sorry for repeating. Good to know it really works. I've been out enjoying myself today and just got home, so all SJs will have to wait until tomorrow, while I recline on the sofa with a cup of tea. Oven door will be done tomorrow!

Oops, wasn’t meaning to imply any repetition, just wanted you to know it actually works!

Massive congrats on the Go Bag @oscalothats such a good thing to do (I’m going to copy you if that’s ok 👌)
I need to look for something under DD’s bed but wasn’t able to do that (illness flare) so will try to do it tomorrow.
DH did some great work in the study on my behalf, he was probably more brutal than me tbh!

Aw thanks, I'm so pleased with myself for being a bit more organised now with the grab bag and the holiday box!

As for trying to find something under DDs bed, I wonder if you could use a sweeping brush and see if it comes out when you sweep underneath? (not saying you don't ever do that in general terms BTW!), or if it's a small item, put a nylon popsock on the tube of the vacuum and see if what you're looking for sticks to it when you turn it on!

Otherwise it's down on your knees and head and shoulders under the bed. I just can't do that, I see stars lol 😊

I hoovered our fabric headboard and dusted under the bed yesterday 💪🏻

Glass 🙄. Now brown glass.

There's all those tips about rub it with a damp dishwasher tablet but it needs to be a solid one not a soft capsule type .
I did try Astonish paste and looked sideways at a wirewool scrubbing thing (BrilloPad type) but worried it'd be too scratchy .

The blade is the most effective , I did worry it would damage the surface but it doesn't. I got mine from Amazon.
I had all tiny specks of burnt on crud on the door but it lifted them. It's a process . Takes ages but very satisfying and less work for my elderly wrists than scrubbing at it ,

Or you could get it professionally cleaned ( they take the oven doors off ) to save you a job , lots of people on the Christmas Clean Thread did this

I was supposed to do mine today and didn't, so I have to do it tomorrow, along with the big oven. Two SJs in one day!

Oh god I need to do both of these SJs!!

Fridge done, charity shop run done (and I disposed of several handbags from my previous corporate life, the smartish but big enough for a laptop type, so I hope they'll get some dosh for those) and just now, a huge bag of shredding done. More shredding tomorrow I think!

I found nothing so unfortunately DH is right and the dead rotten thing is in the walls.

I tacked a shelf yesterday that is mainly cookery books but had developed a dumping ground at the end. Everything off, individually wiped, shelf scrubbed, books sorted by theme, quite a few cookery books I haven’t opened for years thrown out, crud thrown out. It looks really nice. Also found a couple of recipes I want to try…

It’s my day off today and after a horrible week last week where I didn’t do anything productive I have to find a balance between doing a few jobs and taking some much needed time to chill out.

my SJ today is to take some things to a charity shop. There is one walkable but I don’t like them, so I will take it to one further away but the parking is awful there, rendering it an SJ for me.
I need to go round this house and put stuff away and generally “straighten up” and do some housework- I normally don’t despise it but I am really not feeling it today but I know I can’t leave it another week.
i also have (still) my vinted pile to go on which I really don’t like doing, so boring.