CHRISTMAS CLEANALONG

[Alsonification]

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?

70isaLimitNotaTarget

I have a winter shelf, just in case I get snowed in, like back in the 70's!

You're all making me think I need a Christmas/winter shelf now.

My "larder" is basically a press under the dried that's in the kitchen & I've just shelved it. It's nothing fancy but very handy for extra tins, pastas, cereals etc.

If you look at the organised Christmas or organised home websites, there is a handy list of jobs to do for each room - I use that as a handy reminder of all the things to think of but I have learned not to feel guilty about whatever amount I actually get done compared to the extensive list...it's all more than would have been done otherwise.

Anyone else having to stop themselves from getting a bit carried away?

I put up some coving in our bedroom a few months ago. I wasn't very happy with it, and was a bit intimidated by the next step, which was to put lining paper on the bay window wall. It was all in terrible condition after a loft conversion several years ago caused gaping cracks between wall and ceiling and towards the bay window.

I decided, in the spirit of this thread, to get on with painting the coving. Two days later, the coving is filled and painted, the lining paper has gone up really smoothly, and while I was painting it, I've touched up the rest of the bedroom walls. It looks bright, clean and fresh and I feel brilliant about it.

But the skirting looks awful and it was all I could do to stop myself getting the gloss paint out and starting today.

I've had to tell myself firmly that this is enough for one week and I will add the gloss to my "next time" list. I know the danger of doing too much, getting overwhelmed and grinding to a halt.

But I am eternally grateful to @Alsonification for the structure and spirit of this thread. Chipping away at decades of neglect, one day at a time!

Second layer (last one) of polyfillering today, to be sanded and repainted soon, and a bit of emulsion touch up where it got scraped. Two years ago.

@BishyBarnyBee awww thanks so much.
I'm really just keeping myself accountable more than anything else.

I can really only do weekends cos I'm working during the week plus my dad is currently in hospital so visiting him in the evenings. But I'm ok with that. I had made my list based on one day every weekend so that's what I'm doing. I'm happy chipping away at it

Oh I'm in, this is a great idea...we've just got back from summer hols, kids went back to school today and I was back to work , I am so ready for autumn and a bit of decluttering
I will draw up my plan tomorrow whilst pretending to work

Cleared out the dresser today including all my skincare, hair care, make up, nail polish and jewellery. Bagged up all my earrings into pairs in small ziploc bags which feels extremely satisfying and means I’ll actually wear them all! And cut my make up and skincare down to the products I actually use (and are in date!). DD delighted to inherit some sparkly eyeshadows. It took AGES though so the actual cleaning will have to wait until tomorrow.

How is everyone else getting on with their lists?

Conservatory cleaner coming today (well, it's going to rain, so I hope so!)
A massive A frame means the roof inside and out has been neglected. I used to get up on a ladder, but I am being sensible. He will do outside and inside pitched roofs and magically polish up the white plastic.

Ok. So I have some time today.

The house needs a massive tidy up so I will declutter generally today. Will be putting summer to bed so there will be lots being ousted anyway.

Also going to gather all the clothes that need vinting. - I'm working from home in a few weeks time so I'll list them then.

Pantry tidied , threw out boxes and wrapping in recycling .Organised the shelves
I have found a jar of Small Chunk Branston Pickle with a BBE end date 2022.
I am not going to perish from OOD pickle am I ?
(It's gone in the fridge now to be eaten)

Cleaning the bathroom too , . (multi tasking , me )
I am on a day of A/L , DD and DH are WFH.
My life is pure glamour . <sigh>

I am feeling both behind and ahead of schedule weirdly. Behind schedule because I keep meaning to start, but due to generally shit time at work, my motivation towards everything has been very low. On the plus side, we had a new kitchen fitted over the summer so everything there (and it’s a lot) is clean and organized, we also have a cleaner so on the surface everything is clean, but we just have sooooooo much stuff, even if it’s put away.

my goal is to start this weekend on clearing out some crap drawers in the dining room, sort out my wardrobe and then get a whole bunch of stuff on marketplace, both old clothes and bunch of kitchen stuff we shoved in the cellar.

I ordered a bunch of Christmas books (inspired by the Christmas chronicles thread) so I’m hoping to reset my mojo!

I've just emptied four handbags into a washing basket to go through the contents, but not actually tidied them.

Found an Apple Airtag <win>

I am waiting for the next sunny day for the loose cushion covers on 3 sofas to be washed.
I am not sure I will get the base/arm cover in my machine, so may have to take it to a laundry.
Meanwhile, back to my bedroom skirting boards which were the original target.

We're forecast 25° tomorrow, @gardenmusic, get the washing on!

We have a man coming on Sat to measure the alcove in our room for a fitted wardrobe. Hopefully it would make our room less cluttered having better storage.

NoWordForFluffy
Pouring rain threatened here! Might do it anyway, because they will dry overnight in the conservatory.

I'm off into town on Monday for some autumnal accessories for the house, but inspired by this thread I'm going to buy some lovely new smells to take me through into Christmas and some cleaning products (and possibly a new rug).

I'm in. Yesterday I deep cleaned the porch, sorted shoes, decluttered and painted the ceiling. I also sorted, decluttered and washed the winter gloves, hats etc. A good start on the first day kids are back at school! I need to do the kitchen, bathroom and redecorate my bedroom. I also have a lot of gardening to catch up on if it ever stops raining! Pic of clean porch!

Ok so did the clothes and half of the tidying. Have got some time tomorrow to make more progress.

I've been sorting clothes all day, have a bag for the recycling and a couple of things sold on Vinted.

I really need to get a bit further in DCs room so I can move on to other areas. House is still a mess!

Kitchen part 2 for me today. Having a cuppa trying to get motivated.

I've done a good bit in the loft this week, there's so much stuff I'm glad I decided to spread it over 2 weeks.
I've been to the dump with 5 bin bags and I've sold 5 things on Vinted, including my wedding dress. I've given my mum a bag of books and there's a bag waiting to go to the charity shop.

I'm hoping to do a bit of Vinting every day but the pile is huge it will probably take me to Christmas to get through it all!

I made a start with bedroom cupboard and drawers this morning and now have a small pile of saleable items and a box for the school fayre second hand book stall. Cleaned out one end of our study / bedroom and sorted out the clutter and piles of paper on the shelves. Reminded myself that we meant to hang a blackout blind and repaint the window sill after last Christmas!

Got a few hours today. Still have not completed the massive tidy up.

We've just ordered a fitted wardrobe to be installed, probably at the end of next month. That'll tidy our bedroom up nicely. I need to buy two chests of drawers to go in the room as well, to really finish it off. I'll do that nearer the installation date though.

DH is just touching up the paint in DS' room as I type. I did start, but I have weird eyesight and there's one distance I can't see properly. Which is the distance needed to paint the specific part being done! Handy. 🤣