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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not do a massive 'Christmas clean'

199 replies

monicagellerbing · 21/12/2023 08:51

I was always brought up with my mam every year cleaning the whole house top to bottom including things like the oven the fridge, kitchen cupboards, literally everything. I've always done the same every year and stressed myself out but this year I just cannot be arsed. The house is clean and tidy as I do keep the house nice but I can feel the fridge and oven and carpets calling to be cleaned just because its Christmas and I don't want to! I'm busy all of this week but could squeeze in some polishing if I HAD to. What do you think?

YABU - Christmas is for cleaning get it done you lazy cow
YANBU - do the bare minimum as the kids will trash it anyway

Can't enable voting, I'm on the app

OP posts:
KnittedPond · 21/12/2023 08:52

Why would anyone clean their house for Christmas?

Original poster
monicagellerbing · 21/12/2023 08:55

Not sure @KnittedPond but it seems a lot of people do it

OP posts:
HeddaGarbled · 21/12/2023 08:56

I didn’t know this was a thing. I suppose if you have guests you might want to be a bit more thorough than usual but not inside kitchen cupboards etc.

Spirallingdownwards · 21/12/2023 08:58

Christmas Cleaning isn't a thing. Your mum presumably was worried about what visiting inlaws would think. Spring cleaning is where it is at, hence it is called Spring Cleaning!

CheersToAMerryChristmas · 21/12/2023 08:58

Blimey, I'll clean after the holidays when everyone has been and gone. It's called spring cleaning I believe...

CheersToAMerryChristmas · 21/12/2023 08:58

Haha cross posts!

AndThatWasNY · 21/12/2023 08:58

Life is short, Christmas is shorter. Don't do it!
My Mum used to run herself ragged around Xmas. I decided not to.

Malarandras · 21/12/2023 08:59

Never heard of this before - I have in relation to New Year which I used to do but then came to not be bothered!

Twixandtinsel · 21/12/2023 08:59

KnittedPond · 21/12/2023 08:52

Why would anyone clean their house for Christmas?

I love a clean house for Christmas. I'll be doing a better clean than I do normally, but not a deep clean. I will clean out the fridge etc.

WickedSerious · 21/12/2023 09:00

I know people who do this but I've never had time.

gwanmen · 21/12/2023 09:03

Nah, a bit of dust is festive.

silvertoil · 21/12/2023 09:04

You're right - it's that nice feeling of everything but 'ready' but also right to say why bother?! If you have kids I do think kids pick up on the pre Xmas motherly harassment

Janieforever · 21/12/2023 09:05

Never heard of this either. I mean the house is clean but I can’t imagine feeling I need to do a deep clean inc the ovens , the cupboards etc.

TheDandyLion · 21/12/2023 09:06

The christmas clean is a thing but it's usually done before the tree and the decorations go up.

Original poster
monicagellerbing · 21/12/2023 09:06

Ok seems general consensus is not to bother. Its hard when its been something instilled in you growing up but at the grand old age of 40 I have started to relax a bit and I think not doing a huge Christmas clean will be another step towards chilling out a bit! More time for films and wine 🍷

OP posts:
YorkshirePuddingsGreatestFan · 21/12/2023 09:08

My mother used to do this and get stressed and tearful every year.

I even recall her almost crying as she was standing ironing a pile of stuff so the ironing basket could be empty for Christmas. Never got the logic of her getting so stressed out about ironing stuff like shorts and summer dresses that had been in the basket for weeks and we had no intention of wearing over Christmas.

I don't clean for Christmas. I clean the things where the decorations go as people's eyes are drawn to them, but if other stuff doesn't get deep cleaned, it doesn't matter.

SnowRoomAtTheInn · 21/12/2023 09:13

My Mum did a New Year full ‘spring’ clean when we were growing up. Probably makes more sense, as you freshen the whole place up once the decorations are down.

I do a Christmas clean, but I have a few days off before Christmas and I enjoy doing it as a way to set the house up for complete relaxation. I don’t have young kids anymore, though, and I wouldn’t be doing it if it caused me stress. Enjoy your break!

thisisntfair · 21/12/2023 09:15

CheersToAMerryChristmas · 21/12/2023 08:58

Blimey, I'll clean after the holidays when everyone has been and gone. It's called spring cleaning I believe...

Your guests stay until MARCH?!?!?!?

(Sorry, I couldn't resist!😍)

menopausalmare · 21/12/2023 09:18

I prefer to do a deeper clean once the decorations are back in the loft.

thisisntfair · 21/12/2023 09:18

On a more serious note, NO to the extra cleaning, OP!

It's madness.

Do after Christmas.

Maybe not even then!

Women (I am one too) really know how to pile expectations on ourselves. Christmas can be stressful enough.

Make sure anyone you live with is pulling their weight too.

CaramelMac · 21/12/2023 09:19

We always had to tidy up so Santa didn’t trip over when he was delivering the presents. I’ve never heard of cleaning like you describe. I couldn’t be bothered either!

turkeyboots · 21/12/2023 09:21

Christmas cleaning was totally a thing in my house growing up. Santa wouldn't come if the house was not clean.
Excellent way to start the Christmas family rows before Christmas eve.

wooooowwww · 21/12/2023 09:21

I too usually go mad with the cleaning before Christmas.

This year I'm not. It's been so busy here that I've lost all motivation to do anything!

Sparrow7 · 21/12/2023 09:21

I'm doing one right now and hating every minute of it. I'm only cleaning because my clean freak MIL is staying for Christmas. If you don't have to then don't do it! Have a spring clean if you must but leave Christmas for fun and relaxing.

WinchSparkle80 · 21/12/2023 09:23

Nope, might change my bed today but that’s about it, quick wipe round as normal at weekend.
Rather watch christmas movies and eat and drink. My christmas’s were not great as a kid though so I love relaxing with my kiddos.