The need to clean the house from top to bottom before xmas!

[BoozyBoots]

Does anyone else experience this?

I've even cleaned the oven & defrosted freezer!
I know at some point on xmas eve i'll be annoying the family with the hoover, putting clean sheets on beds etc, all for the house to be covered in food,wrapping paper, pine needles and god knows how many spilt drinks the next day.

[LieborCookin]

Junebugjr

Wow, liken your style.....I felt sanctimonious because I am sat on freshly laundered sofa cushions....

I thought about washing dog, but cant be bothered.....

[Owllady]

I am the same :)

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

Yep!It's only me and ds for Christmas but I always get the urge to have everything spotless and perfect otherwise it just doesn't feel right

[honeybeeridiculous]

Must say Iv got better, I used to have a real blitz but realise its a waste of time, still clean the oven and defrost the freezer (this is the only time it gets done!) and will have a dust and polish and Hoover mon or tues, (got night shifts too which doesn't help and give the bathroom a scrub,
I have been known to Hoover on Xmas day after the unwrapping ceremony as I can't stand the bits and glitter everywhere, not so bad now DC are older

[Xmasbaby11]

Not really thought about it - can't imagine having the time with all the Xmas prep (cards, presents, cooking) to deal with!

[msmiggins]

I pace myself with little jobs in the months before christmas, so in the last week or two it's not too hectic. Kids rooms have been cleared, sofa covers washed ( before the weather got too bad to dry them outside), cupboards cleaned out, freezer cleaned out. I now just have my spice cupboard and last clean of the fridge to do, otherwise it's just regular cleaning activities.
I do no cleaning on christmas eve apart from a quick run around with the hoover- that's a day I like to enjoy and have family fun.

[javotte]

Yes. I have even scrubbed the front door!
But with 3 DCs aged 6, 4 and 1 at home all the time (homeschooled), the house gets messy faster than I can tidy it up.

[OhYouMerryLittleKitten]

I will do a proper clean after Christmas. I'm so out of time and energy it's unbelievable. Loading the laundry basket seemed like a huge effort tonight.

[Unlikelyamazonian]

Have cleaned all the toilets and bathrooms. Have washed the windows INSIDE!

It's wonderful having a concrete excuse to do the horrible cleaning jobs I put off all year. I have pulled all the appliances out in the kitchen and scubbed the floors/skirting etc behind them. The whole house smells gorgeous and I can actually smell our beautiful spruce fur christmas tree!

[Unlikelyamazonian]

I was sick on the floor though after a brilliant party night out!

[DownyEmerald]

Last year was awful - dd was ill, then I was ill. And just knowing that the house hadn't been cleaned for Christmas was horrible.

It's a pain, and I'm not houseproud normally, (I hoover about once a month) but the decorations look so much nicer because things are tidy and clean. And I've got my parents Christmas day, and lots of friends a few days later, so I would do it anyway for them.

I've cleaned fridge, defrosted freezer, tidied toy corner, cleaned windows indoors and hoping for ok weather on fri to do windows outdoors. Still to do bathrooms, living room corner tidy, and denude the fridge of school newsletters/dds paintings/invitations etc.

[ZeViteVitchofCwismas]

downy this is why I like to get main hard jobs done now...incase of illness.

[Junebugjr]

bobcrotch lieborcookin
I swear to god the dog knows its time for his Christmas deep clean, he can tell by the way I'm frenziedly pulling out all the kitchen cupboards, and sorting through the toys. He's started looking at me suspiciously when I get his lead. Anyway he'll have to take it on the chin, he has a lovely Santa suit to wear for a few minutes on Christmas Day while we take photos of him looking disgusted at us.

[stickysausages]

I always feel 'nesty' at this time of year, can't put the tree up in a messy house! Having guests on Xmas day, so it will get a deep clean this weekend, then keep it that way till the big day! It's dh' s birthday on Xmas eve too, so will have visitors then as well.

Love the feeling of starting a new year too, a fresh start when the decorations come down & gifts are put away :)

[GhettoPrincess001]

There was me feeling all smug that I'm defrosting the freezer ! There's people on this chat thread that have done loads more than I've done or will do !

The cat came downstairs, I'd woken him up with all the noise (used the hairdryer technique on the freezer after I'd switched it off and closed the fridge door). Further tapping of ice with a palette knife too.

He whined at me even though there was plenty of room for him to get to the back door. He's now sitting on the stairs doing his, 'kitten whine'. He usually only gets to that stage when he's in his carry cage in the car going to the vets or cattery.

After the cat sitting on the stairs with his whining returning to normal (I swear that sometimes says hello or oh no) he's now gone outside for some peace !

I've just got the dripping and tapping sound of the freezer defrosting. Anyway, better get on and clean the freezer drawers. Plus anything else that really has to be done.

My mum liked to hoover before putting up the Christmas tree. I didn't understand this. My point of view was that the tree and decorations etc would distract people and housework could be done after Christmas as it would do anyway.

[Mellowandfruitful]

Where's your 'not doing a big clean' thread, Ledkr? I think I need it...

I too will need to clean big time after Christmas, but it's just not happening right now.

[ChippingInLovesChristmasLights]

I usually do. It's nice to have everything really, really clean before you can't move for tasteful Christmas tat decorations and the tree etc then another clean after and it's good to 'see in the New Year....

...this year, however, with tradesmen in & out, there really is No Point, he whole place is upside down and under an inch of plaster dust!

All the decorations have had to stay in the loft I have bought some lights (and put them in a glass bowl), a fresh wreath for the front door and that's about it

Never mind - it will all look lovely for next year

[PariahHairy]

Think I am missing some woman gene, have no urge to do housework whatsoever.

[BewitchedBotheredandBewildered]

You're all mad

Just get everyone pissed within half an hour of arriving and they won't notice dust etc.

Secondary benefit of this plan; they aren't fussy about the food either.

[GiraffesAndButterflies]

I really should make time for more cleaning this week. Last year we were decorating so there was no point deep cleaning. This year I have an insomniac 10mo so any spare time is being used to recover some sleep but reading this thread is making me want to blitz the oven and the bathroom tiles, the standard pre-guests clean I have scheduled suddenly seems unambitious!

[GiraffesAndButterflies]

I got an email from my mil yesterday saying not to bother about dusting etc before she comes. As if Nice of her, but no way am I putting the remaining decorations up without dusting!

[MistressDeeCee]

I HATE the Christmas clean. I say I wont do it, but Im mystically drawn to dusters brooms hoovers et al. It takes me ages. However my DM called today & said the magic phrase...Im coming round on Saturday Im here almost trembling with absolute, utter joy. DM will make the Christmas cleaning oh so easy, in 1/2 the time, we'll fly thru it. With the teens forced to get grafting, I'll still get an evening on sofa with glass of wine & crap tv..oh joy..it wont be this good next year I bet so Id better enjoy it now

[TheRealAmandaClarke]

You're all completely nuts

But my fridge does need cleaning

[msmiggins]

I don't clean for the visitors- I clean to give myself the christmas week off. Even with immediate family at home the house takes a battering, going into the holiday with a reasonably clean house means I don't have to do much other than the basics. I Don't want to be changing sheets or hoovering the bedrooms during christmas week, I want to be relaxing as much as possible.
My fridge is nearly empty atm, just a few everyday things, so it makes sense to take out all the shelves and drawers and clean them before the fridge is laden up with food for christmas.
I also don't really like wet washing hanging around on christmas eve or christmas day so I will try to get all that dried and put away before hand.
I'm not a clean freak by any stretch, but we have a small house and christmas brings a lot of clutter. My OH goes back to work on the 27th and I don't want to be left with everything to get sorted on my own with the kids.
Clearing the decks before christmas makes my life easier in the long run.