CHRISTMAS CLEANALONG

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Hi all. So for the first time ever I will be hosting Christmas Day dinner in my home.

And to that end, I've decided to give my house a massive clean, declutter & reorganisation (very badly needed!).

I've worked out there are 16 weekends to Christmas (well actually 17 but I want to use the last one for food prep) so I'm dividing my house into 16 sections & going to spend one day every weekend on a different section.

I'm starting this weekend. Would anyone like to join?

Tackled the utility room this week. How does so much stuff fit in such a small room?

I feel similar! Was upset at the time that we couldn't have a big family Christmas but looking back I reallt enjoyed just having the four of us and not hosting for everyone.

On the day, when everyone is sitting down enjoying the meal, I feel so happy. But the lead up I feel almost resentful 😬 that its us hosting again and if I'm honest, myself doing most of the work. Family help on the day but I just wish my run up was different and I'd be looking forward to going somewhere else for Christmas dinner!

@PumpkinSpicedTea
I hear you!

I was looking for something under the stairs and found a bag for a vacuum I don't even bloody well own now !
I might stick it in a charity shop , it is brand new and re-usable .

I need to siphon off some of DH TShirts , some of the old ones that he says "Oh I like to wear them round the house"

Need to re-arrange the small bedroom/dumping ground room . There's a box of goodness knows what that I want to shift over to move the DryPod thingy over a bit but I need to be brave and empty the box !

@70isaLimitNotaTarget
I helped dd sort her bedroom out earlier in the week.
She's just done gcses, so I expected some notes/books that might have missed the rubbish bin...but there were papers in her desk from Y8!! 😬🙄🤣

It's amazing what they want to keep , either because "it might come in handy" or they just cannot galvanise themselves to get rid of .
My DS tends towards hoarder territory (I recognise the signs , my Mum is too)
He's got a stack of papers from University that yes might be important but need to be better organised . I don;t know what's Keep/Don;t Keep .
He;s got under bed storage drawers so some could go in there (which means tidy the storage drawers ) !

Hmmm.
Yes.
My dh and older dd have the hoarding gene I think!
I'm the opposite so it causes...a frank exange of views 😬🤣

@70isaLimitNotaTarget , can't face the spare room yet.

I've deep cleaned the fridge today. I'll obviously clean it again but thought I'll be my future friend and make it easier down the line.

Usually clear out the freezer (by eating everything) in the Autumn months but decided I'll do it earlier then start batch cooking and freezing. Always a goal of mine but by time I get to October when its time to make a start, life gets so busy!

We need to eat all the frozen food in the freezers so we can defrost and clean then properly.
I often give the fridge a wipe but it needs doing properly 😕
Oven is lovely and clean but I might cook another clean before Christmas 🎄
I'm slowly washing all the cushion covers, throws, dining chair covers...
I switch over to Christmas 🎄 cushions and throws on the 1st Sunday of Advent 😀
That's when our decorations go up, too as I like them down on NYE (I realise this is not the traditional 12th night but as a child I HATED being back at school but the house still being decorated. It felt sad)
After my bday next month I'm going to start getting tissue paper for stocking gifts and gift wrap.
I've got cards.

I am home in my house for a couple of weeks and already started on the deep cleaning (DH still here full time so basics always done but dusting, skirting boards, mopping tend to slide). Then I go back to my apartment where I am currently based in Europe for a work contract (4 year stint). Far less deep cleaning needed there but I have been bonkers busy so have left basics slip a bit.

I used to do the Holiday Grand Plan here at home from August to early December - now I have adapted it to suit my timings of availability and doing 2 locations. Especially as we could be in either for Christmas (both DH and DD want to come to me, but it’s increasingly likely that DD will need to be here for sport training so she and I will both come home instead - she’s in another European city for uni).

DH and I have already done a declutter on the shed this morning and garden, and tackling the Tupperware cupboard before a dump run now.

Checking in! Today’s task will be to check my dc’s school websites for important dates between September and December and write them up on the family calendar.

Got back from holiday a few days ago and determined to get my backside in gear!

Ugh yes the oven. My most hated job and I don't keep on top of it. Any tips for cleaners or equipment to get stuck in??

Good idea with the calendar! I'm going to do this today too.

Wow, that turned into a bigger job than planned! As well as the bits from the side of the house and a few things from the shed I expected, there were another 3 black sacks from the shed as DH got ruthless, a full sack of old plastic tubs that were broken/missing lids/we had gazillions and only needed 20 of…

Then as kitchen cupboards were open, he started on clearing out the food now DD has left for uni and to get rid of things we bought over covid and our tastes changed so never ate…another 3 black sacks (for weight purposes - only about 1.5 by volume).

I’ve also done a first sweep of the freezer (not dreadful but a few things I can use in creative ways before I go back as DH won’t). I need to go through the spices tomorrow. And I cleaned out the fridge yesterday before food shopping while it was empty after DH was away. So making good progress.

DH was out for much of the day and I can get more done when he’s not here.
Vacuumed and mopped all of downstairs. Vacuumed the stairs. Cleaned the bathroom including mopping the floor. Cleaned and mopped downstairs toilet. All bath mats washed and out on the line to dry.
Also got 2 wash loads from yesterday dry and another clothes wash dry outside too.
That was after taking the dog out.
Fish and chips for tea so no cooking.

Honestly?
I've given up. I've tried so mant products - I've eben resorted to naling my own 🙄
I now employ an oven cleaning business - they charge £50 and my oven looks like new! They totally took it apart to clean.
I have just found a brilliant - if expensive - product for shower screen glass...
I've tried everything over the years...we live in a very hardwater area and I was so fed up I was thinking of replacing the shower screen!
It's called glass guard. Its made my manky shower screen look like new again.
I paid £20 for 500ml 😬
Do any of you have shutter blinds on your windows?
Would you recommend?

Ugh!
So many typos!
Hopefully you can understand it! 🫣

I use Elbow Grease spray on the oven shelves and a wire wool scrubber and a good spray of it overnight on the base . I use one of those blade thingies in the plastic handle on the glass door where the splatters get baked on. I was very at first but they work really well and don't scratch . Then a rub with Astonish paste and buff (love that stuff but it dries out if the lid isn't secure so I need to wrap in a tight plastic bag )

Some people use dishwasher tablets not tried it , I think you need the solid ones and I only have the capsule ones .

It's one of my unfavourite jobs , especially the getting myself comfy on a stool and wedge the door to keep it steady .
But it's great once it;s done .

I tried dw tabs, pink stuff, oven brite, oven mate, made my own concoction from various things like soda crystals & white vinegar etc...nothing really worked.
I'm just going to keep paying £50 every few months! 😀

OH I REALLY NEED THIS ! Once the DC are back at school I need a plan.

I might plan to start the first w/e in Sept (August B/Hol w/e maybe some clearing out of things )

DH is away in Sept and I will be for a couple of days . Adult DC will keep things ticking over hopefully
I'll need to go through the freezers in the garage (2 small ones ) before I buy more frozen foods . And defrost the F/F in the kitchen.

Clean the bathroom radiator is on the To-Do List but it's one of those tedious jobs that I put off .

DH is muttering about emptying the garage , goodness knows what is in there !

I have every other Monday off. My aim is to get stuff done on those days after my next physio appt on 15 Sept (so starting on 29 Sept).

My list won't be as long as last year, as it included decorating which we don't need to do again yet! I think it's going to be sorting shit in the main (DH uses every flat surface as a dumping ground, and it drives me mad, so I want to clear all of that stuff either into the bin or into a drawer / cupboard for storing).

I’m clearing out a messy cupboard today inspired by this chat

Only managed to hoover downstairs and do one load of washing today...
Had friends here for lunch 🍽
It's just too hot to do anything else 🫠